Meet Your Redondo Beach Conference Team
We let ChatGPT lend a hand—and a sense of humor—for this one! To help you get to know the awesome volunteer crew behind our upcoming conference, we asked about their favorite pastimes: beach vibes, dance music, and travel dreams. ChatGPT took it from there, crafting some fun summaries that show off their personalities. Catch the rest of the team in next month’s issue of the flipCHART.
SILENT AUCTION CO-DIRECTOR Jay Hartwig Director of People and Retention, Fox Restaurant Concepts
On the beach, life is simple for Jay: toes in the sand, volleyball in play, and The Electric Slide on repeat. He dreams of skydiving—if only his wife agreed. Until then, Ireland tops the list: green hills, deep heritage, and a proper glass of Guinness and whiskey to toast it all.
FIRST TIME ATTENDEE CO-DIRECTOR Michele Lange Director of Learning and Development, IHOP
For Michele, the perfect beach day is a quiet spot, a sand chair, and sunshine—with some good people-watching, of course. ’80s and ’90s hits (Lenny Kravitz included) get her dancing every time. Paddle boarding in Long Beach still calls—and so does a dreamy river cruise through Germany.
ACTIVITIES CO-DIRECTOR Myisha Smith Corporate Director of Training, Pacifica Hotels
Give Myisha a paddleboard, Beyoncé on the speaker, and she’s in her happy place. She plans to chase fluency in Spanish now—finally making time for the challenge. Next stop? Italy and Spain, where rich culture, stunning architecture, and unforgettable food await her passport and her passion. ACTIVITIES CO-DIRECTOR Paul Miramontes Manager, Learning and Development, The Galardi Group - Wienerschnitzel For Paul, the beach is his reset—volleyball, waves, and letting the noise fade. Cue Everybody by the Backstreet Boys, and he’s singing with his buddies, no questions asked. He’s been far north to Iceland’s Northern Lights—now he’s eyeing the other extreme: a wild, sun-soaked safari in Africa. SERVICE EVENT CO-DIRECTOR Elisa Cain Senior Sales Manager, National Restaurant Association/ServSafe
For Elisa, beach joy looks like swimming with stingrays and dancing to I Gotta Feeling under the sun. She’s still chasing that zipline in Costa Rica—and dreaming of Greece, where blue waters, ancient beauty, and adventure wait just beyond the horizon.
FACILITIES CO-DIRECTOR James Lee Sr. Instructional Designer, IHOP
Since his work is intense and detail-oriented—crafting videos, fine-tuning training tools—James keeps it simple when he unwinds: a beach bonfire, gooey s’mores, and zero screens. Quiet, steady, and sharp, he’s the kind of teammate who makes everything run smoother, even if it’s behind the scenes.
Sample Verbatims from Louisville Evaluations
“I came to CHART with a goal to gain knowledge and advance my work skill set, but I left with so much more – the connections, the memories, the motivation to challenge myself to create a learning environment that advances all participants!” — Melissa Johns, Corporate Training & Project Manager, H.I. Development
“Being a First Time Attendee, I felt welcomed and pulled in from the beginning. I enjoyed the constant networking and interaction during the events.” — Colby Baird, Director, Café Excellence, Cotton Patch Café
“I most valued the networking and how open everyone was in sharing their successes and strategies.” — Kane Hauber, Field Trainer, Pizza Ranch
“The sessions were packed with value. I left feeling motivated and ready to lead with more authenticity and confidence.” — Shanlee Kasson, EVP of Ops Integrations, Teriyaki Madness
“My favorite part of the conference was completing a competency and getting great ideas from my new connections. I’m even going to use a book recommendation from one of my tablemates to create a new manager training on email etiquette and brevity.” — Nicole Marien, Director of Training & Development, Kiawah Island Golf Resort
“The conference overall was so incredibly well run. So much thought was put into everything!” — Ana-Maria DeCorso, Director of Training & Development, Millburn Deli
Suggested Improvements
“[Include] more activity, [there was] lots of sitting. Hands on examples and time for open discussions.”
“I’m not a fan of the older hotels. The rooms aren’t as nice and they tend to have less amenities than the modern locations.”
“I suggest cutting the 2-hour [5th track] sessions down to 90 minutes.”
“The agenda was not always easy to find.”
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