Coach Joe Crosby is now a member of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors.  Joe was formally moved from an Industry Representative to a Director-at-Large.  Coach will serve on the Recruitment and Retention Committee and the Member Development Committee.

Coca Cola, the Title Sponsor of the NRAEF Spirit Awards invited Coach to be the keynote speaker at their annual breakfast.  Carleton Curtis, VP of Coca-Cola’s Industry Affairs introduced Coach by stating that he “forgot to read the memo” about starting a business.   He emphasized that Coach built his business and reputation by doing things his way, by making giving back a part of his business.  Throughout his speech, Coach had the audience laughing and crying at the same time.  Coach nailed the essence of the Spirit Award right on the head.  Coach’s passion and respect for the industry resonated with the audience.  He told the crowd that, “the future of our industry is supporting and educating our youth.”  Coach also took great pride in thanking his mentors and supporters who have helped guide him along the way.  Coach also recognized and thanked the Spirit Award winners for doing what they do.

Coach’s Low Country Brands™ and the Joe and Kristina Crosby Education Foundation were well represented at NRA Week in Chicago. The ProStart® Bottle fundraising program was formally rolled out to all the state ProStart Coordinators.  ProStart students, teachers and administrators now have an additional way to raise much needed funds to run their programs on the local and state level.  Coach’s Low Country Brands™ will give students a chance to raise money by selling Coach’s Low Country Boil Seasoning™ to their friends and family.  The money made on every bottle sold will go directly back to their home school with “unrestricted” usage for their ProStart program.

The intention to build Coach’s Low Country Institute was formally announced and renderings shown to both the National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, which created industry excitement, interest and commitment from industry leaders across the nation.  The non-profit “institute” will be the capstone of the Low Country Retreat.  The Institute will be a year-round, permanent facility and “think tank” that fosters excellence, creativity and mastery for teachers, students, industry professionals and others involved in the ProStart Culinary Arts and Food Service Management program.

Julian Buckner, ProStart instructor at Wando High School, SC received the James Maynard Award at the Salute to Excellence Gala.  The Salute to Excellence Gala is considered the biggest recognition event in the restaurant industry.    The Maynard Award is the highest honor a teacher can receive from the NRA and NRAEF.  Only two ProStart teachers in the nation receive this prestigious award each year.  Upon receiving his award, Chef Buckner gave credit to both Monica Miller and Coach’s Low Country Brands™.  

The Coach’s Low Country Brands™ team had an impressive showing at the NRA Show. The lines were long and comments were very positive.  Attendees were able to sample several new products introduced by Coach’s Low Country Brands™, including: Coach’s Lemonade, Coach’s Sweet Tea, Coach’s Low Country Hot Dogs, and Coach’s Low Country Ranch Salad Dressing.

Coach’s Low Country Brands™ was proud to be the Gold Sponsor of the International Military Community Executive Association (IMCEA) VIP Awards Reception. The IMCEA is responsible for supporting all of the activity our US troops and their families consume while serving their country during war and peacetime efforts.

ProStart is a registered trademark of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, and is licensed to National Restaurant Association Solutions, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Restaurant Association.