Iowa Restaurant Association Names
Des Moines Embassy Club Team Member
2009 Iowa Restaurant Association Employee of the Year

West Des Moines, Iowa (November 19, 2009) – The Iowa Restaurant Association named Imre Torok of the Des Moines Embassy Club, as the 2009 Employee of the Year. Torok was honored at the association’s annual Celebrating Excellence gala.

“This award honors the person who best exemplifies both outstanding performance and customer service,” said Doni DeNucci, president and CEO for the Iowa Restaurant Association. “Imre is a hospitality industry, as well as an American, success story.”

Torok, a Hungarian political refugee, started at the Des Moines Embassy Club in 1986 speaking only two words of English, appropriately “Thank you.” Today he runs five locations in Des Moines, yielding $5 million in revenue with a payroll of $2 million all while successfully meeting the needs of a clientele with very high standards. Imre Torok exemplifies a heart of service that extends well beyond the restaurant industry. 

This year’s Celebrating Excellence was held earlier this month at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse and the Holiday Inn & Suites at Jordan Creek and included a VIP reception, culinary competition and tasting salons featuring award-winning cuisine paired with specialty beers, spirits and fine wine. The event was emceed by WHO Radio personality Mark Pearson and featured a keynote address by National Restaurant Association Board Chairman Mike Gibbons, president and CEO of Mainstreet Ventures, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a regional restaurant chain. Celebrating Excellence is held annually in November and the general public is welcome to attend.

About the Iowa Restaurant Association
Headquartered in Des Moines, the Iowa Restaurant Association is the professional association of the restaurant and retail beverage industry in Iowa. In addition to representing the industry’s legislative concerns, the Iowa Restaurant Association works to educate its members on ways to operate efficiently, safely, and profitably and to promote quality and professionalism in the industry. For more information, visit www.restaurantiowa.com. 

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Media Contacts:

Doni DeNucci, CAE        
Iowa Restaurant Association
515- 276-1454
ddenucci@restaurantiowa.com

Jessica Dunker                                                                                
Iowa Restaurant Association
515- 202-6786
jessica@dunker.com

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