Press Release

Jeffrey Rotz, CEC, CCE, AAC, Receives Joseph Amendola Outstanding Member Award

St. Augustine, Fla., April 27, 2010—Jeffrey Rotz, CEC, CCE, AAC, of Tavares, Fla., received the American Culinary Federation, Inc., (ACF) Southeast Region Joseph Amendola Outstanding Member Award at the 2010 ACF Southeast Regional Conference held at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, Birmingham, Ala., April 24–26. Rotz is a culinary educator at Eustis High School, Eustis, Fla.

Presented by Southeast Region Vice President Jeff Bacon, CEC, CCA, AAC, the award recognizes an outstanding culinarian from the Southeast Region who exemplifies culinary excellence and leadership. The award was established in honor of Joseph Amendola, CEPC, CCE, AAC, HOF (1920–2008).

Rotz has worked at Eustis High School for more than 10 years. He is a member and chairman of the board of ACF Gulf to Lake Chefs and Cooks Association, Inc. Prior to joining the staff at Eustis High School, he worked at Lake Technical Center, Eustis, Fla.; First Coast Technical College (formerly First Coast Technical Institute), St. Augustine, Fla.; and served in the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 1993. He has received numerous awards, including Lake County Teacher of the Year in 2005–2006, his chapter’s Chef of the Year award, and two ACF President’s Medallion in 2001 and 2006.

The 2010 ACF Southeast Regional Conference, hosted by ACF Birmingham Alabama Chapter, brought hundreds of chefs, cooks and foodservice professionals to Birmingham. The conference provided attendees with opportunities to advance their professional development and enhance their culinary skills through business seminars, cooking demonstrations featuring the latest trends and techniques, cooking competitions and awards.

Sponsors of the 2010 ACF Southeast Regional Conference and ACF national award sponsors are: Alabama Cattlemen’s Association; American Technical Publishers; Cabot Creamery Cooperative; Canada Cutlery Inc.; The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Inc.; The Colorado Potato Administrative Committee; Custom Culinary, Inc.; King & Prince Seafood; Koch Foods, Inc.; MARS Food Services; MenuMax; MINOR’S®; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc.; NRA Conserve; R.L. Schreiber, Inc.; Riviana Foods Inc.; S&D Coffee; Splenda®; SYSCO Birmingham; The Sterno Group; Tyson Food Service; U.S. Foodservice; Unilever Foodsolutions; Vitamix Corp.; and Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 22,000 members spanning 230 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org.

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To arrange an interview, or for a high-res photo, contact Patricia Carroll or Leah Craig.

Contacts: Patricia Carroll
(904) 484-0247
pcarroll@acfchefs.net

Leah Craig
(904) 484-0213
lcraig@acfchefs.net

• Jeffrey Rotz, CEC, CCE, AAC, Receives Joseph Amendola Outstanding Member Award