"I am so pleased to welcome Joe to The Heldrich," said Mr. Taylor.  "A former executive chef, he comes to us with an extensive food & beverage background, having worked with first-class hotels and restaurants throughout his career.  We look forward to his active contributions in establishing the best food & beverage program available in the greater New Brunswick area."

Joseph Verde was most recently the assistant director food & beverage for the New York Hilton, located in Manhattan.  He has also served as director of food & beverage for the Millennium Hilton of New York City, where he began employment as executive chef.

Mr. Verde has worked with a number of first rate organizations during his career in food & beverage.  He served as chef de cuisine at Oscar's in the landmark Waldorf=Astoria in Manhattan.  He has also served as executive chef for Gianni's Restaurant at New York's South Street Seaport and as chef de cuisine for The Seagrill at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan.  Verde was previously the chef de cuisine at The Dining Room in the Short Hills Hilton, located in Short Hills, New Jersey.  He has been employed in additional culinary positions of increasing responsibly, including as commis de cuisine at Le Cirque in Manhattan.

Mr. Verde is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute of New York City, and has his Master of Arts degree from Hunter College of The City University of New York.  He earned his Bachelors degree from Loyola University in Chicago.  

Verde is the recipient of the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine.  He is a member of the James Beard Foundation and the French Culinary Institute.  Verde has also served in the United States military and is a former Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the US Army, from which he was honorably discharged.  

Mr. Verde has made guest television appearances on the Weekend Today Show, NBC, and Talking Food on the Food Network.  He resides in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
 
The Heldrich is located in the heart of New Jersey in New Brunswick.  The property, which is expected to open in March 2007, is situated at 10 Livingston Avenue, just west of the important US Route 1 business corridor stretching from Princeton to New Brunswick and near the Northeast Corridor train service (Boston-New York-Washington, DC) and Exit 9 of the NJ Turnpike.  It is 30 minutes outside New York City and has rail service to Newark Liberty International Airport. 

Benchmark Hospitality International, an independent hospitality management company based in The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, operates resorts, conference centers, hotels and condominium resorts both domestically and internationally.  For locations of Benchmark Hospitality properties and for additional information, visit Benchmark's Website at www.benchmarkhospitality.com.  

Benchmark Hospitality International
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas
www.benchmarkhospitality.com

Ken Ellens
Ken Ellens Communications
201-758-2864 / 201-758-2865-Fax
[email protected]