CRA’s Annual Golf Classic Tees Up for Charity

Jennifer Conkling, ProStart Coordinator, Connecticut Restaurant Association; Ashley Hebert, Membership Coordinator, Connecticut Restaurant Association; Sarah Maloney, Executive Director, Connecticut Restaurant Association; Nicole Griffin, Partner, Levin, Powers & Griffin; C.J. Kowaleski, Connecticut Restaurant Association.

The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) held its annual charity golf tournament on June 7, 2016 at The Country Club of Waterbury. Trade guests from a variety of industry sectors including food, beverage and allied services arrived for lunch before teeing off in teams to play 18-holes. Sarah Maloney, the executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said more than 100 golfers played in this year’s tournament. A Belvedere Vodka tent was set up on the course, serving Belvedere Unfiltered mixed as a Dirty Martini and Belvedere Wild Berry in lemonade and iced tea. After playing 18-holes, golfers went back to the club house for a dinner, raffle and awards. Proceeds from the raffle went to support the Connecticut Hospitality Education Foundation (CHEF) ProStart Program, a two-year, hospitality industry career-building program for high school students.

: The CRA Annual Golf Classic at The Country Club of Waterbury.

: Golfers practicing before the start of the tournament.

: Jennifer Conkling, ProStart Coordinator, Connecticut Restaurant Association; Ashley Hebert, Membership Coordinator, Connecticut Restaurant Association; Sarah Maloney, Executive Director, Connecticut Restaurant Association; Nicole Griffin, Partner, Levin, Powers & Griffin; C.J. Kowaleski, Connecticut Restaurant Association.

: All from Opici Family Distributing of Connecticut: Scott Randall, Jeff Sansone and Renee Reignier.

: Derek Barbarisi, Hartley & Parker; Thomas Sergi, Roma Restaurant; Vasi Kaloidis, Vasi Restaurant; Brian Gallagher, Spartan Restaurant.

: All from the Connecticut Business Industry Association: Adam Ney, Bonnie Stewart, Michael Jordan and Michael Johnson.

: Sade Owoye, Promotions, Belvedere; Keith Vibert, Mondo Restaurant; Jim D’Amico, D’Amico’s Restaurant; Kurt Kruczek, Naples Pizza and 4 Eat Drink; Isaac Hunter, 4 Eat Drink; Ruth Cutrone, Promotions, Belvedere.

: All from Grants and Bricco Restaurant: Dave Soucy; Billy Grant, Chef and Owner, Grants and Bricco Restaurant; Dave Awad; Phil LeBlanc.

: Steve Hayes, Rogo Distributors; Tom Mancini, Miller Lite; Steve Ogren, Rogo Distributors; Bill Malitski, Connecticut Brewers Association lobbyist.

: J.P. Patton, Dave and Busters; Paul Mazurek, Connecticut Distributors, Inc. (CDI); Mike Copeland, CDI; Mike Evans, CDI; Nicole Griffin, Partner, Levin, Powers & Griffin.

: All from Joey Garlic’s unless noted: Mark Margiotta; Gianni Zarrilli; Sade Owoye, Promotions, Belvedere; Richie Ruglio; Joe Indomenic.

: All from Hartford Restaurant Group: Rob Melillo; Ken McAvoy; Phil Barnett, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Connecticut Restaurant Association and Paul Motta.