Executive of the Year
Jim Hanson, Best Restaurant Equipment, Columbus, Ohio.
 Executive of the Year is the highest individual honor awarded by SEFA. On its 25th Anniversary, SEFA named Jim Hanson of Best Restaurant Equipment, Executive of the Year as he join the ranks of some true industry leaders. Hanson is a leader in the industry and in SEFA. A top-notch gentleman, his actions bear out his words of integrity and honor. He is known for his fairness and sets an example that others follow. He is a strategic thinker and expects positive results. Not only is he an excellent businessman, his sense of humor causes people to strongly desire to work with his company.
In this photo from left to right: Tedde Reid, Jim Hanson, Jim Reid.
Executive of the Year
Jim Reid, SEFA, South Barrington, Ill.
 Executive of the Year is the highest individual honor awarded by SEFA. Jim Reid was recognized by SEFA Members and Suppliers for his endless contributions to SEFA as Chief Financial Officer. His professionalism and knack to help SEFA Members grow their businesses has helped to make SEFA the industry leader that it is today.
Photographed from left: Tedde and Jim Reid.
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Spirit of Success
Rick Anger, Hatco Foodservice, Milwaukee, Wis.
 Rick Anger has always had his heart in the game and his head held high and that is why he was recognized with this year’s Spirit of Success Award. Enthusiasm and loyalty are truly characteristic of this man. When Rick enters a new phase of life, he will leave behind a legacy of joy, support and happy customers. He is a life success as well as a business success.
In this photo from left: Rick Anger and Tedde Reid.
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Trainer of the Year
Ray Poche, The Vollrath Company, Sheboygan, Wis.
Ray Poche of The Vollrath Company was named SEFA's Trainer of the Year. What makes this honor so special is that he was chosen by the SEFAPros, the salespeople  attending SEFA National Sales Conferences who went through his training. About him, his students have said:
“His enthusiasm for the new products is infectious.”
“He always brings excitement to training, not just about his company but about all sales.”
“In the past, I’ve sold very little of his company’s products just because of opportunities. But they have done the most to bring new innovations and products to the industry. After this conference and this training, I can sell $10,000 in equipment when I get home.”
Ray's talent and willingness to share his expertise shine through in the quality of his training.
In this photo from left to right: Tedde Reid, Ray Poche, Tom Stritch and Jim Reid.
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Member of the Year
Johnson-Lancaster and Associates, Safety Harbor, Fla. Accepted by Brad Lancaster and David Hammersley
 Member of the Year is the highest honor a SEFA Dealer can earn. This year’s recipient, Johnson-Lancaster and Associates, grew their business an amazing 54% in 2010. Their principal, Brad Lancaster, serves on SEFA’S Vendor Committee. His ability to work with SEFA Suppliers in such a positive way is marvelous. Perhaps his workmanship and leadership contributed to this growth.
About the award: Cobalt Blue was first discovered in 1802. It was a very expensive and extraordinary pigment of color that caused Vincent Van Gogh to declare, “Cobalt blue is a divine color and there is nothing so beautiful for putting atmosphere around things.” Add cobalt blue to crystal and one achieves something of beauty, something to behold in its workmanship. The SEFA Member of the Year, Johnson-Lancaster and Associates, is such a company, something to watch.
Photographed above from left to right: Tedde Reid, David Hammersley and Brad Lancaster.
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President's Club
Penn Jersey Paper, Philadelphia, Pa. Accepted by Kevin Curtin and Irv Fine.
Culinary Depot, Monsey, N.Y. Accepted by Sholem Potash and Michael Lichter.
 The Members of the SEFA President's Club are expected to set an example for others to follow, to stand proud in their growth and support of the SEFA Family. This year’s winners included Penn Jersey Paper and Culinary Depot. Penn Jersey grew their SEFA volume by 36.7% in 2010. Culinary Depot, a relative newcomer to SEFA, has had amazing growth since joining SEFA three years ago. 2010 saw an increase of 74% in SEFA Support from Culinary Depot.
About the Award: This Award is represented by the Ama’u. The Ama’u is a fern frond and is usually shown unfurling. To the Polynesian people, the Ama’u is a symbol of creation, perpetual motion and long life. The inward coil is symbolic of a return to the point of origin, a sign that one should always remember his lessons, his heritage.
In the above photo from left to right: Sholem Potash, Michael Lichter, Kevin Curtin and Irv Fine.
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Breakthrough Award
Action Sales, Monterrey Park, Calif. Accepted by Jack Chang, Joel Chang and Shianty Huang.
Ashland Equipment, Belcamp, Md. Accepted by Rod White and Todd Schaeffer.
Great Lakes Hotel Supply, Detroit, Mich. Accepted by Marc Israel and Jim Heeter.
The Breakthrough Award recognizes SEFA Members that enjoyed tremendous breakthrough growth in the previous year to propel them to the top. Congratulations to Action Sales on their Breakthrough with growth of 25.8%: Ashland Equipment, Belcamp, Maryland with a 54.6% increase; and Great Lakes Hotel Supply, Detroit, Michigan, with a 36.4% increase. For SEFA’s 25th Anniversary, the Breakthrough Award was symbolized by a whale breaching out of the water and ready for excitement.
In this photo from left to right: Jim Heeter, Marc Israel, Todd Schaeffer, Rod White, Joel Chang, Jack Chang, Shianty Huang, Jeff Chao.
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Soaring to New Heights Award
Instawares, Kennesaw, Ga. Accepted by Paul Stoner, Trish Capinski and Eric Harrison.
 Instawares was presented with the Soaring to New Heights award. They amazed SEFA with their ability to grow. Having just joined in 2008, they were on the Award stage last year. This year they were back to celebrate growth of 81.6%.
In this photo from left: Paul Stoner, Trish Capinski, Tedde Reid, Eric Harrison and Jim Reid.
Longest Growth Streak
Restaurant Depot/Jetro Cash ‘N Carry, College Point, N.Y. Accepted by Larry Rosenthal, Matthew Arthur and Irena Sromek.
Longest Growth Streak is a new SEFA Award and it may be a once in a lifetime award. The winner of this award, Restaurant Depot/Jetro Cash ‘N Carry has increased its volume every year since SEFA began keeping records - 23 years, from 1988 through 2010.
This award features the humuhumunukunukuapua’a fish, the state fish of Hawaii. This trigger fish has a remarkable ability to rapidly alter its coloration to prevent others from getting too close. In a business sense, this must be the case as well for the winner of our Longest Growth Streak Award.
In the above photo from left to right: Irene Sromek, Larry Rosenthal, Tedde Reid and Matthew Arthur.
The Insider
Oswalt Restaurant Supply, Oklahoma City, Okla. Accepted by Jim Oswalt, Dick Muehleison, Jeff Martin and Huff Harper.
 It’s been a SEFA slogan for quite some time: Buy Within the Group! This award recognizes the Member that put forth the best effort to focus on buying within the group. For 2010, we had a great Member, Oswalt Restaurant Supply, whose total volume grew 6% while their SEFA Volume grew 17.7%.
In this photo from left to right: Huff Harper, Dick Muehleison, Jeff Martin, Jim Oswalt and Jim Reid.
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High Achiever's Club
Globe Equipment Company, Bridgeport, Conn. Accepted by Jay and Brian Ringelheim.
J&E Restaurant Supply, Bakersfield and Fresno, Calif. Accepted by Alfredo, Bianca, Jose and Mary Lorenzo.
Thompson & Little, Fayetteville, N.C. Accepted by Drew O’Quinn and Van Herring.
Serv-U, Champaign, Ill. Accepted by Chad Hemming, Sean Hemming, and Jill Kirby.
We are proud to honor Globe Equipment Company, J&E Restaurant Supply, Thompson & Little and Serv-U with this year’s SEFA High Achievers Award. The amazing whale can propel its body totally out of the water even though it can be as long as 48 feet and weigh 40,000 pounds. Now, that’s high achievement! Such is the case with our SEFA High Achievers for 2010.
Pictured above from left to right: Brian and Jay Ringelheim; Bianca, Mary, Jose and Alfredo Lorenzo; Chad Hemming, Jill Kirby and Sean Hemming: Drew O'Quinn.
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Journey Award
Dean Supply, Cleveland, Ohio. Accepted by Larry DeSatnik.
 The Journey Award is for the Member who focused so much on SEFA that their volume through SEFA was the greatest percentage of total volume of all SEFA Members. With excellent growth of 12.4%, this long-term Member, Dean Supply, Cleveland, Ohio, put 85% of his purchases through SEFA Suppliers.
In this photo from left: Jim Reid and Larry DeSatnik.
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Circle of Excellence
Anchorage Restaurant Supply, Anchorage Alaska. Accepted by Steve and Susan Holland.
CWD Distributing, Kearney Neb. and Aberdeen S.D. Accepted by Chris Abraham, Dale Bean and Ron Howerter.
Grover Brothers, Hattiesburg, Miss. Accepted by David Grover.
The SEFA Circle of Excellence includes SEFA Members who have grown their volume significantly over the past year. In fact, they’ve had significant growth over the past two years to lead SEFA to phenomenal growth. This year’ s winners include: Anchorage Restaurant Supply, CWD Distributing and Grover Brothers.
  
Top Left (From Left): Tom Stritch, Susan and Steve Holland.
Top Center (From Left): Tom Stritch, Chris Abraham, Ron Howerter and Dale Bean.
Top Right (From Left): Tom Stritch, David Grover.
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Great Start
DePalo & Sons, Baltimore, Md. Accepted by Tony DePalo and George Shea.
 The Great Start Award is for the new Member who grew their business by a greater margin than the other new Members. This award is especially fun to present because it honors a repeat SEFA Member, DePalo & Sons, Baltimore, Maryland. In 2010, DePalo enjoyed 26% growth over their pre-SEFA numbers.
Photographed from left to right: Tedde Reid, Tony DePalo and George Shea.
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Supplier of the Year
The Vollrath Company, Sheboygan, Wis. Accepted by Paul Bartelt, Marty Patterson, Dennis Park and Ray Poche.
Supplier of the Year is the highest honor a SEFA Supplier can earn. Being selected by the entire SEFA membership base makes it even more special. This year’s winner, The Vollrath Company grew their business 25.9% with SEFA in 2010.
 This year’s Supplier of the Year received a makau of koa wood, a wood known for its quality. It is grown only in Hawaii. Ka Makau, fishhook, has much symbolism from ancient Hawaii. While each person in the village had a responsibility, the person selected to make the fishhook would hold the balance of survival or demise of his people. If the wrong materials were chosen or the cordage was not fastened properly, the yield would not feed the population. If all standards of excellence were met, the result would be a great harvest of food from the sea. The makau today represents a badge of honor. The companies presented with the fishhook uphold the traditions of hard work, ambition and awareness of the whole. If the work is good, the company becomes great! In the photo from left to right are: Dennis Park, Paul Bartelt, Ray Poche, Jim Reid, Tedde Reid, Marty Patterson.
Outstanding Supplier in Supplies
Focus Foodservice, Lincolnshire, Ill. Accepted by David Wasserman and Warren Manzer.
 Focus Foodservice was honored as our Outstanding Supplier for Supplies.
Winners of our Supplier Awards are selected by secret ballot of the total Membership. These awards are based on support of SEFA Members and our Marketing & Training programs, customer service in the field, innovation and market leadership.
In this photo from left: David Wasserman, Tedde Reid and Warren Manzer.
Outstanding Supplier in Tabletop
Tuxton China, Walnut, Calif. Accepted by Bill Burden and Charlie Tsai.
 Our Outstanding Supplier of Tabletop, Tuxton China, enjoyed 43.3% growth in SEFA Volume in 2010.
In this photo from left to right: Tedde Reid, Bill Burden, Jim Reid and Charlie Tsai. |
Outstanding Supplier in Light Equipment
Hatco Foodservice Equipment, Milwaukee, Wis. Accepted by Rick Anger and Mark Ecker.
 The outstanding Supplier for Light Equipment, Hatco Foodservice Equipment, enjoys training the loyal SEFAPros on their always new and exciting equipment. Such effort working with SEFA resulted in growth of 24.9% in 2010.
In this photo from left: Rick Anger, Jim Reid and Mark Ecker.
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Outstanding Supplier in Cooking Equipment
Vulcan FEG, Baltimore, Md. Accepted by Jim Cullinane and Larry Lyons.
 SEFA Members voted Vulcan FEG as the Outstanding Supplier for Cooking Equipment. Their amazing growth of 17.2% in 2010, new products, great support and wonderful training have earned them this honor.
In this photo from left: Jim Reid, Jim Cullinane and Larry Lyons. |
Outstanding Supplier in Refrigeration
True Food Service, O’Fallon, Mo. Accepted by John Ebenroth, Don Sours and Jim Barry.
Refrigeration remains a major category for SEFA Members, and we love growing this business. The SEFA Outstanding Supplier for Refrigeration, True Food Service, provided us with great training, excellent support and customer service beyond compare. We grew their SEFA volume by 10 Million Dollars in 2010.
In this photo from left: Tedde Reid, Jim Berry, Tom Stritch, John Ebenroth, Don Sours and Jim Reid. |
Partners in Success
Manitowoc Companies, New Port Richey, Fla. Accepted by Gary Dykstra and Rick Zuehlke.
Honored as Partners in Success were the Manitowoc Companies. This conglomerate goes well beyond the call of duty to ensure their own success. Each operating company supports SEFA Marketing and Training and enjoys individual growth as high as 26.8% on some pretty large numbers. It would appear that training DSRs helps with growth.
In this photo from left: Rick Zuehlke, Jim Reid and Gary Dykstra. |
Marketer of the Year
Carlisle Foodservice Products, Oklahoma City, Okla. Accepted by Stuart Sharp, Amy Yore, Dianne Brooks and Keith Sisco.
Carlisle Foodservice Products was honored as SEFA’s Marketer of the Year. This company participated in just about every marketing tool SEFA offered in order to promote their products and brand; they were consistently invited to produce an exclusive Featured Supplier Flyer for our Members; they have worked with SEFA to further market their products by developing training opportunities on their brands at SEFA Academy (class) and at the SEFA National Sales Conference (tour).
In this photo from left to right: Edwin Read, Dianne Brooks, Amy Yore, Stuart Sharp, Jim Reid and Keith Sisco.
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