The 12thannual Hospitality, Tourism and Industry Awards ? which benefits the National Academy Foundation High School ? were held last Wednesday, and everyone, guests and honorees alike, came away winners.
The Marriott Waterfront Hotel, 700 Aliceanna St., hosted the event, which honors the city?s top guns in hospitality and tourism, and husband-and-wife co-chairs Jerry Edwards, of Chef?s Expressions, and Julie Brown-Edwards, of InterContinental/Harbor Court, put on a lovely setting as they welcomed about 500 supporters of the foundation.
Paul Wolman, of P.W. Feats and an foundation board member, said this academy is really three-in-one: an Academy of Finance, an Academy of Information Technology and an Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. It offers college prep programs and is jointly funded by Baltimore City Schools, the private sector business community and the foundation.
The school is 300 students strong, and Principal Ronnel Carey gushed at the fact that 100 percent of her 2006 graduating class is in college.
Who were the night?s big winners? Duff Goldman, of Charm City Cakes, for Chef of the Year; Mel Hagen, of Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, for Catering Professional of the Year; Kevin Bonner, of McCormick & Schmick?s, and Mark Vitelli, of Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel, for Hospitality and Tourism Professionals of the Year; David Pittenger, of the National Aquarium, for Hospitality & Tourism Industry Leader of the Year; David Lycett, of Abacus, for Friend of the Academy; Bert Hash, of MECU, for Finance Mentor of the Year; Larry Fiorino, of G. 1440, for IT Mentor of the Year; Amanda Roman, of the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel, for Hospitality & Tourism Mentor of the Year; and ? one of my favorite people ? The American Visionary Art Museum?s Rebecca Hoffberger, for Attractions/Retail Professional of the Year.
Channel 13?s Stan Saunders did a bang-up job as emcee for the evening?s festivities, and the post-award celebration included dinner stations manned by some of the area?s top chefs.
Spotted enjoying the delicious food were the Convention Center?s top exec Peggy Daidakis, travel guy Fritz Satran, P.W. Feat?s Sandy Pagnotti, Classic Catering?s Larry Frank, the state of Maryland?s Sue B. Kenney, and Herman Williams, who is proud dad to national talk-show host Montel Williams.
For info on the National Academy Foundation, call 443-984-1593 or go to www.nafbaltimore.org.
WHO? WHAT? WHERE?
Morton?s Steakhouse, at 300 S. Charles St., was the prime dinner choice for Bruce Willis, who was in town last week filming his latest movie in the “Die Hard” series. The restaurant also hosted rockers Chad Smith, drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jack White, guitarist for The Raconteurs, who were both in Baltimore for Sept. 23?s Virgin Fest.
Society spotters
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Anne Boone-Simanski is the society columnist for The Examiner and can be reached at [email protected] or 410-878-6131.
