The National Restaurant Education Foundation recognized four restaurant industry leaders with the 2023 Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards, honoring individuals “for their work to build equity, advancement, and opportunity in all corners of the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry.”
The My Journey Award went to Chef Lakisha Hunter, a Chicago native who survived being a gang foot soldier in Chicago’s inner city and went on to find a purpose in cooking and success as a restaurant business owner, youth mentor, and community leader. Today, she is a pastor in her local church, the owner of That Jerk Spot LLC, and runs a culinary-focused youth training program called Rise Above the Ordinary.
The Community Leadership Award went to Carl Sobocinski, founder and owner of Table 301 Restaurant Group in Greenville, S.C. From his work to incubate and grow new local restaurants with funds and hands-on training to his work with Mill Village Ministries, which provides fresh food boxes to low-income Greenville families, Sobocinski “is a dedicated advocate for the hospitality industry’s business and philanthropic communities.” Watch his video here.
The Diversity Leadership Award was presented to Sue Petersen, executive vice president of Inclusion, Diversity, and People at Noodles & Company in recognition of the company’s exceptional leadership in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. During Petersen’s tenure at Noodles, the company has been recognized numerous times for its commitment to its people, including being named to the Forbes Best Places list for Diversity.
The Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award was presented to Michael Hickey, retired president of Global Institutional Business at Ecolab, for his lifetime of leadership and support “in uplifting communities and transforming lives.” During his time on the board of directors for the National Restaurant Association and as chair of the NRAEF board, Hickey advanced the NRAEF’s military and ProStart programs, creating a partnership to connect ProStart students to annual Taste of the NFL events.
