Oregon Restaurant Owner Receives First-Ever National Faces of Diversity American Dream Award

"Foreign-born individuals play a great role in the restaurant industry, bringing with them unique perspectives, experiences and cultural influences that enrich both our menus and our workplaces,"- Richard E. Rivera, CEO of Rubicon Enterprises LLC.

The Typhoon! in Portland Photo courtesy: us.i1.yimg.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The National Restaurant Association honored Bo Kline, chef/owner of Typhoon! in Portland, as the recipient of its Faces of Diversity American Dream Award at a ceremony held during the Association's 2007 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago.

The inaugural Faces of Diversity awards celebrate diversity and inclusion in the restaurant-and-foodservice industry and among the industry's 12.8 million employees. Five winners in two categories—the American Dream Award for individuals and the Inspiration Award for restaurant companies—were recognized for inspirational success stories and exceptional efforts to embrace diversity.

"Foreign-born individuals play a great role in the restaurant industry, bringing with them unique perspectives, experiences and cultural influences that enrich both our menus and our workplaces," said Richard E. Rivera, Association chairman, and chairman and CEO of Rubicon Enterprises LLC. "Bo Kline gave up her own dream of American citizenship in efforts to provide opportunities for other immigrants, and has fostered diversity in all aspects of the restaurant company."

Bo Kline was born Bongoj Lohasawat in Bangkok, Thailand. She loved her country, but admired the U.S., dreamed the American Dream and in 1995 opened her first restaurant, Typhoon!, in Portland, Ore., together with her husband. The restaurant's name proved to be ominous. Rain storms, ice storms and flooding forced Kline to close five times within the first two months of operation, but through her perseverance, she soon saw success.

Bo Kline of the Typhoon! in Portland, Oregon

As Typhoon grew, Kline faced her biggest challenge and decision on the path to her dream of U.S. citizenship. She realized the success of her restaurant depended on her ability to recruit cooks from Thailand. She could only accomplish this by giving up her green card and being classified as a foreign investor, which forced her to relinquish her dream of citizenship to ensure that Typhoon! would continue to grow.

Since sacrificing her citizenship dreams, Typhoon! has prospered. Kline has been successful in recruiting countless employees from Thailand and assisting them in obtaining legal status to work in the U.S. Through their employment at Typhoon!, many of Typhoon's employees have gained college educations and become American citizens.

Faces of Diversity, created by the Association in partnership with PepsiCo Foodservice, aims to celebrate the restaurant industry's successes and inspire restaurateurs to embrace inclusion and expand their diversity efforts. The American Dream Award honors individuals from diverse backgrounds who, through hard work and determination, have realized the American dream. The Inspiration Award honors restaurant companies that have exhibited leadership and vision as an advocate of diversity and inclusion.

Joining Bo Kline in receiving the Faces of Diversity American Dream Award are Koshy Chacko, owner, Fair Deal Cafe in White Plains, N.Y.; and Atour Eyvazian, franchisee, Jack in the Box in Sacramento, Calif. The companies honored with the Faces of Diversity Inspiration Award are Sushi Neko in Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Darden Restaurants Inc., headquartered in Orlando, Fla. For more information about the Faces of Diversity awards program, visit www.restaurant.org/diversity.