July 3, 2014
CEO Newsletter
Please take a moment and read the attached article about the building, not buying, of the Boston Red Sox into a championship team. You don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate the philosophy; being true to your values, finding the players that mesh and having a common goal that bonds everyone together. I hope that it is not lost on you that this could be an article on Centerplate. We have always stated that we will not overpay to work pro bono and that our team is committed to delivering insanely great hospitality. We are not a profit first company. We are a guest first company because we know if we do the right things than we will ultimately be rewarded. Therefore it is important that we deliver on our positioning – Making It Better To Be There – daily.
We know that our team members are our greatest asset in delivering on our brand promise to our guests and our clients. Training and development drives improved service which drives increased sales which in turn drives more profit for our clients. It also provides our team members with the tools to excel. Make sure you and your managers are mentoring every member of your team. Be the motivator and teach by example – let them know when you complete a training class and ask them about their progress. Applaud those that have completed a course and encourage them to move on to the next one and rally those that are lagging behind in their training. Make sure they are aware of promotion opportunities and assist them on the path to that next step in their career with Centerplate – they are our leaders of tomorrow.
E3 moments of the week …
At a recent Tampa Bay Rays game Darryl McCullough, a volunteer with one of our non-profit groups, came to the aid of guest that was choking. As medical crews were being called to the scene, Darryl administered the Heimlich and dislodged the item enough for the guest to start breathing. The guest was transported to the hospital for additional care and the medical crew acknowledged that without Darryl’s actions the outcome for the guest may have been very different. As a volunteer for the Sanderlin Center group, Darryl fills the role of supervisor, cashier, inventory clerk and runner at the concession stands and is a dependable team player. Kudos to Darryl!
The Colorado Convention Center hosted the 3rd Annual Denver Comicon with close to 75,000 comic fans in attendance. Our team doubled the previous year’s revenues and shattered the previous Hospitality Quick Service record for a single program. Over 3,000 grass-fed burgers, 2,000 thin crispy pizza slices and 2,500 continental frankfurters and sausages were served – a direct result of our innovative STIR program and outstanding collaborate planning and execution. Excellent job by Executive Chef Carmen Callo, Jose Cazarez, Eli Cordova, Jacob Forsythe, Cindy Henneberger, Antonio Herrera, John Jessen, Wynisha Jones, CJ Maez, Erik Magana, Lindsey Manning, Todd Moore, Jacob Palmer, Noel Palmer, Jeanette Randles and our entire convention center team!
Here’s to being dedicated, motivated and inspired to delivering insanely great hospitality every day!
