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CONNECTING THE CHART MEMBER COMMUNITY
A BURST OF SUMMER NEWS JULY/AUGUST 2024
VISIONARY TRAINERS TRANSFORMING HOSPITALITY
2024 COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE RECIPIENT SCOTT STEILEN GOES THE EXTRA MILE
Sea Island opened in 1928 as a hotel and golf destination on the barrier islands of coastal Georgia. Modern-day Sea Island is a luxury resort comprised of five lodging accommodations, three golf courses, multiple dining and retail outlets, spa and fitness center, and thriving club membership. The 2,000 employee organization is known for its high-level service. Throughout its history, Sea Island has received 80 Forbes Five-Star Awards.
Meet Scott Steilen, a Chicago native who fell in love with the gracious charm of Sea Island, a southeast Georgia-based Forbes Five-Star resort. In his 12 years as President and CEO, Scott has honored Sea Island’s 96-year tradition of excellence, blending high-level operations with personal, meaningful interactions. His ability to lead, while connecting with every team member he encounters, remembering personal details, and making everyone feel valued, underscores why he is a deserving recipient of the 2024 Commitment to People Award.
Scott’s leadership style is rooted in genuine care and effective communication, setting a powerful example for the entire organization. His nomination form gave many examples, such as: • Scott is the number-one champion of Beekeeper, an app that facilitates quick access to essential information for all team members. He personally and actively uses this platform to celebrate employees' birthdays, work anniversaries, and update everyone on significant company initiatives. With Scott consistently the “Top User” on the leaderboard, this tool has enhanced communication, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and engagement within the team.
He sets the example by greeting all employees by name and gives them his undivided attention when speaking with them.
Scott Steilen President and CEO Sea Island Company
• Scott made it a personal mission to revitalize Sea Island's commitment to "Enriching Lives," emphasizing the importance of team members, club members, guests, and the community. This renewed focus transformed the company culture, improved the overall experience of being a team member, and strengthened Sea Island's community relationships. His “Great Eight” initiative further pushes the boundaries to foster a culture of belonging, recognition, work-life balance, and competitive compensation. continued on page 4
Choctaw Regional Training Forum (RTF) | 5.10.24 75 attendees from 7 Oklahoma tribes Many thanks to Mike Nalley for leading this impactful event!
Meet Your Candidates for the CHART 2024-25 Board of Directors View candidate statements and videos online now at chart.org > scroll to News
Kelly McCutcheon Group Director of Training, Whataburger Also running for President-Elect
James Frank Area Leader of Training, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Alie Gaffan, CHT Senior Vice President of People & Culture, Pacifica Hotels
Jennifer Belk White, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CHT
Corban Nichols Vice President of Restaurant Excellence, Piada Italian Street Food
Angelina Sabatini Director of Training & Development, Ford's Garage
Audrey Benet Director of Training, GuestCounts Hospitality
Also running for President-Elect
Felicia White, EdD Incoming President - no need to vote for Felicia!
Electronic voting opened June 28. If you attended one of the last three in-person conferences (Seattle, Orlando, or Charlotte), you should already have received a link via email to vote electronically. Email susan@chart.org if you have any questions or did not receive your electronic voting link. If you will be joining us for CHART 106 in Chicago, you can cast your vote in August during the conference.
PresidenTalks The Power of Appreciative Leadership in Training
As I observe trainers in action, there is one thing that often sets them apart. It’s how they lead as they train, a characteristic that I’ve seen many overlook which differentiates an exceptional from an average trainer. One leadership approach that I’m passionate about is called appreciative leadership, which has gained significant traction in recent years and has proven effectiveness. This style focuses on recognizing and leveraging strengths, fostering positivity, and creating a supportive environment.
CHART President Damian Hanft
Your CHART Board in Chicago mapping out the Chicago Conference (and enjoying dinner together at the historic Italian Village).
The concept of appreciative leadership is that it revolves around positivity and encouragement. Leaders practicing this approach actively seek out and acknowledge the strengths and accomplishments of their team members. By doing so, they create a supportive and motivating learning environment where learners feel valued and appreciated. This positivity not only boosts morale but also enhances overall job satisfaction and employee well-being. These same traits of leadership carry directly over into those of a great trainer. Appreciative leadership builds trust by fostering open communication, listening actively, and valuing diverse perspectives. Again, all important traits of a great trainer. When we appreciate the strengths and efforts of our learners, it creates a culture of trust and collaboration where learners are more willing to support other learners and work together towards shared objectives. See how leadership plays a crucial role for trainers? As we develop trainers and ourselves, it’s critical that we not only focus on the tactical and technical sides of training, but the characteristics of leadership that make us more impactful. By focusing on strengths, fostering positivity, building trust, and encouraging innovation, trainers create an environment where learners are able to thrive. Best wishes,
In front: Conference Director Anna Mason and Activities Director Winona Bullis
Meet Your Chicago Conference Team
“How have you partnered with others in your company to expand perspectives or lead change?” These volunteers are working hard to craft OUR Chicago conference experience. To get to know THEM a bit better, we asked them:
“At Sonesta, my training team stays connected to every department in the company to create impactful training that delivers the results that we’re looking to achieve in various initiatives. Currently, one of our projects requires us to work closely with our Brand Team as we redefine and grow our brands. We are using innovative training techniques and technologies to engage our employees and educate them on important brand work. We also recently partnered with our Sales Team to assist with creating a brand-new sales training for our Focused Service hotels. We have been delivering this three-day session and are already closing tens of thousands of dollars in business since rolling it out!”
Silent Auction Co-Director Kate Stiteler Corporate Director of Training, Sonesta Hotels
“Expanding perspectives goes hand in hand with leading change, as both require embracing, understanding, and challenging diverse viewpoints. By collaborating with cross-functional teammates, I help develop training materials and content that drive sales, enhance guest satisfaction, and promote team member growth.”
Facilities Co-Director James Lee Manager of Multimedia Design & LMS Administrator, Del Taco
“When I first started in my current role, we had just created a new department that would be responsible for helping support all of our brands to build consistency. The only department that was taken completely out of individual brands was training. This was a huge change for the organization and our internal training team because the entire team was now responsible for learning multiple brands and leading New Store Openings for more than one brand. Three years later, all of our team has gone through brand training for all of the other brands and can lead training for multiple brands. Currently, about 50% of our New Store Openings are co-branded openings with one, two, or even three other brands all in the same building. Had we not done this, we would not have been able to grow the business as rapidly as we have.”
Activities Co-Director Winona Bullis Director of Field Training-Specialty Brands, GoTo Foods
“Change is a constant and is necessary for the brand to grow; even more so in more mature brands. It requires looking at your guest and realigning your processes and delivery based upon their changing needs. Start by asking why we do something and then ask the same question three to four more times until you have the root of why something is done a certain way. Then take a moment and see if the result you are getting still aligns with your guest expectations. It takes dialogue which requires more than one person to create the momentum for the change. We should be constantly evaluating processes and results based upon our guest expectations to ensure we stay relevant with their needs and desires.”
Volunteer Co-Director Keith Strew Sr. Director of Learning & Development, On The Border
“We have recently partnered with our Revenue Department to announce our partnership with Booking.com to enhance inclusivity and diversity within our properties through the Travel Proud Certification Program. Our goal is ambitious – we aim for all of our properties to attain the Proud Certification by the end of 2024.”
Registration Co-Director Myisha Smith Corporate Director of Training, Pacifica Hotels
“I am so proud to be on a team that is passionate about our employees' quality of life. Since joining the company, I have partnered with colleagues in various roles (and in various countries) to focus on mental health in deliberate and powerful ways which earned us a Bell Seal from Mental Health America! Only one in four employers meet the Bell Seal certification standards. We honor the humanity of our team by being a change leader in workplace mental wellness.”
Service Event Co-Director Serah Morrissey Senior Director, People & Culture, Schoox, Inc.
Communications Director Audrey Benet Director of Training, GuestCounts Hospitality
“By asking what each department needed: a focused plan and strategy meeting. Here, marketing, operations, and training meets with our SVP to discuss current findings, the upcoming month's initiatives, and plans for the quarter. Without this, we were all siloed, and we are now working toward common goals and seeing results.”
Registration Co-Director Lauren Mendenhall Director of Learning & Development, Life's Food, Five Guys
“It’s the role of learning and development to partner with all areas of the company to ensure training matches operational goals and organizational targets. Everything we do requires operations buy-in and commitment to making the training a success. We’ve championed management training programs that have led to consistency in performance and role clarity across the company. A win-win!”
Silent Auction Co-Director Angelina Sabatini Director of Training, Ford’s Garage
“By partnering with cross-functional teams, sharing ideas, and leveraging diverse expertise, we’ve fostered innovation and challenged traditional norms at Ford’s Garage. Additionally, aligning our mission with like-minded partners has allowed us to extend our impact beyond individual interests.”
Volunteer Co-Director Sylvie Mitchell Sr Manager, Learning Solutions, Delta Sky Clubs
You’ll have to ask her in Chicago!
Matt Clark, formerly announced as Communications Director, has moved to the role of Activities Co-Director.
Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers P.O. Box 2835 Westfield, NJ 07091 chart.org (800) 463-5918
Please send content to flipCHART Managing Editor | Lisa Marovec, lisa@chart.org Deadline is 1st of the month for the next month’s issue | Back issues: chart.org
Scott Steilen ...continued from page 1 • The resort’s “Coffee and Conversation with Scott” program brings randomly selected team members together for candid discussions, ensuring their voices are heard, diverse perspectives are valued, and their ideas contribute to the company’s success. Scott explains operational updates with regular “Fireside Chat” videos, and personally attends weekly New Hire Orientations to welcome new team members and share Sea Island's mission and values. • Known for his fun-loving nature, Scott participates in company events like dunk tanks at family picnics and belly flop contests. He also organizes celebrations such as the Turkey Toss, where Sea Island distributes over 1,000 turkeys to team members and the local community.
Congratulations to Scott for leading a culture of respect, kindness, and gratitude! • Scott ensures that Sea Island has a wide range of tuition reimbursement available for the team’s personal development, scholarship opportunities with the local college, and a financial fund to assist team members in times of crisis. • Outside of Sea Island, Scott’s efforts have led to substantial community projects, including a campaign to address food insecurity.
Member News
Christina Briggs is now Vice President of Operations for Choolaah.
Keith Strew is now Senior Director of Learning & Development for On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.
Chaley Butler was promoted to Senior Manager, Training & Development at Ryman Hospitality Properties..
Lexi Albanes e is now Food and Beverage Training Senior Manager at Westgate Resorts.
Felicia White achieved her Doctorate of Education Degree in Adult Education and Workforce Development. Now Dr. Felicia White!
Barret Bailey is now Senior Manager, New Restaurant Training at Whataburger.
Regiister bBy July 2 to Save $150!!
CHART 106 Chicago • Hospitality Training Conference August 11-14, 2024 • Palmer House, Chicago, IL Expanding Perspectives. Leading Change.
Keynotes
Perspectives from Your Peers: A Dynamic Group Coaching Experience
Game On! Tapping Into Fun and Competition to Drive Results and Engagement
The TA-DA of Change: Leading Teams During Change with Passion and Success
Leading Out of the Red Zone
Joel Zeff Speaker, Humorist, Author, Joel Zeff Creative
Christy Uffelman, MHCS, BCC Entrepreneur, Speaker, Author, Connection and Belonging Expert, CEO, Edge Leadership
Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D. Speaker and Peak Performance Consultant, President, EleVive
Rachel Richal, CHT Vice President, Training, Buffalo Wild Wings
Highlights of the Chicago Conference
• BREAKOUTS: Thought-leadership experts lend fresh perspectives designed to help you do your job better • CHART TALKS: Quick-hit big ideas will expand your mind • COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE: The best and brightest in hospitality are celebrated at the awards dinner • SILENT AUCTION: A fun way to be a part of supporting our college scholarship program and the future of hospitality • POST-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS: These advanced sessions add even more value to your conference experience
The Things That Make ALL CHART Conferences Great
• NETWORKING: Numerous opportunities are incorporated right into the agenda to build high-quality connections • KEYNOTES: Nationally recognized speakers bring the spark and energy to general session • RESOURCE GALLERY: Member-recommended vendors fast-track your introduction to trusted solutions • SERVICE EVENT: An impactful way to support the host community and work side-by-side with others • HOSPITALITY SUITES: Nightly informal gathering to strengthen the bonds that will last throughout your career
Register Now!
REGISTER TODAY - FALL 2024 COHORT REGISTER TODAY - FALL 2024 COHORT
GLEAM NETWORK’S MENTOR PROGRAM A 6-month structured 1:1 Mentor Program which pairs experienced industry leaders/executives with individuals who want to advance their career in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry.
SPACE IS LIMITED! REGISTER ONLINE TODAY AT GLEAMNetwork.net
MENTOR PROGRAM ANNOUNCING GLEAM’S NEXT FALL 2024 COHORT - LATE SEPTEMBER KICKOFF
EMERGING LEADER MENTOR PROGRAM Field: Multi-Unit Managers & Above Support Center/HQ: Professionals/Managers
EXECUTIVE MENTOR PROGRAM Director Level & Above
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN GLEAM'S HIGH-VALUE, INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC MENTOR PROGRAM?
OUR MISSION
GLEAM's programs are offered at low cost. There is a small Admin Fee for GLEAM Mentees: $75 for Emerging Leader Mentor program $150 for Executive Mentor program This is to partially offset our nonprofit’s administrative costs including the technology platform. Please contact us at support@gleamnetwork.net with any questions. Access to top industry leaders/executives who volunteer their time as mentors for a 6-month structured mentor program; minimum one hour per month commitment Behavioral Assessment courtesy of DreamSmart Academy with personalized Behavioral SuperPowers Profile provided Use of GLEAM’s dedicated, 3rd-party mentoring technology platform - using Wisdom Share® from Mentor Resources, Inc. - for optimal matching, access to specialized leadership development content, mentee/mentor communication/progress tracking, and industry community-building Early access to periodic, small group Learning Circles led by our industry’s most inspirational leaders
To provide access to mentoring and leadership
development to underserved and underrepresented restaurant and foodservice professionals.
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