Congratulations to all of the 2019 Stars of the Industry award recipients. A huge thank you to all of our amazing sponsors; we could not have done it without your generosity and commitment to our industry.
Click here for photos of the evening. Photo Credit: Eamon Queeney
2019 Stars of the Industry Awards Winners:
- Lodging Operator of the Year: Anthony Carey, The Siena Hotel
- Restaurateur of the Year: Lance Trenary, Golden Corral
- Ken Conrad Award for Service to the Community: Buddy Bengel, Bengel Hospitality
- Ken Conrad Award for Service to the Community: Dean Ogan, Rocky Top Catering
- Griff & June Glover Award for Distinguished Service: Mike Martino, Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center
- Lodging Manager of the Year: Robert Foster, Biltmore Farms Hotels
- Lodging Employee of the Year: Solida Richmond, Burke Manor Inn & Pavilion
- Restaurant Manager of the Year: Megan Bailey, Carolina Ale House – Wilmington
- Restaurant Manager of the Year: Vinnie Delillo, Mama Ricotta’s
- Restaurant Employee of the Year: Phillip Gomes, Winston’s Grille
- Hospitality Supplier of the Year: Scott Meltzer, Ecolab
- Hospitality Champion: Sen. Dan Blue
- Hospitality Champion: Rep. Chuck McGrady
We also recognized the top winners of NCRLA’s 2018 Chef Showdown: NCRLA Chef of the Year, Travis Myers of Willow’s Bistro, NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year, Miranda Brown of The Asbury, and NCRLA Mixologist of the Year, Joe Nicol, representing Fainting Goat Spirits.
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.
To review an event news release from 2019, click here.
Thank you to our 2019 sponsors:
Presenting: Sysco/FreshPoint
Platinum: Butterball
Gold: US Foods
Silver: Ecolab • United Healthcare
Bronze: Alsco • Got to Be NC Agriculture • S&D Coffee & Tea
Supporting: Ambius • Carolina Brewery • Durham Distillery • Fainting Goat Spirits • Fullsteam Brewery • Gnam Gnam Gelato • NC F&B Podcast • ONEHOPE Wine • Pepsi Bottling Company • Pig Pounder Brewery • Shelton Vineyards • TOPO Distillery • Tryon Distributing
![Synergi_logo [Converted]2](https://www.ncrla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Synergi_logo-Converted2.png){kind=logo}
