ACFSA

Award Information

Awards and Scholarship Programs
The nomination period for 2026 awards ends on May 15th, 2026.

2026 Awards and Scholarships Info and Applications:

Awards Instructions

Conference Scholarship Application

Operator of the Year Application

Employee Of the Year Application

Heroism Award Application

Current awards:

2026
Al Richardson Founder's Award:	Gil Hines - CA
Benson Li President's Award:	Raija Ellis - NC
Bud Chambers Industry Award:	Pattie Whitlock - CT
Operator of the Year Award:	Towanda Bagley - VA
Employee of the Year Award:	Leon Anderson - AZ

Previous awards:

2025

Al Richardson Founder's Award:	Conell Chapman - NC
Benson Li President's Award:	Phyllis Taylor-Smith - VA
Bud Chambers Industry Award:	TUCS Equipment
Operator of the Year Award:	Lance Eshelman - CA
Heroism award:	Justin Webb - VA

2024

Al Richardson Founder's Award:	Wayne Fish - NC
Benson Li President's Award:	Constance Clark - NC
Bud Chambers Industry Award:	National Food Group
Operator of the Year Award:	Phil Bettencourt - CA
Heroism award:	Sherese Robertson - NC

2023

Al Richardson Founder's Award:	Julie Hobbs - VA
Benson Li President's Award:	Kelly Harris - NC
Bud Chambers Industry Award:	The Food Exchange

2022

Al Richardson Founder's Award:	Carlos Salazar - CA
Benson Li President's Award:	North Carolina Chapter
Bud Chambers Industry Award:	Good Source Solutions
Service Award:	Justin Webb - VA
Operator of the Year Award:	Mark McBrine - ME

2021

Al Richardson Founder's Award:	Demetrios Selevredes II, Federal Supply USA
Benson Li President's Award:	Julie Hobbs, DOC Headquarter
Bud Chambers Industry Award:	Rob & Tracy Zachrich, JonesZylon
Operator of the Year Award:	Leary, Bertie Correctional Institution NC Dept. of Public Safety
Employee of the Year Award:	Ryan Christensen, Ramsey County Corrections
Heroism award:	Kevin Randolph, VA DOC

2019

Al Richardson Founder's Award:	Robin Sherman, CCFP, CFSM - MI
Benson Li President's Award:	Stephanie Gilbert - CO
Bud Chambers Industry Award:	Barbara Kane - NY
Employee of the Year Award:	Patti Morrison - MN
Operator of the Year Award:	Conell Chapman - NC
Heroism award:	Clarence Godley - NC
Chapter of the year award:	Virginia (2018)

2018

Founder's Award:	Ann Ortiz - CT
Benson Li President's award:	Jessica Harlow - VA
Employee of the year award:	Wendy Mathai - AZ
Operator of the year award:	Patrick Croker - NJ

2017

Al Richardson Founder's Award:	Phil Atkinson - MN
Benson Li President's Award:	Benson Li - CA
Employee of the year award:	Encarnita Javier - CA
Operator of the year award:	Dale Turner - CA
Heroism award:	John Kiser - MN
Chapter of the year award:	Northern Lakes (2016)

2016
Founder's Award:	Michael Robertson - OH
President's Award:	Robert Pennix - VA
Operator of the year award:	Karen Stiltner - NJ
Heroism award:	Paul Scofield - KS
Chapter of the year award:	Virginia (2015)

2015
Founder's Award:	Marcella Maki - ON
President's Award:	Connie O'Connor - ON
Operator of the year award:	Carlos Salazar - CA
Heroism award:	Mitchel Holliday - MN Myron Wiley - CA
Chapter of the year award:	California (2014)

2014

Founder's Award:	Barbara Wakeen - OH
President's award:	Timothy Thielman - MN
Employee of the year award:	Roger Burczyk - WI
Operator of the year award:	Rebecca Kirsenlohr - WI
Chapter of the year award:	Northern Lakes (2013)

2013

Founder's Award:	Benson Li - CA
President's award:	Tyronne Sutherland - LA
Employee of the year award:	Tyronne Sutherland - LA
Operator of the year award:	Ray Bullock - CA
Chapter of the year award:	California (2012)

2012

Founder's Award:	Teddie Mitchell - IN
President's award:	Barbara Wakeen - OH
Employee of the year award:	Esther Morgan - CA
Operator of the year award:	Rafael Cortez - CA
Chapter of the year award:	Virginia (2011)

2011

Founder's Award:	Bud Chambers - CA
President's award:	Carol Thomas - TN
Operator of the year award:	Jimmy Ledesma - CA
Heroism award:	Jimmy Ledesma - CA
Chapter of the year award:	Northern Lakes (2010)

2010

Founder's Award:	Pattie Whitlock - CT
President's award:	Ricky Clark - VA
Employee of the year award:	Rosetta Bowles - VA

2009

Operator of the year:	Don Perkins - CA
President's award:	Karen Candito - CA
Chapter of the year award:	Virginia (2008)

2008

Food Service Director of The Year:	Jeffrey Vickers
Operator of the year:	Julie Hobbs
Heroism Awards:	Jim Hartman Mary H. Goodwin Cindy Burns
Founder's award:	J. Kevin O'Brien
President's award:	Cindy Burns

2007

Operator of the year:	Lyle Jamison
Employee of the year:	Delores Taylor
Founder's award:	Barbara Holly
President's award:	Bob Ayer
Recruiter of the year award:	Lt. Randall J. Olson
Chapter of the year award:	Michigan (2006)