Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality 2019

Total Food Service 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and Hospitality
  • Atosa USA
  • RATIONAL USA
  • RAK Porcelain
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • Simplot Frozen Avocado
  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • Texas Pete
  • Day & Nite
  • McKee Foodservice
  • Imperial Dade
  • AyrKing Mixstir
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2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality
Presented by Women’s Foodservice Forum


Jump to: AssociationsCatering • ChefsClubs • Corporate DiningEducationHealthcareHotels • Media/PRRestaurants • Vendor – Equipment & SupplyVendor – Food & BeverageVendor – Services


NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHERS

As we prepare for 2019, it dawned on us that many of the significant stories shared a common theme: women in foodservice!

The City Council of New York made a move to promote and bring some sense of order to the City’s nightlife. A woman is guiding the fortunes of that office as the City selected Ariel Palitz, to be the city’s very first “Nightlife Mayor.” With the spectre of Governor Mario Cuomo threatening to ban tipping, one of the more vocal advocates against the potential move is Albany based waitress Maggie Raczynski. She emerged among the leaders of an impassioned outpouring from the restaurant industry at New York State’s labor hearings.

  • BelGioioso Burrata
  • RATIONAL USA
  • RAK Porcelain
  • AyrKing Mixstir
  • Simplot Frozen Avocado
  • Texas Pete
  • Atosa USA
  • Day & Nite
  • DAVO Sales Tax
  • Inline Plastics Safe-T-Chef
  • Red Gold Sacramento
  • McKee Foodservice
  • T&S Brass Eversteel Pre-Rinse Units
  • Imperial Dade

That’s a long way from 1989, when the then-upstart Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) conducted a survey of women in the foodservice industry, specifically asking them about professional aspirations. Not one respondent expressed desires to be CEO. And yet, the glass ceiling continued to crack this year as Boston Market named Frances Allen to the CEO position. Allen came to the Colorado based rotisserie chain after new tenure at Jack in the Box .

From the incomparable Alice Elliot of the Elliot Group who is America’s “go-to” head hunter for top restaurant executives to Brooklyn chef/owner Missy Robbins and Singer’s Morgan Tucker, women are making their mark on the restaurant and foodservice industry.
We are convinced that the stakes have become so high with restaurant space rents fluctuating from $500 to $2K a square foot in Manhattan, that proverbial glass ceiling continues to crack. There simply isn’t anytime or wiggle room to worry about gender, it is all about competence.

Women are finding increased opportunity as ownership and management focuses on the ability to consistently create a signature customer dining experience in a Manhattan restaurant, a New Jersey corporate dining facility or a Long Island healthcare facility to deliver a world-class customer experience.With an on-going influx of technology in our industry, Grubhub took the lead in promoting the growth of women in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, the popular delivery service partnered with Women Chefs & Restaurateurs (WCR) to launch RestaurantHER, an effort that includes a map highlighting women-led restaurants across the United States. When users are deciding where to order food or sit down to eat, the map made it easy to support women in the industry by introducing them to nearby women-led restaurants.

That’s why once again we have dedicated this issue to profiling the impact that women have had on the Tri-State foodservice scene. They have risen to amazing heights and turned the Greater NYC Marketplace into the epicenter of the world’s restaurant and food service industry. We owe special thanks to a number of colleagues that represent many segments of the Tri-State foodservice community. They were gracious with their time to help us build this list of the “best and the brightest” women in our industry. We selected categories based on that input.

Our mission for the criteria of this list was to identify innovators within each of those major disciplines of the foodservice and hospitality industry. Women are having a major impact on the bricks and mortar design of restaurants, and the sales of equipment supplies and service. They also have major impact on what food and beverage is being served on local menus, and the management and marketing of foodservice facilities. Our goal is to share some of their amazing stories and to make all of us realize that any goal is accomplishable with a measure of hard work and some good luck sprinkled in.

Leslie Klashman
Fred Klashman
Publishers, Total Food Service


Associations: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Karen Brosius    C-CAP    New York, NY

Antoinette Bruno    Star Chefs    Brooklyn, NY

Alison Cody    MAFSI    Atlanta, GA

Gladys DiStefano    FBAA    New York NY

Randi Shubin Dresner    Island Harvest Food Bank    Mineola, NY

Melissa Fleischut    NYSRA    Albany, NY

Marilou Halvorsen    NJRHA    Trenton, NJ

Hattie Hill    Women’s Foodservice Forum    Dallas, TX

Saru Jayaraman    ROC    Oakland, CA

Sonali Jhurani  •  New York City Hospitality Alliance    New York, NY

Linda Lawry Top Women in Foodservice and Hospitality 2019Linda Lawry  •  Les Dames D’Escoffier  •  New York, NY

Linda Lawry DWS, CWE, has been a part of the International Wine Center in New York since 1985 and was the Director for 18 years. The IWC offers the wine courses of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, the largest professional wine teaching organization in the world, offered in over 60 countries. Lawry teaches these courses. She has also been a member of the faculty of New York University since 1997 in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. Linda earned the WSET Level 4 Diploma in 1997 and the Professional Certificate in Spirits in 2008. She is a Certified Wine Educator from the Society of Wine Educators and is a trained chef, having earned a Certificate with Honors from the New York Restaurant School. Linda recently completed eight years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Wine Educators.

Ellen Lynch  •  Food Bank For Westchester  •  Elmsford, NY

Alexa Mehraban Top Women in Foodservice and Hospitality 2019Alexa Mehraban  •  Eating My NYC    New York, NY

On any given day, one might find Alexa Mehraban roaming the “vibrant, limitless and inspiring” streets of New York City — usually on the hunt for the next best meal. As the founder of @EatingNYC, a food-focused guide that covers travel, fitness and luxury lifestyle, Mehraban has quickly made a name for herself, amassing more than 300 thousand followers since 2014. Inspired by both her background as a lifestyle writer and her marketing career in the hospitality industry, Mehraban decided to turn her passion project of researching and writing about restaurants into one of the most influential digital brands in New York City. Today, she works not only with food and beverage brands, but retail designers, tourism boards and local eateries as well — she’s even recently launched her first food-forward apparel line Mehraban and has promoted brands as big as Oreo and McDonald’s. If a picture is worth a thousand words, for Mehraban, it can also be worth thousands of dollars.

Debra Ryan    AHF-NJ    New Milford, NJ

Beth Shapiro    Citymeals-on-Wheels    New York, NY

Jilly Stephens    City Harvest    New York, NY

Hong Thaimee    Thaimee Table    New York, NY

Louise Vongerichten Ulukaya    Food Dreams Foundation    New York, NY

Marjorie Wolfson    Wellness in the Schools    New York, NY


Catering: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Alison Awerbuch Top Women in Foodservice and Hospitality 2019Alison Awerbuch  •  Abigail Kirsch    New York, NY

Alison Awerbuch grew up in a home where her mom read Gourmet and enjoyed entertaining — creating a menu, setting the stage, preparing the food and serving it with style. This upbringing planted the seeds that grew into her catering career. It wasn’t, though, until half way through college that she realized those passions. She finished college with a business degree then headed to the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) for another. Her first job was at Abigail Kirsch, then a small catering company in Westchester. More than 25 years later, Alison has spent the past two decades cooking up high-end menus, designing elaborate decor and plotting grand affairs with Abigail Kirsch, one of New York City’s most respected catering firms. Today, Abigail Kirsch Catering Relationships is one of the area’s largest catering companies. They operate The Loading Dock in Stamford; Tappan Hill Mansion in Westchester; The Skylark Lounge in Manhattan; and, Pier Sixty, The Lighthouse & Current at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.

Jenny Glasgow  •  Olivier Cheng Catering & Events  •  New York, NY

Jenny Glasgow Top Women in Foodservice and Hospitality 2019

Jenny Glasgow, who worked as a senior advertising executive for more than a decade before becoming a chef, is the creative culinary force at New York’s Olivier Cheng Catering & Events, where she specializes in restaurant-caliber cuisine. Glasgow trained at the French Culinary Institute in New York and served as the director of culinary development at California-based Matthew Kenney Group before joining Olivier Cheng. With a diverse client base, including leading fashion houses, Glasgow and her team have created menus for events as far away as Doha, Qatar. For over fifteen years Glasgow has been a driving force as Olivier Cheng Catering and Events focuses on creating innovative culinary experiences in New York’s finest cultural institutions, private estates across the country, and exotic locales. From fashion editor events and fundraising galas, to weddings and intimate home dinners, Glasgow’s team designs custom events from the ground up to bring Oliver Cheng’s clients’ unique visions to life.

Abigail Kirsch    Abigail Kirsch    Briarcliff Manor, NY

Debbie Mumford    Mumford’s Culinary Center    Tinton Falls, NJ

Liz Neumark    Great Performances    New York, NY

Meredith Tepper-Leckey    Starr Catering    New York, NY


Chefs: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Stephanie Abrams    Fuku    Boston, MA

Einat Admony    Balaboosta    New York, NY

Suchanan Aksornnan    Baoburg    Brooklyn, NY

Alex Baker    Yves    New York, NY

Lidia Bastianich    B&B Hospitality    New York, NY

Emma Bengtsson    Aquavit    New York, NY

Sara Bigelow    The Meat Hook    New York, NY

Anna Bolz    Per Se    New York, NY

Esther Choi    Mokbar    New York, NY

Amanda Cohen    Dirt Candy    New York, NY

Suzanne Cupps     Untitled at the Whitney    New York, NY

Dianna Daoheung    Black Seed Bagels    New York, NY

Lauren DeSteno    Marea    New York, NY

Ariane Duarte    Ariane Kitchen & Bar    Verona, NJ

Alex Guarnaschelli    Food Network    New York, NY

Thea Habjanic    La Sirena    New York, NY

Gabrielle Hamilton 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityGabrielle Hamilton    Prune    New York, NY

Gabrielle Hamilton would be the first to tell you that career success saw her being recognized as James Beard’s 2018 National Chef of the Year didn’t come easy. She started out as a dishwasher at the age of 12. She moved to New York and started a catering business, which she later sold in 1995 to, as she says, “escape from cooking.”  Hamilton moved to Michigan and pursued a master of fine arts degree in fiction writing at the University of Michigan. To help make ends meet, she picked up a part-time gig cooking for a catering company. Hamilton returned to New York in 1999 and opened Prune, where her culinary intentions were simple: to serve the foods she wanted to eat at home. She has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, GQ, Bon Appetit, Saveur, and Food & Wine Magazine. Hamilton was nominated for Best Chef: New York City by the James Beard Foundation in 2009 and 2010. Her first book Blood, Bones and Butter was a New York Times bestseller. Hamilton’s second book: Kind Regards is set for an early 2019 release.

Emily Hyland    Emmy Squared    Brooklyn, NY

Patti Jackson    Delaware and Hudson    Williamsburg, NY

Rita Jammet    La Caravelle    New York, NY

Sohui Kim    Insa    Brooklyn, NY

Gloria La Grassa    Pluckemin Inn    Bedminster, NJ

Sarabeth Levine    Sarabeth’s    New York, NY

Maria Loi    Loi Estiatorio    New York, NY

Angie Mar    The Beatrice Inn    New York, NY

Zarela Martinez    Zarela    New York, NY

Erika Nakamura    White Gold Butchers    New York, NY

Mina Newman    Sen Sakana    New York, NY

Tracy Obolsky   Rockaway Beach Bakery  •  Rockaway Beach, NY

Cyndi Perez    Peacock Inn    Princeton, NJ

Mina Pizarro    Juni    New York, NY

Alex Raij    El Quinto Pino / Txikito    New York, NY

Ann Redding    Uncle Boons    New York, NY

Missy Robbins 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityMissy Robbins    Lilia / Misi    New York, NY

2018 was a banner year for chef Missy Robbins. The James Beard Foundation recognized her as NYC’s Top Chef. In September, she debuted her second restaurant, the highly anticipated Misi in Williamsburg.  Robbins’ culinary career began while she was a student at Georgetown University. In 1993, a part-time job at 1789 restaurant sparked a passion for cooking, and led Robbins to attend The Institute of Culinary Education. An externship at March Restaurant with renowned Chef Wayne Nish followed, then on to Arcadia, under Chef Anne Rosenzweig. In Northern Italy, working in kitchens in Tuscany to the Michelin–rated Agli Amici in Friuli, Robbins fell in love with the simplicity and focus on quality ingredients that characterize Italian cooking. In 2003, Robbins moved to Chicago to work for Tony Mantuano. As Executive Chef of Spiaggia and Café Spiaggia, Robbins brought her passion for Italian cooking to life. She was nominated by The James Beard Foundation for Outstanding Restaurant nationally twice. From ‘08-’13, she had an award winning stay as Executive Chef at A Voce restaurants in NYC. In 2013, Missy left A Voce to pursue her biggest challenge to date – a place of her own. After nearly three years of research, Missy opened Lilia in North Williamsburg, Brooklyn in January 2016. Her thoughtful, creative approach to cooking and success led to the demand for the recently opened Misi.

Melissa Rodriguez    Del Posto    New York, NY

Laetitia Rouabah    Benoit    New York, NY

Caroline Schiff    Scoops & Sweets / Greene Grape    New York, NY

Amanda Smeltz    Roberta’s And Blanca    Brooklyn, NY

Rita Sodi    I Sodi / Via Carota    New York, NY

Daniela Soto-Innes    Cosme    New York, NY

Roxanne Spruance    Kingsley    New York, NY

Christina Tosi    Milk Bar    New York, NY

Claire Welle    Otway    Brooklyn, NY

Jody Williams    Buvette / Via Carota    New York, NY

 


Clubs: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Lily Braswell    Winged Foot Golf Club    Mamaroneck, NY

Carolyn Kepcher    The Redding Country Club    Redding, CT

Carolyn Kepcher 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityCarolyn Kepcher serves as The Redding (CT) Country Club’s Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. She moved to her new post in 2018 following seven years at Aspetuck Valley Country Club.  Her track record is highlighted by both operational and marketing innovation. Kepcher is noted for her success in membership acquisition, and creating a high level membership. Her operational experience includes leading many several major projects, including Clubhouse renovations, a new terrace bar and of course golf and tennis facilities. If the picture looks familiar, yes you did see her on TV. Perhaps known best as her role as Donald Trump’s right-hand woman on the NBC Emmy Award Nominated show, “The Apprentice,” Kepcher is regarded as a successful and high profile businesswoman. Prior to her time at Aspetuck, she was the Executive Vice President at the Trump Organization and Chief Operating Officer for the Trump National Golf Clubs where she was on the development team and led the operations for the Trump National Golf Clubs in Westchester, N.Y. and Bedminster, N.J.

Lori Sahagian    Bronxville Field Club    Bronxville, NY

Iwona Sterk    Old Oaks Country Club    Purchase, NY

Iwona Sterk 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityIwona Sterk has forged a reputation as one of Metro New York’s and the nation’s leading club managers. Since 2016, she has served as the General Manager of Westchester’s Old Oaks Country Club. She is recognized as a motivator and relationship-builder, with strong organization skills, great work ethic, and commitment to excellence. Prior to Old Oaks, she served as the GM at Elmwood Country Club in White Plains. Sterk has operated restaurants at the Doral Arrowwood hotel conference center, Hotel Macklowe, and Hilton International’s Vista International Hotel at the World Trade Center. Among Sterk’s innovative approaches to her jobs have been her ability to create unique solutions. She has never forgotten her roots in her native Poland. So for a number of years she recruited staff in that country.  “It was only natural that I wanted to allow for others from my home land to have the opportunity for similar experiences as I have had,” Sterk said.

Davina Weinstein    The Harmonie Club    New York, NY

 


Corporate Dining: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Barbara Boden 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityBarbara Boden    JPMorgan Chase    New York, NY

Barbara Boden is the Managing Director of Global Amenities at JPMorgan Chase. She has been an innovator in creating and implementing green and sustainable agendas for the company. This has included planning ion LEED certified facilities to the recent banning of plastic bottles in JPMorgan Chase’s facilities. The University of Lynchburg oversees operations in some 13 countries including self-operated and contracted dining facilities and conference centers. Her commitment to giving back to the industry also includes taking an active role with SHFM over the past 14 years.

Beth Bunster    Whitson’s    Islandia,NY

Amelia Ekus    Guckenheimer    New York, NY

Elizabeth Franks     ACFLI    Holtsville,NY

Kelly Ann Friend    Whitsons Culinary Group    Islandia, NY

Amy Greenberg    Citibank    New York, NY

Kim Lawrence    Flik Hospitality Group    New York, NY

Sally Saltzbart Minier    Jane Street Capital    New York, NY

Wendy Powell 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityWendy Powell    Savory    New York, NY

Wendy Powell currently serves as Vice President Corporate Development at Savory. Prior to this post, the Roger Williams graduate was a Vice President of sales development at the Patina Restaurant Group. The Marshfield, MA native also served as a Regional Sales Director at Restaurant Associates and with Guckenheimer.

Brittany Tacopino    JP Morgan Chase    New York, NY

Victoria Vega    Unidine Corp    Boston, MA


Education: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Nicole Bonica    NYC Schools    New York, NY

Lonnie Burt    Hartford Schools    Hartford, CT

Karen DeLamater    Jersey City Public Schools    Jersey City, NJ

Vickie Dunn    Columbia University Dining    New York, NY

Karen Goodlad    NYC College of Technology    Brooklyn, NY

Nicole Langone Scarangello 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityNicole Langone Scarangello    NYC Dept of Education SchoolFood    New York, NY

Nicole Langone Scarangello, Director of Menu Management for the New York City Department of Education SchoolFood and Culinary Educator at LaGuardia College. Nicole’s role with SchoolFood includes overseeing 29-posted menus, and 1,230 kitchens, over 8,000 employees working in the kitchens and feeding close to one million children each school day throughout the five boroughs. She also teaches Advance Culinary Arts at LaGuardia College. As she continues on her journey as a dietitian, nutrition and culinary professional, Nicole follows a simple philosophy that she has always strongly believed in that is “to marry the art of delicious food with nutrition knowledge and to enlighten all with my craft.”

Jennifer Martin 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityJennifer Martin    New York State Schools    Albany, NY

New York School Nutrition Association’s Jennifer Martin started her career in association management as the Executive Director of the New York State Builders Association Research and Education Foundation. She handled the operations’ management of the Foundation to carry out its mission and strategic objectives.

Marion Nestle    NYU    New York, NY

Tonya Riggins    Newark Schools    Newark, NJ

Arlene Sailhac    Foodophiles    New York, NY

Elizabeth Schaible    NYC College Of Technology    Brooklyn, NY

Gail Sharry    New Haven Schools    New Haven, CT


Healthcare: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Alba Aviles    James J Peters VA Medical Center    Bronx, NY

Judith Batashoff    Highfield Gardens Care Center    Bayside, NY

Dawn Cascio    Valley Hospital    Ridgewood, NJ

Andria Coleman    New York Presbyterian    New York, NY

Andria Coleman 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityAndria Coleman is the Food and Nutrition Operations Manager at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.  She is a registered dietitian with knowledge and experience in both clinical nutrition and food service operations. She currently serves as the president of the New York chapter of the Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF-NY). With her guidance AHF-NY has expanded its platform for professionals to use for the promotion, growth and development of nutrition and food service. Her focus on AHF-NY’s chapter creates mentoring opportunities to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience with the next generation of healthcare foodservice professionals.

Maura Dillon    St. Francis Hospital & The Heart Center    Mineola, NY

Marvo Forde    Maimonides Medical Center    Laurelton, NY

Stephanie Giraulo    St. Charles Hospital    Port Jefferson, NY

Carol Letzter    Textured Food Innovations    Carle Place, NY

Veronica McLymont    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center    New York, NY

Doris V. O’Neil    Golden Gate Rehab & Health Care Center    Trenton, NJ

Tatanisha Peets    Memorial Sloan Kettering    New York, NY

Tatanisha Peets 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityTatanisha Peets has touched many lives. As part of the food and nutrition team at Memorial Sloan Kettering she has been essential in integrating the latest nutrition research into the patient experience.  Her team has reframed how registered dietitians coordinate with doctors that are especially specific for cancer treatment that patients are receiving. Peets’ career has included an invitation to speak at the United Nations on nutritional issues in developing nations. The Muhlenberg College graduate is also known for her expertise in Nutrition-related side effects during and after treatment and safe food handling and preparation. She also is committed to giving back to her industry with her involvement with AHF-New York. Peets chairs the organizations’ mentorship program as well.

Diane Tuckruskye    Nassau Rehabilitation & Nursing    Baldwin, NY


Hotels: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Lisa Banas    Mohegan Sun Casino    Uncasville, CT

Gina Bertucci    Marriott Hotels    New York, NY

Gina Bertucci 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalitySince 2007, Gina Bertucci has served as the New York Marriott Marquis Director of Catering Sales. Her vision has enabled her to guide a team that has made the iconic Times Square property, the venue for countless corporate and social events.  She began her career in the hospitality industry in 1990 as banquet director at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island, NY. There she worked with the on-site caterer Perfect Parties to supervise both sales and operations for this landmark venue, where she honed her skills in wedding planning. She started with Marriott International in 1995 at the New York Marriott Marquis, where she held progressive positions in banquets as banquet manager and ultimately director of banquets. Gina is a member of the Food & Beverage Association, the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) and Les Amis d ’Escoffier New York. During her career, Gina has been recognized as Sales Leader of the Year by Marriott International and as Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW).

Diana Bisson    Foxwoods Casino    Mashantucket,CT

Zoe Cohen    The Westin New York at Times Square    New York, NY

Christine Devers    Reniassance NY Times Square Hotel    New York, NY

Angela Dimayuga    Standard International Hotel    New York, NY

Patricia Franco    Long Island Marriott    Uniondale, NY

Patricia Franco 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityThe veteran hotel executive Patricia Franco was recently brought on board to guide the fortunes of the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale, NY. Patricia began her career 18 years ago at the New York Financial Center Marriott as a Banquet Manager Trainee. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University, she went on to increasingly complex F&B positions in the city: Asst. Director of Food & Beverage at the New York Marquis, Director of Operations at the New York Downtown Marriott, and Director of Hotel Operations at the New York Marriott East Side. Patricia has passion for developing leaders in the company, and a proven record of delivering results across the Balanced Scorecard and is a champion of the BLT process. She was the Leadership Excellence recipient for 2017 and led the first ever Junior Business Council of New York City.

Jennifer Hsieh    Marriot International    New York, NY

Terry Lewis    Sheraton Times Sq.    New York, NY

Yvonne Mancini    The Pierre Hotel    New York, NY

Laura Modica    HEI Hotels & Resorts    New York, NY

Erin Pepper    Life Hotel    New York, NY

Shannon Rinella    Interstate Hotels    New York, NY

Cornelia Samara    1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge    New York, NY

Lana Trevisan    Two Roads Hospitality    New York, NY

Fatena Williams    Herald Square Hotel    New York, NY

Laura Williamson    Mandarin Oriental    New York, NY


Media/PR: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Joyce Appelman    Blue Sky Communications    Great Neck, NY

Marie Assante    Assante Public Relations    New York, NY

Carrie Bachman    Carrie Bachman Public Relations    New York, NY

Jennifer Baum    Bullfrog & Baum    New York, NY

Shari Bayer    Bayer PR    New York, NY

Stephanie Berghoff    Culintro    New York, NY

Andrea Clurfeld    Asbury Park Press    Asbury Park, NJ

Kerry Diamond    Cherry Bombe    New York, NY

Florence Fabricant    The New York Times    New York, NY

Audrey Farolino    Zagat / Google    New York, NY

Tara Halper    Key Group Worldwide    New York, NY

Amanda Hesser    Food 52    New York, NY

Melissa Hom    Melissa Hom Photography    New York, NY

Linda Kavanagh    MaxEx Public Relations    Stamford, CT

Amanda Kludt    Eater    New York, NY

Stephanie Kornblum    Culintro    New York, NY

Hanna Lee    Hanna Lee Communications    New York, NY

Becca Parrish    Becca PR    New York, NY

Gail Schoenberg    Gail Schoenberg Public Relations    Rutherford, NJ

Gail Schoenberg 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityGail Schoenberg has dedicated more than fifteen years of her public relations career to the successful representation of highly acclaimed chefs, top restaurants, luxury travel, destinations, and gourmet products. Her comprehensive, intuitive understanding of clients’ methods and goals; her creative approach to maximizing client exposure; and her longstanding relationships with local and national consumer and trade media, have enabled Schoenberg to build her business.  Schoenberg is an Ohio native who has represented an all-star cast of chefs including Tom Valenti, Francois Payard, Michael White and Katy Sparks. The Kent State grad has also represented many of the major restaurant groups including: B.R. Guest Restaurants, Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group and Alicart Restaurants.

Karen Stabiner    Generation Chef    New York, NY

Charlotte Voisey    Proper Pour    New York, NY

Holly Von Seggern    HRV Marketing & Communications    Islandia, NY

Stephanie Webster    CT Bites    Fairfield, CT

Stephanie Webster 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityStephanie Webster was born and raised in Manhattan with parents who loved to eat.  Her early career included a stint as a Photography Editor New Media Consultant and Strategist, Fund Raiser and volunteer for Children’s Museum in Seattle. Founded in 2009 by Webster, the site has grown to include executive editor Amy Kundrat, a dozen contributors and thousands of enthusiastic eaters. Most recently, the site has expanded its footprint from its home base in Fairfield County to embrace the entire Nutmeg state. “If you let us, we’d like to be that friend of yours that always seems to know the right place to go, the right time to visit, and the right thing to order,” Webster noted. CT Bites’ goal is to be a web-based community built by and for people who love food in Connecticut.

Korsha Wilson    Heritage Radio    Brooklyn, NY


Restaurants: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

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Angie Buonpane    Union Square Hospitality Group    New York, NY

Gabrielle Carbone    The Bent Spoon    Princeton, NJ

Logan Rich Chabina    EMM Group    New York, NY

Dana Cowin    DBC Creative    New York, NY

Jeanne Cretella    Landmark Hospitality    Jersey City, NJ

Whitney Edwards    Eleven Madison Park    New York, NY

Georgette Farkas   Rotisserie Georgette    New York, NY

Leslie Ferrier    Momofuku    New York, NY

Vicki Freeman    Cookshop/Rosie’s/Shuka    New York, NY

Vicki Freeman 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityVicki Freeman may come from a restaurant family — her parents moved her from NYC to LA to open a vegetarian cafe, The Streetcar — but that doesn’t mean she didn’t work her way up through the industry. Freeman donned a plastic dress, nurse shoes and a hairnet for her first waitressing job at iconic fast-food joint Bob’s Big Boy, before progressing to manager at her mother’s popular vegetarian restaurant. Some 25 years ago, Freeman began her New York City restaurant scene with Vix Cafe in SoHo. Freeman hired Marc Meyer as her chef and the rest is history. The relationship grew into a lifelong partnership. The couple, married in 1997, and now the lifelong hospitality vet owns a mini empire spanning downtown Manhattan that includes Cookshop, Shuka in the West Village, as well as Rosie’s and Vic’s in the East Village.  With Freeman at the helm, the duo has continued their steadfast dedication to responsibly sourced ingredients, that has lead to a reputation for creating restaurants with a devoted following.

Laura Gladish    Batard Restaurant    New York, NY

Cheryl Grabowski    Harvest Restaurant Group    Morris Plains, NJ

Yusi Guerrera    Citarella    New York, NY

Megan Humpreys    Four Seasons    New York, NY

Sueyoung Jo    Eleven Madison Park    New York, NY

Elizabeth Kellogg    Kellogg & Caviar    New York, NY

Donna Lennard    il Buco    New York, NY

Donna Lennard 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityTwenty-four years ago, when Donna Lennard opened Il Buco Street, she wasn’t planning to become a restaurateur. Il Buco wasn’t even a restaurant then. Lennard was an independent filmmaker caught up in a romance with an Italian, who wanted to export pieces of Americana to Europe. The pair had been collecting antiques from around the region when Lennard learned the artists at 47 Bond were planning to leave the address, which they were using as a studio, because rent was rising.  The couple signed their first 10-year lease, refitted the space, and began selling old radios, quilts, and furniture. Soon, the partners — who eventually ended their courtship but remained in business together — secured a liquor license, and they began serving wine and beer plus greenmarket salads, smoked meats and cheeses to shoppers and neighbors looking for a place to hang out. They stopped selling antiques to focus on dining. It became known for its commitment to local sourcing, and for its charming Mediterranean menu that shifts with the season — and with the chef; there’ve been several heads of kitchen at this place, including Sara Jenkins of Porsena and Porchetta, Jody Williams of Buvette, and Ignacio Mattos of Estela.

Lili Lynton    Dinex Group    New York, NY

Laura Maniec    Corkbuzz Wine Studio    New York, NY

Ivy Mix    Leyenda    Brooklyn, NY

Erin Moran    Union Square Hospitality Group    New York, NY

Mandy Oser    Aredesia Wine Bar    New York, NY

Cai Pandolfino    Green & Tonic    Greenwich, CT

Kelly Perkins      Bold Restaurants    New York, NY

Maricel Presilla    Cucharamama/Zafra    Hoboken, NJ

Jennifer Rackoff    Fourth Wall Restaurants • New York, NY

Rion Robbins    Henry’s    New York, NY

Julie Rose    Sweet Hospitality Group    New York, NY

Nicki Russ    Russ & Daughters    New York, NY

Amy Sacco    No. 8    New York, NY

Samantha Safer    Otway    Brooklyn, NY

Gia SanAngelo    Untitled at the Whitney    New York, NY

Christine Sanchez    Bold Restaurants    New York, NY

Sarah Ashley Schiear    Sarah Ashley    New York, NY

Neesha Seervai    Apple-Metro, Inc.    Harrison, NY

Jody Storch    Peter Luger Steakhouse    Brooklyn, NY

Gretchen Thomas    Barcelona Wine Bar    New York, NY

Kristen Tomlan    DO    New York, NY

Jillian Vose    Dead Rabbit    New York, NY

Melissa Weller    Sadelle’s    New York, NY

Melba Wilson    Melba’s    New York, NY

Pam Wiznitzer    Seamstress    New York, NY

Tren’ness Woods-Black    Sylvia’s    New York, NY


Vendor – Equipment & Supply: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

Jump to: TopAssociationsCatering • ChefsClubs • Corporate DiningEducationHealthcareHotels • Media/PRRestaurantsVendor – Food & BeverageVendor – Services

Maja Adiletta    Arcobaleno    Lancaster, PA

Lori Balter    Balter Sales Company    New York, NY

Grace Best    Imperial Dade    Jersey City, NJ

Pearl Fleischman    Kerekes / Bake Deco    Brooklyn, NY

Jenny Goodman    Tilit    New York, NY

Penny Hutner    Advance Tabco    Edgewood, NY

Lisa Kerester    PBAC    Eastchester, NY

Heather Kogan    The Sam Tell Companies    Farmingdale, NY

Sandra Kravetz    Performance Food Equipment Group    Elmwood Park, NJ

Kim Lehr    Performance Food Equipment Group    Elmwood Park, NJ

Kristine Martin    Steelite International    New York, NY

Silena Mejia    M. Tucker Company    New York, NY

Samantha Mullins    Waring Commercial    Stamford, CT

Meredith Reuben    EBP Supply Solutions    Milford, CT

Diane Rossi    Pro-Tek    Jericho, NY

Diane Rossi 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityDiane Rossi has built her four-decade career in foodservice by building a reputation for “giving back”. The Long Island based executive serves on numerous industry charity boards. Her commitment has included chairing the AHF-NY mentoring initiaitve and raising scholarship funds for the Partridge Invitational Foundation. Since 2018, Rossi has been an integral part of the management team of Pro-Tek. Most recently as the company’s General Manager she has expanded Pro-Tek’s OSHA and Sanitation inspection program. She has also played a key role in Pro-Tek’s upgraded technology initiative that includes the creation of a new customer portal and the expansion of tablets to maximize the customer experience.

Arlene Saunders    Allied Metal Spinning    Bronx, NY

Lynne Schultz    Tri-State Marketing    Ossining, NY

Lynne Schultz 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityLynne Schultz began her career in the Food Service Industry 42 years ago, on the switchboard of Traulsen. Through the next 23 years, Lynne moved her way up from customer service to accounting, to Northeast Sales Manager. In 1999, Lynne left to begin her own business, Tri-State Marketing, with her husband Bart Gobioff. Today, Tri-State Marketing represents the finest food service manufacturers in the industry and has a formable staff. Believing in giving back what has been given to them, Lynne and Bart have grown their company, recruiting young, promising talent, and helping them grow to be the next generation of food service professionals. In addition to helping those in her own company, Lynne saw an opportunity to assist the many promising young adults entering the SCIP program, a gateway to help promising individuals maximize their potential. In addition to their commitment to the food service industry, Lynne and Bart enjoy philanthropic activities ranging from building a new kitchen with Housing Works Bookstore (dedicated to ending the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS), to sponsoring activities at the SPCA of Westchester.

Arianna Staiano    Libbey Foodservice    New York, NY

Alyssa Stewart    Gotham City Hospitality    New York, NY

Jennie Tannura    Gotham City Hospitality    New York, NY

Morgan Tucker    Singer Equipment Co.    New York, NY

Adriana Unarreal    Balter Sales Company    New York, NY

Lori Weiss    BFA Food Service Equipment & Supplies    Boonton, NJ

Elizabeth Weiss    BHS/H. Weiss    Armonk, NY


Vendor – Food & Beverage: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

Jump to: TopAssociationsCatering • ChefsClubs • Corporate DiningEducationHealthcareHotels • Media/PRRestaurants • Vendor – Equipment & SupplyVendor – Services

Ariane Daguin 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityAriane Daguin    D’Artagnan    Union, NJ

Ariane Daguin is the founder, owner and CEO of D’Artagnan, the renowned gourmet food purveyor. Famous for providing humanely raised meats, from game and foie gras to organic chicken and prepared charcuterie, the name D’Artagnan is synonymous with top-quality food produced with care. Ariane was born into a world of great food. Her father, Chef André Daguin, is famous throughout France for his artistry with foie gras. Ariane was an expert at deboning ducks, rendering duck fat, preparing terrines and cooking game birds by the time she was ten. A career in food might have seemed natural, but Ariane decided to pursue an academic degree at Columbia University. While working part-time for a New York pâté producer, Ariane was in the right place when the opportunity to market the first domestically produced foie gras presented itself. She and a co-worker pooled their financial resources to launch D’Artagnan in 1985 as the first purveyor of game and foie gras in the U.S. According to Jean-Georges Vongerichten, “D’Artagnan changed food in America by introducing high quality products to the American market, items Americans weren’t familiar with like foie gras, game and wild mushrooms.”

Adrienne Diaz    Samuels and Son Seafood    New York, NY

Linda DiLisio 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityLinda DiLisio    Casa DiLisio    Mt. Kisco, NY

As VP Operations of Casa DiLisio, Linda has been in the industry for over 30 years. During that time she has helped her parents, Lou and Lucy DiLisio market and build Casa DiLiso’s business to where it is today. Linda is a former IBM employee, learned the ins and outs of the industry and is now responsible for the daily operation of their plant and representing the company at the 35 trade shows that Casa DiLisio participates in every year. The company’s brand of sauces fits all of the criteria for Food Service and sells their products to everyone from Cruise Lines to Chain accounts to White Table Cloth establishments and every kind of operation in between.

Laura Endico-Verzello    Ace Endico    Brewster, NY

Nancy Finkelstein    Carousel Cakes    Nanuet,NY

Jaime Kriss    Restaurant Depot    College Point, NY

Valarie Leimer    Major Foods    Little Ferry, NJ

Fran Moreira    Restaurant Depot    College Point, NY

Brigitte Rounds    Advantage Marketing    Hauppauge, NY

Nicole Ruvo    Dom Perignon    New York, NY

Candy Vidovich    Pomptonian Foods    Fairfield, NJ

Gina Volaric    Unilever    Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Erika Wasserman    Explore Cuisine    Miami, FL


Vendor – Services: 2019 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality

Jump to: TopAssociationsCatering • ChefsClubs • Corporate DiningEducationHealthcareHotels • Media/PRRestaurants • Vendor – Equipment & SupplyVendor – Food & Beverage

Leah Blackman    Icrave    New York, NY

Marlisa Brown    Total Wellness    Bay Shore, NY

Alicia Cannon    AJC Design    New York, NY

Faith Hope Consolo    Prudential/Douglas Elliman    New York, NY

Karen DiPeri    HMG Plus    New York, NY

Maureen Drum    Institute Of Culinary Education    New York, NY

Alice Elliot    The Elliot Group    Tarrytown, NY

Amanda Fugazy    Ellenoff, Grossman & Schole LLP    New York, NY

Amanda Fugazy 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityAmanda Fugazy has become a pre-eminent hospitality industry expert as she guides her firm’s Labor & Employment Law group. Fugazy is one of the most experienced practitioners in New York in the highly litigated area of wage and hour law, having litigated dozens of federal and state court cases involving claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law. One of Fugazy’s strengths is valuing and resolving cases.  As such, Ms. Fugazy also serves as a mediator, and has successfully resolved many cases by appointment through the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York. Prior to joining EGS in 2013, she co-founded Fugazy & Rooney LLP in 2007 and was a partner at Bonnist & Cutro LLP, an associate in the New York offices of Reed Smith and Jackson Lewis, and a law clerk for the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council.

Stacy Gilbert    Citrin Cooperman    New York, NY

Rozanne Gold    Gold Enterprises    New York, NY

Stephanie Goto    Stephanie Goto Design    New York, NY

Christine Gurtler    Jacobs Doland Beer    New York, NY

Christine Gurtler 2019 Top Women in Foodservice and HospitalityAs Jacobs | Doland | Beer’s Director of Design, Christine Gurtler provides leadership and strategic direction of the firm’s practical and creative processes and documentation. Those skills and passion for the industry were rewarded with Gurtler being presented with the annual MAFSI Young Lions Award for 2018, Gurtler has extensive foodservice consulting experience in hospitality and in the corporate sector, including work with top technology, finance, and law firms. Her experience includes a variety of other foodservice facilities, including university, entertainment, and retail projects. Gurtler’s broad experiences as a Consultant, LEED certified professional and hands-on Operator inform her ability to understand and respect each project’s unique needs and defining characteristics. Gurtler is an FSCIS professional member. Gurtler holds Bachelor’s degrees from Cornell University (Hospitality Management) and the Parsons School of Design (Interior Architecture).

Amanda Halle    Harri    New York, NY

Julia Heyer    Heyer Performance Inc.    New York, NY

Karen Maier    Nutri-Serv    Burlington, NJ

Heather Maloney    Definition Design    New York, NY

Tara Mastrelli    Studio Tano    New York, NY

Kim Nathanson    The Niemitz Design Group    Boston, MA

Carolyn D. Richmond    Fox Rothschild LLP    New York, NY

Amy Russo    Toast    Montclair, NJ

Janine Sangirardi    Day & Nite/All Service    New Hyde Park, NY

Cara Siegel    HUB International    New York, NY

Robin Standefer    Roman And Williams    New York, NY

Rada Tarnovsky    Letter Grade Consulting    Brooklyn, NY

Susan Villamena    Acrylic Flooring LLC    Fairfield, NJ

Therese Virserius    Virserius Studio    New York, NY

Karena Wu    Active Care Physical Therapists    New York, NY


See the previous years’ Top Women: 201820172016

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