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IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 1 (940) 463-5145
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
IMCEA
Tradeshow
2
MC Base Hawaii
Food &
Hospitality Wins
Big in Excellence
Awards
5
Autocross –
Single Marine
Program Foxtrot
Runway
7
IMCEA Award
and Scholarship
Winners
8
IMCEA Hawaii
Chapter Holds
Quarterly
Meeting
10
FYI 12
Connections Uniting Military MWR/Service Professionals Worldwide for 40 Years!
V O L U M E 9 5
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7
send your resume and/or
your job title and
qualifications to
As we continue to grow and
rebuild, we need your input
more than ever! The only way
we can thrive is to have
active participation from our
members. We want to serve
you and bring you programs,
discounts, initiatives and
value. If you have ideas or
events that you would like us
to work on, please send them
our way and we will do our
best to bring you relevant
programs and events.
Best Regards, Melissa Wells, Director of Marketing and Communications
W hat an amazing month
it has been. Our
European Trade Show in
Ramstein, Germany was a
success! We had decision
makers from across Europe
who interacted with our
vendors and made
connections that
would not have been
possible without a
trade show and the
ability to shake
hands and speak in
person. We also had
some fantastic
training and
programming from our
vendors and even though we
know that many of you were
unable to attend, we want to
make that information
available to you. We will be
loading those to our website
within the next couple of
weeks. Please follow our
Facebook page for links to
view that content. We are
planning another trade show
in conjunction with the Air
Force training seminar this
spring. Stay tuned for an
announcement with more
details coming soon!
We are also announcing our
annual award winners on
page 8. Please join me in
congratulating these amazing
representatives for their
continued hard work and
service!
IMCEA is also working
together with Catersource to
secure a discount for our
members again this year. We
will be announcing our
partnership and registration
information very soon. If you
are interested in attending
Catersource, please contact
Melissa Wells,
We are looking for service
representatives and members
willing to join our executive
team as we continue to grow.
If you are passionate about
your MWR/Services career
and have leadership skills
and goals to succeed, please
Grow with IMCEA!
Check out the latest
tips and trends from
Ventura Foods in our
FYI section, page 12!
This informative news-
letter keeps you up to
date on the
latest information to
keep you at the top of
your game!
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 2 (940) 463-5145
P A G E 2
C O N N E C T I O N S
IMCEA Corporate
Partners:
IMCEA Corporate
Sponsors: Gold
to recruit a New
IMCEA Member!
Join the network!
Training, Networking Focus of Overseas U.S. Military Food
and Beverage Trade Show
By Karl Weisel, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Family and MWR Marketing
M WR and other military and civilian
service providers gathered on
Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 23-24
for two days of training, networking and
learning about the latest products and
trends in the food and beverage industry.
The International Military Community
Executives’ Association Trade Show
brought Army and Air Force professionals
and a host of civilian vendors together to
enhance services and programs for service
members and their families overseas.
“We’re here to support the MWR
community throughout Europe as far as
new ideas, new concepts and new
technologies,” said Steven Goldstein, GKi
Vice President.
“I like to take part in events where we can
specifically talk to representatives from the
various military components to help
improve their investments in new products
and services. It’s important to give them
the best value to maintain their
operations,” Goldstein said.
“I think it’s important not just to work with
our customers in the United States, but
also with those OCONUS (outside the
continental United States),” said Leslie
Paffe, senior hospitality and food service
manager for the National Restaurant
Association. “Any opportunity we have to
get in front of our customers is great. … I
think these events are great because they
bring together a wide range of food and
beverage representatives supporting our
military communities.”
During the two-day event, leaders and
business operations managers from MWR,
Air Force Services, dining facilities, Child
and Youth Services and the club systems
were able to attend a range of training
opportunities – every-
thing from Best Hiring
Practices to High Speed
Cooking Methods –
while also connecting
with both stateside and
international
manufacturers and
vendors.
“A lot of training events
and trade shows happen
stateside, but there
aren’t a lot over here in
Europe,” said Melissa
Wells, IMCEA’s director
of marketing and
communications. “This gives people a
chance to get to know the products from
vendors who serve the military all over the
world – to put faces to names.”
“For us, it’s all about bringing value to our
members – whether it’s an associate
member or our MWR members,” said
Wells, stressing IMCEA’s mission to
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 3 (940) 463-5145
advance the professional development of U.S. military
MWR/Services managers around the world while providing
collaborative opportunities with the associate member
manufacturers and vendors.
“It’s been over 15 years that IMCEA has hosted this type
of collaboration with MWR,” said Casey Malloy, IMCEA
president and Wiesbaden Family and MWR Non
Appropriated Funds Support Services chief.
Explaining that the non-profit organization was founded
some 45 years ago by club managers to enhance
professional development and support, Malloy said, the
IMCEA Trade Show in Germany was a way of bringing
contacts of industry together with MWR/Services
professionals overseas.
“We actually had all of our decision makers from all over
the Army and Air Force here for this first event in Germany
in quite some time,” said Jillian Singleton, registered food
and beverage specialist for the Installation Management
Command-Europe. “It’s important for those folks who are
making the food and beverage decisions to actually try the
products to get the best value.”
“I think it was pretty successful,” Singleton said, adding
that there is always room for improvement at successive
trade shows of the like.
Dr. Christian Lutzky, chief executive officer of FSOS-
Europe, underscored the value of connecting industry and
MWR/Services representatives. “We made a lot of great
contacts. … The real deciders were here – 90 percent of
those who attended; it’s about the contacts and building
the network.”
“We had a lot time for them,” said Lutzky, explaining that it
was time well spent presenting new products and
discussing ongoing branded facilities such as MWR’s Java
Cafes.
“There are not that many events like this, so this is a great
opportunity,” said Jens Herbert, president of Food
Equipment Marketing GmbH. “The attendance was small,
but the quality was high. … We would love for them to do
this again.”
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to do this,” said
Texana Sonnefeld, president and owner of BABCO
International, Inc. “We’re known for one-stop shopping,
and this is the customer that we choose to serve. We’ve
been serving the military for 48 years. We’re thrilled to
have the opportunity to do this (come overseas to meet
face-to-face with MWR and Services professionals).
Describing
the rapid
changes in
all aspects
of the food,
beverage,
hospitality
and enter-
tainment
industries,
Mark
Velligan,
President
of the Celebrity Systems Corporation, said he appreciated
having the opportunity to introduce activity managers to
new products.
“I’ve been working with the military for over 30 years and
it’s rewarding to have members of the Armed Services
using our products,” Velligan said, explaining that his
company’s sound, light and video systems are used by all
branches of the Armed Forces – on base, on ships and
downrange. (Editor’s note: In addition to supporting MWR
professionals around the globe with training and support,
the International Military Community Executives’
Association also provides scholarships and awards
recognition for outstanding achievement in the field. For
more information on IMCEA visit https://imcea.org.)
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 4 (940) 463-5145
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 5 (940) 463-5145
M arine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) recently won top
prestigious awards including 2016 Food and
Beverage (F&B) “Facility of the Year” awarded to
Starbucks located at Mokapu Mall, and over a dozen 2016
Food and Hospitality Excellence Awards.
Established by Marine Corps Community Services
(MCCS) Headquarters,
the Excellence Awards
are presented to MCCS
activities that
demonstrate the highest
levels of business
excellence, customer
care and staff training.
Award criteria are based
on four categories that
include Customer
Service, Financial
Performance, Human
Resources and
Operations. Based on a
100-point scale, MCBH performed with an overall score of
90 points or higher for each nominated facility to achieve
the 2016 Excellence Award.
A total of 46 awards were announced, of which MCBH
took home 13 awards, more than any other Marine Corps
installation around the world. The 13 Excellence Awards
announced for MCBH include Strikers Grill & Tap, The
Officers’ Club at Kaneohe Bay, Inns of the Corps Hawaii,
Aloha Kitchen, Rocker Room at Kaneohe Bay Staff
Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO) Club, Flying
Leatherneck Inn Snack Bar, PACOM Food Court, Lava
Java Coffee Cart, Daily Grind, Starbucks, Kahuna’s
Sports Bar & Grill (Enlisted Club), Samuel Adams Sports
Grill and Sunset Lanai Consolidated Club. The Flying
Leatherneck Inn also received an “Honorable Mention” in
the F&B Facility of Year category as well as Inns of the
Corps with an Honorable Mention in the Lodging Activity
of the Year.
“Manager Janine Nagle and her team at Starbucks are
truly deserving of the 2016 MCCS Activity of the Year,”
stated MCCS Director Jeff Chaney. “Starbucks at Mokapu
Mall consistently ranks as the best the Marine Corps has
to offer. We are very proud of the dedicated service and
quality demonstrated by all of our food and hospitality
Excellence Award recipients.”
The Excellence Awards are open to all eligible food and
hospitality facilities within
MCCS including snack
bars, directly operated food
outlets, clubs, restaurants,
mobile canteens, temporary
lodging facilities and
recreation lodging. The
awards recognize
employees’ dedication and
hard work to fulfill the
mission to support the
Marines, Sailors and
families, while exceeding
the highest levels of
standards in operational
excellence. An award presentation ceremony will be held
at Kaneohe Bay at a later date.
About MCCS: MCCS provides morale, welfare and
recreation programs and services that attribute to the
readiness and retention of Marines, Sailors and family
members stationed aboard MCBH. For more information,
please visit mccshawaii.com.
Marine Corps Base Hawaii Food & Hospitality Wins Big in Excellence Awards
by Helen Ko
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 6 (940) 463-5145
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 7 (940) 463-5145
Autocross – hosted by the Single Marine Program Foxtrot Runway
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point By Deborah Sherwood, Digital Marketing, MCCS
O n a typical Carolina July morning, the temperature was already 93° with a heat index of 103°. These
conditions, however, did not stop the 60 or so drivers and additional 30 volunteers and spectators from participating in Autocross. Managed by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), this nationwide organization consists of like-minded persons who are passionate about amateur racing. From small races to huge annual events, SCCA provides a fun way for individuals and Service Members to blow off stress and burn up the pavement. The Single Marine Program coordinates Autocross events on station with the SCCA and provides a handful of staff and volunteers to assist with the races. Anyone with access to the station can participate as either a driver or volunteer or just come to watch as drivers push their cars through a quick and challenging course. Speeding around the runway and maneuvering through tight turns, weaving around cones and charging towards the finish, it’s an exhilarating rush that requires quick reflexes, steady hands and mindful concentration.
Drivers compete against each other for time in their corresponding classifications. There are different levels and categories to match your car type and experience
level. Novice drivers can attend a novice school that is held the day before the race. Many drivers have cars specifically for racing while others race in the same car they drive to work in. Drivers and passengers must wear helmets and each car must have visible identification and classification numbers. Pros and long-term participants have invested in magnetic numbers to attach to their doors
while many novice drivers use good ol’ blue tape on their windows. The spirit of competition is balanced with camaraderie as participants help each other by sharing tools, cooling off tires and offering tips and advice. Enthusiasts travel year-round to participate in multiple Autocross events across the nation but the casual driver can stay close to home and still enjoy several races each year. The sport is open to all individuals, 18 years and older, who are licensed to drive. Some races even have a junior division with a special go-kart classification.
If you’ve ever wanted to squeal your tires, zoom around turns and speed as fast as your heart will let you without the risk of getting a ticket, Autocross is for you. For more information about Autocross and to find out when the next race is, visit the SMP or SCCA website.
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 8 (940) 463-5145
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 9 (940) 463-5145
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 10 (940) 463-5145
IMCEA Hawaii Chapter Hosts Quarterly Meeting
By Eldon Doi, CMCE
E ntrepreneur Mr. Peter Kim was the guest
speaker at the recent IMCEA Hawaii Chapter
quarterly meeting.
Born and raised in Korea, Kim started off his
business career as a bag boy in the commissary at
U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan in Korea. Kim moved
to Hawaii as a teenager with his family and
graduated
from Kaiser
High
School. He
left a
football
scholarship
at
University
of Hawaii
wanting to
play for the
best college
football
team at the
time, the University of Alabama.
Kim spoke about his experience and how he
struggled in the late 70’s to fit into a world where the
football team had just been integrated. He credits
his coach, Coach Bear Bryant, for inspiring him in
life. “When things get tough you just move forward,”
Kim said Bryant told him. “I’m proud to say that I
scored the last point of the last game of Coach
Bryant’s career.”
After being cut from twice from the NFL, Kim briefly
lived and worked in Alabama, before applying for
and receiving a federal position. He eventually went
home to work at Pearl Harbor and start a family
business called Yummy's Korean restaurant in 1986.
His first restaurant opened in Hawaii Kai’s Koko
Marina Shopping Center. They made more than
$3,000 on their opening day. As his business started
to take off, he eventually opened a restaurant in Ala
Moana Shopping Center’s food court. This is where
Kim met John Nishida, his neighbor at the food court.
Kim currently owns and operates the famous Liliha
Bakery/Restaurant. He purchased the business from
the original family that started the business in 1950.
They chose him because he was local and
understood the local mentality of Hawaii businesses.
They asked that he retain the 72 existing employees,
which he honored and was able to whittle down the
number of employees at the establishment by
offering a
30% raise
and a transfer
to one of the
Yummy’s
Restaurants
around the
island.
Kim also
owns and
operates
Signature
Prime Steak
and Seafood.
Kim got
bored one day while operating three successful
businesses and noticed that the former Nicholas
Nickolas Restaurant was still vacant atop Ala Moana
Hotel. He signed the lease for the property and
established a steakhouse with a 300-seat capacity.
He recruited a chef and manager out of New York,
who was let go after the first few years of business.
“I lost $1.5 million in the first years of business and
needed to get a loan which was finally granted from
Bank of Hawaii,” Kim said. Kim spoke to and offered
their Yummy’s BBQ chef to take over the business
which he was very reluctant. Kim hired a local chef
to teach them how to operate a high-end food facility.
Kim also owns and operates Umamiya Shabu Shabu
Restaurant. In the beginning, he knew nothing about
this Japanese-style cuisine. He took various trips to
Japan and China to learn the authentic way of
cooking and running the business.
Kim was asked to purchase a Mexican Restaurant
from the owners of Daiei at Pearl City Shopping
Center. Kim offered and purchased the business for
Left to Right – Nyla Brennan, MCBH Officer Club Manager; Chandra Namumnart, President EKNA Services Inc; Brian Ishii,
VP EKNA Services; Kendrick Kunichika, MCBH Business Operations Manager; Paulette Witham, MCBH Business Ops
Services Coordinator; William Rusty LaBeau, MCBH Aloha Kitchen Manager; Sgt Michael Farris, Section Chief 1/12; Mike
Bailey, MCBH Projects Manager; Sarah Farris, MCBH Business Admin Assistant; Thomas Cambra, Learning and Develop-
ment Coordinator Island Energy Services; Jason Hasegawa, MCBH Senior Marine Mart Manager; Jody Kodama, MCBH
Accounting Department Manager; Jim Hamachek, MCBH Enlisted Club Manager; Iris Tokita-Young, MCBH Exchange Man-
ager; Elden R.T. Doi, CMCE, IMCEA Hawaii Chapter President; Peter Kim, Owner Yummy Restaurant Group (Guest Speak-
er), Jeff Chaney – MCBH MCCS Executive Director; Tess Paquette, HQ MCCS District Operations Leader; Don Figueira,
CMCE, MCBH F&B Director; Beverly Hudgins, HQ MCCS District Operations Liaison; John Nishida, CMCE, MCBH MCCS
Business Operations Director; Kellie McNamara, MCBH Camp Smith Food Service Manager; Ms. Shirley Vinluan, Guest
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 11 (940) 463-5145
very low price of $15,000, but the restaurant failed.
Kim’s high-end local plate lunch concept, Bear’s
Drive-Inn, also failed. Kim went to Japan and Hong
Kong to learn how to make Italian Food and opened
Mama’s Spaghetti House.
Little by little, the menus changes at Kim’s
businesses to keep up with current food trends. Kim
has plans to expand his restaurant business to
Waikiki.
Question No. 1: Ms. Beverly Hudgins
How has social networking hurt you or helped you?
Answer: I hired a marketing team to try to stay out
of all this high technology error, but I had no choice
to learn very quickly the industry standards like
Facebook, Yelp, Instagram and other social aspects
of networking. We spend a lot of money in
advertising. With the “Signature” Steakhouse, we
spent about $20,000 in advertising and half of the
money goes to social media. People asked me why
not spend money on the news, like local T.V.
stations? Our marketing department keeps telling
me that social media is where it’s at!
Question No. 2: From Mr. Don Figueira, CMCE
Why did it take so long to open Liliha Bakery/
Restaurant?
Answer: The contractor was having issues. I let
him off the hook.
Question No. 3: From Elden R.T. Doi, CMCE
What kept you going despite your few business
failures?
Answer: I had few concepts that I had to close. Two
of which were outside the food court at Ala Moana
Shopping Center. I gave it about a year and a half.
I’m not going to be a quitter but if you’re going to
quit, you’re going to leave with the highest dignity
and you gave it your 100%. If it just didn’t work, walk
away with a smile on your face and no regrets.
Next Meeting: October 10, 6 p.m. at Hale Ikena at
Fort Shafter.
Adjournment: 7:17 p.m.
T he award was presented by RDML
Matthew T. Bell, Jr. Commander,
Coast Guard Personnel Service Center
to CAPT Robert Whitehouse. The
presentation was part of the change of
command ceremony for the Coast Guard
Community Service Command where
CAPT Whitehouse was relieved by CAPT
Bruce Brown.
Captain Robert Whitehouse Receives IMCEA Leadership Award
IMCEA, 14080 Nacogdoches Road #329, San Antonio, Texas 78247-1944 12 (940) 463-5145
Program Updates
American Logistics Association Weekly Executive
briefing: http://multibriefs.com/briefs/alaorg/
index.php
Is your Certified Military Community
Executive (CMCE) Certification up for
Renewal?
O ne amazing benefit of your membership with IMCEA is the
ability to become CMCE Certified. The only military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) certification program that is nationally registered by the National Certification Commission. As with any certification, you have to re-certify every three years. Recertification is easy! All you have to do is fill out the form on our website https://imcea.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/cmcerecognition1.pdf and send it in to us. The cost for re-certification is $50. You do not want to let this prestigious certification lapse! For questions about CMCE certification, or your CMCE status, please email [email protected].
IMCEA and the National Restaurant Association
have partnered to provide IMCEA members with
ServSafe®
Food Safety and ServSafe Alcohol®
online training and certification at a special discounted
price.
The ServSafe food safety and ServSafe Alcohol online
courses allow you to take training on your own
schedule and spend less time away from the operation,
at a lower overall training cost. Click here for more
info.
FYI
T he Joint Services Prime
Vendor Program offers up to
date information along with Food
and beverage tips, trends and
insights on their Food for Thought
blog. Check it out here for more
information!
Join the IMCEA
Virtual Tradeshow - now open!
Register here to start connecting with
current industry trends and training!
Job Opportunity
New Offers Available!
Visit the IMCEA Job
Opportunities page for more
information.