Des Moines, IA- Oct 11 – On Monday October 8th, Shayna Watts, assistant manager at Fresh Mediterranean Express, was awarded the 2018 Restaurant Employee of the Year Award by the Iowa Restaurant Association for her passion and commitment to Fresh Mediterranean Express. Watts was presented the award at a ceremony in Des Moines by the Incoming Chairman of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors Joe Essa of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide and the Current Chairman of the Iowa Restaurant Association Board of Directors Darin Beck of Barmuda Companies. The restaurant industry has always been a “happy place” for Watts. She remembers being 5-years-old and accompanying her step-father to the Sonic Drive-in he managed in Texas. Watts recalls feeling that everyone truly wanted to be helpful and that taking care of customers was the top priority. That commitment to customer care stuck with Shayna, who took that same positive attitude with her to work in restaurants in Texas, Arizona, and finally Iowa restaurants.  In 2014, Shayna started with Fresh Mediterranean Express in Waukee.  She was quickly promoted to Team Lead and then to Assistant Manager. According to owner Hassan Atarmal, Watts is an integral part of the restaurant’s success and is always going above and beyond what it expected. Watts is a natural leader and is always challenging co-workers to be the best they can be. Even the restaurants’ owners credit her from pushing them to improve and seek new ways to positively impact the restaurant’s success. A video showcasing Watts can be found at www.restaurantiowa.com. Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s restaurant and bar industry with educational and promotional programs across the state. Media Contact: Josephine Jensen Public Relations Specialist jjensen@restaurantiowa.com 319-464-0766