Iowa Restaurant Association Names
President and CEO of Heart of America Restaurants & Inns
2009 Iowa Restaurateur of the Year and
Hospitality Industry Champion

West Des Moines, Iowa (November 19, 2009) – The Iowa Restaurant Association named Mike Whalen, president and CEO of Heart of America Restaurants & Inns corporately headquartered in the Quad Cities, as the 2009 Iowa  Restaurateur of the Year. Whalen was also awarded the Iowa Restaurant Association’s 2009 Champion award. Both awards were presented to Whalen at the association’s annual Celebrating Excellence gala.

“Restaurateur of the Year award honors the person who best exemplifies service, quality, and originality to customers, as well as a dedication to the betterment of the restaurant industry in Iowa,” said Doni DeNucci, president and CEO for the Iowa Restaurant Association. “Mike is also our Champion award recipient this year for going above and beyond for the hospitality industry and for his tireless support of the Association.”

Together with his wife Kim, Mike has developed, and now owns and operates 29 restaurants and hotels in 10 metropolitan areas of 6 Midwestern states. His flagship Machine Shed Restaurants still lead the state in sales volume.

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

© Copyright Iowa Restaurant Association 2007