The Inclusion Innovator Award was presented by the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance to Kwini Reed, co-owner of A Table For Two Hospitality alongside her husband, Chef Michael Reed, a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: California. Together, they are the team behind Poppy + Rose in Downtown Los Angeles, Poppy & Seed in Anaheim, and Root of All Food, their catering and events company. A Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) alumna and former co-chair of the Regarding Her Academy, Kwini is passionate about creating greater access and opportunity within hospitality and entrepreneurship. As a speaker and panelist, she brings a candid perspective to conversations on restaurant ownership, leadership, financial literacy, mental health, and entrepreneurship. Her philosophy is simple: keep learning, keep building, and make sure there is room at the table for the people coming behind you.

The Community Champion Award was presented by American Express to Charley Shin,  Founder and CEO of Charley’s Cheesesteaks. For forty years, Charley has led the company and the brand has grown from a single store to 870 restaurants. His restaurants include BIBIBOP Asian Grill, fast casual restaurants, and Lenny’s Subs, totaling over 1,000 locations. In 2010, he extended that commitment beyond the restaurant by founding Charleys Kids Foundation, which has supported more than 250,000 students worldwide through programs focused on education, mentorship, and access to healthy food. Passionate about helping children to read better, Charley champions the Foundation’s flagship programs: the Children’s Tutoring Initiative (CTI), which strengthens elementary literacy through volunteer tutoring, and Leaders Arise which empowers high school students to mentor younger children and helping them build literacy skills needed for success by third grade and beyond.

The My Journey Award was presented by PepsiCo to Alex Habbeb. With 49 years of restaurant industry experience, including 30 years as a restaurant owner, Alex owns and operates a prominent hospitality portfolio consisting of two Taco John’s restaurants and three Subway restaurants, alongside a diverse selection of commercial and residential real estate. Throughout his business career, he has actively helped guide corporate strategy while serving on the national Taco John’s Ad Production Committee and Menu Committee, and Subway’s Chicago Advertising Board. His exceptional business leadership has earned him the Taco John’s National “Mr. Taco Award”, Taco John’s “National Leadership Award”, the Subway “National Community Partner Award”, and the title of Bradley-Bourbonnais Chamber of Commerce “Business Person of the Year”.

The Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award was presented by Ecolab to Scott Redler is a restaurant industry veteran with over 45 years of experience as a franchisor, owner, and operator. Scott is Co-founder of the Kansas-based fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. After franchising in 2004, Freddy’s has grown to over 500 locations serving 38 states across the nation. With a majority sale of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers in early 2021, Scott has focused his time with on assisting many budding restaurant concepts and serves on many profit and non profit boards. Scott has been instrumental in developing over 20 different concepts throughout his distinguished career in the hospitality industry ranging from upscale full service restaurants to business and institutional dining. Scott’s vast knowledge of restaurant ownership and operations has made him a sought-out professional in the industry. He currently serves as an officer on the Board of the National Restaurant Association, advocating for and representing restaurant industry interests with policymakers at all levels along with many other philanthropy boards.