CHART Selects Cameron Mitchell to Receive Commitment to People Award

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. October 14, 2008

AUGUST 6, 2007. The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) has awarded the 2007 Commitment to People Award to Cameron Mitchell, president and founder of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.

Mitchell will be honored Monday, August 6, 2007 at the Commitment to People Awards Gala during CHART's 74th Semi-Annual Hospitality Training Conference, held August 4-7, 2007 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

Created in 1993, the award is given annually to a CEO/president in the hospitality industry who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the development of his or her associates.

'Cameron believes associates come first and understands that company success is directly attributed to people,' said Josh Davies, president of CHART and vice president of training and development for Sage Hospitality Resources. 'He strives to ensure that his associates are happy with their jobs and work environment by maintaining an 'open door' policy, meeting face-to-face several times a year and conducting bi-annual associate opinion surveys.'

Career development is embedded in the Cameron Mitchell Restaurant culture. The 'Pass the Plate' program allows associates paid time to shadow colleagues to see whether they would like to pursue that job as a career. Associates get additional perks like restaurant closings for major holidays and closing early on Super Bowl Sunday. Community involvement is also encouraged, and in 2005, associates raised $114,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims.

The restaurants also work to develop employees with their 'Future Leaders' program, which identifies and encourages hourly employees who have the goal of becoming managers. Eighty percent of promotions come from within associate ranks.

'At CMR, associates are individuals with ideas that need to be shared,' said Mitchell. 'Our associates are the foundation of our organization, and when we put them first, the results are spectacular.'

Mitchell credits the growth of CMR to the company's 'people first' culture and philosophy, knowing that guests will have a wonderful experience only when associates are truly happy.

'The culture we stand by and the well-being of all our associates are at the forefront of every decision we make and we would not have it any other way,' said Mitchell. 'Our associates are at the heart of our accomplishments, and this award is a tribute to the dedication and extraordinary effort of every member of our team.'

The Commitment to People Award spotlights the head of an industry organization who clearly and consistently demonstrates a commitment to the development of people. The award selection committee reviewed and ranked the Commitment to People nominees in four categories:

• Effective communication of the organization's culture;

• Programs that demonstrate a commitment to people;

• Efforts to be involved in the development of people; and

• Ability to break down barriers to create opportunities.

Past recipients of this prestigious award:

2006 Colin Reed, President and CEO, Gaylord Entertainment

2005 Julia Stewart, President and CEO, IHOP Corporation

2004 Larry Flax and Rick Rosenfield, co-CEOs, California Pizza Kitchen

2003 Harry Bond, FMP, President, Monical Pizza Corporation

2002 Kerry Kramp, President, Buffets, Inc.

2001 Robert Dedman, Founder and Chairman of the Board, and Robert Dedman Jr., President and CEO, Club Corp. Inc.

2000 William Walton, Holiday Inn

1999 Molly Hancock, Chief Operating Officer, Consolidated Restaurants, Inc.

1998 David C. Novak, President and Vice Chairman, Yum! Brands, formerly Tricon Global Restaurants

1997 Wally Doolin, President and Chief Executive of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide

1996 Bob Jameson, President and General Manager, The Worthington Hotel

1995 Simon Cooper, President and CEO of Delta Hotel and Resorts

1994 Joe Byrum, President of Morrison's Hospitality

1993 Donald N. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of Friendly's Ice Cream

CHART, a non-profit organization founded in 1970, is the leading resource for the development and advancement of hospitality training professionals. With more than 700 members representing more than 400 multi-unit restaurant and hotel companies, CHART represent a workforce of almost five million. CHART includes all facets of hospitality training, learning and performance professionals; from entry level to senior executive. By helping trainers do their jobs better, CHART positively impacts millions of employees, customers, companies and the industry as a whole. CHART's mission is to develop hospitality training professionals to advance industry training practices and improve operational results by providing access to education, tools and resources.

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants LLC operates nine different concepts encompassing 31 restaurants and a catering division in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Newport and Louisville, Kentucky; Tampa and Sandestin, Florida; Lansing and Detroit, Michigan; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Concepts include Cameron's American Bistro, Cap City Fine Diner & Bar, Martini Italian Bistro, M, Molly Woo's Asian Bistro, Marcella's, Mitchell's Steakhouse (a.k.a. Cameron's Steakhouse), Mitchell's Fish Market (a.k.a. Columbus Fish Market), Mitchell's Ocean Club and Cameron Mitchell Catering Company. Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern currently operates seven units with four in development. For more information on Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, visit www.cameronmitchell.com.