[Wilsonville] - The Oregon Restaurant Association recently honored six members of the food service industry for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to their communities at its Annual Industry Awards of Distinction Event in Sunriver, emphasizing the important role restaurants play as a cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities, and their communities.

This year’s Awards of Distinction winners are:

Restaurateur of the Year – Bob Rice, Goforth & Rice Restaurants

Bob Rice is a 30-year veteran of Oregon’s restaurant industry who stands out as a model of one who gives back to the community that gave him success.

He started his first restaurant in 1974, having purchased three ramshackle buildings in West Slope and made them into one building, “Doc O’Leary’s.” Since then Rice has designed, built/remodeled, owned and operated more than 35 restaurants, including high-volume nightclubs, fine-dining restaurants, neighborhood pubs, and a microbrewery. He currently owns the Virginia Café.

Bob has long supported the efforts and mission of the Oregon Restaurant Association. A past President of ORA and current honorary board member, Rice serves on the boards of the National Restaurant Association and Liberty Northwest Insurance Company. He is also a past president of Columbia Edgewater Country Club and a past board member of Associated Oregon Industries.

Over the last ten years, Rice has reduced his day-to-day restaurant operational responsibility and focused on helping others succeed by consulting in restaurant management, finance and operations. His vast knowledge of the business, coupled with his leadership in the industry prompted the Governor to appoint Bob to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission in 2003, where he still serves, offering advocacy and insight into the issues facing restaurateurs in Oregon.

Purveyor of the Year – Randy Irvine, Food Services of America

Randy has more than 27 years in the food industry. His work with Food Services of America began in 1988 as a Sales associate in the Portland Metro Area. He then proceeded through the sales ranks to eventually become Branch President in 2001.

As President, Randy has continued and expanded FSA’s longtime commitment to supporting the industry through the Association and its Education Foundation. Irvine served as an OREF Trustee and later moved to the ORA Board of Directors. FSA was the founding sponsor of OREF’s Food Handler Online training course in 2002, and this past year stepped up as Presenting Sponsor for both the Chef Demonstration Stage and the overall Education Program at the Northwest Foodservice show.

Randy has placed a strong value on service to the community through the company’s “Do It Northwest” TV/ Radio/Web campaign to increase public awareness of the tremendous restaurants in our area, as well as major sponsorship of The Head Table debut. He is proud of the company’s multiple philanthropic works, most visibly seen through the Loaves and Fishes charity and veterans’ support efforts.

Industry Achievement Award – Mike Keller, Old Country Kitchen

Mike Keller has been at the forefront of the Association’s efforts on behalf of the industry for more than two decades. He was instrumental in bringing together two organizations into what is today the Oregon Restaurant Association. Keller served on the ORA Board of Directors for years, led the organization as Board Chair in 1988-89, and was named Restaurateur of the Year in 1993.

One of the programs Mike has shepherded throughout his service is our very successful Workers’ Comp program. He is the longest-standing insurance committee member and is responsible for writing and implementing policies and procedures that have allowed this program to return more than $70 million to members in the last decade.

Today Mike continues to be a vital supporter of the Oregon Restaurant Association Political Action Committee and the Oregon Restaurant Education Foundation. His work in the industry—and for the industry—has left an indelible mark that has laid the groundwork for future generations of industry professionals.

Mike is a “cornerstone” for this Association and truly an industry and community icon.

Industry Achievement Award – Mark Johnson, Outback Steakhouse

Mark Johnson is a longtime restaurateur and mentor for countless industry professionals around the Pacific Northwest. His career with Outback Steakhouse began as a Managing Partner in Training at the Canton, Michigan Outback in 1993. Later that year, he opened his own Outback in Ann Arbor.

When he moved to the Northwest, Johnson had an instant impact. For seven years Mark opened 13 Outback locations, primarily throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

Mark has served as a member of the ORA Board, as well as many other ORA committees, he has supported ORPAC, and helped lead the fight for Tip Credit in Oregon. Mark is a generous contributor to his community, sponsoring sports activities for children, holding charity concerts at his restaurants, and giving 100% of his sales towards the first “Dine for America” – a fundraiser to help the victims and families of the 9/11 tragedy. He has been successful in getting his partners and employees active in their communities, active in the political process, and active in giving to ORPAC.

Of his many accomplishments, Mark is particularly proud to have had two of his employees promoted to ownership positions at Outback as he transitioned into his retirement this year. One would be hard pressed to find another person who has had such an extraordinary impact on Oregon’s restaurant industry in such a short period of time.

Volunteer of the Year – Rep. Kevin Cameron, Café Today Restaurants

Kevin Cameron is a successful business owner and a model community member and volunteer. Since 1989 he has been active at Morning Star Community Church. He works with the Battle Creek Little League and supports a number of community groups, including Greater Salem Young Life, Sprague and West Salem High School, Salem Childcare Development, the Oregon State Alumni Association and Athletic Scholarship Foundation, and the Salem Union Gospel Mission.

Cameron’s hard work and dedication to his community has helped Oregonians throughout the state. His leadership in the restaurant industry includes positions as Chairman of the Board of the Oregon Restaurant Association and its subsidiary, ORAMS. Kevin served as first Chairman of the Oregon Restaurant Education Foundation board of Trustees.

His successful growth in business, as well as strong support of the association and betterment of the industry earned him the honor of Restaurateur of the Year in 2000. Today, Representative Cameron serves the House District 19 representative seat in the Oregon Legislature.

The Oregon Restaurant Association developed the celebrated Awards of Distinction event to recognize outstanding individuals serving in the food service industry throughout the state and to inspire other restaurateurs and purveyors to excel in their industry and serve their respective communities, demonstrating the important role restaurants play as a cornerstone of Oregon’s economy, career opportunities, and our communities.

For further information on each award winner, contact Elizabeth Peters at Elizabeth@ora.org or (971) 224-1509.

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