December 18, 2012 – Michael Poompan, executive chef at Renaissance Long Beach Hotel, has been named Renaissance Chef of the Year for the Americas and wins Marriott’s Award of Culinary Excellence (ACE). The ACE is an honor that has been given to outstanding chefs since 1988, highlighting those with exemplary technical skills, comprehensive culinary expertise and commitment to improve Marriott’s culinary standing. “We are very proud of Chef Poompan, not only for his excellent work at the Renaissance, but also for his invaluable service to our community,” Nusrat Mirza, general manager of the Renaissance Long Beach, said in a statement. “He has provided his expertise for a number of our local charitable groups. This past year he has provided culinary help to Long Beach’s Ronald McDonald House.” Poompan has worked for the Renaissance Long Beach since 2007 and previously held culinary positions with Meritage Resort, Ritz-Carlton and the Disneyland Resort. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)