Tony Clevenger FCSI, Founder of one of the world’s leading foodservice consultancies Clevenger Associates, has retired, handing over the ownership of the business to Principals Brent Hall FCSI and Eric Norman FCSI. The ownership change was effective as of January 1, 2025.
Clevenger founded Clevenger Associates in 1972 and built it into a global business specializing in hospitality, foodservice and laundry design, with offices in Washington, Iowa, Illinois, California, New York, and the Philippines. In 2017, the company merged with MVP Services Group, where Norman served as Vice President and his father Ed Norman FFCSI was President.
“The decision to redeem my shares and leave Eric and Brent as next generation sole owners is a strategic move that positions the company for optimum future success,” says Clevenger.
“The motivation to bring forth young talented new ownership now is critical due to my retirement after heading the company for more than 55 years. It is a planned succession with the right people in place, ready and able to build on the company’s past achievements. The company has a great team of professionals.”
For Hall, who joined Clevenger Associates in 1996, the time was right to make the new ownership move in order for the company to continue “to do a great job for our clients and look after our employees – the backbone of our company,” he says. Hall is the incoming Chair of FCSI – The Americas Division.
Norman, also the current President of foodservice consultancy global member organization FCSI Worldwide, concurs. “With Tony’s retirement and with Brent and I being fully comfortable operating the business over the last five years, it seemed like a really good time to execute the buyout agreement,” he says.
A passion for design excellence
“Tony has built such a great legacy for the company. We are very well known in the marketplace, and we fully understand the brand reputation of Clevenger. Now, we’re just excited to carry that on and build upon the legacy that Tony has made for the past 55 years,” says Norman.
“Tony is one of the grandfathers of foodservice consulting. In fact, he is one of the founding fathers of FCSI. It is our aim to uphold that legacy and continue Tony’s passion for excellence, providing our clients with the best possible foodservice design,” says Hall.
Hall and Norman are looking forward to continuing Clevenger Associates storied reputation for cutting-edge design across multiple industry segments, including K-12 school dining, hotels, and business and industry corporate dining. The company is equally well-regarded for its attention to detail and outstanding service levels for its clients, which have included high-profile brands such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts; Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Marriott Hotels & Resorts; Sandy Lane Hotel Barbados; The Boeing Company; Microsoft Corporation; and Rivian Automotive, Inc.
Tony Clevenger, meanwhile, is looking forward to retirement and reflecting on the achievements of the business – as well as its bright future. “Looking back, I realize my life has been magical. My dream of wanting to help clients achieve their goals was manifested in great new projects year after year. I’m most proud of the successes of the thousands of efficient and wonderful facilities we helped design around the world over the decades,” he says.
Further details:
For more than 50 years, Clevenger Associates has proudly served as a premier international consultancy specializing in hospitality, foodservice and laundry design. Throughout its rich history, since it was founded in 1972 by leading consultant Tony Clevenger FCSI, it has cultivated expertise that extends across multiple sectors, from commercial enterprises to institutional organizations. Operating from offices in Washington, Iowa, Illinois, California, New York in the US and the Philippines, Clevenger Associates caters to its clients’ diverse needs on a global scale.
Contact:
For more information visit: clevengerassoc.com.
Tel: +1 360-482-1163
Email: info@clevengerassoc.com.
