2023 CHAPTER OFFICERS
President
Thayer Kern, The Lodge & Club
VP Lodging
Rick Cadena, Courtyard Orange Park
VP Restaurant
Martin Bekkedal, Legacy Restaurant Group
Treasurer
Shannon Dearin, Courtyard St. Augustine
Secretary
Kimberly Walton, Fontecchio’s Kitchen
2023 FRLA State Board of Directors
Chapter President
Thayer Kern, The Lodge & Club
Olivia Hoblit, Innisfree Hotel
Fabien Gnemmi, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Dennis Chan, Blue Bamboo
CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alfredo Garcia, Sight & Sound Productions
Ben Williams, DPS
Bobby Koopman, Heartland
Dan Monk, Pusser’s Bar & Grille Ponte Vedra Beach Restaurant
Daniel Adams, EcoLab
Daniel DeLeon, Grumpy’s Restaurant
David Mason, Courtyard Mayo Clinic
Dennis Chan, Blue Bamboo
Don Samora, The Beachcomber Restaurant
Fabien Gnemmi, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Gary Wheeler, Constangy Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP
Janet Ellis, Erwin Insurance Agency | Maury, Donnelly & Parr, Inc.
Jeff Schofield, Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine
Jitan Kuverji, Comfort Suites Baymeadows
CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Browning, Angel’s Dining Car
Kate Strickland, Wander Media Company
Kelly Harris, Village Bread Cafe
Kim Evans, AON Hospitality Group
Kimberly Walton, Fontecchio’s Kitchen
Lisa Eveson, Shift4
Marcos Jovel, Salt Life Fernandina Beach
Martin Bekkedal, Legacy Restaurant Group
Olivia Hoblit, Innisfree Hotels
Richard Robinson, Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar
Rick Cadena, Courtyard Orange Park
Rick Gaucher, Kerry Food Service
Sarah Marie Johnston, CuliVino Hospitality Management + Consulting
Scott Wellington, Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park
Shannon Dearin, Courtyard St. Augustine
Tammie Sweat, E.H. Thompson
Thayer Kern, The Lodge & Club
Wayne McLellan, Omni Amelia Island Plantation
Honorary EX-OFFICIO
Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, Amy Boek
Clay County Board of County Commissioners, Kimberly Morgan
Florida State College-Jacksonville, Kasey Anderson
Florida’s First Coast of Golf, Jenna Craven
HabiJax ReStore, Rod Borom
Jacksonville Aviation Authority, Barbara Halverstadt
St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau, Susan Phillips
Visit Jacksonville, Michael Corrigan
Women’s Food Alliance, Leigh Cort