ACF Cutting Edge Award

The ACF Cutting Edge Award recognizes innovators who give their time to help nurture and mentor culinarians on behalf of the ACF and the industry.

2027 Award

ACF is now accepting applications for the ACF Cutting Edge Award. Deadline to submit an application is January 31, 2027. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. The 2027 ACF National Convention will be held July 12–15, 2027, in Orlando, Florida. You must be present to receive your award.

2026 Recipients

  • Bryant Alden, CEC, AAC
  • Jason G. Avelson, CEC, CCE, CCA
  • Sheila Begay, CSC, CWPC
  • David Bressler, CEC, AAC
  • Haley M. Conant
  • Charles DeVries, CEPC
  • David W. Franklin, CEC
  • Christopher A. Galarza, CEC, CCA
  • Bouakhanh Greene, CEC
  • Daniel G. Hugelier, CMC
  • Travis R. Johnson, CEC, AAC
  • Melvina Jones, CWPC
  • John Kukucka, CEC, AAC
  • Geoffrey S. Lanez, CMC
  • Christopher J. LaVecchia
  • Isamar Leal
  • Harry Linzmayer, CEC, HAAC
  • Josh Meeker, CEC
  • Efthymia (Effie) Noifelt
  • Deniz Orhun
  • Douglas J. Overes
  • Michael W. Riggs, CEC, CCA
  • Gabe Rosado, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Kara Terreault-Triplett
  • Rusty Weatherly, CEC, CCE

2025 Recipients

  • Patrick S. Artz
  • Robert W. Beighey, CEC, CCA
  • Walter T. Cloud, CCC, CEPC
  • Thomas J. Delle Donne, CEC
  • Spyridon Giannakoulopoulos, CEC, CCE
  • Debra S. Hamlin-Childers
  • Andrew Helmandollar
  • Jimmy L. Hill, HAAC
  • Richard Hoffman, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Raimund W. Hofmeister, CMC, AAC
  • Matthew P. Jarson
  • Sergey Kashkin, CEC, CCA
  • Tony Le, CEC
  • Douglas R. Maneely, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Maynard J. Meland, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Oscar Moreno
  • Lee H. Moultrie
  • John T. Piazza, CEC, CCA, CCE
  • David L. Prows, CEC, AAC
  • Matthew D. Schellig, CEC, CEPC, CCE, CCA, AAC
  • Travis Stehman
  • David J. Turcotte, CEC, AAC
  • Tom Valentin, CEC, AAC
  • John J. Woods, CEC, CWPC, AAC
  • Jay Ziobrowski, CEC

2024 Recipients

  • Joseph M. Allison, CEC, AAC
  • David M. Avalos
  • Chad M. Burnett, CEC
  • Michael R. Edwards, CEC, CCA, CCE
  • Timothy J. Foley, HAAC
  • Mary E. Gorski
  • Eric E. Jenkins
  • Ronald M. Landry, CEC
  • Kareen A. Linton
  • Gaston D. Merideth, CEC
  • Gary R. Klinefelter, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Jason E. Knapp, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Alan J. Neace, CEC, AAC
  • Cynthia M. Monroe, CEC
  • Joseph D. Parajecki
  • William D. Paul
  • Robert W. Phillips, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • Michael J. Stamets, CEC

  • Michael R. Thrash, CEC, CCA, CCE, AAC
  • Mike P. Troidel
  • KyWai Wong, CEC
  • Thomas Yanisko, CEC, CCA, AAC
  • John P. Zenk, CEC, CCA
  • Don Zajac, CC

2023 Recipients

  • Lizet S. Angulo
  • Pamela A. Bedford, CCE
  • Lance S. Cook, CEC, CCA
  • Isaiah J. Gerrard
  • Susan Griffin, CEPC
  • Kristopher D. Jubinville
  • Brian E. Lord, CEC
  • Rick Neal, CEC
  • Anne McBride
  • Christopher Ridenhour
  • Elle Simone Scott
  • Stephen Reimar
  • Ti Martin
  • Meg Bickford
  • Alejandra Kauachi
  • Jennifer Booker
  • Emilia Tomaszycki
  • Justin Sutherland
  • Lamar J. Moore
  • Christopher D. Viaud
  • Lorencita Billiman
  • Danielle M. Hughes
  • Jordan Wagman
  • Sharon Daniel

2022 Recipients

  • Cassondra Armstrong
  • Jennifer Denlinger, CCC
  • Steve DeShazo, CEC
  • Fionna Espana
  • Elizabeth Faulkner
  • Amaury Guichon
  • Sheila Osborne-Beck
  • Eveline Rosado-Haliday
  • Mariya Russell
  • Victor Sommo, CEC
  • Samuel Spencer
  • Brian Tatsukawa, CEC
  • Kathleen Vossenberg, CEC, CCE