SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (January 9, 2020) — Industry, a nationwide hospitality-only professional network with members in every state, is proud to announce winners of the inaugural Industry Chef of the Year Awards. More than 3,000 chefs from across the country were nominated for their contributions by their industry peers, including culinary professionals, restaurant owners/operators, and human-resource departments. Following a period of voting in which over 150,000 votes were submitted, one chef was recognized in each state as the respective 2019 Chef of the Year. “The Industry Chef of the Year Awards recognize and support leaders in the culinary community,” said Industry Founder and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Cecil. “These dynamic chefs and hospitality professionals work tirelessly to serve, deliver excellence, and make a positive impact on their local communities. It is an honor to recognize these outstanding chefs for their immeasurable contributions to the industry.” Industry is the first company to give hourly hospitality job-seekers access to a professional recruiter, eliminating the complexity of the job-search process. Trusted by thousands of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and hotels across the United States, Industry connects qualified candidates with a variety of coveted culinary, front of house, management, and hotel jobs. Winners of the 2019 Industry Chef of the Year Awards are as follows:
- ALABAMA: Chef Bill Briand, Fishers at Orange Beach Marina
- ALASKA: Chef Beau Schooler
- ARIZONA: Chef Roderick LeDesma, PY Steakhouse
- ARKANSAS: Chef Amanda Ivy, Low Ivy Catering
- CALIFORNIA: Chef Henry Tran, Golden Road Brewing Anaheim
- COLORADO: Chef Joel Mays, May-I Personal Chef
- CONNECTICUT: Chef Fernando Scarpati, Positano Ristorante
- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Chef JR Robinson, Kitchencray Cafe
- DELAWARE: Chef Matthew Kern, Heirloom
- FLORIDA: Chef Bob Aungst, Private Chef
- GEORGIA: Chef Cameron Dangerfield, Cultivate Food and Coffee
- HAWAII: Chef Felix Tai, Chopchop Rotisserie
- IDAHO: Chef Christopher Zahn, Zee's Rooftop Café
- ILLINOIS: Chef Lamar Moore, Restaurateur
- INDIANA: Chef Ron Duprat, The Bridgewater Club
- IOWA: Chef Aaron McMahon, Davenport Country Club
- KANSAS: Chef Carl Thorne-Thomsen, Story
- KENTUCKY: Chef Paco Garcia, PJ and Foko Familia
- LOUISIANA: Chef Alon Shaya, Pomegranate Hospitality
- MAINE: Chef Andrew Chadwick, Inn by the Sea
- MARYLAND: Chef Chris Amendola, Forage
- MASSACHUSETTS: Chef Lucio Garnica, Wequassett Resort
- MICHIGAN: Chef Curtis Huffman, A Special Taste
- MINNESOTA: Chef Tommy Hearn, Taher Inc
- MISSISSIPPI: Chef Keshia Brooks, Private Chef
- MISSOURI: Chef Dakota Kolb, Tiffany Springs Senior Living
- MONTANA: Chef Nick Steen Gullings, Walkers
- NEVADA: Chef Phillip Dell, Private Chef
- NEW HAMPSHIRE: Chef Joseph Grella, Presto Pasta
- NEW JERSEY (tie): Chef Courtney Harris, Chef Courtney Private Chef Inc and Chef Robbie Felice, Viaggio Ristorante
- NEW MEXICO: Chef Tanya Sanchez, Brixens
- NEW YORK: Chef Pasquale Abbatiello, Southern Table Restaurant
- NORTH CAROLINA: Chef Michael Bowling, Hot Box Next Level Kitchen
- NORTH DAKOTA: Chef Micah Leitel, Rustica Eatery and Tavern
- OHIO: Chef Shane Bell, Bravo
- OKLAHOMA: Chef Shelby Sieg, Livegrass Butcher + Bistro
- OREGON: Chef Jeff Smith, Cafe 19 Nike World Headquarters
- PENNSYLVANIA: Chef Nicolas Servis, Árdana food and drink
- RHODE ISLAND: Chef Donna Yuen, Ocean House
- SOUTH CAROLINA: Chef Kevin Levine, Scatori's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant
- SOUTH DAKOTA: Chef Sean Sherman
- TENNESSEE: Chef Gerron Hurt, Southern Ego Truck
- TEXAS: Chef Luke Rogers, Savor
- UTAH: Pastry Chef Amber Billingsley
- VERMONT: Chef Alex Farris
- VIRGINIA: Chef Tyenella Hall, T&R Catering
- WASHINGTON: Chef Jacob Howell, 253 Degrees Private Meals
- WEST VIRGINIA: Chef Bernardo Martinez, El Zocalo Mexican Restaurant
- WISCONSIN: Chef Ryan Kirby, Nitty Gritty
- WYOMING: Chef Gavin Fine
About Industry: Industry, a nationwide hospitality only professional network with members in every state, with a mission to make service and hospitality professionals successful in their careers. Through an Industry Profile, job seekers create a custom profile to showcase their unique experiences, network, and connect with co-workers, friends, and mentors and discover jobs at the most sought after hospitality and retail companies in the world. For more information, visit www.industry.co, or connect on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
