The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation honored four restaurant leaders Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C., at its annual Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards — recognizing operators whose community investment and workforce development work extends well beyond their own dining rooms. Each honoree will also have a $2,500 scholarship named in their honor to support a student pursuing a post-secondary degree in restaurant and foodservice.
"Restaurants are built on the strength of the people who lead them," said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association and CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. "This year's honorees demonstrate that the true measure of leadership is not simply what you achieve, but how you help others succeed."
The Four Honorees
Kwini Reed, co-founder of Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed, and catering venture Root of All Food in Anaheim, Calif., received the Inclusion Innovator Award, presented by the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance. Reed has built advancement pathways across her 45-person workforce through cross-training and leadership development, while also serving on the California Restaurant Association board and participating in James Beard's Women Entrepreneurial Leadership program.
Charley Shin, founder of Charleys Cheesesteaks, took the Community Champion Award, presented by American Express. After immigrating from South Korea and opening his first location on the Ohio State University campus in 1986, Shin has grown Charleys to more than 880 locations in 46 states and 17 countries. His Charleys Kids Foundation has raised nearly $14 million to deliver tutoring and literacy support to more than 230,000 students — 88% of whom showed improved reading skills. He also launched Bibibop Asian Grill, now with 70 U.S. locations.
Alex Habeeb, franchise owner of five Taco John's and Subway restaurants across Illinois, received the My Journey Award, presented by PepsiCo. Habeeb moved to the U.S. from Lebanon at 17 and has worked with Taco John's for nearly 50 years, rising from crew member to multi-unit owner. He built a high school soccer program from the ground up and has distributed more than 500,000 free tacos through his "Free Tacos for A's" student achievement program.
Scott Redler, founder of Redler's Hospitality in St. Louis, earned the Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award, presented by Ecolab. A former Kansas Restaurateur of the Year and Kansas Restaurant Association Hall of Fame inductee, Redler created the JumpStart program in 2025 to bring up to 12 ProStart students to the National Restaurant Association Show at no cost. He also served as the catalyst and benefactor for the Redler Institute of Culinary Arts at Butler Community College in Andover, Kansas, creating new entry points into culinary and hospitality education.
Why It Matters for Operators
The awards underscore a broader industry conversation about restaurants as workforce development engines — particularly relevant as operators continue navigating labor pipeline challenges across every segment. The NRAEF, the philanthropic arm of the National Restaurant Association, administers programs including ProStart, Restaurant Ready/HOPES, and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center's accredited apprenticeship tracks. Sponsored by American Express, Ecolab, PepsiCo, and the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance, the evening highlighted how individual operators, from fast-casual franchisees to independent restaurateurs, are translating their own career journeys into structured opportunity for the next generation of foodservice professionals.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
