CONNECTICUT – FordHarrison LLP, one of the country’s largest management-side labor and employment law firms, is pleased to announce that the Connecticut Restaurant Association has recognized FordHarrison and Hartford Partner Ryan O’Donnell as its 2021 Vendor of the Year. Restaurant owners, operators, chefs, vendors and more will come together to celebrate the success of the industry during the 2021 CRAzies Awards Gala presented by Sysco, LLC at Foxwoods Resort Casino on Monday, December 6.
Ryan has served as the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s legal counsel for the past four years and specializes in issues unique to the restaurant and hospitality industries. He routinely works with restaurants to ensure they remain compliant with Connecticut’s wage and hour laws and a host of other legal challenges unique to the restaurant industry. Also, Ryan has spent countless hours advising restaurant clients on how to navigate throughout the ongoing pandemic.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be named Connecticut Restaurant Association’s 2021 Vendor of the Year, but the work FordHarrison and I do is nothing compared to the incredible passion, commitment, and creativity I have seen from this industry over the past year and a half,” said Ryan. “To be able to help these restaurants and their staff navigate the challenges of COVID has truly been a privilege.”
Each year, the CRAzies recognizes the exceptional ability and talent of Connecticut’s restaurant community at this prestigious awards gala. The CRAzies selection process began last week when a panel of more than 25 food writers, critics, bloggers, and social media influencers finalized the list of award winners and nominees. Restaurateur of the Year, CT Hospitality Hall of Fame, Vendor of the Year and Friend of the Industry nominees were brought to the CRA Board of Directors, where the overall winners were selected in each of these four categories. ClarkHirth Associates, an accounting, tax and consulting services firm located in Farmington, CT, was also named 2021 Vendor of the Year.
About Connecticut Restaurant Association
The Connecticut Restaurant Association is a full service, not-for-profit trade association dedicated to supporting every type and size of restaurant. We are advocates for the Connecticut restaurant industry, a hub for information and a platform for networking. We commit ourselves to offering cost effective benefits and resources you need to run a profitable business. The industry plays an integral role in Connecticut’s economy employing more than 160,000 foodservice workers and generating nearly $9 billion in annual sales. Along with the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF), the Association protects, advances, and educates the growing industry. Learn more at www.ctrestaurant.org.