2019
Michael J. Ancona Ancona Bros.
Gene Cammarota Chef and Chef Instructor Iowa Western Community College
Howard N. Epstein & Steve Epstein E. L. Nogg Fruit Company
Yves Menard Charlies on the Lake
Jennie & Matt Warren Omaha Restaurant Association & Stokes West Grill & Wine Bar
Michael J. Ancona
Ancona Bros.
Michael Ancona worked for Ancona Brothers Wholesale Grocery during college as a warehouseman, truck driver, and payroll clerk and then in sales. 1974 he began working full-time for them, serving territories in Nebraska and Iowa. He worked himself up to VP and eventually to President of the company. He later joined Reinhart Foodservices as GM in 2002 and a merger in 2006 found him in the position of President of the merged company. He retired from Reinhart Food Services in 2013.
Gene Cammarota
Chef and Chef Instructor Iowa Western Community College
Gene Commorota, a New Yorker by birth, began his career as a chef after graduating from the California Culinary Academy in 1987. His travels as chef lead him to Omaha in 1990 as Head Chef at Dingle Bay Oyster Bar. He hosted a weekly TV cooking show in 1995 on a local network, as well as a radio show about cooking and life events. He then taught at the Institute for the Culinary Arts as an adjunct faculty for 5 years. Presently he gives his time and talents as Chef Instructor at Iowa Western Community College.
Howard N. Epstein
E. L. Nogg Fruit Company
Howard Epstein is an Omaha Central graduate who began his working career in 1965 as a busboy at Village Inn. While attending college at Creighton he worked for E.L. Nogg Fruit Company as a warehouse worker and a truck driver. After graduating from Creighton University Law School, he served a short stint as an accountant at Coopers and Lybrand, leaving them to become president of E.L. Nogg Company. His leadership from1974 through 1991 led Nogg Company to numerous awards and accolades. After the sale of Nogg to Demma Fruit Company, he started a law career, working with several Omaha law firms from 1998 to 2013.
Steve Epstein
E. L. Nogg Fruit Company
During his teen years Steve Epstein began his career in hospitality at Village Inn as a busboy. His college summers found him at E. L. Nogg Fruit Company working in the warehouse and driving the fruit truck. He graduated from UNL in 1971 and continued on at Nogg as a salesman. By 1994 he was co-owner and Vice President of the company. Epstein made a career change in 1997, moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, working in sales in the automotive industry. Another opportunity in 2002 led him to work at the U.S Department of the Treasury as a Tax Specialist until his retirement in 2011.
Yves Menard
Charlies on the Lake
Canadian born Yves Menard started his career as many others in the hospitality industry as a lowly dishwasher, being promoted to pizza maker and then delivery driver. He apprenticed under a German trained chef, Hans Koch before moving to the United States. He opened his first restaurant in 1985, Austin’s Steakhouse, in Omaha, NE at the young age of 25. Menard has opened and/or developed over 40 restaurants, including the ever-popular Charlie’s on the Lake, open since 1995. He is excited about opening another Austin’s Steakhouse and Saloon at 168th and Center in November of this year.
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Jennie & Matt Warren
Omaha Restaurant Association and Stokes West Grill & Wine Bar
An industry dynamic duo, Matt and Jennie Warren started working in the Omaha restaurant scene in the late 1980’s joining their skills and talents at the infamous Billy Frogg’s in the Old Market. They worked together to expand the business to three locations. Matt and Jennie, now “the Warrens” moved on to own and operate several restaurant concepts. The Warrens also managed catering for their restaurants and then for Anthony’s Steakhouse during their time in the partnership. Jennie began serving as Executive Director of Omaha Restaurant Association (ORA) in 2000 and continues to the present day. Matt currently serves as the GM for Restaurant Inc.’s Stokes West - Grill and Wine Bar.