The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association named on Monday the 2011 winners of its Silver Plate Awards, which honor restaurant executives for career achievements and innovation.
The winners are selected by a jury of editors from the industry trade press, including Nation’s Restaurant News, and the chairman of the International Gold & Silver Plate Society.
A Gold Plate winner selected from among the nine Silver Plate recipients will be announced May 23 during the National Restaurant Association’s International Restaurant Hotel/Motel Show in Chicago.
This year’s Silver Plate winners:
Independent restaurants: Buzz Beler, owner of The Prime Rib in Washington, D.C.
Chain full service: Jerry Deitchle, chairman, president and chief executive of BJ’s Restaurants, based in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Chain fast service: Joe Tortorice, founder and chief executive of Jason’s Deli Management, based in Beaumont, Texas.
Elementary and secondary schools: Lora Gilbert, senior director for food and nutrition services of Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Fla.
Colleges and universities: Dee Hardy, associate vice president of campus services at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Va.
Specialty foodservices: George Miller, chief of food and beverage operations for the U.S. Air Force, based at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
Hotels and lodging: C.W. Craig Reed, director of food and beverage at The Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Foodservice management: Steve Sweeney, president and chief executive of Chartwells, based in Rye Brook, N.Y.
Health care: Bruce Thomas, associate vice president of guest services at Geisinger Health Systems in Danville, Pa.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].