PDF - Spectrum Concessions

Issue 20
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal:
it is the courage to continue that
counts.”
- Winston Churchill
Congratulations to James Robayo on winning the Brad Paisely H2O tickets
Stay connected to our Facebook page for more upcoming and exciting contest. The Spectrum Website http://spectrumconcessions.com/ The Spectrum Store http://spectrumstore.epromo.com/ Spectrum on Facebook Check us out! www.facebook.com September 2010
FROM THE DESK OF DAVE
Last month we got to share and think about luck and the influence of environment around us to mold and shape who we are and how we react to opportunities and challenges. I would like to keep on that same theme and share some personal experiences that have shaped my professional career. Lucky or just in the right place at the right time? You decide. The first experience is an odd tale. When Ruben and I started working together around 1980, one of the restaurants in the small chain we worked for was having difficulty. So, I was asked to work there and hopefully help improve the situation. Soon after that one manager left for another job and then the other manager saw the handwriting on the wall and left, leaving me as the only manager for the entire restaurant. I worked open to close 7 days a week for over two months. Being young I had the stamina, but it sure was a lifestyle change! The funny thing about this is that I did all the ordering, receiving, scheduling, paperwork; everything every day. I knew where everything was and how much was there almost without looking. I learned so much so fast. My costs were quickly the very best in the business. I not only got raises, I got promotions. My two months solo was like an extra year of experience in the same amount of time that my fellow managers just worked two months. The result was that I knew more, used my extended experience to be more effective and hence get noticed more frequently by upper management. I got to move up and make more money, and I added levels of skill upon my advanced “education.” It was like being a year older and bigger than all my competitors; I had the advantage. Continued on page 2 Two Great Venues,
One Great Location!!!
Call to book your party
or corporate event.
FROM THE DESK OF DAVE, continued from page 1
In a similar fashion, also in the early 80’s I was introduced to corporate golf catering. Now, at this time corporate catering at golf tournaments was in its infancy. I learned from the best. My first client was Sheila McClanahan with Nabisco. She was the most demanding and had the highest of standards in the golf world. I did not know this, I just figured that was how it was in golf and I worked very hard to please her and did. When other potential clients saw what we were doing, they said I’ve got to have that guy. I gained more experience, produced hospitality at a higher standard and again found myself well ahead of the curve. I had banked more experience than others and all other competitors had to play catch up. Good Luck! Case study #3 Cirque du Soleil. In 1999 a nice young lady with a profound French accent called looking to see if they could use our liquor license for a show they were bringing to Houston. At that time I had not heard of Cirque du Soleil. I told her that such an arrangement was not legal in Texas and soon the conversation turned that they were also looking for a caterer. Hello!? Discussions became serious and I knew to be successful I had to understand who the client was and what were their expectations were. I was off to Las Vegas to see the shows then visited tour shows in Denver, San Francisco and Dallas. The shows were so AMAZING, but the catering was pedestrian. It was obvious that the catering needed and deserved to be on the same high level as the show. We quickly went to work, created the flame table, got rid of everything traditional. Forks, chafing dishes all gone. We sent limos to pick up the decision makers to show them our vision of what the catering experience should be. Jaws dropped. We were hired on the spot and soon discussions turned to asking us if we could duplicate this in other cities. Well you know the rest is history...and the present and the future. We continue to reinvent ourselves starting from this high platform. We have generated such a head start that the only way our competitors can catch us is if we take our foot off the gas, and that is not going to happen. As you think about our business and our clients, keep your eye out for what opportunities are out there; what may present itself as a way to distance ourselves from the status quo. There are so many opportunities out there; they just need to be recognized. DAVE
SUCCESS AT HEART
Well, it is certainly a busy time for our company; people going in different directions for different purposes but all with the common goal of Spectrum’s success at heart. Our company continues to grow and with new growth our responsibilities grow. Many of you know that Spectrum was awarded two new Cirque du Soleil Arena Tours; Dralion beginning in October and Quidam beginning in December. This will be very good new business for us and while it is a very exciting time, it will take a lot of hard work to get these tours underway with staff and equipment. Alegria, our current touring show led by Shannon Fitchett and his team, paved the way that has given Spectrum these new opportunities. Brian Strom, currently working on the Alegria tour, has accepted the position and responsibility of getting Dralion up and running; he has hired new staff, purchased equipment, designed new menus and is handling all of the details that go into the success of these new tours. Special thanks to Ruben and Dave for the guidance and help along the way. Each new tour will be approximately 22‐
months! Congratulations to all that have worked diligently on this project! As I sit here now putting my thoughts to paper, it is 60‐degrees in beautiful Oregon at the Jeld‐Wen Tradition. Sweet relief from the Texas temperatures! It is not so much sweet relief that this tournament is in its final year here in Oregon. For those of us that get to enjoy this event, the weather, the stellar views and awesome camaraderie, it goes without saying that this event will be missed. There is rumor that the Tradition will move on under a new title sponsor, so stay tuned as Spectrum will compete for that business in 2011. Thanks to all for a great week and a wonderful job! Continued on page 3 Hammer Down, A Way of Life! Spectrum has been awarded
two new Cirque arena tours
starting this October!
Quidam and Dralion
here we come!
SUCCESS AT HEART, continued from page 2
From here Dave and I will travel to Reno for two things. One stop, Burning Man to visit Shelley and the team. What an experience the Burning Man team is having!! Wow! I cannot wait to hear the stories that will come out of this event…do tell! Second stop, the Reno‐Tahoe Open where we will meet with the tournament director and their staff in hopes of competing for their 2011 business. The Reno‐Tahoe Open is the week after the John Deere Classic in July 2011; check them out at www.renotahoeopen.com to learn about this exciting TOUR event. I am working hard on growing our TOUR business but it is taking some time. Much like with our company, tournaments develop long relationships with vendors and it can be difficult to break that mold. It is understandable when you stop to think about the many wonderful relationships that Spectrum has with our many customers; they continue to rely on Spectrum year after year for the same reason other tournaments continue to use their current vendors – they are getting what they need, they have shared experience and history. I am hopeful that we can break a mold or two and have new opportunities to share the Spectrum difference with new customers. I’m working on it so stay tuned! I appreciate you all individually and as a whole more than you know and certainly more than I often say. So, today I thank you for your hard work and dedication to our company’s success today and in the future – I am blessed to know you and work with you all. Cheers! ~ Mel OUR FALL SEASON IS UPON US
The festival division is gearing up for a busy fall season. First up will be the 2nd annual Oktoberfest Festival, benefiting The Rotary Club of The Woodlands and their mission to provide scholarships to deserving, local students. The event will be held at Town Green Park in The Woodlands, September 24‐26, 2010. Spectrum will once again play a major role in producing this entire event, from providing all Operations Management support and rental equipment, to handling all beverage concessions on site. So, spread the word to all your family and friends to put on their finest lederhosen and head down to Town Green Park for a pint of some of the finest German Oktoberfest brews around! After this event, we will be busy preparing for the annual Dragon Boat Races held in Sugar Land in October, as well as preparing for the annual H‐E‐B Holiday Parade, Houston’s Official Thanksgiving Day Parade, broadcast live on KHOU‐Channel 11 on Thanksgiving morning. Also this month, we were honored to be recognized by Best Buy, one of the major corporate sponsors of the Houston Children’s Festival benefiting Child Advocates, Inc. Best Buy has a foundation that supports children’s charities, and eight individual stores raised $1,000 each to support the festival and thus the abused and neglected children served by Child Advocates, Inc. In this picture are the Best Buy employees who helped raise the money for Child Advocates, along with Tony Terwilliger, Festival Director, Beth Harp, Sponsorship Director, and Leigh‐Anne McQuitty, Food/Beverage/Volunteer Director. Hammer Down, A Way of Life! “Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own.” ‐John Muir WANDERLUST AT SEA...Taken from Jason Reed’s blog
After much time, energy, and thought we have decided to purchase this beautiful Tayana 37. She has been very well cared for and loved by her most recent owners, the Smileys, hence the name. We will be taking ownership of her and sailing her back to Maryland the first week of August. It will be our first offshore voyage taking us 5 days straight from Charleston, SC to her new home at the Baltimore Marine Center in Baltimore Harbor, Canton. She is a strong seaworthy S/V that will take us on many adventures anywhere our hearts desire. Soon she will be rechristened with the name Perseverance. To read more go to www.wanderlustatsea.com CHEF JAY’S FEATURED RECIPE…Hawaiian Tuna Poke (POH-Kay)
‐Ingredients‐ 1 lb. sushi grade fresh Ahi tuna – ¼” dice 1 small Hass avocado – ¼” dice 1 small ripe mango – ¼” dice ¼ cup red onion – finely dice (brunoise) ½ cup poke sauce – see below 1 jar pickled ginger 1oz. wasabi tobikko (flying fish roe available in Asian markets) ‐ optional ‐Method‐ Place the tuna, avocado, mango, red onion and sauce in a chilled bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Firmly press 4 ounce portions into 3”molds, remove the mold and top with pickled ginger and a teaspoon of wasabi tobikko (note* you can substitute salmon roe or a whitefish roe which are widely available at supermarkets). Serve with an ice cold Sapporo Reserve or Tsing Tao Beer!! Poke Sauce: 2 cups good soy sauce, ¼ cup sesame oil, 1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger, 1 tbsp sugar. Mix well and keep refrigerated, shake before use. FOOD FACT: The Hawaiian name for Yellowfin tuna is Ahi (meaning fire). When these tuna feed at night the bright yellow dorsal fin and the yellow strip they have down its side, resembles flashes of fire. The Yellowfin can be found in the tropical warm waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Hammer Down, A Way of Life! RECOMMENDED READING “Rules of the Red Rubber Ball” by Kevin Carroll Derek Mills, Spectrums CFO, says , “I recommend it because it reminds and challenges you to chase your passions and work really hard to achieve them. “ With simple but delightful storytelling, Kevin channels his childhood passion for sport and play into a universally appealing blueprint for life. Drawing wisdom from the playgrounds of his youth, where he spent hour upon hour sharpening his body and his mind, Kevin shares with readers his Rules of the Red Rubber Ball — how to achieve maximum human potential through the power of passion and creativity. Finding your own “red rubber ball” and chasing it to your heart’s content, he argues, is the surest route to peace, prosperity, and happiness. Over the years as an athletic trainer, creative catalyst for business and public speaker, Kevin has transformed his philosophy into seven simple rules that any successful leader will endorse: 1) Commit to it, 2) Seek out encouragers, 3) Work out your creative muscle, 4) Prepare to shine, 5) Speak up, 6) Expect the unexpected, 7) Maximize the day With award‐winning design and color photos throughout, Rules of the Red Rubber Ball will inspire the “child” in everyone for generations to come. “...adult’s version of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! — a pocket‐size guide to finding your way in life.” — Newsweek LIFES TOO SHORT...Ruben Garcia I have been reflecting on what is important as it relates to friends, co‐workers and family. I wanted to share these with you all. Here are a few things we all can do and learn from; yes they might be simple and yes we have all heard them before…..but are we following these items? 1) Visit your family members and friends, as they would love to see you. 2) Tell all loved ones that you love them 3) Be patient when driving and when shopping do not lower you standards and make a scene when folks anger you...get over it. 4) Do something nice for someone with no strings attached WOW them. 5) Smile 6) Look at your own personal health, what can you do to improve it? 7) Teach someone something new, why keep it to yourself? 8) Forget texting or emailing, how about a regular phone call or a visit in person? 9) Do not be afraid to ask questions, that’s how we all learn. 10) Be thankful for what you have. RECYCLE POR CASA!...Leigh-Anne McQuitty It was time for me to order cartridges for my printer. As we all know cartridges can be very expensive. I decided to shop around online and not pay full price at the local “depot” store. I went online and found a company that refurbished cartridges, www.inkjetsuperstore.com. I saved ½ price on my purchase which was over $200.00. After I ordered and received my cartridges I received an email about recycling old cartridges for a great cause. The organization is www.recycle4kids.org so I signed our company up to support them. We were al‐
lowed to pick a charity for the money to go towards so I picked CASA who is also supported by Child Advocates, Inc. Recycle4kids.org is a foundation that promotes recycling as a way of life. As the name of the foundation implies, we must recycle to conserve scarce and finite resources of mother earth for those who will come after us: our kids. Every time we recycle cartridges, bottles, plastic, paper and others – we help reduce the cost of manufacturing and more importantly, we extend the use of earth’s non‐renewable resources and consequently life on earth. Everyone can participate in the recycling of inkjet and toner cartridges all types are accepted! I have ordered a recycling container for the front office. Participation is absolutely FREE. Continue to do your part Recycle your cartridges today! Hammer Down, A Way of Life! HR CORNER
FEEDBACK FROM HBO
In May of 2008 Spectrum offered its employees the opportunity to participate in its very own 401(K) plan. Twenty‐four employees elected to contribute to the plan, most contributing 5% of their earnings. Spectrum, in turn, matched those contributions up to 4% of the individual employee’s earnings. Most of those twenty‐four employees continue to invest in the plan and today the plan is valued at approximately $560,000. The number of employees who currently participate in the plan is 30. The 401(K) plan affords those who participate both tax and savings opportunities. Employees are able to tailor their investments to best suit their own individual needs or situations. Any full‐time Spectrum employee who has reached the age of 21 and who has at least one year of service with the Company is eligible to participate in the plan. The next plan “entry date” for those employees wishing to begin participation is January 1, 2011. For more information on the 401(K) plan please contact Dianne Holmes at dholmes@spectrumfcs.com or 281‐681‐9415 Ext. 223. The Mahalia Jackson Theatre recently hosted the premiere of the new Spike Lee Documentary for HBO, “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise.” “David, Debra, Joshua, Scott, E.P., and Annette; Wanted to thank you all for the great work on Tuesday and all days leading up to it. You were incredibly accommodating with us from multiple surveys, technical testing and preparing as well as last minute changes, shifts and requests. You’ve worked with us on every aspect of our event and needs and we greatly appreciate it! The evening / event went very smoothly, had many moving parts and the entire Ace/Mahalia Jackson Theatre staff (ushers, security, bartenders, servers, production) responded to our needs quickly, respected our wishes and took care of their jobs in order that we might take care of ours. It was a great night and we’ve had much positive feedback from HBO, talent and guests. Wonderful!” Well done, Curry & Mike Hopper KUDDOS FROM CIRQUE
Bonjour Ricky, It was great seeing you last Friday! I just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know that I had received a lot of VERY positive feedback from Sun Life regarding the quality of the food for their event. It was very well presented and very original. It is the first time I heard so many great feedback on the food for a lounge event, so I thought I would let you know Many thanks for all your help and looking forward to seeing you sometime soon! Emmanuelle Cirque du Soleil Hammer Down, A Way of Life! “Lucky or just in the right place at the right time? You decide.” ‐Dave Smalley EMPLOYEE MILESTONES
EMPLOYEE BIRTHDAYS
GOLF CATERING & CONCESSIONS
Tony Terwilliger 9‐01‐08 Leigh‐Anne McQuitty 9‐01‐08 Lynn Alexander 9‐01‐08 Maria Elena Barrera 9‐4‐04 Adam Lassetter 9‐08‐04 Flora Cruz 9‐26‐05 Tina Ochoa 9‐28‐09 Shelley Walter 9‐1‐87 Shannon Fitchett 9‐11‐76 Lynn Alexander 9‐12‐45 Roland Silvas 9‐13‐71 Katie Doyle 9‐14‐83 Tony Terwilliger 9‐16‐68 Derek Mills 9‐17‐81 Maria Elena Barrera 9‐16‐64 Kim Dorgan 9‐28‐83 Dave Smalley Melanie Parker 281.363.0900 ext. 204 281.363.0900 ext. 209 dsmalley@spectrumfcs.com mparker@spectrumfcs.com
STADIUM DIVISION
Jay Jung Jim Smalley 281.363.0900 ext. 205 281.363.0900 ext. 240 jjung@spectrumfcs.com jsmalley@spectrumfcs.com CATERING
OPERATIONS
Melanie Parker Ruben Garcia 281.363.0900 ext. 209 281‐363‐0900 ext. 203 mparker@spectrumfcs.com rgarcia@spectrumfcs.com OUR MISSION:
FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Our goal is to exceed the client’s expectations by providing the highest quality, value‐based hospitality, delivered on time in an interesting presentation by friendly, knowledgeable hospitality professionals with pampered customer care as their primary focus. We are passionate about our work, loyal to our co‐workers and dedicated to you. Tony Terwilliger 281.363.0900 ext. 241 tterwilliger@spectrumfcs.com OUR PURPOSE:
Our purpose is to change the lives of our associates and clients for the better. The Spectrum Connection is a publication of Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Special Events. P.O. Box 7130 The Woodlands, TX 77387 Office: 281‐363‐0900 Toll Free: 877‐567‐0900 Fax: 281‐362‐7111 www.spectrumconcessions.com spectrum@spectrumfcs.com THEATRE DIVISION
Southern Division Northern Division Jay Jung Jason Reed 281.363.0900 ext. 205 617.692.0011 jjung@spectrumfcs.com jreed@spectrumfcs.com ARTIST & TOUR CATERING
Shelley Gatchell 281.363.0900 ext. 226 sgatchell@spectrumfcs.com ACCOUNTING
Chief Financial Officer Accounts Receivable Derek Mills Peggy Kozan 281.681.9415 ext. 225 281.681.9415 ext. 222 dmills@spectrumfcs.com pkozan@spectrumfcs.com Accounts Payable Payroll/Human Resources Kim Smidlein Dianne Holmes 281.681.9415 ext. 221 281.681.9415 ext. 223 ksmidlein@spectrumfcs.com dholmes@spectrumfcs.com Hammer Down, A Way of Life!