It’s an honor reserved for a hospitality standout with both a lengthy history in the industry and an impressive resume of improving working conditions within it. Today, Another Round Another Rally is proud to announce that our CEO and Co-Founder, Amanda Gunderson, is taking home Tales of the Cocktail’s coveted Pioneer Award.
Awarded annually during the Spirited Awards, which recognize the best of the best of today’s beverage professionals, the Pioneer Award acknowledges an industry veteran whose efforts enhance accessibility and intersectionality within the global spirits community. As the Pioneer Award winner, Amanda will also gain entry into the Dame Hall of Fame, an exclusive group of leaders dedicated to shaping tomorrow’s food and beverage talents by encouraging mentorship and advocacy industrywide.
“It’s a tremendous honor just to be a Spirits Award nominee and listed alongside so many icons and talents I’ve long admired,” said Amanda. “When Travis Nass and I founded Another Round Another Rally, we did so because we kept seeing the same trends in hospitality. We wanted to make changes that would level the playing field and create more paths to professional development and success for all workers, and in particular, members of marginalized communities, including POC and LGBTQ bar and restaurant professionals. This award means people are paying attention – and that means our efforts are paying off.”
Since launching in 2018, Another Round Another Rally has given out more than $4 million in aid and helped tens of thousands of hospitality professionals and their families find not only financial assistance, but also scholarship, mentorship and career-advancement opportunities. Amanda, too, broadened her skillset in the days since, completing Cornell University’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion program and beginning another at Northwestern University.
“Amanda does more than just encourage professional development and help up-and-comers in the industry become more marketable and valuable – she also practices what she preaches,” said Another Round Another Rally Co-Founder Travis Nass. “She’s always on the hunt for ways to help make the hospitality industry more accessible and successful, whether by furthering her own education or by mentoring tomorrow’s leaders who are looking to do the same. I’m proud to see her take home this honor, and I know she’ll continue to move the industry in the right direction by teaching, mentoring and leading by example.”