Feeling that rush of seasonal warmth toward your fellow man—or customer? Seasonal remembrances and good wishes can come to the forefront with the National Restaurant Association’s Faces of Diversity awards. Nominations for the 2011 awards, which celebrate diversity and inclusion in the restaurant industry, are being accepted through Dec. 17.“Our industry is full of amazing…

Jonette Wylie was my friend. She was friends with many, many folks in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry. So, it was a rude shock when we all heard she’d passed away Nov. 8. Very few of us knew she was ill. Jonette broke ground in this industry, and not just because she was one…

It was a good week for restaurants in Chicago. Not only did Chicago become only the third American city to be included in the Michelin guide to fine dining, but the National Restaurant Association committed to keeping its May show in the city for five more years. The association had been considering moving the show…

Two broadliners and one executive were honored Nov. 9 by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association as winners of the group’s fourth annual distributor awards. IFMA presented the awards at its Presidents Conference in Indian Wells, Calif. IFMA presented its Excellence in Distribution Award to Food Services of America. It honored the Scottsdale, Ariz., company for…

Cliff Whitman, district sales manager for Edward Don & Co., was honored earlier this month with the Illinois Restaurant Association’s Vendor of the Year award. Whitman has been with Don’s sales force since joining the North Riverside, Ill., distributor in 1993 as a street sales rep. He currently covers all of the Chicago area and…

It was a busy few days in San Antonio for members of the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry. The group held its 45th annual conference there in late September, where 300-plus attendees saw Michael Turetzky of Chernoff Sales, Pompano Beach, Fla., elected president; Danny Collis of Collis Group, Richmond Hill, Ontario, named v.p.;…

Grindmaster-Cecilware has named a new leadership team. The Louisville, Ky., beverage equipment supplier has established an office of the president, comprised of CFO Joseph Canova; senior sales and marketing v.p. Lisa Klein; and COO Rob Poe. Richard Moore, a longtime foodservice industry veteran, will remain a shareholder and will continue to serve on the company’s…

Spring USA has announced that all technical services, including warranty and repair, will be performed at its new service center in Naperville, Ill. “The creation of this central induction service center, adjacent to our office and warehouse, will enable Spring USA to provide improved response and attention to the needs of our customers,” stated Tom…

This past weekend, Singer Equipment Co. was honored as Associate Member of the Year by the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association. Singer received the award at the association’s annual membership meeting and awards gala on November 7 in Harrisburg. The award was based on significant achievements and support of the industry at the chapter, state and national…

In June 2011, Foodservice Equipment Reports will publish its first ranking of the industry’s largest equipment and supplies dealerships. You may ask why, or ask why it has taken us so long. After all, next year will be our 15th year of publishing FER. I’ll answer the latter question first. While we have always sent…