JKMT

JKMT heritage April 2017 | Issue 2

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Openings

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Kudos

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Principles in Action

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Food & Family & Fun

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Have a Heart

JACKMONT’S PEOPLE PERSON WELCOME BACK

President & COO Jeff Ritson Breakfast Club Celebrates Community

Jeff Ritson, Jackmont’s president and chief operating officer, is The Breakfast Club
not your typical corporate executive. returns this spring
bigger and better than
“I don’t have an office at Jackmont’s headquarters because I’m ever. Launched in 2010
hands-on and in the field 90% of the time,” he explains. “Our out of our Camp Creek
operators are our lifeblood, so I love to communicate with them. location, the monthly
I learn from them what they think the issues or the opportunities Breakfast Club invites a
are for us and my job is to translate that into action to ensure different local group
their success.” to bring 15-25 of its members into a participating restaurant to
enjoy a complimentary breakfast.
Jeff loves hospitality because of the people. “I get to meet a
lot of different people from a lot of different places with a lot “We’re thrilled to bring back the Breakfast Club as a way to
of different experiences. Learning something new every day is celebrate and give back to the neighborhoods that support our
exciting.” restaurants. All we require is they be a legitimate pre-existing
group serving our communities and that they show up, eat, and
Continuous learning is essential for success, he believes. “Our have a good time!” says Dakita Plant, the DO responsible for
guests expect great food, a great dining experience, and great the new roll-out.
value for their dollar. Much of that depends on our people.
If we focus on training and developing our frontline people WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
and making them feel valuable, if we meet their training and
workplace support needs, we’ll keep doing well.” Alan Gittens, Store #2473 Stonecrest Mall
assistant general manager, and his wife
Jeff also is involved in a number of national hospitality trade Elisabeth became the proud parents of a
groups. “It’s important work,” he says. “As I learn new things, I beautiful baby boy, Bryce Maddox, on September 14.
can share that knowledge with my Jackmont colleagues.” Mother, father, and baby are doing well.

That said, “Family comes first, always,” he says of his wife,
Caroline, and their two children.

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JKMT heritage April 2017 | Issue 2

/ OPENINGS: CHICKEN + BEER

Jackmont Hospitality’s new eatery, Chicken + Beer, has
opened on Concourse D at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for this
joint venture with award-winning musician and actor Ludacris
also featured Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, airport general
manager Roosevelt Council, Jr., and Jackmont’s Daniel
Halpern, Valerie Jackson, and Brooke Jackson Edmond.

Executive Chef Andrew Tabb, in collaboration with Chef Todd
Richards and Mixologist Jerry Slater, created the menu of
updated Southern classics to pair with locally crafted brews.
Sous Chef Ken Harmon and GM Tiffani Williams rounded out
the opening team. Special thanks to Nancy Fournier, Andrew
Pierson, Bill Guenthner, Karen Hollins, and Rodney Lewis,
as well as NSO team member Joslyn Epps. See Ludacris
introduce the team at
https://www.instagram.com/p/BM5B-vHAwIA/

SPOTLIGHT ON THE CFO

Pete McKnight

Pete McKnight loves teamwork. Not just in sports, although Helping others and giving back are important to the McKnights.
he played NCAA basketball and he never says no to Pete’s wife, Gretchen, works with Meals on Wheels and is
corporate sports challenges. These days, Jackmont’s chief eager to get him involved, too, when the demands of work
financial officer is focused on coaching a different team: the settle down a bit.
accounting department.
Pete’s also looking forward to getting out to more of Jackmont’s
“I’m excited about working with my accounting team,” he restaurants to sample their pasta dishes. “I love anything
says. “We’re building on a shared commitment to problem- pasta,” he confesses.
solving and I’m devoted to creating an environment that’s fun
and rewarding.” Even more importantly, he’s looking forward to meeting
Jackmont’s team members who are dishing out legendary
That teamwork is essential for a division that in many ways is customer service on the front lines. “It’s critical for understanding
the backbone for Jackmont and its 48 stores. our stores’ needs to get out and experience what they
experience. I’m looking forward to doing that more this year.”
He and his wife have settled into Midtown Atlanta and enjoy
city life. They especially love Inman Park.

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JKMT heritage April 2017 | Issue 2

/ KUDOS

CELEBRATING YEARS OF SERVICE

Melvin Flanagan, TGI Fridays Store #2444 The following Jackmont Family members also were honored
Town Center general manager, received for their years of service:
honors and was celebrated for 35 years
of dedicated service during the Jackmont Edward Mitchell, 30 years, TGI Fridays Store #2473
Company Picnic this past summer. Johnny Owens, 20 years, TGI Fridays Store #2472
Darnell Pinnick, 20 years, TGI Fridays Store #1935
Melvin Flanagan Chege "Theo" Theophilus, 20 years, TGI Fridays Store #2444
Duane Calhoun, 30 years, TGI Fridays Store #2112
WELCOME TO THE MILLIONAIRE’S CLUB Craig Hacklander, 25 years Jackmont Corporate
Humberto Garcia, 23 years, TGI Fridays Store #2444
Rodney Lewis, general manager of the Airport Bill Guenthner, 20 years, TGI Fridays Store #1935
Charleys store #5102, earned the prestigious
Charleys Award for highest sales volume in a EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER
Charleys restaurant.
Doc Miller
Rodney also was inducted into the Millionaire’s
Club for achieving the highest sales volume in the Doc Miller is an outstanding example
world—quite an impressive feat! of Jackmont attitude and character. DO
Scott Pennington says, “Over the past Doc Miller
Congratulations, Rodney, for a job very well done! year, Doc has made me a huge fan. He
does anything asked of him to the very best of his ability.
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR He is one of the most dependable people we have. He’s
always smiling, always getting co-workers to smile, and is
Krista Cheshire, Concourse just a happy guy. He believes in the importance of his and
E Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta every person’s role in the business and always puts the
International Airport #2037, guest first.”
has been named General
Manager of the Year by Steve Syzmonski, general manager of TGI Fridays
TGI Fridays. Krista is a true University #1742, agrees. “Doc has been with me
leader and believer in the since 2001. He started at our Independence location in
brand and Jackmont. Krista Charlotte as a busser. He quickly became the best and
led in many key result areas most reliable busser we had. He was then promoted to bar
throughout 2016 and has created a culture where all of her team back/bussing on the weekends. He earned respect from
members feel valued and value each other. She has a genuine all the bartenders and staff by doing what was required,
commitment to training and development and a passion for the often without being asked. When that store closed, he
guest. Congratulations, Krista! transferred to the Charlotte-University location and has
been here ever since. In November 2015, he asked to
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employee in that role, too. He’s always on time, has a
positive attitude, will complete any task asked of him, and
is one of the most respected members of our team.”

JKMT heritage April 2017 | Issue 2

/ PRINCIPLES IN ACTION - LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

FOUR PRINCIPLES GUIDE EVERYTHING JACKMONT HOSPITALITY DOES – AND IS.

Here’s how they work for our leaders.

Passion for Excellence Entrepreneurial Spirit Community Support
Building a reputation for excellence takes
a tremendous amount of self-discipline. After 13 years with corporate Fridays, I remember the first time Daniel Halpern
When you dream more than others think I was leery of where my career was came to my restaurant. He asked me
is practical, and push your people beyond headed. It just never felt like my opinion what I did for the community. I told him,
what they think is possible, you’ll get the mattered. I then was lucky enough to join “We take care of them when they visit.”
desired results and at the same time Jackmont and even more fortunate to He asked me again. I said, “Oh, I get
develop new leaders. I hold myself to have the chance to lead. All of a sudden, it. I deliver Meals on Wheels and teach
high standards and do the same for my I had to teach my team everything I Sunday school.” He said, “No, what do
managers which then cascades down to knew and then determine our next steps you do as a business operator for the
our team members. Ronnie Boukhari, DO together. Jackmont gave me, a guy who community?” I was stuck for an answer.
drank Bud Light, ate at Subway, didn’t His response was, “Do you mean to
Continuous Learning and Development play golf, and didn’t like NASCAR, a tell me your restaurant, my restaurant,
Learning—self-driven education and real opportunity to lead! I keep growing takes about $3.5 million a year out of
professional growth—helped me grow as my job titles and responsibilities Greenville and you have made no effort
from a dishwasher into a DO. Every change. Jackmont has stretched what to put anything back?” I then understood
day I can be a role model to team I thought were the limits of my abilities Jackmont measures success in a lot
members and managers by stressing the beyond where I thought I could go. Craig of ways, and some of them are about
importance of continuing their education, Hacklander, VP of Strategic Operations character. Scott Pennington, DO
not only to prepare for opportunities with
Jackmont, but more importantly to seize Now it’s your turn!
opportunities in life. John Faison, DO
Tell us in your own way, 100 words or less, how you put one of these principles to
SISTER ACT work in the FOH or BOH, as a bartender, bar back, busser or hostess. We’ll print
your stories in the next JKMT Heritage newsletter. Send your story with your name,
job title, and place of work to [email protected] by May 30, 2017.

Janell Davis and Belinda Kelly A few years later, Janell heard about an The sisters are loyal to Jackmont and
open manager position and jumped at the
Janell Davis and Belinda Kelly are the opportunity, literally chasing down Daniel go the extra mile whenever needed.
Dynamic Duo. Biological sisters, both are Halpern in the airport! Finally catching
kitchen managers: Janell at Southlake him on the escalator, she asked him to They love to assist with the Atlanta
give her a shot. Daniel did and Janell has
(#2443) and Belinda at been in management since then. Region’s activities including bar champs,
Town Center (#2444).
They started as BOH Belinda moved up to NSO trainer and has bike night, banquets,
team members on opened several stores. Last year, Belinda
Concourse B: Janell joined management and within 4 months company picnics,
in 1997 when this was was promoted to kitchen manager of a
Janell Davis Jackmont’s only TGI Center of Excellence (COE) location. Breakfast Club, and
Fridays location, and Belinda in 2005.
any other community

projects. Their endless

energy and "Passion for

Excellence" has earned Belinda Kelly
them a new nickname:

The No Sleep Gang.

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JKMT heritage April 2017 | Issue 2

/ FOOD & FAMILY & FUN

THE JACKMONT COMPANY PICNIC

About 350 members of the Jackmont Hospitality family took over Clayton County International Park at Atlanta Beach on
Thursday, July 14 for a day of great food, music, games, and dancing.

Five teams participated in the much-anticipated Family Feud-style tournament. The team of Mechelle Holmes, Sharron
Ransom and Sharon Ware (above second from right) won!

Visit http://tinyurl.com/zyv2ypy for more photos and video. Photos by NelleVision Productions.

SMOOTH SAILING

GM Conference Promotes Teamwork

General managers and other leaders convened for three days of team building and learning October 23-26 in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Jackmont’s first-ever combined GM Conference blended learning with fun and gave leaders a
chance to strengthen bonds with each other.

In his presentation, “The State of the Business,” Jackmont CEO Daniel Halpern encouraged the team. “I’m glad this con-
ference gives us the opportunity to renew our commitment to each other and to strategize on outperforming our
competitors. We have old and new family members here but we are all one family serving many! As we navigate changing
business trends, we know our continued success lies in being better, trying harder and believing in ourselves even more.”

Perhaps the biggest test for these leaders came when they broke into teams. Their task: to build boats using only cardboard
and other craft materials. The boat’s seaworthiness then was tested in the ocean! GM Rodney Lewis, Charleys #5102, and
his team won this fun-filled challenge. See their work at http://tinyurl.com/h2fa4xv

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The Fridays Have a Heart Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity driven and funded by team members to help team members
when a tragedy like severe illness or natural disaster strikes. Since 2013, Have a Heart has provided almost 700 team
members nationwide, including Jackmont team members, with nearly $2 million in financial assistance. A team member who
has suffered an unforeseen, tragic event resulting in the need for immediate financial help is eligible.

To contribute to the Have a Heart Fund, team members can sign up for a payroll deduction through Employee Navigator.
See your general manager to support the fund.

WORD SEARCH: Customer Service NEW HEALTH BENEFITS VENDORS

As of January 1, 2017, Blue Cross Blue Shield of
GA (BCBS) replaced Cigna as Jackmont’s provider
of medical, dental, and vision insurance. Flexible
Spending Accounts (FSA) now are administered
by AdminAmerica. If you signed up for either the
Dependent Care FSA or Healthcare FSA, you now
have a debit card to manage your transactions for
eligible reimbursements. Please contact a Resource
Seven representative at (770) 716-3200 with any
questions.

HR’S GOT YOUR NUMBER!

It’s 866-523-5744. Call this toll-free number anytime,
anyplace for contact information regarding

• W2s
• Employment Verification
• Benefits
• Employee Relations
• TalentReef Customer Services
• Payroll

We want to hear from you!
Please send any article submissions and/or suggestions to [email protected].

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