Roy's Mark Running Presented with CHART's Commitment to People Award

August 10, 2010

 

New Orleans, LA – Mark Running, President of Roy’s Restaurant was recently honored with the Commitment to People Award from the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART, www.chart.org). The awards ceremony took place here during CHART’s 80th semi-annual hospitality training conference held at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans on Monday evening, July 26, 2010. A photo of Mark receiving his award can be found at CHART’s News Room Photo Gallery.

 

More than 230 hospitality training professionals, including 14 lifetime members,18 past presidents and 62 first time attendees, were in attendance for the presentation, which was the culmination of a 40^th anniversary celebration gala held at the hotel on the last night of the conference.

 

In addition to the announcement of Running’s award, the evening featured a silent auction raising almost $10,000 for student scholarships and a standing-ovation address by Walter Hiller, the sole surviving founding member of the organization. Attendees were also treated to a slide show highlighting the impact CHART has had on the restaurant and hotel industry since 1970, along with a formal dinner and dancing.

 

In addition to Mark Running, others honored that evening included:

 

Mark Running began his career in the restaurant business in 1976 and joined Roy’s in 2000 as the west coast Joint Venture Partner, opening 8 restaurants, and later became the Vice President of Operations. When Roy’s Restaurant was looking for a leader, they searched for someone who was passionate about the tenets of fine food, but who also believed in people first. Mark Running fit this role perfectly and over the years, has guided the brand through joyous times, marked by exceptional growth, and challenging economic times. Through it all he’s led with compassion, integrity and vision.  He was appointed president of Roy’s in January 2004.  

 

“Treating people with respect every day is my business philosophy,” stated Running while on the Presidents Panel session during the conference. “As an integral component to maintaining strong employee relations and open communication, I visit and meet with each and every restaurant on an annual basis.”

 

“During the toughest economic time of our lives, Mark continued to support the need to invest in our people,” said Leiala Whattoff, Roy’s Vice President of Training. She added, “The persistent need to teach and develop them; not just on skills that make them better at Roy’s, but skills that will improve them in life.”

 

Roy’s Restaurant and Mark Running place a high importance on ‘ohana’ which is the Hawaiian word meaning family and translates to relationships that are genuine and supportive with deep feelings of belonging, caring and trust. 

 

Mark’s devotion for his employees is evidenced through his ongoing commitment to communicate and implement the company’s ideology and culture. His passion for people first resulted in an employee emergency fund and anniversary program while maintaining a concentrated effort on employee surveys, training programs, and employee development sessions. 

 

Whattoffnoted “Mark is committed to the philosophy that the team is actually a vital part of the solution. He knows they can offer the most insight, since they are closer to the issues, and he recognizes the value of their input. Mark is dedicated to improving the work place for each and every one of his employees based on what they think and places a high degree of importance on their voice.”

 

CHART’s Commitment to People Award, created in 1993, is given annually to a member CEO/president in the hospitality industry who clearly and consistently demonstrates a commitment to the development of people. The award selection committee reviewed and ranked the Commitment to People nominees in four categories:

 

·        Effective communication of the organization’s culture;

·        Programs that demonstrate a commitment to people;

·        Efforts to be involved in the development of people; and

·        Ability to break down barriers to create opportunities.

 

The past recipients of this prestigious CHART award are:

 

2009    David Overton, Chairman and CEO of The Cheesecake Factory Inc.

2008    Skip Fox, President, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

2007    Cameron Mitchell, President and founder of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants

2006    Colin V. Reed, Chairman, President and CEO, Gaylord Entertainment

2005    Julia Stewart, President and CEO, IHOP Corporation

2004    Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, co-CEOs, California Pizza Kitchen

2003    Harry Bond, FMP, President, Monical Pizza Corporation

2002    Kerry Kramp, President, Buffets, Inc.

2001    Robert Dedman, Founder and Chairman of the Board, and Robert Dedman Jr.,President and CEO, Club Corp. Inc.

2000    William Walton, Holiday Inn

1999    Molly Hancock, Chief Operating Officer, Consolidated Restaurants, Inc.

1998    David C. Novak, President and Vice Chairman, Yum! Brands, formerly Tricon Global Restaurants

1997    Wally Doolin, President and Chief Executive of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide

1996    Bob Jameson, President and General Manager, The Worthington Hotel

1995    Simon Cooper, President and CEO of Delta Hotel and Resorts

1994    Joe Byrum, President of Morrison’s Hospitality

1993    Donald N. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of Friendly’s Ice Cream

 

 

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