Executives from more than 100 companies were on hand to applaud the winners of the 2006 People Report Best Practices awards for excellence in people practices at their 11th annual conference held in Dallas, TX on November 1 and 2, 2006. This year’s event, “Beyond the Benchmark - The Art & Science of Human Capital Excellence,” was chaired by David Goronkin, president & chief executive officer, and Joleen Flory Lundgren, vice president of human resources and training for Famous Dave’s of America.

People Report, the leading provider of human capital metrics for the foodservice industry, presented the Heart of the Workplace Award to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in recognition of the company’s commitment to investing in both their employees and their community. BJ’s Restaurants received the Catalyst Award, honoring their significant advances and sustained results in people management over the past two years.

The 2006 Best People Practices Awards were bestowed upon Jason’s Deli (Segment A—Limited Service/Fast Casual/Family Dining), Olive Garden (Segment B--Full Service Casual Dining), Morton’s Steakhouse (Segment C—Casual Dining Plus/Fine Dining) and White Castle (Segment Q—Quick Service). The 2006 award was the second time that Olive Garden achieved the top results in casual dining. ( The Best Practices Award is given in recognition of an organization’s achievements in management retention, employee retention and composite diversity, which is a measure of the presence of women and diverse individuals in management. )

The 2nd Annual Workplace Legacy Award was given to Lloyd Hill and Lou Kaucic of Applebee’s International, whose joint leadership and innovation positioned the casual dining giant as a great place to work during the past decade. “Lloyd and Lou led Applebee’s to success by investing in people, rather than simply treating them as an expense,” said Joni Thomas Doolin, CEO and founder of People Report. “Their commitment to integrating human resource best practices into the company’s overall strategic plan is a success story that many have now heard, but few have been able to emulate. It’s evident that Lloyd and Lou’s commitment to people and company culture continues to be alive and well at Applebee’s.”

Other highlights of the confab included Doolin’s annual projections on the evolving labor market, the factors influencing it and the strategies necessary to compete effectively in the tightening market ahead. People Report president Teresa Siriani provided insights on current human resource metrics for the industry and reported back to members on the consortium’s results.

Keynote speakers such as Danny Meyer, Ron James, Chester Elton and John Izzo, along with expert panels, shared best people practices from inside and outside the restaurant industry and offered attendees a healthy mix of information and inspiration.

“The People Report Best Practices Conference is a testament to the importance of investing in human capital and learning more about how companies and the industry as a whole can do a better job of attracting and retaining a talented workforce, ” said Doolin. “While there is clearly a challenging road ahead for the service sector, this consortium is definitely better informed and therefore poised to push the performance envelope once again.”

For more information about the awards, the conference or People Report, contact Kacy Oden at 972-733-6822 or .

Thank You to Our 2006 Sponsors.