PFISTER® HOTEL EXECUTIVE CHEF HONORED WITH WISCONSIN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATION FOUNDATION’S SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD
Executive Chef Brian Frakes at The Pfister® Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, which is owned and operated by Marcus Hotels & Resorts,has been named the Chef Honoree for the 2014 Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA) Education Foundation Salute to Excellence Awards. The award celebrates his volunteer work and commitment to the community.
A member of the WRA board of directors, for the past two years Chef Frakes has served as a local mentor for the organization’s ProStart® program, a nationwide, two-year program for high school students that develops the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice industry leaders. In that role, he spends time helping teams on plate presentation, knife cuts, teamwork, workflow, restaurant management, and more.
“Chef Frakes is passionate about the restaurant industry and education,” said Bryan Mowry, Executive Director of the WRA Education Foundation. “He has been an amazing foodservice leader and industry mentor to both high schools and colleges.”
In addition to his involvement with ProStart, Chef Frakes volunteers for Catholic East Elementary School, speaks at various high schools about the restaurant industry, is a regular advisor for Milwaukee Area Technical College, and serves as an externship mentor for the Culinary Institute of America, Le Cordon Bleu, Johnson and Wales, and Kendall College. He is actively involved with the American Liver Foundation, March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.
“We simply must be earnest and diligent in educating the future of our industry,” said Frakes. “It is hugely important that the content and style of our industry’s scholastic programs remain current and relevant to our businesses today. Good, solid technique and skills will always be necessary, and established chefs need to be involved in this education process.”
Chef Frakes will be honored at the WRA Education Foundation’s awards celebration at Lake Lawn Resort in Delevan, Wis. on October 19, 2014.
For more information on the latest news and updates from Marcus Hotels & Resorts, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com.
About The Pfister Hotel
Built in 1893, The Pfister Hotel has been the premier downtown Milwaukee hotel for more than a century, and continues to celebrate a tradition of gracious service and impeccable style; 2013 marked the hotel’s 120th year as an icon in Milwaukee. The Pfister Hotel was purchased in 1962 by Ben Marcus, who vowed to renovate the distinguished hotel to its original beauty. Significant renovations were completed and a new 23-story guest room tower was built. In fall 2012, The Marcus Corporation celebrated its 50th year of ownership of the property.
Home to the largest collection of Victorian art of any hotel in the world, The Pfister is a AAA Four-Diamond property with membership in two of the industry’s leading organizations: Historic Hotels of America and Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The Pfister Hotel is located at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee. More information and updates on the hotel can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thePfisterHotel and on Twitter (@PfisterHotel).
About Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), owns and/or manages 19 hotels, resorts and other properties in 10 states. A force in the hospitality industry, Marcus Hotels & Resorts provides expertise in management, development and historic renovations. The company’s portfolio includes a wide variety of properties including city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts and branded first-class hotels. For more information on the latest news and updates, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter.
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