The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, November 2015 … Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed John J. Shirley executive chef for The Heldrich, a Benchmark Hotel located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Stacy Martin, Benchmark’s general manager for The Heldrich, made the announcement.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Chef Shirley to Benchmark Hospitality and to our hotel,” said Ms. Martin. “Not only is he immensely talented, credentialed and on trend in the culinary world, but he knows and understands our market exceedingly well.”

John Shirley was previously executive chef for the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing in Center City Philadelphia. He served in the same role for Chauncey Conference Center in Princeton, New Jersey. Chef Shirley also has held the title of executive sous chef for the Terrace Restaurant at the Five Star Hilton at Short Hills Hotel in Short Hills, New Jersey, as well as chef and banquet chef for the landmark property.

Chef Shirley is a member of the Société Culinaire Philanthropique of New York and the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs of New York. He is a 4-time invited chef at the prestigious James Beard House.