December 27, 2013
CEO Newsletter
Te3am,
Over the last several years we have developed a diverse, well-qualified and very competent team. I have to tell you never have I been happier about where we are as company and more importantly, who I get to work with and call a colleague. Knowing and trusting each other, working our way through challenges as a team, protecting our enterprise and serving our clients is our culture and an honor.
Clearly there are times when we are confronted with difficult challenges or face situations that are unfair and unwarranted. There may be points at which these situations seem impossible to manage or overcome. This is when you need to show that you are a true leader by remaining calm, composed and confident. Life is a series of highs and lows. It is a true measure of character to manage both with respect, integrity and humility. At Centerplate we are all about displaying the courage and resolve of an industry leader. What is critical is to ensure that we collectively learn from our challenges. The past is where the lesson is learned and the future is where the lesson is applied. We absolutely cannot get lost in bridging the two. Great teams turn challenges into opportunities.
As we reflect on our accomplishments and challenges of the past year and look forward to the year ahead, it is important that we each recognize our own individual roles and contributions that make our team better. We cannot allow ourselves to get distracted from our own tasks. What we need is discipline, focus and purpose to do the job we were hired to perform. I had the pleasure recently of being present during a pre-game prep talk and the coach’s words also apply to us, “Do your job and only your job and rely on the person next to you to do the same”. This is task #1 for all of us. At times it is easy to be a backseat driver and believe that you can do a job better than someone else. But you need to remember that your task is to be the best you can be in your current role. Other initiatives and opportunities may come along but your focus must remain on the job you have today. Clearly this doesn’t mean that we stand idly by when others need or ask for help – we are good team players.
By now your game plan for Y14 should be in place. You and your team should be reviewing it regularly and modifying as needed to take advantage of opportunities that arise and remedy any downturns in performance. Attached is an article from Nation’s Restaurant News with industry challenges for 2014. Let’s make sure we are taking these into account in our game plans. Ask yourself if you live up to our vision of being the globe’s most respected Event Company? Are you and your team Making It Better To Be There? Challenge yourself daily to answer with a resounding YES!
E3 moments of the week …
The Staff Appreciation Luncheon at the Baltimore Convention Center was a huge hit with rave reviews on the food and the service. That same evening we partnered with the Center and Volunteers of America to host a Christmas party for 60 under-privileged children and their families. The children enjoyed cookie decorating, a fun menu, crafts, coloring books, received gifts they had wished for and there was even a snowman from Marsha Pratt’s front lawn! Great job by Marsha, Chef Gabrielle Brown, Dondra Gladden, Chef Chauncey Hamlin, Chef Alex Humphrey, Executive Chef Jerry Infantino, Chef Nathan Madison, Chuck Schlagenhauf, Rebecca Scott, Shauntay Thompson and our team in Baltimore!
At the Mercedes-Benz Superdome a “Centerplate Service Team” has been formed and has committed to volunteer at least once a month at Second Harvest Food Bank in 2014. The team kicked off their service last week packaging meals for those in need for the holidays. Second Harvest Food Bank provides over 2000 meals daily to programs that service children and the elderly. Kudos to Lacey Baker, Terry Becker, Anthony Bora, Brigita Baradinskaite, Thuy Cao, Tracey Chiquet, Tanja Davis, Bethany Ebling, Mark Elias, Antoinette Hayes and Yohance Strawder for your community dedication!
In Nashville, Mayor Dean’s staff holiday party at the Music City Center was a great success. The Mayor complimented everything from the bars stocking his favorite wine, the food presentation and in particular the sliders, to our attentive smiling staff. Chef Max used as many local products as possible to highlight Nashville including the famous Popp’s pickles on the local Angus beef sliders, Noble Farms goat cheese and Colt’s chocolates. The Mayor was proud of our team and our client was proud of our team – just how things should be! Job well done to Wendy Briley, Renae Droege, Leo Cuasay, Marissa Cuenca, Yessica Guerra, Dake Hawke, Chef Oliver Henry, Heather Kellogg, Executive Chef Max Knoepful, Youssef Koutout, Bianca Morton, Trey Roberts, Romani Saleb, Kris Summa and our entire Music City Center team!
For the first time the American Academy of Pediatrics (“AAP”) held its annual conference at the Orange County Convention Center. It was their second highest professionally attended conference and the highest international, family and overall attendance they ever had. Highlight events were the President’s Reception and the AAP Annual Business Lunch along with numerous faculty lounges, workshops, continuing education seminars and staff offices. Our AAP client could not have been more pleased, “You made our first trip to Orlando an overwhelming success and we can’t wait to be back! Words cannot describe the value of the customer service provided.” Kudos to Nannette Bessette, Chris Breig, David Cole, Dennis Cyprien, Monica DeCarlo, Marcos Gonzalez, Chef Wes Libbey, Danny Medina, Chef Robert Thompson and our staff in Orlando!
Let’s do our jobs to the best of our abilities and work together as a team as we close out the last few days of the year and look forward with keen anticipation to the possibilities of the year ahead. I believe we have the best local and corporate teams and that combined we are unstoppable. The phrase you will be hearing more of in the future – at Centerplate we are enterprise powered and locally driven. How we harness both will correlate our ability to enhance of brand promise of Making It Better To Be There. I guarantee we will continue to win and we can all look forward to a bright future.
Wishing you and yours a happy and peaceful New Year full of all good things!
Onwards!
