One of the foodservice industry's most endearing traits remains the simple fact that it continues to reward those willing to work hard in an honest and thoughtful manner. And the sky's the limit for those who approach their roles with open minds and a willingness to learn. Such is the case with FE&S' 2015 Top Achiever Award recipients.
Click for a list of past winners in the following categories: Dealer, Consultant, Service Agent, Manufacturers' Rep and Operator.
It's a good day if you're working — or chillin' — with Chuck Day. Clients can count on him for his sense of urgency and followup, while friends enjoy his funny jokes and upbeat personality. Actually, that's why many of his clients also count Day as a friend.
Tracy Taraski's not one to carry on — especially about herself. Taraski leans toward the softer-spoken side, but anyone who fails to listen carefully risks missing her quick-witted jokes and years of foodservice and design wisdom. Working in the challenging sports foodservice arena — no pun intended — that wisdom comes in handy.
Wayne Jones didn't start his career in foodservice equipment and supplies as a manufacturer's representative. In fact, he spent the first half of his 29 years in the sector in customer service and sales on the dealer/distributor side of the business.
Repair work has been part of Gary Petitti's life from the very beginning. As a child, Petitti went on service calls with his father, a television repairman. In high school, he studied industrial electronics, while in college it was computer electronics repair. Repair work — restoring antique cars and motorcycles — is even his hobby.
Hard working. Dedicated. Passionate. Driven to succeed. While any one of these traits apply to countless foodservice professionals, collectively they serve as the cornerstones of success for FE&S’ 2014 Top Achievers.
The Great Recession changed how many foodservice executives thought about their companies. Perhaps no one embraced these changes as much as Drew O'Quinn, vice president of Fayetteville, N.C.-based Thompson & Little and FE&S' Top Achiever-Dealer for 2014.
A strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit helped Kristin Sedej forge her own path.
Chris Folz survives and thrives in the foodservice industry by making very conscious and deliberate choices about the direction his company should take and identifying the correct path to get there. It's ironic, then, that FE&S' Top Achiever – Manufacturers' Representative for 2014 got into this business almost by accident.
Gary Potvin knows the importance of "life or death" timelines.
