January/February

CFESA: THE EARLY YEARS John O’Shaughnessy, Equipment Service

In 1963, the Commercial Food Equipment Service Agencies of America (CFESA) was headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. The first meeting of CFESA’s Board of Directors was held on May 18, 1963, at the Tides

Company; Benjamin Hibble; Hibble Electric Services, Inc; Spark Dixon, K&D; Service Company; and Joseph Scheck, Kaemmerlen Electric Company. In 1963, the National Appliance Service Association (NASA) proposed a merger with CFESA. However, after further review CFESA members decided they would maintain their autonomy and advised NASA of this decision. NASA introduced this proposal again in 1968, with the same results. The first trade show that CFESA participated in was the New York Hotel and Motel Show (NYH&MS); in November 1963. The booth space was complimentary and was manned by the Board of Directors in 2-3 hour shifts. In November 1964, the Board of Directors abandoned quarterly meetings and adopted a bi-annual meeting format. CFESA held meetings in May in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association (NRA) convention and in November in conjunction with the New York Hotel & Motel Show, in Chicago and New York respectively. At this meeting, Board Members discussed a “training program for maintenance mechanics for commercial food equipment” and agreed to research this project. It was at this meeting, that Board Members introduced warranty report forms for CFESA members. At the May 1970 meeting, Board Members selected Marvin Lurie as the Association’s Executive Director. Until this time, CFESA had no Executive Director. The Board of Directors and voting members guided the organization through its early years.

hospitality news / January/February P 58 CFESA’s very first members were: Ruth Lippert, Lippert Electric Company; Otto McComb, Mid-West Appliance Service; Jack Hudgins, Old Dominion Services; Elmer Schultz, Elmer Schultz, Inc.; Philip Schoenberger, Utilities Maintenance Service; J.E. Whitley, Whitley Electric Service; Douglas Winning, Winning Sheet Metal; John Campbell, Campbell Appliance Company; Robert Hamers, Commercial Kitchen Repair Company; George Racklyeft, E&G; Refrigeration; John Shea, Ace Service Company; Nathan Uretsky, Acme American Repairs, Inc; Thomas Lawrence, American Kitchen Machine Company; Rudy Daubers, Carl W. Daubers and Sons; Pete De Pirro, Pete De Pirro Company; William Eichenauer, Eichenauer Electric Service; Denton Lintz, Electric Repair Company; Norman Blake, Electric Motor Repair; Inn Motel, Chicago, Illinois. The association accepted William Eichenauer and Pete Di Pirro as the first new members and designated them as charter members along with incorporator status. The incorporators were: Philip Schoenberger, President; Jackson Hudgins, First Vice President; Elmer Schultz, Second Vice President; Ruth Lippert, Secretary; Spark Dixon, Treasurer; Peter Di Pirro, Vice President of Region 1; Otto McComb, Vice President of Region 2; Norman Blake, Vice President of Region 3; Michael Brino, Vice President of Region 4; Denton Lintz; along with other incorporators John Shea, Rudolph Dauber and Benjamin Hibbel. The meetings were held on a quarterly basis. The association set the initial dues structure at $100.00 per member and by the end of 1963 CFESA had 22 members.