Johannes Verdonkschot Lifetime Achievement Award
The Johannes Verdonkschot, C.E.C, A.A.C, H.O.F Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2023. It is presented to a long-term Association Member in good standing who best exemplifies a dedication to enhancing The ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association.
2024 John Bogacki, C.E.C., C.C.E., A.A.C.
Aidan Murphy, C.M.C., A.A.C
2025 Naomi Hamamura
2026 no award
Chef of the Year Award Winners
The ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association's Chef of the Year Award was established in 1965. To be eligible for this award, the recipient must be a member in good standing in the chapter, must show a high level of culinary skill, project high moral standards, and be active in the association’s events throughout out the year. Nominee's are vetted by the Executive Board and put to a vote by the Governing Body. The top two finalists then compete in a culinary challenge to determine the winner.
1966 • Jan G. Verdonkschot, C.E.C., A.A.C., H.O.F.
1967 • Jean Michellet, C.E.C.
1968 • George Killius, A.A.C.
1969 • Frank Berger
1970 • Edwin Keller, A.A.C.
1971 Helmut Loibl, C.E.P.C.
1972 • Buel Day, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1973 • Oliver H. Sommer, C.E.C., A.A.C., H.O.F.
1974 • Siebert Muthofer, C.E.C.
1975 Hans Peter Haas, C.E.C.
1976 • Dubois T.C. Chen, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1977 • Edgar Mason, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1978 • Ernest G. Louis, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1979 Wolfgang A. Bierer, C.M.P.C, A.A.C.
1980 George W. Dyhouse, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1981 • Salvatore J. Carcagno, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1982 • Bernard A. Jobst
1983 • Reed S. Miller, Jr.
1984 Gerald Schaller, C.E.C.
1985 Andre Gotti, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1986 • Ervin Johnson, C.E.C.
1987 Manfred P. Zettle, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1988 • Wiley C. Thompson, Jr., C.E.C.
1989 John E. Bogacki, C.E.C., C.C.E., A.A.C.
1990 James Day, C.E.C.
1991 Naomi Hamamura
1992 • Thomas R. Elkin, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1993 Robert W. Schultz
1994 • Sebastian J. Murabito, C.E.C.
1995 Aidan P. Murphy, C.M.C., A.A.C.
1996 Jeffery W. Seaborn, C.E.C.
1997 Robert B. Hertel, C.E.C., C.C.E., A.A.C., F.M.P.
1998 Brian T. Menzel, C.E.C.
1999 Michael D. Downey, C.C.C., C.C.E., F.M.P.
2000 • Mark E. Miller, C.E.C.
2001 Gerard C. Campione, C.E.C.
2002 Chris Desens, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2003 Jonathan Kraft, C.E.C.
2004 Kevin Storm, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2005 Susan Judy, C.E.P.C.
2006 Craig Meyer, C.E.C., A.A.C.
2007 Bernard Pilon, C.E.C.
2008 Ted Hirschi, C.E.C., C.C.E., F.M.P.
2009 Paul Kampff, C.E.C.
2010 Brian Hardy, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2011 • Joseph D. Mueller, C.E.C.
2012 Anthony Lyons, C.E.C.
2013 Casey Shiller, C.E.P.C., C.C.E., A.A.C.
2014 Dan Holtgrave, C.E.C.
2015 Rod Laurentius, C.E.C., C.C.A.
2016 Robert J. Colosimo, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2017 Mike Palazzola, C.E.C.
2018 Brenden Brown, C.E.C.
2019 Scott Scheible, C.E.C.
2020 Logan Christensen, C.E.C.
2021 no award given due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 no award given due to COVID-19 pandemic
2023 Russel Cunningham, C.E.C., C.C.A.
2024 Wade Bruhn, C.E.C.
2025 Jim Storm, C.E.C.
2026 Mike Bush, C.E.C.
• Deceased
Junior Culinarian of the Year Award Winners
The ACF Chefs de Cuisine Association Junior Culinarian of the Year Award was established in 1989. To be eligible for this award, the recipient must be a member in good standing with the Junior chapter. Honoree must be employed in the culinary industry, preferably in an establishment with a certified Sous Chef on staff. Award recipients must show a sincere desire to become proficient in the profession, be active in chapter activities and adhere to the Culinarian's Code. This award is also decided by a culinary challenge. First the Board nominates the top two junior chefs to participate. and compete in a cook-off to determine the winner.
1990 Jennifer Black
1991 Richard Maddox
1992 Marianella McInturff, C.E.C.
1993 F. Michael Polcyn
1994 Henry J. Miller, III
1995 no award
1996 Anna Thompson
1997 Anthony Haacke, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1998 Andrew Guillot, C.S.C.
1999 Donald E. Grace
2000 Susan M. Hurley & Brian Jennings
2001 Brian Hardy, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2002 Joshua Sandmel & Anthony Elkin
2003 Brian Durbin
2004 Mike Lamping, C.E.C.
2005 Alexandra Bennett, Maria Davenport, & Mary (Missy) Motz
2006 Alan M. Kalina
2007 John Dahlem
2008 Julia Krelo, C.C.
2009 John Thomas "J.T." Gelineau
2010 Michelle Allender
2011 Brenden Brown, C.E.C.
2012 Austin Hamblin & Richard Mueller (tie)
2013 Wade Bruhn, C.E.C.
2014 Heather Roehl, C.W.P.C., C.C.
2015 Roger Jackson, C.S.C.
2016 Nicholas Norton
2017 Sarah Bailey & John Morales (tie)
2018 Timothy Polacek
2019 Derek Kaliszewski
2020 Luke Miller
2021 no award given due to COVID-19
2022 no award given due to COVID-19
2023 Devi Pradeep Gopalakbishnam
2024 no award
2025 no award
2026 Jack Courtney
Dubois T.C. Chen Award Winners
The Dubois T.C. Chen Award was established in 1987. It is presented to an Association Member in good standing who best exemplifies the hospitality, camaraderie, and professionalism of the culinary profession.
1987 Simone Andujar, C.E.C.
1988 Naomi Hamamura
1989 Orville Middendorf
1990 • Oliver H. Sommer, C.E.C., A.A.C., H.O.F.
1991 Michael A. Szczuka
1992 • Brother Leo I. Slay
1993 •Edgar Mason, C.E.C., A.A.C.
1994 John E. Bogacki, C.E.C., C.C.E., A.A.C.
1995 no award
1996 Marianela McInturff, C.E.C.
1997 • Sebastian J. Murabito, C.E.C.
1998 • Reed S. Miller, Jr.
1999 • Thomas R. Elkin, C.E.C., A.A.C.
2000 Rich LaRose
2001 • Walter Kobylecky
2002 • Sven Erik-Engdorf, C.E.C.
2003 • John "Jack" H. Perry, M.Ed., F.M.P.
2004 Carl Zeitler
2005 James Day, C.E.C.
2006 • Mike Lombardo
2007 Christy Schlafly
2008 • Jan G. Verdonkschot, C.E.C., A.A.C., H.O.F.
2009 Robert B. Hertel, C.E.C., C.C.E., A.A.C., F.M.P.
2010 • Chad Lombardo
2011 Chris Desens, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2012 Aidan P. Murphy, C.M.C., A.A.C.
2013 Dennis Markwardt
2014 Steve Weissler
2015 Dan Triska
2016 Kevin Storm, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2017 Brian Hardy, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2018 Paul Kampff, C.E.C.
2019 Dan Holtgrave, C.E.C.
2020 Robert J. Colosimo, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2021 no award given due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 no award given due to COVID-19 pandemic
2023 • Joe Mueller, C.E.C.
2024 Matt Sherman
2025 Ted Hirschi, C.E.C, C.C.E., F.M.P.
2026 Dan Probst, C.E.C., F.R.D.
• Deceased
Oliver H. Sommer Mentor Award Winners
The Oliver H. Sommer Mentor Award was established in 2002. It is presented to an Association Member in good standing who best exemplifies the passion for mentoring fellow culinarians and junior members of this association.
2002 • Wiley E. Thompson, C.E.C.
2003 John E. Bogacki, C.E.C., C.C.E., A.A.C.
2004 Paul Kampff, C.E.C.
2005 Chris Desens, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2006 Aidan P. Murphy, C.M.C., A.A.C.
2007 Orville Middendorf
2008 Kevin Storm, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2009 Charles Rossi, C.E.C.
2010 • Jan G. Verdonkschot, C.E.C., A.A.C., H.O.F.
2011 Robert B. Hertel, C.E.C., C.C.E., A.A.C., F.M.P.
2012 • John "Jack" H. Perry, M.Ed., F.M.P.
2013 Ted Hirschi, C.E.C., C.C.E., F.M.P.
2014 Brian Hardy, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2015 • Reed Miller
2016 John Kennealy, C.E.C.
2017 Anthony Haacke, C.E.C., A.A.C.
2018 Dan Holtgrave, C.E.C.
2019 Robert J. Colosimo, C.E.C., C.C.A., A.A.C.
2020 Brian Bernstein
2021 no award given due to COVID-19
2022 no award given due to COVID-19
2023 Mike Bush, C.E.C.
2024 Rod Laurentius, C.E.C., C.C.A.
2025 Scott Scheible, C.E.C.
2026 Wade Bruhn, C.E.C.
• Deceased
Purveyor of the Year Award Winners
Each year, the Board of Directors awards one of the Chapter Partners its Purveyor of the Year Award. This award recognizes the company’s generosity and commitment to the foodservice industry, our chapter, and its members.
2010 Holten
2011 PFG Middendorf
2012 Ford Hotel Supply
2013 Ronnoco Coffee Co
2014 Fox River Dairy
2015 Ole Tyme Produce
2016 Bob's Seafood
2017 Moore Foods
2018 Euro Gourmet
2019 Belmont Party Rentals
2020 no award given due to COVID-19
2021 no award given due to COVID-19
2022 Award given to all 2022 Chapter Partners and Associate Members for their support during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Alexander Foods, Andre's Banquet Facilities, ApexWorx, Belmont Party Rentals, Dixon Fisheries, Inc., Dubuque Coffee Company, Ford Hotel Supply, Fox River Dairy, Gateway Studios & Production Services, Kern Meat Co, Kuna Foodservice, Need-A-Uniform, Ole Tyme Produce, Performance Foodservice Middendorf, CL Produce, Sysco St. Louis, Tony White Enterprises, LLC, Triar Seafood, US Foods, Wally's
2024 Dubuque Coffee Company
2025 Hess Equipment Solutions
2026 Mushrooms Naturally
