CEO Newsletter
CEO Newsletter
Team,
Hard to believe, but 2015 is rapidly heading for the history books and I want to thank all of you for your hard work on behalf of the company, our clients and our guests. This is also a great time of year to take a momentary pause from our daily routines to review what we did right, where we can improve, how we can serve our customers better and what we can do to make our business stronger. Quickly assess your situation, make your adjustments and hit the ground running for the New Year.
As I reflect on our contributions as a company, it is humbling to see how many of our teams and individual staff members share their time, talents and lives with others during this busy season – both through Centerplate and personally.
Our team at the Pasadena Convention Center, led by General Manager Doug Finney and Executive Chef Arnold Preciado, are helping the Union Station Homeless Services to serve a holiday dinner for those in need this year, and every year. Thousands arrive to share in a meal and good company, thanks in part to the Centerplate team.
The San Diego Convention Center caught Executive Chef Daryl O’Donnell’s “Operation Cookie Drop” on camera for the holidays; you can catch it on the Centerplate website. General Manager Nancy Murgillo’s team at the convention center prepared thousands of fresh cookies for troops serving abroad.
Chef Geeta Seth and our team at the Orange County Convention Center participated in the annual Rosen Shingle Creek Gingerbread Contest, which Chef Geeta won last year. The event supports the Bartch Transplant House at Florida Hospital Orlando, a “home away from home” for patients who are in the Central Florida area for organ transplantation. You can check out her amazing work at www.rosenhousesforhealing.com.
These highlight just a few of the generous offerings from our Centerplate team and show just how committed we are to Make It Better To Be There during the holidays.
Inspired, in place of a corporate gift this year, we made a donation on behalf of our clients to The Joey Fund – a leading non-profit organization in the fight against cystic fibrosis founded in 1986 by our Chairman, Joe O’Donnell, in memory of his son Joey. To date, The Joey Fund has raised over $100 Million thanks to the efforts of our Chairman and we are proud to participate.
And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I recently had the pleasure of visiting Sun Life Stadium for the 50th anniversary of the Miami Dolphins. Sal Ferrulo and I had the opportunity to meet with the Dolphins owner, Steve Ross, and President, Tom Garfinkel. The stadium has just gone through phase 1 of a 3-phase, $500+ Million renovation. The transformation of the hospitality services and in particular, the premium services has been nothing short of spectacular. Mr. Ross took the time to personally praise the efforts of our local team, led by General Manager Kevin Mitchell, Executive Chef Marc Spooner, Assistant General Manager Fab Benavides, Hospitality Manager Dan Filarecki, and Specialty Retail Manager Gabriel Diaz. Trust me when I tell you, we can all be extremely proud of the work this team has accomplished.
As we are about to begin a New Year, I want to acknowledge the contributions you make to the success of our organization and I challenge you to find ways to make 2016 even better. I recognize that our industry dictates our personal schedules but I hope that you have the opportunity to spend time with family and loved ones during the holidays. Have a joyous, healthy and happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
Thanks again everyone, I’ll see you soon …
