U.S. Air Force foodservice facilities and personnel honored at the 51st Hennessy Awards Breakfast
(Chicago, Ill.) The National Restaurant Association today announced the five foodservice operations and two personnel winners of the 2007 Hennessy Awards and the 2007 Hennessy Travelers Association Award of Excellence. The announcement took place at a breakfast during this year’s National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show®, taking place May 19-22 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The Hennessy Awards, sponsored by the National Restaurant Association, recognize the special achievements of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) foodservice facilities worldwide.
“Congratulations to the U.S. Air Force foodservice operations and personnel who are being honored for their outstanding work and dedication to providing high-quality meals to the men and women serving our country worldwide,” said Peter Kilgore, acting interim president and chief executive office of the Association. “We are proud to honor these well-deserving recipients and to be a part of the prestigious Hennessy Awards, now in its 51st year.”
The 2007 Hennessy Award foodservice operations winners are:
Vandenberg AFB, CA Air Force Space Command – Single Unit Base
Fairchild AFB, WA Air Mobility Command – Multiple Unit Base
911 Services Flight Pittsburgh AFS, PA – Air Force Reserve Unit
121st Services Flight Columbus, OH – Air National Guard
701 Munitions Support Squadron, Kleine Brogel, Belgium – USAFE Foodservice Small Site Award
The 2007 Hennessy Travelers Association Award of Excellence winners are:
SrA Bonnie Kilichowski, Osan AB Republic of Korea – multiple facility team
SSgt Michelle Messer, Altus AFB, OK – single facility team
The Hennessy Traveler evaluating teams that recommend the winners of the Hennessy trophies consist of members of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors, the Society for Foodservice Management, the International Food Service Executives Association and the USAF. The teams travel around the world to evaluate USAF foodservice operations. The bases visited represent the elite performers within the various commands of the Air Force. Bases of Reserve Units and Air National Guard are evaluated separately through their headquarters but are also honored for their achievements during the program. The evolving challenges of the air forces have led to the creation of a U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) small site foodservice award.
Earlier this year, the National Restaurant Association—in conjunction with the Hennessy Travelers Association—awarded 50 USAF service personnel customized culinary education opportunity during a week-long program at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world’s premier culinary college.
The special guest keynote speaker at this year’s breakfast ceremony is General William T. Hobbins, Commander, U.S. Air Forces Europe; Commander, Air Component Command, Ramstein; and Director, Joint Air Power Competency Center, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Now in its 88th year, the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals the Western Hemisphere. The 2007 Show will be held May 19-22, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. The Show attracts 2,100+ exhibiting companies and 73,000 attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 110 countries. Free, online media registration and more information can be found on the Show Web site at www.restaurant.org/show/media.
