GCE - Global Connections to Employment Logo

Awards and accreditations

hands clapping

U.S. Navy Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award

The Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Award is the highest honor given to U.S. Navy food service operations to recognize food service excellence. The galleys honored achieve a five-star rating from the Navy evaluation team. The award is designed to improve food services by encouraging competition among food service operations. It was named for the Navy captain who served as the head of the Subsistence Division of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts from 1940 to 1945. GCE has received recognition under the Ney Award program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Pensacola, FL, a Five Star accreditation, every year since 2001.

U.S. Army Philip A. Connelly Award

This annual, competitive event is a partnership between the U.S. Army and the National Restaurant Association, and recognizes excellence in food service throughout the Army.

  • The Courage Inn Dining Facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Army Base Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Washington, was recognized in 2014 and 2015.
  • The 16th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) Raptor’s Nest Dining Facility, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Army Base Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Washington, was recognized in 2018.
  • Eglin Air Force Base 7th Special Forces was recognized in 2019.

U.S. Air Force Hennessy Award

The John L. Hennessy Award is the highest honor an Air Force dining facility can attain. It was named for the late John L. Hennessy, a hotel and restaurant executive who led an advisory group responsible for improving military food service. The Hennessy Award promotes food service excellence by encouraging competition among providers. GCE achieved this award several times at two of our military contract installations.

  • Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, Florida: 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2012
  • Duke Field, U.S. Air Force Reserve, Crestview, Florida: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2012

U.S. Coast Guard Forrest O. Rednour Memorial Award

The Forrest O. Rednour Memorial Award for Excellence in Food Service is presented annually to recognize U.S. Coast Guard dining facilities that exemplify the best in food service professionalism. Although the award program has been in existence since 1995, in 2008 it was renamed to honor the World War II era Ships Cook Second Class who heroically helped rescue survivors of a torpedoed transport vessel only to later lose his life in the line of duty. GCE achieved this recognition at U.S. Coast Guard, Air Station Clearwater, FL, the Large Ashore category, for four years (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007), and we were the runner up in 2003 and 2008.

Best in Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Award

The GCE team at Two Seasons Dining Facility at the Eielson Air Force Base in Eielson, Alaska, received the title – Best Dining Facility in PACAF 2017. The GCE team exhibited excellence in management effectiveness, force readiness support, food quality, employee and customer relations, resource conservation and training, and safety awareness.

Gold Plate Award

The major U.S. Air Force commands award the Gold Plate Award to the best food service operation within their authority. The Air Force Material Command has awarded this honor to the Eglin Air Force Base food services operations for the following years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 2010, 2011 and 2012.

GCE has been awarded the highest level of accreditation by CARF International for community employment services.

Global Connections to Employment (GCE) is an Accredited Business through the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida, where our organization is headquartered.

woman working with an employee

Our parent company, LifeView Group, receives funding from the State of Florida, the Department of Children and Families, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the Florida Department of Education/Division of Vocational Services and the federal government.

LifeView Group is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, females, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Recent awards

GCE names 2022 Veteran of the Year

Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Jan. 19, 2023) – Global Connections to Employment (GCE) has selected team member Stan Hays as the 2022 Veteran of the Year. Hays works for GCE in the Official Mail Center at Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Prior to joining GCE, Hays served in the U.S […]

GCE names 2022 Team Member of the Year

Newport, Rhode Island (January 3, 2023) – Global Connections to Employment (GCE) has named Antanika Doukkali as the 2022 Team Member of the Year.  Antanika Doukkali was born with a learning disability and experienced an unstable early childhood. It prompted her grandmother to raise her. She started working at Global Connections to Employment eight years ago. At first, she didn’t […]

Military Friendly Employer logo

Designated Military Friendly® Employer

Pensacola, Fla. (November 15, 2022) –  LifeView Group, parent company of Global Connections to Employment, has been awarded the Military Friendly Employer (MFE) designation, signifying its commitment to the military and veteran community from hiring to career advancement and customer service. LifeView Group supports veterans and their families through its three affiliates: Global Connections to Employment (GCE) is […]