HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AWARDS

Recognizing Oregon's Outstanding Hospitality Industry Professionals

Oregon’s hospitality industry is brimming with outstanding individuals who go above and beyond, raising the bar for excellence in performance, service and commitment to the industry. The ORLA Hospitality Industry Awards recognize the exemplary performance and qualities that set the high standards for the entire industry to achieve. These statewide awards are typically presented at the annual ORLA Hospitality Conference.

Know someone who may be a good candidate for one of these awards? Please take a minute to nominate them and help share their story; email Lori Little.
Congratulations to our 2019 Hospitality Industry Award recipients!
View photos from this year's event
Chuck Hinman
LODGING OPERATOR:
Chuck Hinman, General Manager
​Best Western Plus Hood River Inn (Hood River)
Award sponsored by Ecolab​

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​Celebrating 30 years with the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, Chuck Hinman is a familiar face to guests and locals alike. Chuck is the quintessential host, from making every guest feel welcome to creating a strong sense of family among his staff. Over ten of his managers have been with the hotel between 10-30 years, a testament to his respected leadership in the organization. Beyond the property lines, Chuck has been a tireless advocate of the hospitality industry, engaging with local policy makers and agencies on issues that directly affect the community he serves. In addition to the many volunteer Boards, organizations and charities, Chuck served several years on the association’s Board of Directors and is a past Chair.
Dorothy Petersen
EMPLOYEE:
Dorothy Petersen, Store Manager
Papa Murphy's Pizza - Junction City

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​“Caring, welcoming, and loyal” are three words often used to describe Dorothy Petersen. But if you ask the 7-year-old boy who wrote a school paper on how he wanted to make pizzas when he grows up because of Dorothy, he would probably say that she’s “awesome.” A frequent customer, the boy and his mom came into the store on his birthday and to their surprise, Dorothy got him in an apron and helped him make his own pizza. For close to 20 years Dorothy has been a fixture in the community, serving up her best smile and wonderful service at the Junction City Papa Murphy’s. She knows almost every guest and goes out of her way to make everyone welcome, including fellow staff. Dorothy is like a mother to every young person that is hired there, taking them under her wing and teaching them important life skills. 
 Kurt Huffman
RESTAURATEUR:
Kurt Huffman, Owner
ChefStable (Portland)
Award sponsored by McDonald Wholesale Company

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Like many in the restaurant industry, Kurt Huffman’s first job was as a dishwasher at 14 years old. Despite being encouraged to get out of the restaurant industry early on, he felt the gravitational pull to stay in. Through his experiences, he’d met many chefs with a passion for cooking but who lacked expertise on the business side. This inspired him to go to business school and learn how to manage operational details so chefs can focus on food and service. With the launch of ChefStable, a Portland-based hospitality management and consultancy group, Kurt and his team have partnered with talented and passionate chefs to design, build and operate restaurants, bars, bakery, catering company and even a hotel opening this Fall.​​​
Seth Gruschow
ALLIED PARTNER:
Togather Restaurant Consulting
​Award accepted by Seth Gruschow, Owner

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​When searching for a consultant to help you find business solutions, qualities like professionalism, experience and knowledge are a given. Togather Restaurant Consulting has those qualities and many more. In fact, Seth Gruschow, founder and owner of Togather, has also been called a mentor by business owners and chef operators. With twenty-five years of restaurant industry experience, Seth and his team work with influencers and innovators to create a networking web of local and reliable businesses. Their dedication to the industry doesn’t stop there, however. Seth and Togather have been a tremendous resource for restaurant and lodging operators by sharing their expertise at industry events, sponsoring programs like ORLA Education Foundation’s ProStart, and even providing moral support to business owners who need that bit of validation they’re doing things right.
ChefStable team
Kurt Huffman, ChefStable, and team at the 2019 Hospitality Industry Awards Lunch