Eight executives offering food-away-from-home services will be honored next month at The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association’s 70th annual Gold & Silver Plate Awards. The gala, which is May 18 in the Great Hall at Chicago’s Union Station, recognizes professionals demonstrating extraordinary foodservice leadership and making lasting contributions to the advancement of the industry, said Phil Kafarakis, IFMA president and CEO.
« This is the 70th year IFMA has presented Gold & Silver Plate Awards and it’s more important than ever that we celebrate the wide range of operations providing people with food-away-from-home, » he said in a company press release. « From schools and businesses to airports to retail to traditional restaurants, our industry is truly in every community in the nation, » said Phil Kafarakis, IFMA President and CEO.
Since 1954, IFMA has recognized extraordinary operator executives with the IFMA Silver Plate Award. Winners are chosen from a slate of industry nominees by a jury of trade press editors and previous award winners. One Silver Plate honoree is selected by secret ballot to receive the industry’s most coveted recognition — the IFMA Gold Plate.
« The Gold & Silver Plate Awards celebrate that range of service and the very best in food-away-from-home leadership, » Kafarakis said. « This year’s winners exemplify service to their organizations, teams, and communities. It’s going to be really exciting to see which of them will also bring home the annual Gold Plate Award at our celebration in May. »
2024 Silver Plate Class
Grocery, Convenience, & Specialty Retail:
Jen and Jon Corto, Owners and Founders, Buffalo Strive
Nominated by Nestlé Professional
Travel & Leisure
Roz Mallet, CEO & President, PhaseNext Hospitality
Nominated by Ecolab
Business & Industry/Foodservice Management:
Damian Monticello, Director, Enterprise Hospitality and Event Services, GuideWell
Nominated by PepsiCo
Healthcare
David Reeves, System Director, Food and Nutrition Services, Lee Health
Nominated by PepsiCo
Independent Restaurant / Multi-Concept
Melvin Rodrigue, President, Galatoire’s Restaurant
Nominated by Ecolab
Colleges & Universities
Kirk Rodriguez, Senior Director of Hospitality Services and the Student Union & Activities, Texas Tech
Nominated by Ecolab, Tyson, and US Foods
Elementary & Secondary Schools
Aaron Smith, Director of Culinary Services, Seattle Public Schools
Nominated by Tyson
Chain Full Service
Chris Tomasso, President & CEO, First Watch Restaurant Group
Nominated by Ecolab, Rich Products Corporation, and Royal Cup Coffee & Tea
