Des Moines, IA- Oct 11 – On Monday October 8th, Drew Beck, Division President of Reinhart Foodservice, was awarded the 2018 ProStart Mentor of the Year by the Iowa Restaurant Association for his commitment and dedication to future industry leaders. Beck 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. Beck always knew he wanted to work in the restaurant industry but when he enrolled college at Eastern Illinois University, there was no culinary program, so Drew opted to study business—but his interest in the restaurant industry held and upon graduation he landed a job as an assistant manager for Bennigan’s.  He still looks back and marvels that at age 22 he helped open and operate a restaurant in Peoria, Illinois. He eventually moved to the distribution side of the food industry working at Hawkeye Foods, U.S. Foods and finely at Reinhardt Foodservice. It was in his current role that he became engaged with Cedar Rapids Washington High School and began to mentor their ProStart students. ProStart is a high school program focused on culinary and restaurant management skill development. As a ProStart mentor, Drew sees his investment in the students as a great return on investment for our industry “Year in and year out our industries biggest problem is labor: not enough, not well trained, and not seeing our industry as a long-term career path. I believe in and support the ProStart program because it is proactively addressing our industries need to develop future leaders,” concludes Beck. A video showcasing Beck 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

Des Moines, IA- Oct 10 – On Monday October 10th, Chef Aaron Holt, Executive Chef at RoCA, was awarded the 2018 Chef of the Year Award by the Iowa Restaurant Association for his determination and commitment to RoCA’s success. Aaron 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.   Aaron Holt is proof that you don’t need a culinary degree to be an award-winning chef.  He started working in restaurants at age 15—but at the time, it didn’t occur to him that he could make a career in the industry. In college he pursued an architecture degree but continued to work in restaurants.  During his sophomore year, at age 21, something happened that changed the course of his life—he was promoted to an executive chef position.   He worked several front of the house and chef positions— gleaning everything he could from every restaurant and role.  In 2007 Aaron approached award-winning Chef Andrew Meek and offered to work for him for free just so he could learn from the best and develop a better sense of fine dining cooking.   As the Executive Chef at RoCA, Aaron has been instrumental in creating and building the menu as well as helping to create the ambiance that RoCA tries to provide their guests night after night. He loves to use local and seasonal ingredients in his dishes, including produce he grows on his family’s farm. Not only is he fully committed to continually improving the customer experience at RoCA, but he also is paying it forward by serving as a teacher and mentor aspiring chefs. A video showcasing Aaron 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

Wednesday, August 15, 2018 – West Des Moines, IA Top Chefs Wow the Crowd The competing chefs were challenged to make salad dressing recipes which used Mori-nu Soft Silken Tofu as the base of the dressing, were consumer friendly, gluten-free and delicious enough to put on a restaurant menu. Each chef demonstrated the process of making the dressing and then served four judges as well as a crowd of fair-goers. Migliero Wins Champion: Chef Migliero took home the gold with an orange walnut tofu dressing over a mixed local greens salad. Other competing chefs included: 2nd Place: Chef Jessi Dolson, Barley’s Bar & Grill in Council Bluffs, IA – Orange ginger soy shrimp salad 3rd Place: Tyler Kubiak, Hy-Vee Market Grille, Waukee -Lemon Mint Tofu Dressing 4th Place: Chef Joe McConnville, Gusto Pizza Des Moines – Creamy pesto with balsamic All participants received cash prizes. Contest judges included Soy producer and IA Soybean Association board member, Jeff Frank, Food blogger Cristin Clark with Food & Swine, Reporter Ben Oldach with WHO TV 13 and Chef John Andres with the Iowa Culinary Institute. All of the chefs’ recipes are available online at both the Iowa Restaurant Association and The Soyfoods Council websites: www.restaurantiowa.com and www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com.

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The Soyfoods Council The Soyfoods Council is an affiliate of the Iowa Soybean Association. The mission of The Soyfoods Council is to serve as a catalyst, leader and facilitator to mainstream soy-based foods into the global marketplace-America and beyond. www.thesoyfoodscouncil.comIowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association is an advocacy organization supporting Iowa’s industry with educational and promotional programs across the state. www.restraurantiowa.com Media Contact: Josephine Jensen Public Relations Specialist jjensen@restaurantiowa.com 515-276-1454

Thursday, April 5, 2018 – Des Moines, IA – Congratulations to Jessica Dunker, President & CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, who has been named the 2018 Inspiring Women of Iowa Courage Award Recipient by the Girls Scouts of Greater Iowa. Dunker was nominated by an anonymous source for the Courage Award which is given to a woman who has shown strength in the face of fear, pain, or grief and persevered. Dunker accepted the award at a luncheon held at the Des Moines Marriott on Wednesday, April 4. In her acceptance speech, Dunker commented, “I realize the courage that was required by the women who were nominated in this category and the things they’ve had to overcome in their lives and I am so honored to be in their company. Every one of the nominees are women of courage, character and confidence.”

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Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association provides advocacy, education and promotional support to Iowa’s restaurant and tavern industry. www.restaurantiowa.com Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist kkostek@restaurantiowa.com 515-276-1454

West Des Moines – February 5, 2018 – More than seventy million Americans will celebrate Valentine’s Day at a restaurant this year according to the National Restaurant Association. Many restaurants plan to offer special promotions, entertainment, flowers and other romantic items, making a night at a favorite or new restaurant a perfect gesture for the one you love. “The top three deciding factors for couples choosing to eat out are the familiarity of a favorite eatery, a romantic setting, and special menu offerings,” said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association. “It’s not too soon to make reservations as Valentine’s Day is the second most popular holiday to dine out in America (behind Mother’s Day), and about one-third of those celebrating the holiday will be visiting a restaurant.” Those with busy schedules who choose to celebrate their love on a night other than February 14th are in luck. Nearly one-third of consumers prefer to receive a restaurant gift card from a significant other over chocolate, flowers and even jewelry this holiday. Think ahead and give the gift of a great dining.

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Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association provides advocacy, education and promotional support to Iowa’s restaurant and tavern industry. www.restaurantiowa.com

Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist kkostek@restaurantiowa.com 515-276-1454

Under Iowa’s current antiquated system, only hospitality operators are required to insure themselves against the behavior of others. This mandated insurance is often cost-prohibitive, providing little coverage to the business or assistance to innocent victims.

Des Moines – January 22, 2018 – The Iowa Restaurant Association is asking state lawmakers to pass insurance reform that would make it possible for restaurant and tavern operators to secure better policies to help compensate innocent victims if an intoxicated person causes harm and the restaurant or bar is held partially responsible. Called “DRAM” insurance, in Iowa this coverage requirement is unique to those who “sell and serve” alcohol such as restaurants and bars. There is no similar requirement for those who “sell” unopened alcohol such as box stores, pharmacies, grocery, and convenience stores. “We are the only segment of the industry which is held responsible for the behavior of others,” said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, the group spearheading the proposed changes. “We understand we have a unique relationship with patrons and as such we’re willing to carry the extra coverage, but we also have to have access to affordable policies.” According to Dunker, Iowa ranks 46th in the nation in “insurability” for DRAM. “That’s a pretty unattractive marketplace,” says Dunker. She points to the rankings from ISO, an organization that provides actuarial and other information about property/casualty insurance risk. This data is used by insurance carriers to select markets and set rates. “The way Iowa’s laws are written today, it’s nearly impossible for them to determine their risk,” says Dunker. “If I was an insurance carrier, I’d think twice about writing DRAM policies in Iowa too.” As a result, Iowa restaurants and bars can often find only one carrier willing to offer the insurance, resulting in high-cost, low-coverage policies. “I know of one operator who has a $150,000 policy that he pays $40,000 per year for,” said Dunker. “This is particularly tough for border businesses who simply can’t compete with their counterparts in other states.” The Association hopes their proposed changes will bring Iowa’s DRAM insurance grade in line with surrounding states. “Nearly anything would be better than what we have today,” said Dunker. The Iowa Restaurant Association will be meeting with legislators this week to discuss their proposed changes. A copy of their proposed bill can be found here.

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Iowa Restaurant Association The Iowa Restaurant Association provides advocacy, education and promotional support to Iowa’s restaurant and tavern industry. www.restaurantiowa.com

Media Contact: Katelyn Kostek Public Relations Specialist kkostek@restaurantiowa.com 515-276-1454