Food & Beverage Leaders Pay Tribute during
Annual Nightclub & Bar Trade Show and VIBE Conference in Las Vegas
The Millennium Advisory Board (MAB), an organization comprised of leaders in the food and beverage industry that have the common purpose of creating and promoting a vision for the future of the industry recently honored Mr. Joe Smith, Sr. Vice President of Sales at Monin Gourmet Flavorings, with the Sixth Annual MAB Icon Award at a reception held in Las Vegas. The award recognizes the positive impact Joe has made in the hospitality industry. Past recipients of the award include Jim Flaherty, former Vice President of Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine; the late Don Stanczak, former Vice President of Food and Beverage for Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Stanley Novack, Director for Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill and former Vice President of Concept Development for HMSHost Corporation; Patrick Henry, President and CEO of Patrick Henry Creative Promotions, Inc.; and Lawrence J. “Laddie” Weiss, President of Weiss Foodservice Visions, Inc.
“Our board members have an overwhelming amount of respect for Joe so when it came time to nominate this year’s award winner; it’s no surprise the board unanimously voted for him. It’s with great honor and pleasure that we celebrate his career and what he has done for the beverage industry,” said Millennium Advisory Board founder Patrick Henry.
"Joe is a wonderful leader and a great mentor, I speak on behalf of our entire national accounts team when I say I wouldn’t be as successful as I am today if Joe wasn’t the proven leader that he is,” said Angie Mikeska, Senior Director of National Accounts for Monin Gourmet Flavorings.
Joe’s beautiful wife and daughter, Mrs. Deanne Smith and Mrs. Cameron Borgasano along with MAB members and numerous national account operators and beverage suppliers were in Las Vegas to personally congratulate Joe.
In addition to awarding the MAB Icon award; 10-year veteran MAB Members were recognized which included Mr. Matt Durbin, Vice President of Beverage & Bar for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide; Mr. Tylor Field III, Divisional Vice President of Wine & Spirits for Landry’s, Inc.; Mr. Doug Jackson, Senior Director of Beverage Development for Darden Restaurants; and Mr. Randy Steinbrenner, Director of Marketing & Beverage for Fox & Hound Restaurant Group. Last year, 10 veteran members were honored.
In addition to the above mentioned veteran MAB members, current members include: Cindy Busi, Worldwide Beverage Director for Hard Rock International; Angela Callan, Director of Beverage Operations for Hooters; Edgar Carlson, Co-Owner of Hospitality USA; David Commer, President of Commer Beverage Consulting; Peter Czizek, Vice President Culinary and Menu Strategy for Applebee’s International, Inc.; Jim Doak, Vice President of Menu Innovation for Ignite Restaurant Group; Al Ferrone, Vice President of Hospitality for Rim Hospitality; William Freeman, CEO of Bertucci’s Corporation; Patrick Kirk, Marketing and Brand Manager for Buffalo Wild Wings; Helen Mackey, Vice President of Beverage Strategy for Ruth’s Hospitality; Kieran McGill, President and CEO of Fado’ Irish Pubs, Inc.; Stuart Melia, Vice President of Beverage for Craftworks Restaurants & Breweries, Inc.; Mary Melton, Director of Beverage for P.F. Chang’s China Bistro; Stan Novack, Director for Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill; Michelle Pae, Vice President of National Accounts for Terlato Wines; Jeff Phillips, Senior Vice President of Operations for Palm Restaurant Group; Scott Schmidt, Director of Operations for Tavern Restaurant Group; Andy Scoggins, Vice President of Food & Beverage; Richard Verrecchia, President of Neat Beverage Concepts and Suzan Waldschmidt, Director of Beverage for Outback Steakhouse. For more information regarding the Millennium Advisory Board, please contact founder Patrick Henry at 281-983-5500 or patrick@phcp.com.