AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: Feb. 25, 2015

Media Contacts: Chelsea Pillsbury: (904) 484-0226, [email protected] Jessica Ward: (904) 484-0213, [email protected]

Thomas Long, CEC, AAC, Receives Chef Professionalism Award from American Culinary Federation St. Augustine, Fla., Feb. 25, 2015—Thomas Long, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Sodexo at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, received the Northeast Region’s Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award from the American Culinary Federation (ACF) during ChefConnect: Baltimore, Feb. 15-17, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. The ACF Dr. L.J. Minor Chef Professionalism Award, established in 1990 and named ® for Dr. Lewis J. Minor, food scientist and founder of MINOR’S , is presented to a chef who exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism through certification, continuing education and training, culinary competitions and community involvement. As the ACF Northeast Region recipient, Long is a candidate to receive the national award at Cook. Craft. Create. ACF National Convention & Show, in Orlando, Florida, July 30-Aug. 3. "I can't begin to express how honored and proud I am to receive this most prestigious award,” said Long. “It is a humbling experience and an amazing feeling to be recognized by your peers and to know that ® the list of names that have come before you bring such a rich culinary tradition. Thank you so much to MINOR’S for continuing to carry on the mission of Dr. L. J. Minor, and for recognizing chefs for professional involvement in their craft, their community and their development of future culinarians." Long, of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, is an ACF-certified executive chef (CEC) and a member of the American Academy of Chefs (AAC), ACF’s honor society for chefs. A graduate of ACF’s apprenticeship program, Long has more than 30 years of experience in the culinary industry. His previous experience includes executive chef, Sodexo at Holy Spirit Health System, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and executive chef, Sodexo at the Milton Hershey School, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Long is active in his community and ACF chapter, and is involved with several food-related fundraising and charity events in Pennsylvania. He is a member of ACF Harrisburg Chapter. More than 450 chefs, students and foodservice professionals attended ChefConnect: Baltimore, hosted by ACF Greater Baltimore Chapter and ACF Nation’s Capital Chefs Association. 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/ChefConnectBaltimore, Facebook.com/ACFChefs or on Twitter @ACFChefs. Sponsors of ChefConnect: Baltimore are: Allen Brothers, Inc.; American Technical Publishers; The Beef Checkoff; Custom Culinary, Inc.; Ecolab®; Genesis HealthCare®; Gordon Food Service®; Idaho® Potato Commission; Jones Dairy Farm; Lactalis Foodservice, Inc.; MINOR’S®; Mussel Industry Council of PEI; National Pasteurized Eggs, Inc.; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc.; Par-Way Tryson, makers of Vegalene; Plugrá® European-Style Butter; Royal Cup Coffee; Sysco®; Tenth and Blake Beer Company, the craft and import division of MillerCoors; Unilever Food Solutions; Valrhona; Villeroy & Boch; Vitamix® Corporation; and Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

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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. ### Editor’s note: High-resolution photos and interviews are available on request.