Conference Recognizes Individuals, Restaurants for Exemplary Leadership Contributions

COLUMBUS, Ohio (October 24, 2022) – Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) recently recognized several managers, chefs and restaurants for their outstanding performance. The awards were presented at the company’s annual Leadership Conference, which was held in September in Sonoma County, California.

“We are proud to recognize the extraordinary talent and commitment of our team members,” said David Miller, CMR president and chief operating officer. “They are exceptional champions of our associates-first culture and embody the genuine hospitality that creates raving fans. These leaders not only persevered, but excelled, in the face of the numerous challenges the past few years have brought. It was a special moment to come together and express our recognition and gratitude for their dedication.”

2022 Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ Specialty Awards

Restaurant of the Year: Cap City Fine Diner & Bar in Grandview, is this year’s recipient of the Restaurant of the Year award. The restaurant is led by General Manager Annie Bowlin, Executive Chef Michael Steiner and Chef De Cuisine Larry MacDonald. Cap City is a classic American diner that puts a modern twist on recognizable favorites. Its comfortable atmosphere with upscale touches creates a dining experience that is special and memorable.

General Manager of the Year: Jeremy Hughes, of Columbus, Ohio, is the 2022 General Manager of the Year. He is the general manager of Budd Dairy Food Hall, the widely acclaimed chef incubator located in Columbus’ Italian Village neighborhood. Hughes is an experienced leader for CMR and has been a general manager at several properties throughout this career with the company.

Executive Chef of the Year: Geoff Baumberger, of Columbus, Ohio, is the 2022 Executive Chef of the Year. As executive chef and operating partner at The Guild House in the Short North, Baumberger is a skilled culinary artist. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and began working with CMR in 2002. He is the former executive chef of El Segundo, and also spent time working at various Ocean Prime locations throughout his career.

Cameron Mitchell “Milkshake” Award: This year’s Cameron Mitchell “Milkshake” award was presented to Wendy Middleton, CMR’s senior director of training and operating partner. She joined the CMR team working at Martini Italian Bistro, and also gained valuable experience at Molly Woo’s Asian Bistro and Cap City Fine Diner and Bar in Gahanna. She eventually transitioned to the general manager at The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek and later became a regional director. The milkshake has become a CMR icon, illustrating the company’s commitment to providing genuine hospitality. Middleton is a dedicated leader who exemplifies the CMR culture and is passionate about fostering talent within the company.

2022 Ocean Prime Awards

Restaurant of the Year: Ocean Prime Tampa is this year’s recipient of the Restaurant of the Year award. The restaurant is led by General Manager Jonathan Pollock and Executive Chef Jason Mallon. Voted as having the “Best Outdoor Scene” by Tampa Bay Metro as well as one of the “Best Seafood Restaurants in the Area” by Creative Loafing, the Tampa location provides an extraordinary experience to guests. Stunning settings and a vibrant energy, an impressive menu of seafood and prime cuts of steak, signature cocktails, a Wine Spectator-honored wine list and truly genuine hospitality make Ocean Prime Tampa an ideal place to socialize, talk business, celebrate and indulge.

General Manager of the Year: Tyler Maniscalco, the general manager of Ocean Prime Boston, received the General Manager of the Year award for Ocean Prime. Maniscalco joined the Ocean Prime family in 2015 as a bartender at the New York City location where he quickly moved up to beverage manager. He also is the former general manager of the Philadelphia Ocean Prime and brought his positive energy to Boston in August 2020.

Executive Chef of the Year: Vladimir Trivunovic is this year’s recipient of Ocean Prime’s Executive Chef of the Year award. He is the executive chef of Ocean Prime Naples. Since the restaurant’s opening in 2016, Trivunovic served as executive sous chef before taking on the role of executive chef in November 2018. Born and raised in Serbia, Trivunovic completed his culinary arts degree at the University of Novi Sad, and relocated to the United States to advance his career.

About Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants is an independent, privately held restaurant group known for developing compelling dining concepts, offering outstanding cuisine complemented by genuine hospitality. Cameron Mitchell founded the company in 1993 on the powerful guest philosophy, “The answer is yes. What is the question?” Today, that commitment to delivering extraordinary guest experiences fuels 41 award-winning restaurants under 20 different concepts, including the nationally acclaimed Ocean Prime brand. The company also operates a separate and highly successful catering division, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, and Budd Dairy Food Hall. For more information on CMR, please visit cameronmitchell.com For more information about Ocean Prime, visit ocean-prime.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Leonard | Senior Vice President of Marketing
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants