HR0166 LRB094 10710 CSA 41114 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Richard J. Roman has been selected as Chairman of
3 the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Richard J. Roman is Chairman and Chief Executive
5 Officer of The Signature Room Entertainment Group,
6 owner/operator of The Signature Room at the 95th, The Signature
7 Lounge - the popular restaurant and lounge on top of the John
8 Hancock Center - and more recently, The Signature Room Grille
9 in Tampa, Florida; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Under his leadership, The Signature Room,
11 formerly known as The 95th with a history as a formal dining
12 room, was taken in a new direction in 1993 when he and his
13 partners assumed management and casual upscale dining and a
14 menu of contemporary American cuisine were introduced; it has
15 earned favorable critic reviews, was named "Restaurant of the
16 Year" in 1996 by Food & Beverage Equipment Executives and has
17 ranked high in local newspaper reader polls as one of Chicago's
18 most romantic restaurants as well as a popular weekend brunch
19 destination; and
 
20     WHEREAS, The restaurant is periodically featured in
21 Chicago Magazine's "Old Favorites & Hot Spots" column, was
22 voted as one of "America's Top Tables" by Gourmet Magazine
23 readers in 1997, 1998, and 1999, and has consecutively won the
24 Wine Spectator Award for Excellence since 1993; more recently,
25 the Signature Room was awarded the 2003 "Business Impact of the
26 Year Award" by The Greater North Michigan Association, an award
27 presented to the business with the most innovative ideas and
28 contribution as a corporate citizen; and
 
29     WHEREAS, Also under his direction, The Signature Room
30 implemented a charity program which directs a portion of each
31 month's receipts to local nonprofit groups; donations to date

 

 

HR0166 - 2 - LRB094 10710 CSA 41114 r

1 total more than $500,000; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Richard Roman attended Marquette University and
3 holds a bachelor's degree in hotel and restaurant management
4 from the University of Wisconsin-Stout; he formed The Signature
5 Room Entertainment Group following tenure with Hyatt Hotels,
6 Inc. where he held a number of management positions at Chicago
7 area properties; and
 
8     WHEREAS, A past chairman of the Illinois Restaurant
9 Association, he was named "Illinois Restaurateur of the Year"
10 in 1999 by the organization; he is a member of the Chicagoland
11 Chamber of Commerce and Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
12 and is also on the board of the National Restaurant
13 Association; therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16 we congratulate Richard J. Roman on his selection as Chairman
17 of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association and wish him
18 well in his new position; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to Richard J. Roman as an expression of our esteem.