ADDISON, Ill., Nov. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Parts Town, the technology innovator and market-leading distributor of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) foodservice parts, HVAC parts and residential appliance parts, announced five recipients of its 2026 Technician Scholarship Award program at this year’s Commercial Food Equipment Service Association (CFESA) Annual Conference. These honorees join five recipients recognized earlier this year at CFESA regional meetings, bringing the program’s total to 10 recipients in 2026. CFESA is the leading trade association dedicated to advancing the commercial food equipment service industry through training, advocacy and professional development.

Since the launch of the program in 2022, Parts Town has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships, including $15,000 in 2026 alone. The annual initiative supports the commercial kitchen service community by funding CFESA Cares scholarships, aligning with the foundation’s mission to support and inspire the next generation of professionals servicing commercial food equipment. Scholarships help improve access to education, resources and career pathways across key industries, such as gas, electric, water and refrigeration, along with an additional cash award to each individual recipient.

“The commercial foodservice industry is strongest when we invest in the people who power it. Through our continued partnership with CFESA, we’re proud to provide scholarships that help technicians advance their education, strengthen their skills and grow their careers,” said Chuck Combs, PARTnership Builder AKA Senior Vice President, Service & Dealer PARTnerships at Parts Town, who received the Elwood Hawkins Memorial Award at this year’s CFESA event. “It’s an honor to receive this award from an organization that shares our commitment to supporting technicians and strengthening the industry.”

During this year’s CFESA Annual Conference and regional meetings, Parts Town proudly recognized 10 industry professionals and service organizations, awarding each a $1,000 CFESA training scholarship and $500 cash prize. The recipients were:
Annual Conference recipients

  • Archway Service Group
  • Hagar Restaurant Service
  • ICU Mechanical
  • Montana Food Equipment
  • Smart Care

Regional meeting recipients

  • Farrell Aughney, C&S Food Equipment Services LLC
  • Tristan O’Brian, Star Foodservice Equipment Repair
  • Gama Armendariz, Waldinger Group
  • Jamie Kellahan, Archway Service Group
  • Kyle Smith, Gilette Restaurant Group

“As commercial kitchen equipment becomes more complex, access to technical training is essential to keeping technicians, and the businesses they serve, moving forward,” said Daniel Reese, Director of Training at CFESA. “Parts Town is helping expand that access, and we’re proud to work alongside them to equip the next generation of technicians with the expertise and confidence to deliver dependable service and meet the industry’s evolving needs.”

These scholarships reinforce Parts Town’s ongoing commitment to developing emerging talent and advancing excellence across the commercial foodservice industry.

For more information about the Technician Scholarship Awards, please visit: https://www.partstown.com/tech-scholarship-award

About Parts Town
Parts Town is the leading, technology innovation-driven hi-tech distributor of genuine OEM (original equipment manufacturer) foodservice, residential appliance and HVAC equipment repair parts. When there’s a hiccup with any piece of equipment, Parts Town is ready to jump in and help with the most in-stock parts on the planet, innovative technology, and an unmatched customer experience.

By partnering with the top manufacturers of foodservice, residential appliance and HVAC replacement parts, Parts Town improves the supply chain, increases sales of genuine OEM parts and keeps every customer’s business running like clockwork.

For more information, visit https://www.partstown.com/.

About Commercial Food Equipment Service Association (CFESA)
The Commercial Food Equipment Service Association (CFESA) is the leading authority in commercial kitchen equipment repair. As the industry’s official trade association dedicated to the training, certification and advocacy of professional foodservice agents, it empowers technicians to deliver exceptional performance while uniting manufacturers, operators and vendors under an international member network. Founded in 1963, CFESA sets the standard for service excellence. Learn more at www.cfesa.com.

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