Ahwahnee Chef Whatley takes top honor in ACF Western Region as Delaware North racks up culinary awards
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Ahwahnee Chef Whatley takes top honor in ACF
Western Region as Delaware North racks up culinary
awards
Percy Whatley, Delaware North’s executive chef at The
Ahwahnee hotel at Yosemite National Park, on
Wednesday was honored as the American Culinary
Federation (ACF) Western Region Chef of the Year after
winning a competition at the regional conference in
Reno, Nev.
Whatley, who also serves as corporate chef for the
western region of Delaware North Companies Parks &
Resorts, will now compete for the national title against
other regional winners at the ACF National Convention
July 14-17 in Orlando, Fla.
Percy Whatley, center, prepares one of the dishes that helped him
Whatley was required to prepare and present four take home the top honor in the ACF Western Region.
portions of one plate in only one hour. He and the other
three competing chefs in the K category of the competition were required to use Arctic Char as the protein. The veteran
Yosemite chef, a two-time semi-finalist for the prestigious Bocuse d’Or USA competition, rounded out his plate with a
pan-seared loin, Maplewood-smoked belly with red currant-rhubarb relish and Washington blueberry gel, and celery root
and mushroom gratin with watercress puree and Cipollini onion.
“This is a wonderful achievement that Chef Whatley and all of those who are supporting him can and should celebrate,”
said Delaware North Vice President of Food and Beverage Christian De Vos, who noted Whatley was assisted in the
competition by his sous chefs at the Ahwahnee.
The honor for Whatley was only the most recent among many already this year for Delaware North chefs.
Mark Angeles, executive chef for Delaware North Companies Sportservice at Chicago’s Soldier Field, has qualified to
compete in the ACF Central Region competition in Detroit next month.
Angeles, Whatley and several other chefs from Yosemite in late February took home medals from the ACF Las Vegas
Culinary Challenge at the 2012 Catersource conference. Whatley, Angeles and Paul Padua, the Ahwanhee’s pastry chef,
took home silver medals. Reggie Powell captured a bronze, and Nathan Black, Adam Glenn and John Adams all received
certificates of participation.
“The learning experience of competing at this level makes all who participate, whether a medal is won or not, better
culinary artists,” Whatley said.
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Abramson’s cable-
cable-television debut – dates announced
Last July, Delaware North Companies Sportservice President
Rick Abramson participated as one of three judges on Food
Network’s highly popular program “Iron Chef.”
The episode, which pairs two Iron Chefs and a mystery
ingredient, is set to air during the following dates and times
(Eastern Time):
May 27 at 10 p.m.
May 28 at 1 a.m.
June 2 at 9 p.m.
June 3 at 12 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Food Network producers tapped Abramson for the show because of his depth of culinary knowledge, leadership in
bringing new tastes to sports and entertainment venues, and his charismatic personality. Delaware North has also
partnered with Food Network to develop and brand concepts and menu items for the company's food and beverage
operations at sports venues and airports.
Reinert gives keynote address at supply management event
Delaware North Companies Vice President of Supply Management Services
Michael Reinert gave the keynote address March 14 at the Buffalo chapter
of the National Association of Purchasing Management’s annual executive
night dinner meeting and vendor fair.
Reinert outlined the historical legacy of Delaware North, later discussing
the current makeup of the company and its unique features of the various
lines of business. He also provided an overview of the company's shared
service delivery platform and its own supply-management service
delivery model, described as “center-led,” which incorporates advantages
of both centralized and decentralized supply-chain execution.
After dinner, Reinert explained the importance of Delaware North’s core
values -- GuestPath, GreenPath, Culinary Leadership and Guest Centricity
-- by describing the critical role supply management can play in
supporting them. He ended the presentation by answering questions
from the audience.
The National Association of Purchasing Management provides ongoing
educational opportunities to its members through monthly meetings,
periodic seminars, workshops, and plant tours. It assists supply
management professionals in attaining professional certification,
Michael Reinert.
including CPSM, CSM, and CPS. The Buffalo chapter includes more than
200 purchasing professionals from various industries throughout the
area.
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The final piece of the puzzle is in place
February proved to be a milestone month for Delaware North Companies’ Australian/New Zealand operations. Kings
Canyon Resort, the only company-operated property previously lacking the propriety customer-service program,
GuestPath, is now fully certified.
The effort was led by the site’s general manager, Daniel Boissevain, and Paul O’Brien, food and beverage manager and,
now, a GuestPath facilitator.
Banner-raising continues at the Garden
TD Garden in Boston is known for its championship banners.
In fact, the sports and entertainment destination owned and
operated by Delaware North Companies boasts more than any
other venue of its kind in the United States.
As of last week, however, it’s no longer just a sports tradition.
For every touring musical act that plays at the Garden during
the next year, a custom banner will be created, featuring the
artist/band name, the show date(s) and artwork from the
current album or tour.
TD Garden Senior Vice President and General Manager Hugh
Lombardi kicked things off last week, presenting Dan
Left to right: Dan Auerbach, Hugh Lombardi and Patrick
Carney. Auerbach and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys with a banner
before their March 7 show.
Auerbach is of no relation to Boston Celtics’ legend Red Auerbach, but the coincidence reportedly brought about a good
laugh.
Nashville airport awards the winner of the Essay Contest
Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services and the Metropolitan
Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) challenged seventh- and eighth-graders
from Donelson Middle School in Nashville, Tenn., to write an essay on the topic
of NASA's role in space-exploration after the expiration of the space-shuttle
program.
A total of 14 students participated, with Devyn Hollinsworth penning his way to
the grand prize. Thanks to Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Devyn
and his family will enjoy round-trip tickets and hotel accommodations for three Jana Korabecna, left, with essay-contest
nights in Orlando, Fla. While in Florida, they will have unlimited access to winner Devyn Hollinsworth, center.
exhibits and shows at the nearby Delaware North-operated Kennedy Space
Center Visitor Complex, including the Shuttle Launch Experience, 3-D IMAX films, a bus tour, the Astronaut Encounter and
the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
In addition, the Hollinsworth family will experience a half-day of astronaut training, which includes riding realistic
simulators, and building and launching rockets. Not only will they work side-by-side with a real-life NASA astronaut in the
process, the newly assembled co-workers will also break for lunch together – once the mission is accomplished, that is.
“We are proud that our company has resources that can be used for a great cause like this,” said Jana Korabecna, general
manager for Delaware North at Nashville International Airport. “We strive to be a good partner to MNAA, and our
involvement with their Pencil Partner Program is just one example of our commitment to the Nashville community.”
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Southland Park hosts tourism conference; Guy Fieri in the house?
Southland Park Gaming & Racing was the recent host
venue to the 38th annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference
on Tourism, which brought together more than 600
representatives from the state’s hotels, restaurants,
communities and attraction destinations.
The Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment-
owned and -operated Southland Park and the City of West
Memphis, Ark., sponsored the welcome party, which was
themed after the popular Food Network show, “Diners,
Drive-ins and Dives.” The gaming venue’s president and
general manager, Troy Keeping, dressed in character as
Guy Fieri – the show’s quirky host. Keeping was so
convincing that many in attendance were asking for
autographs and photographs for Facebook.
“We were so excited at the opportunity to host this event
Troy Keeping, center, took dressing as Guy Fieri to the next level to showcase our food, staff and new event center,” said
during the recent Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Keeping.
The conference’s theme, Arkansas Tourism: Building Bridges for Today’s Travelers, covered a wide variety of topics,
including branding and social media, the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, improving curb appeal for businesses, and
how Arkansas legislative matters could affect the industry.
Delaware North Companies Director of GuestPath Bradly Sax was one of the speakers at the three-day conference. His
presentation, “The Psychology of Service: What Customers Want from a Service Interaction,” put the spotlight on the
company’s proprietary customer service program.
Among the other speakers featured were Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and retired U.S. Army Lt. General Russel L. Honore.
Registration is open for this year’s JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge
Spring is nearly here, which means the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge is right around the corner. The race at
Delaware Park in Buffalo, N.Y., is scheduled for Thursday, June 7 at 6:45 p.m. Registration starts today.
Registration costs have increased by two dollars to $32. However, the cost for associate runners/walkers will remain the
same as last year at $15. Delaware North Companies will pay the rest of the registration fee.
New this year, every home office associate and all exempt-level associates at local units may bring one adult guest for an
additional fee of $15. Guests may not register to run/walk, but can join in the festivities of the food and beverage tent.
More details to come in an email next week.
To register as a runner/walker, click on “Registration” in the left hand column. Then, under “Online Registration,” click on
“Register yourself to participate.” Find Delaware North Companies in the list and click on “Register for this Company.”
JPMorgan Corporate Challenge Registration link: http://www.jpmorganchasecc.com/events.php?city_id=7.
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Stanley Cup makes surprise stop at Jumer’s
On March 3, the Stanley Cup and two of its keepers made a stop at Delaware North's
Jumer's Casino & Hotel. Delaware North associates had the opportunity to get their
photo taken with the iconic hockey trophy, which is currently in posession of the
Boston Bruins. Pictured right is Joe Hargis, the gaming venue’s director of security.
People on the Move
We communicate news about associates joining Delaware North, as well as those who change locations and/or
positions. We receive notifications from Human Resources. Photos come from the locations and are welcome.
Those who are general managers or at the director level or above have information sent to the media as well.
Moving in
Tim Todd and Michael Post have been hired as department managers for Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality
Services at Nashville International Airport. Marjorie Kountz has joined Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment
as a senior financial business analyst at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Tabitha Hunt has been hired as human
resources director for Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport. Summer Zervos has joined Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services as a department manager at Los
Angeles International Airport. Chris Church has been hired as an assistant manager for Delaware North Companies Travel
Hospitality Services at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Moving up
Junette Diaz has been promoted to an associate analyst in the Associate Service Center at global headquarters in Buffalo,
N.Y. Charlie Karoly is now assistant box-office manager at TD Garden in Boston. Jennifer Martin has been promoted to
box-office manager at TD Garden. Steve Ullmann
Ullmann is now director of facilities for Delaware North Companies Parks &
Resorts in Yosemite National Park. James Noble has been promoted to assistant manager for Delaware North Companies
Travel Hospitality Services at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. Clifton Lambert is now human-resources manager for
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts’ at the Grand Canyon.
You wrote the caption!
The Texas Rangers may be my team, but I use
You
Secret wrote Sauce
Stadium the caption!
for my hair gel. -- Simon
Dobson, managing director of Delaware North
Companies UK.
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360 degrees of photographs
The photos continue rolling in from the recent opening of the Blue Square Café in Jumer’s Casino & Hotel…
“Pacific Sunset,” by Chef Percy Whatley
Arctic Char, Pan-
Pan-Seared Loin, Maplewood Smoked
Belly,
Belly, and Celery Root and Mushroom Gratin
The next issue of 360° will be published March 23, 2012. If you have news to share with other Delaware North
associates, please contact Charles Roberts at CHRobert@dncinc.com. Be sure to check Blue Square
(http://bluesquare.dncinc.com/) – our new intranet – daily for the latest news and updates about the company.
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