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NRA awards Coca-Cola VP Ambassador of Hospitality

The foundation gives the award to "an individual who has shown extraordinary achievement and exemplary leadership in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

March 17, 2015

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation today announced that Carlton Curtis, vice president of industry relations for The Coca-Cola Company, has won the 2015 Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award. The foundation gives the award to "an individual who has shown extraordinary achievement and exemplary leadership in the restaurant and hospitality industry," the announcement said.

The organization will recognize Curtis at a national industry awards gala dinner hosted by the NRAEF on April 14, 2015, during the National Restaurant Association's Public Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C.

"It's a privilege to recognize Carlton and his lifetime of achievements with one of the NRAEF's and the industry's highest honors," said Rob Gifford, executive vice president, strategic operations and philanthropy, NRA and NRAEF, in a statement. "During his tenure with Coca-Cola and as a member of the NRA and NRAEF boards, Carlton has been steadfastly passionate and committed to improving the industry. He is a tremendous industry advocate, and an exemplary role model within the nation's restaurant and foodservice sector."

Curtis has served as Chairman of the Board of the NRAEF, serves on the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association (IFA), is the current chair of IFA's Diversity Institute and is a member of the Hall of Fame of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America.

Coca-Cola is a long-standing partner of the NRAEF, having donated. Coca-Cola nearly $8 million to the NRAEF and NRAEF Foundation over the last decade to help fuel educational programming geared towards bolstering the industry's workforce, according to the release.