News Room
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lauren Schott
(502) 583-3783
lschott@hqtrs.com
Distinguished Restaurants of North America Names 2008 Hall of Fame Recipients
New Orleans, La. – October 21, 2008 – Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) is pleased to announce Ralph Brennan, Carlton Curtis and Rick Powers as the 2008 Hall of Fame inductees.
Ralph Brennan is one of eight third-generation cousins actively involved in the restaurant industry today. He and his cousins run 11 New Orleans-style restaurants, 9 of which are located in New Orleans including Red Fish Grill, BACCO, Mr. B’s and Commanders Palace, to name a few. He has served on many industry boards and foundations, and won numerous awards in the industry. He has devoted his life’s work to the restaurant industry, and truly exemplifies excellence.
A great friend to DiRōNA, Carlton L. Curtis is an active industry leader who has faithfully served his employer for over 30 years. Carlton joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1972 in public relations and now holds the position of Vice President of Industry Affairs for the Foodservice and Hospitality Division of Coca-Cola North America. He currently serves as treasurer and trustee of the NRA Educational Foundation and serves on the board of directors of the Elliott Leadership Institute.
Rick Powers, director of food and beverage, has been with the Coeur d’Alene Resort for almost 25 years and has been in the restaurant industry since he was 16 years old. He has demonstrated this same loyalty to DiRōNA. He has served as a director since 1997, and chaired the organization in 2003. He hosted the 2007 DiRōNA conference at the beautiful Coeur d’Alene Resort, and was deeply involved in planning and executing the 2008 conference as one of its co-chairs.
