The founder and chief executive officer of Doherty Enterprises Inc., which operates eight restaurant concepts in four states, was honored in December at a gala hosted by the New Jersey Restaurant Association.
Doherty’s accomplishments were celebrated Dec. 1, 2014, at the association’s annual gala.
Doherty Enterprises Inc. is one of the nation’s leading franchise operators of quality family restaurants, including Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread and Chevy’s Fresh Mex.
“I am honored to be recognized as the 2014 Restaurateur of the Year by the New Jersey Restaurant Association,” Doherty stated in an article by the Ramsey (N.J.) Suburban News. “I would like to thank my family and the many suppliers who have supported Doherty Enterprises over the years. I would also like to thank to the more than 9,700 exceptional people on the Doherty Enterprises team. Without their commitment and dedication, this award would not have been possible as they are the reason that our company has achieved the level of success that it has today.”
Doherty and his wife Joan, of Saddle River, N.J., are parents of Kerry Doherty, a 2007 Elon alumna. Ed and Joan Doherty served on Elon’s Parents Council and Ed joined the board of trustees in 2006.
In 2007, the Dohertys made a $1 million gift to endow The Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership in Elon’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. The Doherty Center has dedicated space in the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center for the development of business plans, business-related functions such as accounting, and inventory storage.
The Dohertys have also hosted “Evening for Elon” events in New York City in recent years, including an October gala at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel that formally launched a fundraising campaign for the School of Communications.
The university honored the Dohertys in 2014 with an honorary doctor of business degree awarded during an MBA Commencement ceremony where both delivered addresses to graduating students.