Julie A. Flik, FMP, was named the board's new chairman, Ferdinand E. Metz, CMC, MBA was elected to the post of vice chairman, and Joseph Micatrotto assumed the position of treasurer.
"These three individuals continue to make invaluable contributions to the growth and direction of the NRAEF, further enhancing the industry as the cornerstone of career-and-employment opportunities," said Mary M. Adolf, president and coo of the NRAEF. "Under their experienced leadership, the NRAEF is certain to further progress in educating the restaurant and foodservice industry through its focus on solving risk management, recruitment and retention challenges."
Flik currently serves as executive vice president for the North American division of Compass Group, the world's largest foodservice management company. Prior to joining the Compass Group, she and her husband, Rudiger, ran the profitable FLIK International Corp., which grew from a contract management company with one account to a multi-faceted enterprise operating in 18 states with nearly 200 clients and annual sales approaching $200 million. In 1995, they sold their shares to Compass Group, and Flik began her new role as executive vice president.
Metz is president emeritus of The Culinary Institute of America, after spending 21 years at the helm of this esteemed educational institution. In his role as president emeritus, he assists in efforts to increase the college's endowment and funding for student scholarships. He is also the new president of the World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS), which represents a global community of culinarians from more than 70 countries with a membership estimated in excess of 8 million cooks and chefs. Metz is a native of Munich, Germany, with 40 years of foodservice experience.
Micatrotto is co-founder and former chairman, president and ceo of BUCA, Inc. where, beginning in 1996, he led its formation. Micatrotto began his restaurant career working in his family's Italian catering and restaurant businesses in Cleveland's Little Italy and his work in the creation of BUCA was "like coming home." For eight years, Joe oversaw the opening of more than 95 Buca di Beppo restaurants, and led the Minneapolis-based restaurant group in April 1999, to a successful public offering raising more than $140 million in capital. In early 2002, he guided the company's acquisition of Vinny Testa's Italian-American restaurants, now known as Vinny T's of Boston.
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