Foodservice Equipment & Supplies named the recipients of its 2021 Top Achiever Awards. These individual awards recognize professionals from five industry segments for their abilities to not only run market-leading companies but also raise the level of professionalism for the industry overall.
Click for a list of past winners in the following categories: Dealer, Consultant, Service Agent, Manufacturers' Rep and Operator.
FE&S’ Top Achievers share some specific traits that contribute to these individuals’ ability to raise the bar not just among their peers but for the entire foodservice industry.
Raised on a small family farm in central Indiana, Keith Kidwell thought he knew the trajectory his life would take after graduating from Purdue University with a degree in agricultural sales and marketing.
If you know Scott Reitano, you know his laugh — it’s easily heard from across a room. “Scott has never entered a room and not owned it immediately,” says friend of 34 years and design principal Chris Wair, who joined Reitano Design Group (RDG) in 2017.
Life is often littered with surprising turns of events. When Beth Thompson was cleaning tables and doing dishes in the cafeteria at Keota-Harper Catholic School in Keota, Iowa, the seventh grader couldn’t fathom the idea of making a career in school foodservice. And yet, that is exactly where she finds herself now.
Like so many others in the service sector of the foodservice industry, Dan Dibeler was born into the business. Until about 10 years ago, though, he never planned on joining the company — certainly not becoming president. That’s probably why he’s been so successful at the helm of K&D Factory Service and its wholly owned subsidiary, Pine Tree Food Equipment.
Among the many different pathways through the equipment and supplies community to a successful career, few involve a start at a switchboard — but that’s exactly where Lynne Schultz began. Now president of Ossining, N.Y.-based Tri-State Marketing, her first industry job was on the switchboard of Traulsen, a refrigeration manufacturer.
Entrepreneurial. Thoughtful. Humble. Each of FE&S’ 2019 Top Achievers possess these qualities and more. They all followed a different path to their current positions but it’s these attributes, paired with an unwavering customer focus, that keep this group of five foodservice professionals at the top of their respective games. Indeed, it’s not only what they do but how they do it that positively impacts their customers, supply chain partners, companies and the overall foodservice industry.
Charlie Fusari is a Salesman, Born and Bred
