2015
Mark Delisi Sales Manager, The Brenmar Co.
Cedric S. Fichepain Owner, LeVoltaire & LePetit French Bakery
Liz Liakos Owner, Market Basket
Gene Pace President, Sterling Distributing
John A. Ursick Executive Chef, Twisted Fork
Glenn A. Wheeler Executive Chef, Spencers' for Steaks & Chops
Mark Delisi
Sales Manager, The Brenmar Co.
Born in 1956
Graduated UNO with a BSBA
Campbell Sales Co. (Food Service Division), Sales Rep and Account Manager, 1980-1981
Campbell Soup Co. (Retail Grocery Division), Account Manager and District Manager, 1081-2003
Dale Carnegie Sales Talk Champion, 1983
1985-1986-Gricert MFG's of NE, Board Member
1987-Grocery MFG's of NE, President
1992-NE Food Bank, Board Member
Campbell Sales Co.-Business Team Sales Award, 1992
Campbell Sales Co.-Three Time Merit Award Winner-Sales
Sold all of the Campbell brands to Midwest supermarket headquarter customers and retailers. Brands included Campbell, Home Cookin', Pepperidge Farm, V8, Franco American, Pace and Swanson
The Brenmar Co., Sales Manager, 2004-Present
Developed a specialty food division, 2008
In 2008, sales were $355,000, selling 15 food products
2014, sales exceeded $1 Million, with over 155 products
Expanded retail and customer base starting with 50 retail supermarkets, and now selling to over 150 retail stores
Developed a cross dock distribution program with a key Midwest wholesaler with exposure to over 800 stores in 24 states in the Midwest and South
Married to Michelle Procopio for 38 years
3 children and 2 grandaughters
Cedric S. Fichepain
Owner, LeVoltaire & LePetit French Bakery
Born in 1972 in France
Baccalauréat in Economics, Lycée Jean Giono, Torino Italy
BTS ACTION COMMERCIALE IDRAC, Paris France (Marketing and Business)
Certificate LeNotre Catering, Paris France
Completed 1st Level Sommelier from the court of Master Sommeliers, Omaha NE
Institute for the Culinary Arts and Management with Honors, MCC, Omaha NE
Certified Executive Chef from the American Culinary Association, Omaha NE
Culinary Instructor, ICA @ MCC, Omaha Ne, 2011-Present
Executive Chef and Owner Le Voltaire Restaurant, Omaha NE, 2001-Present
Owner Le Petit French Bakery, Pepperwood- Omaha and Midlands Place-Papillion, 2013-Present
Executive Chef Farrucci’s Bistro, Omaha NE, 1998-2000
Honorary French Consul for the State of Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota
Board Member of the Alliance Francaise d’Omaha
Cooking Matters and Share Our Strength
High School Culinary Invitational Judge
March of Dimes, 6 years
Pinot, Pigs and Poets/Completely Kids, 4 years
ORA’s Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen, 13 years
Jefferson’s House, 7 years
Omaha Food Bank, 10 years
Dine Out for Life, 5 years
Past Board Member Omaha Restaurant Association
Past President and Founder of IDEA (Independent Dinning Establishment Association)
2004 Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award
2006 Omaha Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year
2012 Runner Up SBA Small Business of the Year Award - Le Voltaire Restaurant
2013 Nebraska International Languages Association PRO Lingua Award
2004-2004 Wine Spectator Wine Award
Featured in numerous articles locally and nationally
Married wife Desarae in 1995
Three sons
Liz Liakos
Owner, Market Basket
Born in 1942
Graduated Columbus High School
Graduated UNL, Bachelor of Arts
Culinary Administrator, Joslyn Art Museum, 1983-1986
Owner, Market Basket, 1986-present
Omaha Restaurant Association, President, 1988
Nebraska Kidney Foundation, Founder & Chili Cook-off Chair
Central High School PEP, Western Hills PTA, Lewis & Clark Middle School PTA (President)
Central High School Auction Dinner, Founder
Assistance League of Omaha, Founding Member, VP 1984
Junior League of Omaha, Sustaining Member
Opera Omaha Guild
Nebraska Humane Society Friends Forever Guild
Omaha Symphony Guild, Joslyn Art Museum Association
YWCA Woman of the Year Nominee, 1990
Married to John Liakos
Two Children
Gene Pace
President, Sterling Distributing
Born 1947
Graduated Benson High School, 1966
Graduated from Creighton University, BS Economics, 1970
Army National Guard, 1971-1977
McKesson Wine and Spirits sales, 1971
General Manager, McKesson, 1980
General Manager, Sterling Distributing, 1983
President, Sterling Distributing, 1985-present
Volunteered baseball and basketball YMCA coach over 5 years
20 year member of the Century Council
(National organization supporting efforts to stop underage drinking)
22 years President of the Nebraska Wine and Spirit Wholesale Association
18 years Member of Creighton Jaybackers Jamboree Board of Directors
18 years served on Regency Homeowners Association, homeowner
Board of Directors, 2 years as President, 16 years Vice President
Jaybacker Jamboree
Heartland Ball
American Heart Association
American Cancer Association
Nebraska Humane Society
Married to wife Jolene
4 Children
John A. Ursick
Executive Chef, Twisted Fork
Born 1965
Graduate Creighton Prep 1983
Graduate Creighton University, BA, 1988
Recipient Wine Spectator Award of Excellence,
Stoke’s Grill and Bar, Consecutive years since 2000
Waiter, Line Cook, Assistant Manager, Abercrombie’s 1985-1988
Waiter, Left Bank Restaurant, Vail Co, 1988-1989
Kitchen Manager, Barrett’s Castle, 1990-1991
Kitchen Manager, Champs Americana, 1991-1997
Executive Chef and Operating Partner:
Stoke’s Grill and Bar, 1997-present
Stoke’s Grill and Bar, Old Market, 2007-present
Twisted Fork, 2008-present
Omaha Food Bank fundraiser
Pinot, Pigs and Poets fundraiser
Creighton Prep BASH fundraiser
Marian High School fundraiser
St. Pius X Grade School fundraiser
Skutt Catholic fundraiser
Married wife Meg, 1991
Two Children
Glenn A Wheeler
Executive Chef, Spencers' for Steaks and Chops
Born in 1966 in Los Angeles, CA
Elston High School, Michigan City
Eastern Utah College
Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago
Spencer’s fro Steaks & Chops, Executive Chef, 2010-present
Taste Restaurant, Executive Chef, 2009-2010
Liberty Tavern at Hilton Omaha, Chef de Cuisine, 2004-2009
Wheelers Restaurant, Executive Chef & Co-Owner, 2003-2004
Bomba Dia, Executive Chef, 1999-2002
Passport Restaurant, Executive Chef, 1996-1999
Omaha Prime, Executive Chef, 1995-1996
Maxine’s Restaurant, Chef de Cuisine, 1994-1995
Omaha Restaurant Association, Board Member, 2013-2014
Omaha Restaurant Association, Vice President, 2015
Best Chefs of America Advisory Board, 2013-2014
Chefs Collaborative, 2004-2008
James Beard Foundation, 2004-present
Share Our Strength participant, 1988-2004
Opera Omaha Best Chefs, 2001-2011
March of Dimes “Signature Chefs” Event, 2004-present
VNA “Art & Soup” Event, 1997-present
Omaha Restaurant Association’s Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen, 2007-present (raised tens of thousands of dollars through private chef dinners in the auction at this event)
Susan G. Komen Golf Outing, 2010-2013
Best Chefs of America, 2013, 2014
Pork Producer’s Taste of Elegance, two time Grand Champion 2005, 2007
National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Award-Liberty Tavern, 2006
Salvation Army’s Bacon Fest, 1st Place Savory Award, 2013
Bon Appetit’s Best Neighborhood Restaurants-Bomba Did, September 2002 Issue
Cooked for Mr. Stevie Wonder’s 63rd Birthday Party, Quartet Restaurant, Portland Oregon, 2013
Best Restaurants in Omaha, Wheeler’s 2003 and Spencer’s for Steaks & Chops 2010
Cooked along-side Chefs Masaharu Morimoto and Gale Grand, Opera Omaha Benefit Dinner, 2003
Omaha Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year Award 2014
Married to wife Kerma
Two Childern