Most recently, Mr. Thaw was Corporate Chef at the Merchants Restaurants where  he was fully responsible for the kitchen operations at both the Brentwood and  Nashville locations.   Prior to his previous position, Mr. Thaw was the  Executive Chef for both Opryland Themepark and the Stockyard Restaurant.

"His twenty years of progressive experience in the food and beverage industry  makes him the perfect person for this position," says Steve Keup, General  Manager of the new Franklin Marriott Hotel and Cool Springs Conference  Center.  "Mr. Thaw has worked at some of the finest restaurants in Nashville  and will delight our guests with his creativity." 

Mr. Thaw is a graduate of Miami Dade Community College, FL with a degree in  Hotel and Restaurant Management.    Recently Chef Thaw received his certification by the American Culinary  Federation as "Certified Executive Chef".  This places Mr. Thaw in an elite  class of renowned Executive Chef's who have been recognized for both either  educational and professional work experience, excelling in courses of  nutrition, sanitation and personnel supervision.

"Joining the team as Executive Chef for The Franklin Marriott and Cool  Springs Conference Center carries a great responsibility.  I look forward to  enhancing the hotel and conference center by consistently providing high  quality food and beverage while maintaining an operationally sound kitchen,"  said Thaw.  "Franklin and Williamson County will benefit greatly from the  addition of this new facility and I am very proud to be a part of this  important project."

The $42 million hotel and conference center is a joint project of Williamson  County and the City of Franklin.  They are working in tandem with Stormont  Trice Corporation, the hotel and resort management company which is  developing the 300-room Marriott Hotel connected to the center.  Stormont  Trice Corporation will manage both facilities.

The hotel and conference center complex is expected to open May 25, 1999 and  features more than 21,600 square feet of flexible meeting space,  accommodating groups from 20 to 2,000.