Press Release

Award Winners Announced at 2009 ACF Central Regional Conference

More than 400 Chefs and Cooks Attended ACF’s Conference in Schaumburg, Ill.

St. Augustine, Fla., February 24, 2009—The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc., the largest association of professional culinarians in North America, honored its members and chapters at the 2009 ACF Central Regional Conference held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, Schaumburg, Ill., February 21–23.

The 2009 ACF Central Regional Conference award recipients listed below will compete for national titles against their winning regional counterparts at the 2009 ACF National Convention in Orlando, Fla., July 11–14.

Chef of the Year, sponsored by Unilever Foodsolutions
Jack Delby; executive chef, Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, Schaumburg, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine, Inc.

ACF Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Splenda®
Ford Culbertson; executive pastry chef/co-owner, Rolf's Patisserie, Inc., Lincolnwood, Ill.

ACF Chef Educator of the Year
Timothy Bucci, CEC, CCE; associate professor, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill.; ACF Louis Joliet Chapter

ACF Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award
Bernard Urban, CEC, AAC; chef ambassador, Ben E. Keith Foods, Houston; Texas Chefs Association

ACF Chef Professionalism Award, sponsored by Nestlé Professional
Fawzi Ottman, CEC, AAC; executive chef, Odyssey Country Club, Tinley Park, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.

ACF Student Chef of the Year, sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc.
Kelly Conwell; student, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kan.; ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association

Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, sponsored by Pearson Education
Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.: Jeremy Brown; Meredith Frank; Erin Hoffmann; Amanda Losh; and Richard Mueller. The team is coached by Vicki Davenport.

ACF Student Team Regional Championship, sponsored by R.L. Schreiber, Inc.
ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association; Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Mich.: Marina Baditoi; Richard Kallis; Edward Kim; Justin Lucas; and Brandon Wolschleger. The team is coached by Kevin Gawronski, CMC.

The 2009 ACF Central Regional Conference award recipients listed below were recognized for their outstanding contributions and goodwill.

Central Region Rene Roncari Senior Chef Humanitarian Award
Thomas Berg; sous chef, Kelber Catering, St. Louis Park, Minn.; ACF Minneapolis Chefs Chapter

ACF Chapter of the Year
ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians, Inc., Chicago

ACF Chapter Achievement Award
ACF Minneapolis Chefs Chapter; Minneapolis
ACF Louis Joliet Chapter; Joliet, Ill.
ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians, Inc.; Chicago
ACF Capitol Professional Chefs & Cooks Association of Greater Lansing Michigan; East Lansing, Mich.
ACF Greater Kansas City Chefs Association; Kansas City, Mo.
ACF of Iowa
ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine Inc.; Chicago
Chefs de Cuisine Association of St. Louis Inc.; St. Louis

ACF President’s Medallions
Girolomo “Jim” Calzante, HAAC; owner, Mamma Maria’s Ristorante, Elmhurst, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine, Inc.
Charles Carroll, CEC, AAC; executive chef, River Oaks Country Club, Houston; ACF Professional Chefs Association of Houston
Warren DeWolfe; Aurora, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine, Inc.
Michael Garbin, CEC, AAC; executive chef, Union League Club of Chicago, Chicago; ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians Inc.
Ernst Gruch, CMC, AAC; chef-instructor, The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Dallas, Dallas; Texas Chefs Association
John Kempf, AAC; Wauconda, Ill.; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine, Inc.
Michel Lama; general manager, Deer Path Inn, Lake Forest, Ill.
John McCormack, CEC, CCE, AAC; president/corporate chef, Gateway Food Ventures Inc., Rochester Hills., Mich.; ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association
Michael Reich, CEC; executive chef, Renaissance Chicago Hotel, Chicago; ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine, Inc.

American Academy of Chefs Chair’s Scholarship
L. Fernando Mojica; student, Elgin Community College, Elgin, Ill.

American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) Exemplary Programs>
Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wis.; associate of applied science (AAS) degree in culinary arts.

Just 30 miles from Chicago’s big-city attractions and world-class dining options, Schaumburg, Ill., was the location of the 2009 ACF Central Regional Conference hosted by ACF Chicago Chefs of Cuisine, Inc. Bringing more than 400 chefs, cooks and foodservice professionals to the city, the conference provided attendees with numerous opportunities to advance their professional development and enhance their culinary skills through informative business seminars, forums and cooking demonstrations featuring the latest trends and techniques. In addition, the conference offered participants the opportunity to compete in several cooking competitions.

Sponsors of the 2009 ACF Central Regional Conference and ACF national award sponsors are: American Lamb Board; Barber Foods; Barry Callebaut; Beef Information Center; Bon Chef, Inc.; Bunge Oils; Butterball Farms, Inc.; Canada Cutlery Inc.; Carbon’s Golden Malted; Cargill Salt; Central Region State Beef Councils; The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Inc.; Clabber Girl Corporation; Consumer Packing Company; Custom Culinary, Inc.; Enviro-Solutions; Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers; GFF, Inc./Girard’s Dressings; Gordon Food Service; Illinois Crown Beef; Kendall College School of Culinary Arts; Labriola; Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America; Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association; Michigan Sea Grant/Great Lakes Whitefish; Mind’s Eye Resource Management, LLC; National Honey Board; The National Pork Board and America’s Pork Producers; Nestlé Professional; NewChef Fashion Inc.; Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats; Pearson Education; QUALISOY in partnership with the Soyfoods Council; R.L. Schreiber, Inc.; Reinhart FoodService; Ronnoco Coffee Company; Rubbermaid Commercial Products; Splenda®; Sysco–Chicago; Tyson Food Service; Unilever Foodsolutions; US Foodservice; Vita-Mix; and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 22,000 members spanning 230 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org.

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For photos and interviews, contact Leah Craig at lcraig@acfchefs.net or call (800) 624-9458, ext. 113.

Contact: Leah Craig
Public Relations Specialist
(800) 624-9458, ext. 113
lcraig@acfchefs.net

• Award Winners Announced at 2009 ACF Central Regional Conference