Dedman School of
Hospitality

Dedman School of Hospitality Homepage

Bachelor's:
• Major in Hospitality
• Major in Professional Golf Management
• Questions & Answers

• Contact Us

On Sunday, May 17th, at the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors and Board of Trustees Meeting in Chicago, Michael Kaufman was awarded the 2009 Cecil B. Day Ethics Award. The Award was presented by Dr. Robert Brymer, on behalf of the Cecil B. Day Family and Florida State University, Dedman School of Hospitality.

Michael Kaufman is co-president of Enovo Restaurant Ventures LLC, a joint venture with Centerplate, Inc. Enovo owns the contemporary American restaurant brand Harry's Tap Room, which has four locations in Northern Virginia. Harry's features contemporary American cuisine, using organic and natural ingredients drawn seasonally from local farms.

A proven company and industry leader, Kaufman previously established Pond Hill Ventures LLC to advise and invest in hospitality ventures.

Until 2003, Kaufman served for over a decade as president of the then $1.3 billion (system sales) Dallas-based Metromedia Restaurant Group, which comprised Bennigan's, Steak and Ale, Bonanza and Ponderosa. Kaufman accelerated Bennigan's company growth, implemented Bennigan's franchising and international development, unified the Ponderosa and Bonanza franchisees, and instilled a vibrant performance and values-based culture.

Kaufman previously served as a managing director of the acquisition arm of Metromedia Company and as a lawyer with Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton and Garrison in New York City.

Kaufman is Chairman of the Board of the National Restaurant Association and a member of the Board of its Educational Foundation, the Board of the Culinary Institute of America and the Board of Culinary Concepts by Jean Georges. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, he lives in Chappaqua, New York.

The Cecil B. Day Ethics Award is presented annually to a nationally recognized leader in conjunction with the National Restaurant Show (NRA) in Chicago, the largest trade show in our industry every year. In 2007 the recipient was S. Truett Cathy, Founder and Chairman for Chick Fil-A, in 2008 Dick Rivera, former President for Darden Restaurants was given the award.

News and Events

Faculty

Facilities
University Center Building B University Center Club Golf Complex Contract & Grants Room Library



International Center for Hospitality Research & Development


Funding Initiatives
DSH General Operating Fund DSH Faculty Fund DSH Student Fund Contribute Online