Marc will be honored at the Commitment to People Awards Gala on Monday evening, July 22, 2013, during CHART’s 86th semi-annual Hospitality Training Conference to be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami, Florida.

CHART - Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers;
The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART)is proud to present the 2013 Commitment to People Award to Marc Simon, President and CEO of Rubio’s Restaurants. Marc will be honored at the Commitment to People Awards Gala on Monday evening, July 22, 2013, during CHART’s 86th semi-annual Hospitality Training Conference to be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami, Florida.

“Marc has consistently maintained a hands-on approach to the business. With 4,000 employees, he has been known to jump in the trenches to assure success. Be it working a register to keep a finger on the pulse of the business, or working a fryer to assist our cooks.”

“Created in 1993, this prestigious award is given annually to a CHART member’s CEO/president in the hospitality industry who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the development of his or her associates,” explained John Kelley, CHART President and Chief People Officer and Vice President of Training and Human Resources at White Castle System. John added, “Several Rubio employees wrote in and the overall theme conveyed was Marc’s passion and his dedication to ensuring that others be successful.”

CHART’s Award Selection Committee reviews and ranks 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.
Gabe Hosler, FMP, Director, Field Training and Operations Services for Rubio’s, wrote, “During times of uncertainty Marc has continued to demonstrate his commitment to the people of our organization, providing for ongoing growth and development of positions without any downsizing. This year Marc introduced the Rubio’s scholarship program; a company funded scholarship program that is open to ALL Team Members as well as their families to apply for tuition assistance. Marc is dedicated to the long term success of the organization and has regularly showcased his belief in the company's future being directly driven by the growth and development of its Team Members."

Gabe added, “Marc has consistently maintained a hands-on approach to the business. With 4,000 employees, he has been known to jump in the trenches to assure success. Be it working a register to keep a finger on the pulse of the business, or working a fryer to assist our cooks.”

“Fair, humble, humorous, supportive are just a few of the words that describe Marc Simon,” commented Ken Hull, Senior Vice President of Development for Rubio’s.

Prior to joining Rubio’s in 2007, Marc held various executive positions at firms such as McDonald’s Corporation, Chipotle and Ernst & Young. Marc has a Master’s degree in Fine Arts and a Master’s degree in Library Science from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University.

The past recipients of this prestigious CHART award include:

2012 John Grady, President, Ninety Nine Restaurants
2011 David Scrivano, President and CEO, Little Caesars Pizza
2010 Mark Running, President, Roy’s Restaurant
2009 David Overton, Chairman and CEO, The Cheesecake Factory Inc.
2008 Skip Fox, President, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
2007 Cameron Mitchell, President and founder, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
2006 Colin V. Reed, Chairman, 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, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide
1996 Bob Jameson, President and General Manager, The Worthington Hotel
1995 Simon Cooper, President and CEO, Delta Hotel and Resorts
1994 Joe Byrum, President, Morrison’s Hospitality
1993 Donald N. Smith, Chairman, President and CEO, Friendly’s Ice Cream

Other awards to be presented during CHART’s summer hospitality training conference in Miami include the Spirit of CHART award as well as the CHART/NRAEF Scholarship and CHART/AHLEF Scholarship awards.

For more information on the CHART conference and/or award presentation, please call 312-405-2634, email lmarovec@ameritech.net or visit www.chart.org.

CHART, a non-profit professional association founded in 1970, is the leading resource for the development and advancement of hospitality training professional and their organizations. With more than 450 members from more than 300 multi-unit restaurant and hotel companies, CHART represents a workforce of almost five million. CHART includes all facets of hospitality training, learning and performance professionals; from entry level to senior executive. 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.