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CONTACT: Camille St. Onge
Director of Communications
360.480.2770
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 24, 2009
Restaurant Industry Leaders Nominated for Statewide Achievement Awards
OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington Restaurant Association is pleased to announce its 2008 industry award nominees. The winners will be named on the evening of March 8, during Toasting the Finest: A Celebration of Success, at Olympia's Washington Center for the Performing Arts.
Nominees were selected in four categories, including Quick Service Operator of the Year, Full Service Operator of the Year, Allied Member of the Year and for the Jerry Burtenshaw Lifetime Achievement Award.
Contenders were chosen based on their involvement in the communities their businesses serve, their participation in the WRA's organizational endeavors and their innovation as business leaders. Winners are selected by the WRA's Board of Directors.
The nominees in each category are as follows:
2008 Quick Service Operator of the Year nominees are: Bret Stewart of Center Twist, Inc., Woodinville; Peter Braun of Orchard Foods, Silverdale; Bob Donegan of Ivars, Inc., Seattle; and Scott Dickinson of Dickinson Northwest, Inc., Vancouver, Wash.
2008 Full Service Operator of the Year nominees include: Steve Stoddard of Restaurants Unlimited, Inc., Seattle; Janet Lightner of Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham; Lane Hoss of Anthony's Restaurants, Inc., Bellevue; Mo Shaw of Ray's Boathouse, Seattle; and Robert Bonina of Washington Athletic Club, Seattle.
2008 Allied Member of the Year nominees are: Bob Decker of Sysco Food Services of Spokane; Christina Graham of Cedar Grove Organics Recycling, LLC, Seattle; and Bob Mauer of Bargreen-Ellingson Tacoma.
2008 Jerry Burtenshaw Lifetime Achievement Award nominees include: Dave Hooke of Senor Froggy, Spokane; Ben Goldie of Cottage Café, Cle Elum; Roberta Greer, Seattle; Jim Aitken of Consolidated Restaurants, Seattle; and Ray Lindstrom of Baldies Burger & Brew, Bellevue.
During the ceremony, Boyd Coffee Company will be introduced into the WRA's Allied Member Hall of Fame.
The evening serves to reward hard work, philanthropy and leadership. A portion of proceeds from Toasting the Finest ticket sales will be used to support the WRA Education Foundation. The evening's festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m., following the day-long Boyd Coffee ProStart Invitational, an annual competition among high school culinary students across the state. Student, teacher and mentor awards also will be presented during Toasting the Finest.
Show your support, and visit www.WRAhome.com/toastingthefinest.com for tickets and additional information. The Washington Center is located at 512 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98501.
For more information, contact the WRA at 800.225.7166.
The Washington Restaurant Association, in its 80th year, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry - the largest private employer in the state with a workforce of more than 199,000 employees. In Washington, the more than 12,500 restaurants annually generate $11.9 billion to the state economy and contribute $635 million in state taxes. Washington restaurants are vital to our economy, community and careers.
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