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CONNECTING THE CHART MEMBER COMMUNITY
BRIGHT SUMMER NEWS JULY/AUGUST 2023
VISIONARY TRAINERS TRANSFORMING HOSPITALITY Janelle Reents is our 2023 Commitment to People Recipient
It’s our favorite story. You know the one: teenager gets a job at the local community restaurant, and through dedication and perseverance, rises through the ranks and eventually ends up running the company. Meet Janelle Reents, who embarked on her journey of making pizzas more than 30 years ago, and is now President of Monical Pizza Corporation and our 2023 Commitment to People Recipient! At the age of 17, Janelle joined this thriving restaurant chain
Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando Florida
Join us in Orlando by registering at chart.org
at the location near her family home in Washington, Illinois. It was there that she first experienced Monical’s mission, which is simply stated in its trademarked phrase “The Family Pleaser…People Pleasing People.” Through Monical’s development path, she learned the operational and soft skills necessay to lead, and accepted her role as President in 2008.
Janelle Reents Janelle will be honored at the Commitment to People Awards Dinner on Monday, July 31 during the Orlando conference
The nomination form submitted by her team was particularly powerful, filled with many specific examples of how Janelle has supported and developed the team to its fullest extent. Common themes emerged, including how Janelle pays special attention to motivation and appreciation, is compassionate during the current employment crisis, creates personal content to support their new e-learning system, is active in planning employee/family celebration events, drives their wellness and volunteer programs, and works side-by-side with vendors and franchise owners. It went on to detail her commitment to inclusion, and that not only does she have an “open door policy,” her desk in the corporate support center is positioned near the center of the building, with no walls and no door. You’ll be able to read more about Janelle in the Summer 2023 issue of CHART’s Hospitality Training Magazine. Congratulations to Janelle, and to the entire Monical’s team! Monicals has a long and unwavering history of putting its employees first. Harry Bond, former President and lifetime CHART member, was our 2003 Commitment to People Recipient. For many years before that, and every year since, Monicals has been an active force in CHART. Request for Silent Auction Donations to Support Scholarships
Please consider donating to our silent auction. Your donations and bids will help make a difference in the life of an aspiring hospitality student! Last year, we raised more than $12,000. The silent auction will be held at the Orlando conference. Let Jennifer Belk White, jenbelkwhite@gmail.com, know of your donation. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
• Restaurant company gift card • Hotel or summer home stay • Gift basket of your favorite products
• Free speaking engagement • Virtual cooking class from your brand’s chef • Any other idea you can come up with!
2022 Scholarship Recipient McKenna Voisin (right) with Jennifer Bonilla of AHLEI
Now Accepting Mentors and Mentees for CHART and GLEAM’s Fall Program
CHART Board Election Information If you are a member that attended a CHART conference in Las Vegas, Austin, or Seattle, you will be receiving your electronic absentee election ballot on July 5 to vote for the 2023-2024 CHART Board. If you are going to attend the Orlando conference, you can choose to vote in person there instead.
We are currently gathering initial interest for this Mentor Program cohort launch. We are anticipating an early fall group; late September/early October
2023. Space is limited, and cohorts fill fast, so please take a few moments to learn more about GLEAM’s programs and indicate your interest at gleamnetwork.net.
View our Board candidates and their statements/videos at chart.org > scroll to Announcements
GLEAM Mission: To provide access to mentoring and leadership development for foodservice professionals, enabling them to achieve their full career potential.
PresidenTalks The Power of Goal-setting: The Secret Sauce for Personal and Professional Growth A big part of the Buffalo Wild Wings Culture is setting goals. Every team member at every level sets both a personal and professional goal within the first 90 days of joining the brand on a sauce bottle – a beloved BWW icon. This mindset is something I quickly connected to when joining the brand 4 years ago. Why do I love it so much? While I have always been a goal driven person, prior to joining BWW, I had never put a personal goal or career goal in writing. It had always been goals for my job or “to do lists.” I love this quick exercise so much that in 202 1 we did this activity as a
Rachel Richal
CHART board when we had a meeting at my support center in Atlanta. It was a great way to learn more about each other and drove some awesome discussion as a team. When we went through this exercise, I filled out a new sauce bottle with new goals. My previous personal goal was frankly vague, and being around this group inspired me to put down a tangible goal – “To become CHART President-Elect by September 2021.” Over the past two years I was fortunate to live out this goal by serving the CHART Membership as President-Elect and then President. This will be a time in my life I will always cherish. It has stretched me in ways that are different than my career and has given me so much opportunity to give back to this industry that I love. Thank you for this – to the current CHART board, the 3 prior boards I served on, the conference teams, the speakers, the volunteers, the Past Presidents, the mentors and collaborative peers I have gained, and the membership as a whole, THANK YOU! CHART has given me friendships that are unlike any other supporting me both professionally and personally. CHART literally connected me to the brand I work for and have grown my career in.
CHART has given me members of my team that I now get to work with daily. CHART has helped me achieve my career goals, as well as set and achieve a huge personal goal for professional development outside of my job – becoming CHART President. These past two years with CHART have given me the most development and fulfillment – something a goal you write down should give you! With my CHART presidency coming to an end, the wise words around, “when one door closes, another one opens” could not be truer for me personally. While I will continue to serve as an active member, advocate, and contributor to CHART, my presidency coming to a close is perfect timing for me to set a new personal goal… When I step out of the title of CHART President at the end of July, I get to take on an exciting new title of mom (it’s as if I timed it ). I guess it’s time to fill out a new sauce bottle. Raising a sauce bottle to all of you – the goal orientated trainers who help our industry achieve goals. Cheers,
2019-2021 CHART Board
Regional Training Forums (RTFs)
Atlanta RTF | 5.31.23 Great minds came together to share best practices on recruiting and retaining great talent
Boston RTF | 5.17.23 A robust discussion on operational excellence, inclusion, and the team member experience journey
Getting to Know Your Orlando Conference Team To get to know them a bit better, we asked them:
What fresh thought and/or bright idea have you gotten from CHART?
Marita Edrosa, Manager, Learning Culture and Team Member Experience, Buffalo Wild Wings “In every experience, there is an opportunity to learn.” Activities Co-Director
Winona Bullis, Director of Training, Specialty Brands, Focus Brands “Donna Herbel’s presentation on ChatGPT was mind-blowing. It really changed my mind about a new system that I initially had reservations about.” Volunteer Co-Director
Activities Co-Director
Activities Co-Director
Yvonne Lloyd, Product Manager Career Development, National Restaurant Association “One bright idea I picked up is that creating flexibility in training pathways is key. So I set up new skills-specific training paths with existing content to align with key industry gaps. AND steal shamelessly when you hear a good idea!” James Frank, Area Leader of Training, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers “Networking is an investment in yourself!” Service Event Co-Director Kate Stiteler, Director of Training, Sonesta Hotels “I’ve learned so many, but one of the recent impactful ones that I learned was the power of conversation cards to help people get to know each other in a creative and fresh way (unlike traditional icebreakers).” First Time Attendee Co-Director Service Event Co-Director Myisha Smith, Corporate Director of Training, Pacifica Hotels “A fresh thought that I have received from CHART was incorporating fun again! Gaming, challenges, and contests! I came to my first conference after COVID, and planning to go back to in-person training revitalized my approach to in-person training.” Jennifer Belk White, Director of HR, Lumina Foods “I have learned so many fresh thoughts from CHART over the years! Recently, I think learning more about the use of AI in training is among the freshest.” Silent Auction Co-Director
Kimberly Carson, Senior Human Resource Manager, Learning and Development, Rosen Hotels & Resorts “CHART always revives me and allows me to bring back the energy to my company. One of the most memorable ideas I have implemented from a past conference is was a simulation game called BARNGA. It was a simulation game on cultural clashes – I have used this with our top leadership and other groups of individuals, and it is always interesting the dialogue that comes from the exercise. Many surprises too!” John Poulos, Vice President of Customer Success, Crunchtime “Be present! Take advantage of this awesome opportunity to learn and grow, to network and to build relationships. You will get as much out of the CHART conference as you put into it. This will be foundational to your growth and career.” First Time Attendee Co-Director
Facilities Co-Director
Bobby Underwood, Director Of Training- Company Operations, Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. “The best thing I got from CHART was the mission statement for my team: be a catalyst of impact. If what we do ripples all the way down to the store level and generates results, we are thriving. It was said by a CHART member in the first strategic planning class I took, and I have been shouting it from the rooftops ever since.”
Cindy Morales, Operations Excellence Coach, Church’s Chicken “You’ll have to ask me in Orlando!” Hospitality 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 Member News
New Member Spotlight
How did you get into the hospitality industry? My first official hospitality job was with Long John Silver’s in high school and the emphasis our manager had on customer satisfaction and facility cleanliness has stuck with me ever since. I find hospitality is a heart and head path to take in life. I use business sense (head) and kindness (heart) daily in my job. What has been the weirdest moment in your training career so far? I was in a training workshop in Oklahoma, which is known for powerful winds. We had a storm circulating that afternoon, and during the session one of the
Tiffany Perez was promoted to Sr. Director of Training & Development for Salata. Congratulations!
Jamie Collins Supervisor EVS Noble Research Institute LLC
Kate Stiteler was promoted to Director of Training for Sonesta Hotels. Well deserved!
What is your “golden rule” of training? My golden rule for training and mostly life in general is Be kind and meet them where they are. windows blew in! End of session, head to shelter, and hope for the best. It turned out fine and passed quickly with no one hurt, but it was the wildest and most unexpected training I had been through.
Our Silver Partner Opus announced some exciting news – its $6.8M Series A funding, led by Stage 2 Capital.
CHART at the Restaurant Show in May
CHART/IFBTA Reception
Educational Sessions
Industry Meetups
Since October 2023
Aleisha Achilles, Upward Projects Carla Adams, PJW Restaurant Group Myra Adiba, Dave's Hot Chicken Lexi Albanese, Westgate Resorts Jacob Avalos, Dave's Hot Chicken Jose Ayala, Dave's Hot Chicken Heather Bailey, BWH Hotel Group Christie Baker, Mendocino Farms Naomi Arnett, Jason's Deli Christopher Auteberry, Hyatt Kirsten Baribault, Whataburger Sean Barnes, Buffalo Wild Wings Eddie Barrios, Haagen Dazs Shops Cristina Beaudoin, Tatte Bakery & Cafe Leigh Belmont, Firehouse Subs Audrey Benet, GuestCounts Hospitality Jack Benson, Little Caesars Matthew Bentsen, Bottleneck Management Christina Briggs, Shipley Do-Nuts Megan Burleson, Front Burner Restaurants Chaley Butler, Ryman Hospitality Properties Stefany Call, Tatsu-Ya Organization, LLC Brian Cantwell, Pancheros Mexican Grill Zino Carr, Garden Catering Melisa Carson, Caesars Entertainment Daniele Ceccato, Salamander Hotels & Resorts Kimberly Chambers, Little Caesars Lori Chavez, MRI INC Michael Chelsea, El Pollo Loco Maria Christiani-Dixon, Millers Ale House Matt Clark, Condado Tacos Dana Clement, Front Burner Restaurants Brooklyn Colburn, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Leigh Collins, Detroit Wing Co Lori Cominsky, Craveworthy Brands Kevin Cooper, Grove Bay Veronica Cordova, Buffalo Wild Wings GO MaLeeka Curry, Slim Chickens Paul Dorval, A&W Restaurants INC Zoe Dorworth, Hobee's Beth Dugan, Gateway Technical College Caitlin Dumars, Fox Restaurant Concepts Marc Dzielinski, The Ritz-Carlton Sara Edminsten, Bricktown Brewery Monique Elliott, Salt & Straw Laura Ellis, Sonesta Hotels Louise Ellis, Scooter's Coffee Corporate
Kristy Fagone, bartaco Adam Falkenberg, Best Western Hotels & Resorts Maggie Fox, Rave Restaurant Group Christina Fox, True Food Kitchen Hal Freeman, Charleston Place Hotel Jason Garcia Quinones, Kalahari Resorts Nathan Gatto, Biscuitville Inc Shelbi Giadone, Red Robin Lottie Glazer, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits S. Clare Goble, Glacier Restaurant Group Michelle Gonzales, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits Dusti Guzman, Sortis Holdings David Hansen, Flatbread Company Portsmouth Devin Harman, Domino's Pizza Jeree Harper, Taco Mac Katy Harrington, Lumina Foods Brooke Harris, Lumina Foods Steven Haynes, Whataburger Restaurants LLC Christina Heilig, Dewey's Pizza Rachelle Hendershott, Mellow Mushroom HQ Carlye Henderson, Eat'n Park Hospitality Group Emily Hinton, Flatbread Company Kasey Hockenberry, P. Terry's Burger Stand Natasha Hodge, Shipley franchise company Nicole Holiday, Shipley Do-Nuts John Hughes, Jersey Mike's Franchise Systems Shekree Johnson, Tulalip Resort & Casino Michael Jolly, Tulalip Resort & Casino Nancy Kantzavelos, Krispy Krunchy Kieran Kearns, Tap & Barrel Group Crystal Keehn, SSCP Management Kiralfy Kennion, Buffalo Wild Wings Megan Kittinger, Tatte Bakery & Cafe Candice Klobuchar, Glacier Restaurant Group Laura Komenda, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits Grace Kurtz, Buffalo Wild Wings Sarah Kutudis, Bloomin' Brands Thomas Law, Golden Corral Corporation Bronwyn Horn, Salt & Straw India Houston, Botiwalla, LLC. Barbie Huang, 7 Leaves Cafe James Lee, RBI - Firehouse Subs Lorna Lewis, Church's Chicken Johnny Lindh, Black Angus Steakhouse Toni Lindner, Best Western Hotels & Resorts Terri Lovio, Harrah's Resort Southern CA Lindsay Luke, Buffalo Wild Wings
Aaron Macias, Harrah's Resort Southern CA Alex Marek, Feedme Hosp.& Restaurant Grp Ashely Marion, Hops n Drops David Marshall, Hops n Drops Wendy Martinez, Salata Salad Kitchen Samantha Mason, Smokey Bones Jade McClure, A&W Alli McGuigan, CHT, honeygrow LLC Melinda McGuire, Best Western Hotels & Resorts Jessica McNair, Popeyes Lauren Mendenhall, Life's Food Haley Mendoza, Southside Market & Barbeque Stephanie Meyer, Incredible Pizza Company Allison Michel, Culver Franchising System Lisa Miller Feliciano Moralez, Leal's Mexican Restaurant Margaret Morgan, CC's Coffee House Alexx Morrison, Flatbread Company Monique Mota, Little Caesars Jessica Moyer, Savory Management Mary Myers, Niffer's Place, Eat Here Inc Adam New, Gallagher's LLC Al Newman, Hungry Howie's, Inc. Aimee-Lynn Noa, MavTran LLC Christina Norris, Roy's Sylwia Oak, First Hospitality Alexander Oakes, Fuzzy's Taco Shop Rebecca OBrien, El Pollo Loco Roland Ochoa, La Cantera Resort and Spa Travis Ohler, Sailormen dba Popeyes Chicken Rafael Ortiz, Westgate Resorts Sean Paredes, Black Seed Bagels Kelly Parker, Firebirds International, LLC Alex Parks, Best Western Aku Patel, Biscuitville Rick Pepper, El Pollo Loco Kyle Pepperell, Boka Restaurant Group Eliza Poehlman, Altamarea Group Ritu Portugal, Denco Family, Inc. Kaci Pratt, Glacier Restaurant Group Chris Prior, Buddy's Pizza Cindy Pyun, Angry Crab Shack Alfredo Ramirez, Hornblower Group Eric Reid, Hornblower Group Rob Richard, Feedme Hospi. & Restaurant Grp
Julius Ridgley, Primanti Bros. Eric Roberts, Gjelina Group
Continued on Reverse
Steven Vovra, Alicart Restaurant Group Mark Wadhwani, Feedme Hosp. & Restaurant Grp Shannon Washbrook, A&W Food Services of Canada Inc CJ Weigel, Condado Tacos Jeff Weissinger, Vanderbilt University Tresa Wells, Whataburger Katy Wheeler, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, RBI Mattie Wilmoth, Ted's Montana Grill Kyle Witter, bartaco Daniel Wood, Global Partners Peggy Wood, Hyatt Raeanna Woodall, Salamander Resort and Spa Carlos Wright, Bonchon Caitlin Yahr, Condado Tacos Lauren Young, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits Brady Zubke, Condado Tacos
Sara Studer, Whataburger Maddie Takacs, Fox Restaurant Concepts Darcelle Taylor, Bread Alone Bakery Carlos Tenorio, Sailormen dba Popeyes Louisiana Chicken Nataliia Thayer, Kalahari Resorts Julian Tolossa, Dave's Hot Chicken Angel Torres, Big Dave's Cheesesteaks Kaylee Trainor, Westgate Resorts Michael Trook, Dave & Busters, Inc. Joseph Turner, Beyond Juicery + Eatery Nicholas Twining, Barrio Diana Uribe, Giannis Group N.V. Katie Vina Medrano, Parker Hospitality.Group Amanda Vicario, Miller's Ale House Ralph Vitiello, Fiorella’s Restaurants Daniel Volkenant, Ruth's Chris Steak House
New & Returning Members - continued...
Anthony Robles, Miguel's Restaurants Erika Rodriguez, Alicart Sally Roe, Whataburger Restaurants LLC Natalia Rojas-Valois, PLANTA Restaurants Gary Rook, Tatsu-ya Michelle Savage, Jason's Deli Greg Sheehan, New England Authentic Eats Ting Shen, PLANTA RoseAnn Siciliano, A.Ray Hospitality Kim Skolnick, Jack in the Box Travis Skoog, HMSHost Samantha Soto, The Feinstein Group Tania Soto, Dave's Hot Chicken Holly Stergulz, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Lifetime (20-year Members) John Alexander FMP, CHT, Stirling View Kristin Burk, Elevate Monique Donahue, CHT, Hilton Janice Williams, Burgerville 15-year Members Cindy Bates, PHR, CHT, The Common Man
5-Year Members Rona Lascano, A&W Restaurants Jennifer Herbold, Thirsty Lion Tracy Richter, BBQ Holdings, Inc. Jamie Pearson, Ruby Tuesday Erin Mills, Inspire
Michele Harvieux, Arby's - DRM Inc. Melissa McCornack, Inspire Brands Scott Clark, Ballard Brands DeAnna Hogan, Best Western Hotels & Resorts Maria Raspanti, California Fish Grill, LLC Linda Walker, California Fish Grill, LLC Lauren Grindrod, Flatbread Company We are excited to celebrate these members and present them with member milestone pins during the Commitment to People Dinner on Monday, July 31st at CHART 104 Orlando!
Camille Chavez, Black Bear Diner Rickie Moore, CEC Entertainment Chris Patterson, Slim Chickens 10-year Members Danielle Dally, CHT, Inspire Brands-Buffalo Wild Wings Becky Rice, Denny's Konnie Sadler, Culver Franchising Systems, LLC Stacy Whitmore Nathan Wright, CHT, White Castle Management Co. Gilberto Zamora, Little Caesars Enterprises, Inc.
If you believe you should be receiving a milestone pin this year, but your name is not on this list, please contact Susan@chart.org. If you are celebrating a milestone, but cannot attend the conference, your pin will be mailed to you.
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