[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 197 (Friday, November 12, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING ANDREW FRENCH, 2020 CHAIR OF THE MICHIGAN RESTAURANT & 
                          LODGING ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 12, 2021

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Andrew 
French of Ann Arbor, Michigan, the 2020 Chair of the Michigan 
Restaurant & Lodging Association and President of Aubree's Flagstar. 
His decades of service to Michigan's restaurant and lodging industry 
and to our local community is worthy of commendation.
  Aubrey William ``Bill'' and Sandee French opened Aubree's, a bar in 
Ypsilanti's historic Depot Town neighborhood in 1972. Raised in 
Ypsilanti, Michigan, Mr. French grew up in the restaurant industry. At 
age 15 he could be found in the back of his parent's bar washing 
dishes. After graduating from Michigan State University in 1997, he 
returned home to help his mom and dad revamp the family bar. In 1998, 
they purchased the space next door to the bar and expanded to become 
Aubree's Pizzeria & Grill.
  In 2005, Mr. French became Vice President of the organization and 
when his father passed in 2015, he became President and CEO. The 
pizzeria quickly became a neighborhood favorite and gathering spot for 
family and friends in the area. With the success of the original Depot 
Town location, Aubree's has expanded to ten locations across the state 
of Michigan. To him the most important part of the job is creating a 
great customer experience for guests--Aubree's employees are part of 
the family.
  In 2012, Mr. French was appointed to Board of the Michigan Restaurant 
& Lodging Association. A strong advocate for Michigan's restaurant 
industry, he was appointed Chair of the Board in 2020. A voice for 
hospitality on the local, state, and federal levels, Mr. French is a 
tireless advocate for Michigan restaurants and their employees. Even 
during the pandemic, he has continued to help keep hundreds of small 
businesses afloat. Active in his own neighborhood, he serves on the 
Depot Town Community Development Corporation, as the Vice Chair of the 
Ypsilanti DDA, and on the board of the Ann Arbor Area Convention and 
Visitors Bureau. He previously served on the boards for the Hope Clinic 
and the Ypsilanti Area Community Foundation. He resides in Ann Arbor 
with his family.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Mr. 
Andrew French for his exceptional leadership and extraordinary time. We 
are grateful for his commitment to the local community and economy and 
wish him and the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association continued 
success in the years ahead.

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