AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: May 5, 2015

Media Contacts: Dylan Drobet: (904) 484-0247, [email protected] Jessica Ward: (904) 484-0213, [email protected]

Carl Conway, CEC, clinical chef instructor at Purdue University American Culinary Federation Central Region Chef Educator of the Year St. Augustine, Fla., May 5, 2015—Carl Conway, CEC, clinical chef instructor at Purdue University School of Hospitality/Tourism Management, West Lafayette, Indiana, was named the best culinary educator in the Central Region, according to the American Culinary Federation (ACF). Conway received the ACF Central Region Chef Educator of the Year Award at ChefConnect: Indy, held April 12-14 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Indianapolis. "This is an amazing honor and the highlight of my culinary career,” Conway said. “It's even more special because I was able to receive this recognition in front of my ACF family in my adopted hometown, Indianapolis. I am looking forward to the national competition in Orlando and the opportunity to represent the ACF Central Region." The ACF Chef Educator of the Year Award, established in 1998, pays tribute to an active culinary educator whose knowledge, skills and expertise has enhanced the image of the professional chef, and who, by example, has provided guidance to students seeking a career in the culinary profession. As the ACF Central Region recipient, Conway is a candidate to receive the national award at Cook. Craft. Create. ACF National Convention & Show, in Orlando, Florida, July 30-Aug. 3. Conway, of West Lafayette, Indiana, is an ACF-certified Executive Chef (CEC). His experience includes director of training, Second Helpings, Inc., a nonprofit food rescue, job training and hunger relief organization in Indianapolis and served 23-years in the U.S. Army. After retiring from the military, Conway apprenticed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee. In 2005, he was named Chef of the Year by ACF Clarksville, Tennessee Chapter, where he served two terms as chapter president. In 2012, Conway was named Chef Educator of the Year by the ACF Greater Indianapolis Chapter. More than 400 chefs, students and foodservice professionals attended ChefConnect: Indy, hosted by ACF Greater Indianapolis Chapter. The conference was a part of ACF’s Signature Series, which provides professional development for chefs and culinary students through educational programs, conferences and competitions. Learn more about the conference at www.acfchefs.org/ChefConnectIndy, Facebook.com/ACFChefs or on Twitter @ACFChefs. Sponsors of ChefConnect: Indy: Allen Brothers, Inc.; American Technical Publishers; Canadian Lentils; Custom Culinary, Inc.; Dow AgroSciences; Ecolab®; Fortune Fish; Jones Dairy Farm; Miller Coors; MINOR'S®; National Pasteurized Eggs, Inc.; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc.; Par-Way Tryson, makers of Vegalene; Performance Foodservice - Fox River; Plugrá® European-Style Butter; Sartori Company; Sysco®; Unilever Food Solutions; Valrhona; Villeroy & Boch; Vitamix® Corporation; Western Region State Beef Councils; Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. -MORE-

About the American Culinary Federation

The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), established in 1929, is the standard of excellence for chefs in North America. With more than 17,500 members spanning nearly 200 chapters nationwide, ACF is the leading culinary association offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States, with the Certified Executive Chef®, Certified Sous Chef®, Certified Executive Pastry Chef® and Certified Culinary Educator® designations accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org. Find ACF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ACFChefs and on Twitter @ACFChefs. ###