Facilitating a two-way partnership between foodservice educators and the foodservice industry is CAFÉ’s core mission. Fulfilling this directive requires assistance from professionals who share this vision and participate in its achievement. CAFÉ’s supporters help drive the organization’s success.

Four years ago, CAFÉ announced the Champion Award recognizing a recipient’s contribution to the organization and belief in the importance of education for the next generation of hospitality career seekers – a champion of culinary educators.

Mary Petersen, CAFÉ President, awarded the 2022 Champion Award to Dr. Fred Mayo, MBA, CHE, CHT. Dr. Mayo currently operates a training, coaching and consulting firm, working with clients in hospitality, research, manners, food service, and hospitality and culinary education. His training clients include the United States AID program in Jordan, Johnson and Wales University, State University of New York at Cobleskill, CAFÉ, The Culinary Institute of America, the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, and the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association and more.

Retired from New York University, he served as Clinical Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, teaching research and management courses at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. While at New York University, Dr. Mayo led the faculty revision of the two undergraduate and three graduate degree programs.  

His book “Modern American Manners: Etiquette Advice for Hosts and Guests” was published in 2017 by Skyhorse Press and “Planning an Applied Research Project in Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management” was published in 2013 by Wiley.  

Dr. Mayo’s numerous awards include the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute’s Anthony G. Marshall Award, the I-CHRIE Howard B. Meek Award, the NYU Arnold Grossman Outstanding Faculty Service to the LGBTQ Community Award and the I-CHRIE Stevenson Fletcher Award.

Dr. Mayo has served on and chaired the Professional Development Committee of ICHRIE, served as Vice President, President and Immediate Past President of ICHRIE and continues to present at annual conferences and review submissions for presentations and articles for publication. Most recently, he served for nine months as Interim Executive Director for Partnership and Outreach, International CHRIE.  

Previous Champion Award honorees include: Don Odiorne, formerly of the Idaho Potato Commission; Cathy Scruggs, director of product development for American Technical Publishers; and Chef Paul Surgule, CAFÉ Talks Podcast host, Gold Medal Classroom Think Tank writer and President of Harvest America.