Connecticut Restaurateurs Shine at the 2025 Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards
Scott Dolch, Jamie McDonald, Kim Morrison and Michelle Korsmo.
The restaurant industry’s commitment to people-first leadership took center stage at the 2025 Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards, held Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C. The event honored four outstanding individuals from across the country who are driving opportunity, building careers, and strengthening communities across the industry. Remarkably, two of this year’s four winners are from Connecticut.
Jamie McDonald, co-owner of Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, received the My Journey Award, presented by PepsiCo. A Navy veteran, McDonald’s path to entrepreneurship is a story of resilience. After overcoming addiction and mental health struggles, he invested $70,000 in competitive eating contest winnings into what is now a thriving barbecue brand with 16 locations across Connecticut and North Carolina. McDonald has also made second-chance hiring central to Bear’s mission. Today, nearly 70% of the company’s employees are second chance employees, reflecting his belief that meaningful work can serve as a foundation for recovery and new beginnings.
Kim Morrison, co-owner of BeanZ & Co. in Avon, was honored with the Inclusion Innovator Award, presented by the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA). Since opening in 2018, BeanZ & Co. has become a model of inclusion by employing adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Today, more than 65 individuals have gained meaningful employment at the café, including 30 adults with IDD. Morrison has also partnered with schools and job training programs to create internships and skill-building opportunities that prepare students for the workforce. Today, the café continues to thrive with a diverse team of 19 employees working side by side.
“To have two out of four of these national award winners hail from Connecticut is an incredible achievement, and should be taken as a moment of immense pride for our entire state,” said Scott Dolch, President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. “This is an incredible accomplishment for these two outstanding leaders, and I want to congratulate both Jamie McDonald and Kim Morrison. More broadly, it is also a powerful confirmation that Connecticut is a culinary powerhouse, home to world-class talent, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to hospitality.”
Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association and the NRAEF, added:
“This year’s Restaurants Advance Leadership Award winners show us that leadership is about more than running a business – it’s about lifting communities, creating opportunity, and making an impact that lasts.”
Hosted by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and sponsored by American Express, Ecolab, PepsiCo, and the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), the awards spotlight leaders who prioritize people, purpose, and community impact. Each winner was also honored with a $2,500 scholarship in their name, which will support a student pursuing a post-secondary degree in the restaurant and foodservice industry.
With two honorees recognized on the national stage, Connecticut’s restaurant community continues to demonstrate the impact of people-first leadership. From McDonald’s commitment to second-chance hiring to Morrison’s work in building an inclusive workplace, these leaders embody the spirit of hospitality—transforming restaurants into platforms for opportunity, community, and change.
To view the full live stream, click here.