The National Honey Board and Women Chefs & Restaurateurs have collaborated to establish the Laurey Masterton Golden Amulet Award, recognizing women entrepreneurs in the foodservice industry.

Launching in 2015, the WCR award is a tribute to Chef and beekeeper Laurey Masterton, beloved WCR member and NHB spokeswoman, who lost a courageous battle with cancer in February. 

A trailblazer and entrepreneur, Chef Masterton is widely recognized for helping establish a vibrant farm-to-table food scene in downtown Asheville, N.C., starting with the launch of her eponymous Laurey’s Café-Catering-Comfort in 1987. 

Announced by the National Honey Board at the 2014 WCR Conference in March, the new WCR Women Who Inspire “Golden Amulet Award” gets its name from an amulet Laurey proudly wore around her neck, containing one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey, the amount made by one worker bee in her lifetime. Laurey’s own life work touched many in the foodservice industry and beyond; she was an inspiration to all who met her. 

“It is our pleasure to be able to honor Laurey Masterton, and we were so happy to do so in partnership with WCR, a professional organization that meant so much to her,” says Catherine Barry, director of marketing for the National Honey Board. “Laurey was such a joy to work with, and we think she would have approved of this unique recognition that only she could have inspired.”