NCRLA

North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association

The 2020 winners are:

Griff and June Glover Award | Jim Beley, The Umstead Hotel & Spa
Ken Conrad Award for Service to the Community | Jim Noble, Noble Food & Pursuits
Lodging Employee of the Year | Kevin Cottet, Beacon IMG – Staybridge Suites, Wilmington
Lodging Manager of the Year | Melissa Bach, Raleigh Marriott City Center
Lodging Operator of the Year | Robert Dedman Jr., Pinehurst Resort
Restaurant Employee of the Year | Jeffrey Bryant, Golden Corral
Restaurant Manager of the Year | Roger Carter, Winston’s Grille
Restaurateur of the Year | Michael Thor and Jeff Mickel, Whiskey Kitchen
Hospitality Supplier of the Year | Stephanie Gaston Poley, Cranfill, Sumner & Hartzog LLP
Lifetime Achievement Award | Maurice Jennings, Biscuitville and Sam Saleh, Neomonde
Hospitality Champion of the Year, Senate | Senator Jerry W. Tillman, NC General Assembly 
Hospitality Champion of the Year, House | Representative Becky Carney, NC General Assembly

The 2019 NCRLA Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, and Mixologist & Distillery of the Year will also be recognized.

Thank you to our 2020 sponsors:

Premier Sponsor | US Foods
Platinum Sponsor | Butterball
Silver Sponsor | UnitedHealthcare
Bronze Sponsor | Ecolab, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, S & D Coffee & Tea
Bar Sponsor | SpotOn
Registration Sponsor | Relay
VIP Reception Sponsor | POUR Bar Services
Supporting Sponsors | Ambius, Carolina Brewery, Chemist Spirits, Durham Distillery, Employers, Fallon’s Flowers, Gnam Gnam Gelato, NC F&B Podcast, Pig Pounder Brewery,  Ponysaurus Brewing, Shelton Vineyards, TOPO Distillery, Tryon Distributing, Winebow

Award category descriptions are as follows:

Nominees must be restaurant members in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a restaurant owner or company that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his or her fellow operators, employees and the community. Other areas of consideration include the nominee’s ability as an operator and his/her community involvement. In addition, nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics, and have enhanced the overall image of the foodservice industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the foodservice industry. Previous winners.
Two awards will be given in this category to celebrate deserving employees at the management level and line level. Please feel free to nominate more than one deserving employee accordingly. Nominees must display outstanding service and a commitment to excellence in hospitality. Nominees must have been employed at a member restaurant for one year, and carry themselves with professionalism and display leadership abilities. Previous winners.
Nominees must be lodging members in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a hotel owner or a company that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his or her fellow operators, employees, and the community. Other areas of consideration include the nominee’s ability as an operator and his/her community involvement. In addition, nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics, and have enhanced the overall image of the lodging industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the hospitality industry. General managers, management company executives and property owners are eligible. Previous winners.
Two awards will be given in this category to celebrate deserving employees at the management level and line level. Please feel free to nominate more than one deserving employee accordingly. Nominees must display outstanding service and a commitment to excellence in hospitality. Nominees must have been employed at a member lodging establishment for one year, and carry themselves with professionalism and display leadership abilities. Previous winners.
Nominees must be individuals working for allied members of the hospitality industry and must be in good standing with NCRLA. This award honors a company or representative that is viewed as highly successful in the eyes of his/her fellow operators, employees and the community. Nominees should have made contributions to the industry on the basis of his/her own business ethics and have contributed to the overall image of the hospitality industry. In general, nominees should show an interest in protecting and promoting the hospitality industry. Previous winners.
This award honors an NCRLA member who has gone above and beyond in their service to the association. The nominee should be someone who has contributed significant time and energy to help NCRLA accomplish its mission. The award is named after longtime members Griff and June Glover of Pizza Inn and Diversified Foods. Previous winners.
This award honors the state legislator who has made the most legislative headway for the hospitality in the preceding legislative session. Previous winners.
This award will be given when appropriate to a member who has achieved significant success in the North Carolina hospitality industry. Previous winners.
This award honors members who make significant charitable impacts within their communities. Previous winners.

Click here for photos of the evening from 2020. Photo Credit: Eamon Queeney