Reynolds Plantation is pleased to announce its recipients of the Leader and Employee of the Year Awards for 2011. Jeff Brown, assistant food & beverage director, has been named Leader of the Year. Bev Berardo, marketing coordinator, and Nancy Smith, senior accounts payable clerk, have been named the Employees of the Year. These outstanding staff members were honored at the annual employee awards banquet at The Lake Club, Reynolds Plantation.

Jeff Brown began his career at Reynolds Plantation in 2006 as a restaurant manager. After just two years in that role, Jeff was promoted to his current position as Assistant Food & Beverage Director in 2008 expanding his management duties to include banquets, snack bars and each of the four clubhouses within Reynolds Plantation. Here, he ensures that each of the Reynolds Plantation food and beverage facilities maintain exceptional quality and service. “Working for Reynolds Plantation is like working with family,” says Brown of his position, “The members are some of the best people I have met in my career, they are very kind and supportive of the team we have here.”    

Starting at the Holiday Inn in Athens in 1988, Brown has nearly 25 years of experience in the food and beverage industry with 6 of those years dedicated to Reynolds Plantation banquets and restaurant management. “I found out that this is the career I wanted because there is so much diversity in the job,” continues Brown. “I have had the honor of working with hundreds of people over the years and the knowledge and wisdom they have shared with me is something I will always carry with me.” Brown’s wife, Marika (also a Reynolds Plantation employee in the member concierge department), and their two sons, Anthony and Marc have always been patient and supportive while Jeff pursues his career. When not maintaining order in the clubhouses, Brown enjoys spending time with family in his hometown of Athens, and also boating, hunting and wakeboarding.

For seven years, Bev Berardo has been an integral part of the marketing team at Reynolds Plantation. After 20 years as a retail executive and five years as a small business owner, Bev moved to Reynolds Plantation from Northville, MI with husband, Tom, in 2001. As Marketing Coordinator, Bev organizes media events, handles public relations efforts, and coordinates production of all marketing collateral.

Her latest project was planning and hosting the Golf Road Warriors, a team of four golf journalists who spent the week immersed in the lifestyle at Reynolds Plantation to later share there experiences with an ever growing fan-base through articles and videos. “I enjoy working with an energetic and talented group of young people who bring excitement and enthusiasm to their job,” says Berardo of her position. “First you fall in love with the natural beauty of this area, but once you are here you soon realize it is the people that make this place truly extraordinary.”

Nancy Smith has been a member of the accounting team of Reynolds Plantation for over 11 years. As Senior Accounts Payable Clerk, Nancy has served as a true leader to the support services team. She processes payments to vendors, and maintains expense records in addition to her various other accounting responsibilities. But the biggest perk of her position lies with the coworkers who assist her on a daily basis.

“Through all of the changes we have endured, it’s the people I come in contact with in my job that I enjoy the most,” explains Nancy. “It’s the fact that we are all out here together, plugging along.”  Nancy has been married to her husband, Steve for 17 years. She has one daughter, two stepsons, and numerous pets that complete their family. When not working, Nancy enjoys being outside and working in the yard, taking the family beagle “Jack “ for walks, and riding through the woods on their golf cart.