This week, Aramark recognizes 50 exceptional leaders through its inaugural Aramark Top 50 Awards program. Presented by the Aramark Ascend employee resource group, the awards honor employees who exemplify outstanding leadership, excellence, and meaningful impact across the organization.
“Congratulations to this year’s Aramark Top 50 awardees,” said Carl Mittleman, executive sponsor of Aramark Ascend and chief operating officer of Aramark International. “Strong leadership is rooted in how we show up for others every day, with clarity, empathy, and accountability. The way you lead your teams reflects our hospitality values in action and sets the standard for what it means to lead at Aramark. I am proud to recognize the example you set and the impact you continue to make.”
This year’s program received an exceptional number of nominations, underscoring the depth and breadth of talent across Aramark’s global organization. While only 50 individuals are recognized annually, the nominations reflect the dedication of employees across the company.
Honorees were selected through a comprehensive nomination and review process and will have access to personal and professional development programming designed to support their continued growth and leadership impact.
Introducing Aramark’s 2026 Top 50 Award Recipients
Collegiate Hospitality
- Laquita Everson
- Donald Lacey
- Antonio Pignagrande
- Molly Reynolds
- Toddrick Scott
Corporate
- Taylor Adair
- Sherryn Curcio
- Amy Demage
- Jennifer Kugler
Correctional Services
- Cassidy Brown
- Troy Carter
- Christopher Kramer
Destinations
- Logan Derbes
- Christina Garrett
Facilities Management
- Michael Curcio
- Lauren Duerr
- Jess Rambo
- Trevor Stahl
Healthcare+
- Kelly Barrett
- Athena Becker
- Taryn Hext
- Zyra Wright
International
- Cristóbal Buono Cuore
- Gina Camfield
- Sinead Corbally Dimitrova
- Bella Dai
- Belia Iturbe Domingo
- Rajinder Kaur
- Youngmin Kim
- Mandy Marye
- Steve White
- Jiayin Ye
Refreshments
- James Broe
- Tim Connelly
SeniorLIFE+
- Chelsey Dennis
- Gloria Nuhfer
Sports + Entertainment
- Sarah Conlin
- Jason Firestone
- Ashley Hong
- Connor Schulte
Student Nutrition
- Will Van Patter
- Katherine Young
Supply Chain
- Amy Bayer
- Lara Falayi
- Harry Greener
- Melissa McCormack
Workplace Experience Group
- Nora Abraham
- Nicholas Flores
- Talisa Nave
- Brian Scarbrough
2026 Ascend Trailblazer Award
In addition to the Top 50 honorees, Aramark is recognizing one distinguished employee with the 2026 Ascend Trailblazer Award. This award honors an individual with significant tenure at Aramark who has previously served as a member or leader within the Ascend employee resource group and continues to make a lasting impact by paving new paths across the organization.
This year, OpX Director for Aramark Refreshments Katharine Warfield, has been selected as the Trailblazer Award recipient in recognition of her enduring leadership, dedication to Ascend, and continued influence throughout her career at Aramark.
About Aramark Ascend
Aramark Ascend is an Employee Resource Group (ERG) dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment and supporting career growth for individuals of all ages and experience levels within Aramark and beyond. Ascend empowers members to thrive and advance through networking opportunities, tools, and resources designed to cultivate new skills and meaningful connections. The name "Ascend" reflects the group's commitment to elevating one another and achieving new heights together.
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