Paul Cunningham has been named Restaurateur of the Year by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. The industry’s top honor was announced at the association’s Annual Awards Dinner, held at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee.

Paul and Joan Cunningham are the owners and operators of Schreiner’s Restaurant in Fond du Lac. Paul Cunningham literally went from the dish room to the board room, eventually purchasing the restaurant he started in as a busboy at the age of 15.

The Restaurateur of the Year award is given to operators who demonstrate participation and service to the restaurant association, success within their own restaurant, and participation in community activities. The winner is quietly selected at a private meeting of past Restaurateur of the Year recipients and kept a secret until the official announcement at the Awards Dinner.

Wisconsin Restaurant Association regional Chapters announce the following Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year Awards:

Lake-To-Lake Chapter (Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties)
Scott and Kelly Huck
Sunset Supper Club, Fond du Lac

LaCrosse Chapter (La Crosse, Jackson, Monroe and Vernon Counties)
Judy Danielson
Piggy’s Restaurant on Front, La Crosse

Big Four Chapter (Outagamie, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago Counties)
Jean Landreman
Landreman’s Family Restaurant, Kaukauna

Green Bay Chapter (Shawano and Brown Counties)
Jay Gosser
Legend’s Brewhouse & Eatery, De Pere

Eastern Shore Chapter (Calumet, Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties)
Ken & Jill Horkan
Culver’s, Sheboygan

West Wisconsin Chapter (Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire and Jackson Counties)
John Mogensen and Lisa Aspenson
Mona Lisa’s, Stella Blue’s and Mogie’s Pub, Eau Claire

Madison Chapter (Dane and Jefferson Counties)
Lawrence “Skip” Avery
Nakoma Country Club, Madison

Milwaukee Chapter (Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties)
Hans Weissgerber III
Third Street Pier, Milwaukee

Southeast Chapter (Walworth, Racine and Kenosha Counties)
David Flannery
Apple Holler Restaurant, Sturtevant

The Outstanding Restaurateur Award is given based on success in business, community service and dedication to the restaurant industry.

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WRA represents a broad range of more than 7,000 foodservice operations and is dedicated to promoting and improving the restaurant industry.