McQuaid, Hinman, Rios take top CulinArt honors
RYE BROOK, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2022—Heather McQuaid has been named Chef of the Year for CulinArt Group, as part of Envision Group’s Chef Appreciation Week activities. Denee Hinman and Andres Rios were named as CulinArt’s Managers of the Year as part of the Compass Night of Stars celebration.
McQuaid serves as regional executive chef for CulinArt in the Mid-Atlantic Region, reporting to District Manager Joe Ginder. She joined CulinArt in 2017 as a chef at Penn State University’s Abington campus, moved to Bucks County Technology Park, in Trevose, Pa., as catering manager, and ascended to chef manager there in 2020.
McQuaid spent the better part of 2021 helping Ginder and region VP Healthcare Harry Williamson open new and existing accounts, as well as executing catered events and training new managers. “Food quality, food cost, catering execution, and customer satisfaction would not be at the robust levels they are today in CulinArt’s Mid-Atlantic Region if we did not place Heather in her current role a year ago,” Ginder declares. “She has been a big part of our sales processes and, as part of the team, has contributed to the successful acquisition of multiple new pieces of business, including the opening of eight units in the past year.”
Hinman joined CulinArt in 2017 as the director at Forman School, in Litchfield, Conn., after 18 years in dining services including a stint with Flik Independent Schools.
Hinman was nominated for her achievements in Inclusion Excellence. “Denee has created a group of people with a diverse set of talents by maintaining a trusting workplace environment where each person can shine,” says District Manager Hilary Ham. “She prides herself on highlighting the strengths of the individual and promoting from within. She also strives for inclusion when it comes to ensuring students’ dining services needs are met—and that they feel completely comfortable within the dining realm.”
Rios joined CulinArt in 2000 as a utility worker, rose through the ranks to become chef manager at Group M, a world-renowned advertising agency, and is now director of dining services at Norton Rose Fulbright, a global law firm, headquartered in New York City.
District Manager Ed Jakubiak hails Rios for going Above and Beyond in managing the reopening of the law firm’s program as the pandemic waned. “Norton Rose reopened to a condition better than ever before,” Jakubiak says. “The firm had the latest and best food programs, quality offerings, and trendiest line of retail items, all served by a staff of courteous, and well-trained team members. The program is a true reflection of Andres and his relentless expectations of quality food, superior service, and profound presentation.”
Click here to view the CulinArt award video from the Night of Stars event in Orlando, Fla.
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