CEO Newsletter

CEO Newsletter
Steven Pangburn

Steven Pangburn -

Dear Team,

The warm summer months continue, and many of you have an action-packed schedule ahead. Closing out the last month of our quarter, it is imperative that we finish our fiscal year strong! Only a few weeks left to go to deliver great results and beat our forecasts.

First, I would like to ask you to join me in extending sincerest thanks and best wishes to Moses Debord, who has joined the Universities segment as District Manager for Wyoming and Eastern Colorado, effective immediately. Moses has been a valuable member of the Sports & Leisure team and a key player in the integration with Centerplate. He will be missed.

The new reporting structure for Moses’s territories will be distributed among our existing leadership team, with Laurence McMillon reporting through Adrian Dishington, the Chicago area to be overseen by Jason Hougard, and Mark Wisniewski’s accounts in Texas to fall directly under Greg Fender.

Some more great news on the business growth front:

  • We’ve officially finalized our agreement with the World Market Center Las Vegas and they already had their first successful event last weekend!
  • We have signed the Pasadena Convention Center extension for an additional 5 years (with an additional 5-year option, as well)
  • We also officially signed the Colorado Convention Center renewal, which is a fantastic contract for the next 10 years

It has really been a busy summer, full of moments that made me proud to be a part of this extraordinary Sports & Leisure Team:

  • A few weeks ago, I got to visit Space Center Houston for the historic commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Space Mission. Thousands of people came from all over the world to celebrate the anniversary, which was the largest event the Center had ever hosted. Our teams worked all day to provide hospitality and even created a few special commemorative menu items. Congratulations to everyone who made this all a great success.
  • As Hurricane Barry was bearing down on the Gulf Coast, the national Delta Sigma Theta sorority was forced to cancel events for their annual conference in New Orleans. Our team at the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center worked through the storm to prepare and donate the 17,000+ uneaten meals to the Second Harvest Food Bank of South Louisiana. A heartwarming story, and an inspiration for all of us when confronted with an unfortunate situation. Read the extensive national news coverage about this, including in CNN and the Washington Post.
  • Our team behind last year’s amazing AZA Icebreaker event in Seattle also won segment Gold in the Spirit of Sodexo Awards. Congratulations to Joy Dunwoodie, Ivan Petkov, Jenna Parker, Steve Dominguez, Taylor Park, Chelsea Gillis, Stan Hansen, Julia Taylor, Mohamed Kari, Molly DeMers, Jon Dubrick, Christopher Congleton, Angie Kemp, Tara Harrison, and Guz Antzakles for hosting a 100% sustainable blockbuster event for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
  • Two of our team members were recently in an accident while servicing the Steamship Authority at Cape Cod. Their actions likely saved lives. Thank you to Tim Madden and Shyan Upretifor their quick thinking and heroic efforts.
  • Also, a few short weeks ago, Michael Barrett joined our Baltimore Convention Center client for a panel conversation about successful food waste reduction strategies at the venue, followed by a fantastic sustainability-themed event for our clients and partners in Chicago for 2019 IAVM Venue Connect. Thank you to Matt Rundquist at MSI and our clients at the Chicago Botanic Gardens for contributing content and expertise to a wonderful evening.

Of course, we have great stories coming from all over, from menu enhancements to sustainability achievements, thank you for delivering on our brand promises and getting our stories out to the public. To note, of late:

As this fiscal calendar comes to a close, keep up the great work, remember to focus on growth, and stay close to your clients and guests. We can only accomplish the great things ahead by working together to drive performance and define a new standard of excellence.

All the best,

Steve Pangburn, Interim CEO

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