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| Retiring SYSCO CEO Bruce J. Schwartz gives a speech after being honored during the 10th annual Harvest Auction. He is surrounded by Collins School Dean James Burke, Mrs. Schwartz, President J. Michael Ortiz and a Collins School student. |
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| President J. Michael Ortiz and wife, Betty Faye Ortiz; Jim and Carol Collins; and Bruce and his wife at the Harvest Auction. |
Nearly 500 guests gathered to support the education of hospitality management students as well as to honor Bruce J. Schwartz, retiring chairman and chief executive officer of SYSCO Food Services of Los Angeles Inc. during the 10th annual Harvest Auction. Held on Nov. 8 at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown, the benefit grossed $295,718 for The Collins School of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona.
?We are grateful for the tremendous support we?ve received from our partners,? says James Burke, dean of The Collins School. ?With assistance from our partners, we will meet our commitment to prepare the next generation of hospitality leaders and managers.?
The 2003 Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Award was presented to Schwartz to recognize his 31 years in the food service industry.
Schwartz started out in the warehouse at a small grocery company and worked his way up through customer service, sales and marketing. He was promoted to sales manager, then vice president of sales before taking the lead in his current position at SYSCO, the largest foodservice marketing and distribution company in North America. He has served as a dedicated member of the Board of Advisors of The Collins School of Hospitality Management for five years and generously supported the students.
Prior honorees include Jim and Carol Collins, Julia Child and Alice Waters.
Harvest Auction 2003 featured a four-course dining experience prepared by acclaimed chef Mark Peel of Campanile and Jar restaurants as well as live and silent auctions of items including dinners prepared by celebrity and master chefs in the home, fine wines and unique travel packages to spectacular des tinations.
Acclaimed auctioneer Ursula Hermacinski, called the ?Goddess of the Gavel? by Food & Wine magazine, led the live auction, which raised $54,600. In addition, silent auctions raised $53,318 for The Collins School of Hospitality Management. The evening?s top selling items were a Collins School Barbecue at Your Home for $6,500 and a Royal Vacation in Napa Valley for $5,000.
Celebrating 30 years of excellence in hospitality management education, The Collins School of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona is the largest, oldest and best-regarded hospitality program in California. It is ranked among the top three undergraduate hospitality management schools in the United States. More than 600 students pursuing a bachelor of science degree in hotel and restaurant management receive a superior education in The Collins School?s state-of-the art facilities, where they learn to apply hospitality management theories and concepts to real-word settings, including managing and operating the fine dining Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch.