Industry Honorees Announced for
21st Annual Salute to Excellence
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation recognizes
Cain, Fassler, Kavanaugh, Regas and Ricchi

Chicago, IL- The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) today announced the five restaurant and foodservice industry leaders to be honored at the 21st Annual Salute to Excellence Awards Gala on Saturday, May 17, 2008, at the Hilton Chicago. Held during the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show(r), this daylong event brings together the country's most promising restaurant and foodservice management students with top educators and industry leaders to highlight esteemed leadership and extraordinary academic accomplishments.

The 2008 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality is:
* Joseph K. Fassler, FMP, Retired President & CEO, Viad Food Service & Hospitality

The 2008 College of Diplomates Inductees are:
* Herman Cain, CEO, The New Voice, Inc.
* William Regas, Chairman Emeritus, Regas Restaurants
* Christianne R. Ricchi, Chef Proprietor, Ristorante i Ricchi

The 2008 Michael E. Hurst Lifetime of Achievement in Education Award is presented to:
* Raphael R. Kavanaugh, Ed.D., FMP, Professor and Department Head, Purdue University

"We are extremely proud to honor these five individuals for all they have done and continue to do for the restaurant and foodservice industry," said Ruben Villavicencio, chairman of the Board of Trustees, NRAEF. "The dedication and enthusiasm that each of them has shown throughout their illustrious careers is vital to the continued growth and development of our great industry. The Salute to Excellence Awards Gala provides the perfect platform from which to demonstrate the tremendous gratitude we have for their tireless efforts to promote the restaurant and foodservice industry as the cornerstone of the American economy, of career and employment opportunities and of local communities."

The Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality is the highest honor bestowed by the NRAEF. It is presented each May to an individual who is a member of the NRAEF's College of Diplomates and who is recognized as an outstanding leader in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

The NRAEF College of Diplomates consists of educators, journalists, restaurant association executives, authors, chefs, TV personalities, etc. who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement and enhancement of the image of the restaurant and foodservice industry.

To honor the devotion to educating and enhancing the lives of young people that characterized Michael E. Hurst's career, the NRAEF awards the Michael E. Hurst Lifetime of Achievement in Education Award to an outstanding educator who has made an indelible contribution to restaurant and foodservice education.

Now in its 21st year, Salute to Excellence celebrates the current and future leadership of our industry. This event is made possible by the generous contributions of founding partner, The Coca-Cola Company, and presenting sponsor, Ecolab, Inc.

Tickets for the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala may be purchased individually or by a table of 10. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (312) 261-5313 or visit http://www.nraef.org/events/salute.

Now in its 89th year, the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals in the Western Hemisphere. The 2008 Show will be held May 17-20, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. The Show attracts nearly 2,150 exhibiting companies and 74,000 attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 115 countries. More information can be found on the Show Web site at www.restaurant.org/show.

For bios and photos of the 2008 Salute to Excellence Honorees, please visit: http://www.nraef.org/headline/headline_ste_honorees_2008.asp

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling the educational mission of the National Restaurant Association. As the nation's second largest private sector employer, the restaurant and foodservice industry is the cornerstone of the American economy, of career-and-employment opportunities, and of local communities. Revenues from all NRAEF products and services benefit the industry by supporting the NRAEF's educational initiatives. For more information on the NRAEF, visit www.nraef.org.