May is an exciting month for us here at FE&S magazine and this year is no exception.

We are thrilled to recognize our 2024 roster of award winners at the FE&S Dealer of the Year & All-Industry Awards Gala at the Four Seasons Chicago on May 18. For those of us lucky enough to be in attendance, it will be a celebration filled with laughter, joy, remembrances and maybe a few tears. The acceptance speeches of people from an industry that, by and large, work really, really hard — and too rarely get recognized for their efforts — is something to behold.

Of course, everyone can’t be there, so we will bring you the stories of the people and projects that have earned recognition in the pages of FE&S throughout the year. This ongoing editorial coverage that puts us in the unique position of stewarding these time-honored awards, from Facility Design Project of the Year to Hall of Famers, we take this responsibility extremely seriously. 

In this issue, we highlight Wasserstrom, a company that has been recognized four times as the FE&S Dealer of the Year. That’s right, just one shy of the coveted five-timers jacket, as I was reminded by Brad Wasserstrom, one of the presidents of Wasserstrom, the other being his cousin, Eric. Together, they have a great story that unfolds over generations as they continue to thrive in the face of new challenges and a shifting competitive landscape.

Also in this issue, you can read about our 2024 Facility Design Project of the Year: Auburn’s Culinary Science Center. Our panel of judges have rave reviews for this project, which thoughtfully couples the twin mandates of feeding students and educating future culinarians.

Plans are coming together for our FED Thought Leadership Summit, which will take place Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 in Chicago, For the latest information on an incredible roster of speakers and attendees, visit FEDThoughtLeadership.com and be sure to request your invitation early. 

All the best,

Maureen