NAFEM Recognizes Allied Industry Leaders

NAFEM has honored 42 allied industry leaders with its Doctorate of Foodservice Award for their contributions to their associations and the industry at-large. The honorees earned recognition during a reception at last week’s The NAFEM Show. Recipients include the following:

American Culinary Federation
Rene J. Marquis, president

Association of Correctional Food Service Affiliates
Jenique Wilson, president

Association for Healthcare Foodservice
Robert Darrah, immediate past president
Leisa Bryant, president

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Lauri Wright, immediate past president
Livleen Gill, president

Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals
Felicia Smith, chair of the board

Commercial Food Equipment Service Association
Steve Sliter, president

Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers
Damian Hanft, immediate past president
Felicia White, president

Foodservice Consultants Society Int’l.
Eric Norman, worldwide president

Foodservice Consultants Society Int’l.-The Americas
Brent Hall, chair elect

Foodservice Equipment Association
Emma Brooks, chair

Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association
Marc Tell, chairman

Georgia Restaurant Association
Justin Triplett, chair
Alexis Kinsey, chair elect

International Association of Culinary Professionals
Ron Tanner, interim president

International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education
Chrystel Masdupuy, immediate past president
Kim Williams, president

International Flight Services Association
Kimberly Guanci, president emeritus

International Foodservice Manufacturers Association
Ben Wexler, past chair

Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry
Neil Inverso, president

National Association of Concessionaires
Rob Novak, president

National Association for Catering and Events
Amber Allen, past president
Michelle Dunnick, immediate past president

National Association of College & University Food Services
Kory Samuels, immediate past chairperson
Rahul Shrivastav, chairperson

North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers
Richard Packer, ex-officio

National Restaurant Association
Scott Redler, past chair
Jeff Lobdell, immediate past chair

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
James Fripp, past chair
Shaun Beard, immediate past chair

Research & Development Associates for Military Food & Packaging Systems
Elva Charles, chairwoman of the board

Retail Bakers of America
Amie Smith, president

Restaurant Facility Management Association
Bevin McPherson, immediate past chair
Jennifer Schmidt, chair

Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management
Sharon Eliatamby, past president
Raquel Weiss Fusco, immediate past president

School Nutrition Association
Chris Derico, immediate past president
Shannon Gleave, president

Women’s Foodservice Forum
Anita Zielinksi, past chair
Sarah King, immediate past chair

Along with the Doctorate of Foodservice Awards, NAFEM also presented the 2025 William W. Carpenter Award and the Louise O’Sullivan Award of Excellence at last week’s show.