CEO Newsletter
CEO Newsletter
Team,
It’s that time of year again, budgets … which means it’s time to start planning our goals and objectives for 2016. As most of you already know, I sent out a note last week to all of our General Managers as a reminder that even though we need to start thinking about our budgets, we also have to keep our focus on the balance of 2015. Thanks to all of you that sent in 4th Quarter Rally Plans. I appreciate your efforts in providing thoughtful plans with opportunities to enhance our year-end position. We are up against a stiff challenge to meet our financial goals for 2015 and everyone’s help is most definitely needed.
I had the opportunity to visit with a few of you over the past month or so and, as always, I came away thoroughly impressed. I was in San Francisco for the 49ers season opener which also happened to be a Monday night game. Dr. York, owner of the team, went out of his way to tell Mike Dubey and I how extremely pleased he was with several high end catering events our team handled for him. He actually said that it’s hard to beat a 10 out of 10, but we’ve done it… Al Guido, President of Stadium Operations, was also very complimentary of the work that the team has accomplished since the grand opening last year. From there I made a stop at AT&T Park where I met with the SF Giants CEO, Larry Baer. Again, praise for the success that our local team continues to deliver. In all honesty, I really couldn’t have asked for a better trip – great client meetings, terrific food and exceptional service. Kudos to Dac Carbone and Angie Perrilliat and their teams for performing at the highest level!
This past weekend, I attended a Board meeting at Holiday Valley Resort where the compliments for Centerplate continued to flow. However, at the conclusion of the luncheon portion of the meeting, Dennis Eshbaugh, President, put our GM Franco Brady on the spot by asking him to perform the “whipped cream” challenge. Hence, with the pressure on, Franco stretched out his right arm then cautiously filled his hand with whipped cream; he then took his free hand and chopped down on the arm with the handful of whipped cream. The glob of whipped cream hurtled awkwardly through the air and landed neatly in his mouth – a perfect shot. Now, I’m not really sure if that classifies as an E3 moment, but I have to admit, it was certainly entertaining… Later that evening, Dennis tried to replicate the accomplishment while dining in our John Harvard’s restaurant only to end up with a face full of whipped cream (delighting our mutual customers). This of course proves once again, the food business is for professionals… Meanwhile, I’ve reached out to Bob Paoletti and asked him to audit our whipped cream usage.
Our NBD team has been busy with three key convention center accounts recently renewed – the Charleston Civic Center, Kentucky International Convention Center, and Virginia Beach Convention Center. The Virginia Beach Convention Center had to go through a mandatory bid process and I can’t say enough about how much the excellent client relationship and quality of service provided by our team at the convention center meant to our success in retaining this account. Great job by our GM’s Todd Tinney, Dan Jenkins and Beth Williamson, the NBD team and our support staff on these successes. We have many exciting opportunities in the pipeline and I’m looking forward to sharing even more good news.
Across the pond I’m pleased to mention that Sam Lincoln and her team, GM Elle Graham, Executive Chef Matt Nugent, Facilities Manager John Jones, Sales and Marketing Manager Natalie Butler and Staffing Manager Paula Williams, along with Steve Lelittka and Gayle Ogilvie, successfully opened the brand new Exhibition Centre at the ACCL. The grand opening ceremony hosted several UK dignitaries along with our own Centerplate representatives, Adrian Dishington, Bob Pascal, Keith King, Eric Wooden, Simon Pile, Matt Harper, Jamie Anderson, Laura Castro, Steve Lelittka and Fiona McIellan. ACCL is the gem of UK Convention Centers and we can all be proud of the job that Centerplate does there. Jill Crowe sent out a note last week asking everyone to vote for the ACCL as Best UK Conference Centre in the M&IT Industry Awards. Please take a moment to help put us over the top.
Team, thanks for making our company the best in the hospitality industry. Special thanks to Franco for reminding me that even though our business is often made up of hard work and long hours, it’s still fun and there’s no place I’d rather be.
I’ll see you soon…
