ARHA Now, Volume 11, Issue #3

ARHANOW

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MINDY HANAN President & CEO, ARHA

from the PRESIDENT

Congratulations to this year’s finalists and winners of the Stars of the Industry Awards. This is one of my favorite events of the year as we get to celebrate the people of our industry. Thank you to Hans van der Reijden and Adam Keeshan of Ithaka Hospitality for the amazing job their team at The Hotel at Auburn University did in serving our guests. It was a fabulous event and made even more special by the ability to include Auburn University’s new Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center as part of the venue. Thank you also to State Tourism Director Lee Sentell for the Alabama Tourism Department being this year’s presenting sponsor.

The 2022 elections had some surprises as well as many predictable outcomes. Alabama’s Constitutional offices were not much of a surprise. Governor Kay Ivey and Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth both won with huge majorities. At the state legislature, we will have some changes. In the Senate, we had 5 members who did not seek reelection and one incumbent that was defeated. In the House of Representatives, there were 19 members that did not run for reelection and 8 that were defeated. So, there will be many new members that will need to be educated about the importance of our industry to the state. We will be inviting members of the legislature to local industry meeting around the state in the coming months. Please be on the lookout for a meeting near you. It is important to let your voice be heard on issues affecting your business.

At the federal level, Senator Richard Shelby is retiring and Senator-Elect Katie Britt will be taking over his seat. Britt, former head of the Business Council of Alabama is a strong advocate for Alabama and Alabama businesses. ARHA has enjoyed a strong relationship with Katie and we look forward to continuing to work with SenatorElect Britt in her new role. Dale Strong is the new U.S. Representative-Elect from District Five, taking over the seat vacated by Representative Mo Brooks. The remainder of the federal delegation was reelected.

There is much work still to be done to bring our country and our industry back. We will persist in fighting for a stronger industry as we look ahead to the continued revival of Alabama’s hospitality businesses. We are working each day to continue to make sure that the restaurant and hospitality industry is at top of mind of our elected officials.

We appreciate your membership and participation in the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association. We extend our best wishes to you and your family for a prosperous new year full of peace, joy, hope and happiness!

Smiley Brothers Speciality Foods, Pelham

Charles Anthony’s at The Pub, Montgomery

MARTY POLLOCK | Director of Food & Beverage The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa ▲

Lifetime Achievement Award

DON STALEY TUSCALOOSA TOURISM & SPORTS (RETIRED)

Don Staley’s career has been marked by success on the soccer field and as well as in the tourism industry. Since 2017, Don served as the President & CEO of Tuscaloosa Tourism & Sports until his retirement in August of this year. He is a graduate of Radford University and served as the head women’s soccer coach at Radford and The University of Alabama.

After leaving the coaching ranks, Staley helped form the Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation in 2007, becoming the commission’s Executive Director of Sports from 2010 to 2014. He helped lure the Super Six High School Football Championships to Bryant Denny Stadium in 2009. The event delivered a profound economic impact to the community.

In 2014, Don left Tuscaloosa to serve as Executive Director of the Foley Sports Tourism Complex. There, he helped guide the branding of the $32 million venue into a national sporting event destination.

Staley returned to Tuscaloosa in 2017 when he was elected President and CEO of the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission. For his efforts, the Alabama House of Representatives recognized Staley in 2014 for his outstanding record of public service in the sports and tourism industry. He was also recognized as Sports Tourism Executive of the Year in 2015, by the National Association of Sports Commissions.

Currently, Don Staley is the President and Founder of Southeastern Network of Athletic Professionals – SNAP headquartered in Leesburg, Florida.

Legislator of the Year

REP. JOE LOVVORN R-AL, ALABAMA DISTRICT 79

Representative Joe Lovvorn has represented Alabama House District 79 for the past six years. He graduated from Auburn University in 1999 with his degree in agriculture and later earned a master’s in business from Auburn. Rep. Lovvorn was instrumental in passing legislation to enable the Rane Culinary Science Center to offer a full range of culinary experience to students. Before being elected to the position in 2016, Lovvorn has held many positions including working as a firefighter, a realtor, and small business owner. He is also the owner/franchisee of Two Men and a Truck for Auburn/Montgomery. Representative Lovvorn was recently re-elected to serve his district for another term.

Restaurateur of the Year

NICK DIMARIO

PP HOSPITALITY GROUP - MOBILE

Nick is the operating partner and co-owner of PP Hospitality Group. Along with “Panini” Pete Blohme, he owns and operates Ed’s Seafood Shed, Panini Pete’s of Fairhope, Squid Ink, and Sunset Pointe. Nick is the behind-the-scenes man that is the glue of the company. Since his partnership with Pete began in September of 2013, he has established a systems-based operational structure within all of the restaurants. He also recently established a strong relationship and internship program with the University of South Alabama and Auburn University offering fall or spring restaurant accounting/operational internships, which have led to actual jobs within the company. Nick is also an active guest speaker for the hospitality department at the University of South Alabama.

His goal is to inspire more people to work in the restaurant industry, and in turn learn more about the new workforce. Reaching the next generation of hospitality leadership has been his goal from day one. He is currently an active participant in setting up a culinary exchange program with the University of Ecuador and the University of South Alabama. Nick recently spoke at ARHA’s Fall Educator Workshop.

Nick also currently serves on several local high school advisory committees. He is compassionate and caring for all his staff, he treats his employees as an investment. Nick is a practice what you preach kind of leader, which we can agree is an exceptional quality. He has spent countless hours coaching the staff, as well as finding opportunities for operational and personal growth. Nick is truly one of a kind – His passion for the restaurant and hospitality industry is truly inspiring.

Pictured L to R: ARHA Lobbyist Jeff Miller (Miller Development Group), ARHA Board Chairman Penny Groux (Perdido Beach Resort), Rep. Joe Lovvorn and ARHA Lobbyist Deborah Miller (Miller Development Group).

Hotelier of the Year

MARGO GILBERT

& RESORTS)

Margo Gilbert is the General Manager of The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa. Under her leadership in 2022 the property has exceeded all expectations in: guest satisfaction surveys, employee opinion surveys, financial performance, and market share. Notably, guest satisfaction ranks #3 of 88 Renaissance properties in North America. Margo exemplifies the core values PCH Hotels & Resorts strives to execute upon every day, recognizing the value of relationships and people. When Margo was notified that a local program serving young adults with special needs urgently needed a new host site, she responded immediately. The Renaissance Battle House partnered with Project Search last year, providing internships to 15 young adults to learn skills and gain employment at the conclusion of the program. Margo also supports the educational community through service at the University of South Alabama, creating a golf tournament to help fund scholarships for USA Hospitality Tourism and Management students. She is a co-chair of the Mobile Moon Pie Drop and also serves as VP of the Visit Mobile Board of Directors and sits on the board of The Mobile Downtown Alliance and ARHA.

Small Hotelier of the Year

JORG WESCHE GRAND BOHEMIAN HOTEL MOUNTAIN BROOK

Jorg Wesche is the General Manager of the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook, Autograph Collection. His energy and commitment to the hotel shines through everyday. Jorg truly cares about the success of the property, but more importantly he cares about his team. He has a genuine interest in helping others grow and motivating them to achieve their career aspirations. Jorg is very meticulous and detail oriented. His upbeat and enthusiastic personality is definitely contagious. Jorg is always eager to support the community, such as the 2022 World Games held in Birmingham this past summer. He displays integrity in all aspects of his life and is an inspiring leader.

THE BATTLE HOUSE RENAISSANCE MOBILE HOTEL & SPA (PCH HOTELS

Supplier of the Year

BROWN-FORMAN CORPORATION

JIM WALSH & JAMES JOSEPH

The Brown-Forman Corporation, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky is the largest whiskey, wine and distilled spirit maker in North America. Founded in 1870, the company now produces over 57 brands, labels and variations of Bourbon and North American whiskey. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by approximately 4,700 employees and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. Old Forester has been the premier sponsor of the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association’s Bartender of the Year Competition for the last eight years. The competition consists of four regional contests that take place in Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile, and the state competition. In addition, Old Forester provided significant donations to Covid-response funds to aid hospitality industry workers during the pandemic. Jim Walsh and James Joseph accepted the award on behalf of Brown-Forman.

Chef of the Year

CHEF ERIC RIVERA VINTAGE HOSPITALITY - MONTGOMERY

Chef Eric Rivera is the co-owner and executive chef of Vintage Hospitality Group’s Ravello Ristorante. Chef Eric enriches Alabama’s culinary industry by creating unmatched experiences for guests and career building opportunities for those who aspire to work in his restaurants. After gaining a wealth of experience by opening and reviving restaurants in Denver, Colorado and Birmingham, Alabama, he moved to Montgomery where he expanded the area’s culinary scene by reigniting local passion for the beloved fine dining restaurant, Vintage Year. Soon after, he led the launch of Vintage Café, a concept that provides convenient, fresh and locally sourced daytime options, and developed the MGM Greens project, an ultra-urban container farm that supplies produce for VHG’s restaurants. Throughout these pursuits, Rivera was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a Smart Catch Leader for his sustainable seafood sourcing and was a grand prize winner of the Blended Burger Contest, among other industry and local accolades.

Ravello Ristorante, the Italian fine dining restaurant opened this spring to much enthusiasm and month-long wait lists for reservations. Within weeks, Wine Spectator magazine recognized the restaurant for its expertly crafted wine program. In addition to his work inside Vintage Hospitality Group’s restaurants, Rivera supports his community through donating to numerous non-profits, serving as a judge for ARHA’s ProStart program and leading the culinary arts exchange program with Montgomery’s sister city of Pietrasanta, Italy.

Humanitarian of the Year

PETE BLOHME PP HOSPITALITY GROUP FAIRHOPE

MICHAEL GAONA

Front of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year

Front of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year

Back of the House Restaurant Employee of the Year

Back of the House Hospitality Employee of the Year

JESSE MCKINNEY

BRITTANY ROBINSON PERDIDO BEACH RESORT ORANGE BEACH

SARINA WHITE

ITHAKA HOSPITALITY PARTNERS AUBURN

JOHN KING

PANINI PETE’S FAIRHOPE

Partnering to help people feel confident that establishments are taking steps to provide a higher level of cleanliness

What is the Ecolab Science Certified™ program?

A comprehensive, science-based public health and food safety program that combines science-backed products, procedures and training with periodic auditing to help deliver a higher level of cleanliness. Together, we can help you meet employee, staff, guest and customer expectations and advance cleaner, safer practices.

Confidence in clean is critical 95% of consumers want to see as much or more cleaning and sanitation practices post-Covid-19 vaccine.*

A majority of consumers also want:

• hand sanitizer provided

• to see strict cleaning protocols and employees visibly cleaning

• to know hospital disinfectants are being used

• cleaning practices audited by an independent party

THANK YOU FOOD & BEVERAGE SPONSORS

Carla Irene of Bar La Fête in Birmingham has been crowned Alabama’s 2022 Bartender of the Year. The annual competition is held in conjunction with the Stars of the Industry Awards presented by the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association and Old Forester.

Regional competitions were held across the state during the month of October. The top finalists from Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile were invited to compete at the state final.

On November 14, the regional winners competed for the title, coveted trophy and a $1,500 grand prize at the The Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University.

Contestants drew two random ingredients and were tasked with creating their own cocktail variation on the fly. The judges evaluated the competitors on use of assigned ingredients, technique, taste, presentation, showmanship, and time management.

Although Carla has only been bartending for six years, she is no stranger to the creative side of making cocktails. Beginning with her first bartending position at The Hound in Auburn, she has always had a strong focus in what makes a cocktail balanced and cohesive. She began working at craft cocktail bars and this really allowed her to develop her skills in creating drinks with the speed and quality that prepared her for this competition.

“The new competition format was a test in how far I have come as a professional bartender, but also reminded me how much fun it is being in an environment where you are forced to completely trust your instinct. This has been an incredible experience for me and I cannot wait to continue on this path,” said Carla.

The annual competition is sponsored by Old Forester and UnitedJohnson Brothers of Alabama.

Carla Irene - Bar La Fête

Alabama’s 2022 Bartender of the Year

Cody

Bartender

2022 2022

CO MPETITIO N

Huntsville Regional Competition

Host: Westin Hotel Huntsville

1st - Cody Sowell (Vintage Cigar Lounge)

2nd - Katie Wilson Lee (Church Street Purveyor)

3rd - Amber Triche (Church Street Family)

People’s Choice Award - Matt Ortega (Catacomb 435)

2022 REGIONAL

Competitions

Birmingham Regional Competition

Host: The Lumbar

1st- Carla Irene (Bar La Fête)

2nd- Nick Knaebel (Cayo Coco Rum Bar & Restaurant)

3rd- Azul Weber (Queen’s Park)

People’s Choice Award – Hyatt Webb (Session, Tuscaloosa)

Montgomery Regional Competition

Host: Ravello Ristorante

1st- Josh Hungerford (Ravello Ristorante)

2nd- Kayla Treat (Vintage Year)

3rd- Elizabeth Barton (Lucy’s Auburn)

People’s Choice Award - Kayla Treat (Vintage Year)

Mobile Regional Competition

Host: Las Floriditas

1st Place - Corey Martin (8 Reale)

2nd Place - Danny Rivas (The Hope Farm)

3rd Place - Amy Eady (Fly Bar)

People’s Choice Award - Danny Rivas (The Hope Farm)

ALABAMA PROSTART® STUDENT INVITATIONAL

The ARHA Foundation is excited to announce the 2023 ProStart® Invitational. Students representing their high school’s ProStart® program will participate in culinary and management competitions. This one day competition allows ProStart® students to showcase the skills that they have learned in the classroom. This annual event is made possible through the support of our industry. See how you can help below and remember that all sponsorship donations are tax-deductible.

How You Can Help: BE A JUDGE OR VOLUNTEER

Over 50 people are needed to staff a ProStart competition! If you would like to volunteer on the day of the competition, we would love your help. We also need judges with backgrounds in culinary, restaurant management, and marketing.

WHAT IS THE PROSTART PROGRAM?

ProStart® is a nationwide, two-year program for high school students that develops the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s industry leaders. From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart®’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-world educational opportunities and builds practical skills and a foundation that will last a lifetime.

By bringing the industry and the classroom together, ProStart® gives students a platform to discover new interests and talents and opens doors for fulfilling careers. The curriculum teaches all facets of the restaurant and foodservice industry, inspires students to succeed and sets a high standard of excellence for students and the industry. ProStart® is supported and operated by the ARHA Foundation in partnership with the NRA Educational Foundation. With almost 30 high schools currently participating, the ProStart® program is growing fast and is on its way to becoming a talent pipeline for careers in Alabama’s foodservice industry.

KIRK KIRKLAND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 2022 Recipients

Tralandis Manson Shelton State Community College

Amanda Parrish Coastal Alabama Community College

David Parrish Coastal Alabama Community College

Avery Fuller University of North Alabama

Kayleigh Logan University of North Alabama

Happ e nings ARHA

In October, ARHA attended the grand opening of Central High School’s restaurant, The Brick Beastro (which goes along with the school mascot, the Red Devils). This year is extra special as they unveiled their new outside patio and cookbook. The restaurant, staffed by ProStart students, is now open to the public during lunch hours in Phenix City.

ARHA held its summer board meeting in Montgomery. We were honored to have Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth and Susan Wilhelm, Deputy Director, State of Alabama Department of Finance as our guest speakers.

In October, ARHA’s Baldwin County Chapter held a meeting in conjunction with the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce/Gateway Initiative. Senator Chris Elliot was the guest speaker.

The ARHA Foundation hosted a Fall Educators Workshop at Wind Creek Hotel in Atmore. Over thirty educators from all over the state attended a management and hospitality workshop followed by a networking dinner. The next morning, attendees took part in a hands-on mock ProStart competition in the hotel’s Culinary Studio.

T H I S IS Alabama

And from our James Beard Award-winning restaurants to our barbecue joints, you can take it all in.

Hot and Hot Fish Club, Birmingham