Ted J. Balestreri Honored with 2006 Industry Leadership Award

MONTEREY, Calif.; December 31, 2006, Ted J. Balestreri, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sardine Factory Restaurant and General Managing Partner of the Cannery Row Company was presented the 2006 Industry Leadership Award at the Leadership Roundtable Conference held in Santa Barbara, California. The Industry Leadership Award was created to recognize each year one outstanding individual who has contributed significantly to the success of the foodservice industry.

Ted Balestreri was selected in recognition of his tremendous success in the restaurant industry, having founded over 38 years ago the world-famous Sardine Factory Restaurant; as well as his instrumental role in preserving and developing Cannery Row, Monterey, as one of the country?s premiere tourism destinations.

The Leadership Roundtable Conference “The Food Service Forum for the New Millennium" serves the needs of presidents and CEOs, and is limited to forty top executives. Balestreri joins an elite list of past recipients of the Industry Leadership Award, including: Norman Brinker, Brinker International, Richard Marriott, Host Marriott, and Jim Collins, Sizzler International.

Balestreri has been an active member and leader within the hospitality, travel and tourism industry for more than 30 years. Mr. Balestreri has served as President and/or Chair on the boards of numerous restaurant and culinary industry organizations, including the National Restaurant Association (NRA), California Restaurant Association, U.S. Culinary Team Foundation, International Gold & Silver Plate Society, Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DIRoNA), and the NRA Educational Foundation. He is the longest serving California Tourism Commissioner, originally appointed by Governor George Deukmejian. He also serves on the World Travel & Tourism Council.