WFF Awards
Over the years, the Women’s Foodservice Forum has strived to leave an indisputable impact on the thousands of careers we touch through our programs and services. Along the way, there have been extraordinary women and men who have mentored, challenged, led and blazed the trail for others.The prestigious WFF awards bestowed annually recognize the achievements of outstanding leaders in the foodservice industry. Awards honor individuals and organizations that, through their accomplishments and dedication, have significantly impacted individuals, organizations, the WFF or the industry at large.
Jackie B. Trujillo SOAR Award
The Jackie B. Trujillo SOAR Award is presented annually
to recognize an outstanding organization that is a proven Standard-Setter for Opportunity,
Advancement and Recognition for women within their organization. Established in 2006, the SOAR
award honors companies with demonstrable corporate initiatives that result in a strong track record
of attracting, developing, retaining and promoting women to the highest levels of the organization.
2011 Outstanding SOAR Award Recipient
Darden Restaurants
Darden has long understood the value of a culture that embraces and celebrates different perspectives, thoughts and experiences for its business. For this reason, Darden was founded with the knowledge that a successful restaurant operation can exist only when the “best and the brightest” talent has been identified and empowered, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality or sexual orientation. This understanding led to the company’s commitment to diversity as a driver of its success and the establishment of the company’s diversity initiative.
Darden proactively recruits women-owned businesses as vendor partners to supply its restaurants. In FY 2010, Darden spent $125 million with women-owned businesses, 3.3% of the company’s total purchasing budget. The organization was ranked in FORTUNE magazine 2011 “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
Past Outstanding SOAR Award Recipients
Trailblazer Award
The Women's
Foodservice Forum's Trailblazer Award is reserved for those individuals (female or male) who are
dedicated to improving the foodservice industry through their support of gender diversity, creating
new pathways for women in their company and the industry at large, implementing them at all levels
of their organization.
2011 Trailblazer Award Recipient
Denise Morrison, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Campbell Soup Company
During her eight-year tenure at Campbell, Denise has been a strong and vocal supporter of diversity and inclusion. She has been instrumental in the development and continuous evolution of Campbell's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She has heightened Campbell's focus on inclusion and helped ensure that Campbell casts a wide net when recruiting talent. As a result, more than 40% of Campbell's management and leadership positions are held by women and 18% are held by people of color. Denise also continues to work to leverage Campbell's affinity network groups to help drive consumer insights and business results.
Past Trailblazer Award Recipients
Leadership Award
The Women's Foodservice Forum's
Leadership Award is given each year to a woman executive in the foodservice industry who shows
exceptional leadership qualities within her company and the industry at large, and whose
professional growth and achievements are recognized through career advancement.
2011 Leadership Award Recipient
Karen King, East Division President, McDonald's USA, LLC
Karen is an exemplary, innovative leader, who leverages institutional, intellectual and personal power to orchestrate strategy and drive results for the McDonald’s business and within the foodservice industry. As a former McDonald’s crew employee, Karen is a proven business leader and restaurateur who keeps the customer at the forefront of every business decision. In her current role, Karen leads all aspects of restaurant operations, franchisee relations, and market and brand development to drive long-term growth for more than 5,200 McDonald’s restaurants in the Eastern United States. She was promoted to this position in March 2005.
Karen serves on several boards that are committed to the advancement and development of women, both at McDonald’s and in the business world at large. Committed to the foodservice industry at large by promoting job and career opportunities, she is an active member of the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Board of Directors and a trustee on the NRA Educational Foundation National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
FAQ's - Leadership Award
Past Leadership Award Recipients
Volunteer of the Year Award
The Volunteer of
the Year Award is presented annually to a WFF volunteer who is highly active in the organization
through committee work and general support of WFF. S/he demonstrates consistent effort, above and
beyond expectations, enthusiastically and visibly contributing to the goals and overall success of
the Women's Foodservice Forum.
2011 Volunteer of the Year Award Recipient
Michele Varian, Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Michele's volunteer career with the WFF has covered several years in which she has served in a variety of roles across several committees. Her intelligence, thoughtful approach and leadership are strong traits that have contributed to her success within the WFF and have lead to her being the go-to volunteer leader to head up important WFF projects. Specifically, the Virtual Events Committee, under Michele’s leadership, has delivered tremendous results throughout this year and has left a legacy that has helped WFF put a strong, positive momentum in place.
Named Vice President, Strategic Sourcing in May 2009, Michele is responsible for all aspects of Strategic Sourcing supporting the restaurant business of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., including distribution and supply chain.
Past Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients