The Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), the industry’s premier leadership development organization, announced that Marie Perry, interim chief financial officer, senior vice president, controller, and treasurer for Brinker International Inc., is the recipient of the WFF Outstanding Board Service Award. The award was presented during the 2015 Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida March 8–11 at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

The Outstanding Board Service Award is given to a board member who has had significant impact on WFF. Perry has served on the WFF Board for three years and is currently treasurer and a member of the executive committee.

“Marie foresees the unforeseeable and explains the unexplainable with logic and simplicity. Her sharp thinking heightens our understanding of issues and problems,” says Kat Cole, WFF’s 2015 board chair and group president of global channels for Focus Brands. “She has been a huge asset to our Board bringing her financial acumen and astute perspective to every meeting and every challenge.”

In her role at Brinker, Perry currently oversees the centralized accounting, finance, and internal audit functions with more than 150 team members. Additionally, she leads the investor relations and treasury functions supporting a variety of key corporate finance activities including strategic capital planning, capital markets, and funding initiatives.

Perry was also selected as one of “The 50 Most Powerful and Influential Women in Texas” by the Texas Diversity Magazine, and was featured in the “Color of Corporate Success” cover issue of Eclipse Magazine.

“I am truly honored to receive this distinction from WFF,” Perry says. “Advancing women leaders is something I sincerely believe in and never miss an opportunity to advocate for.”