“Remix” continued from page 17 ►► Tuesday, NICA West hosted 136 attendees at “Making Fairs Affordable Again,” presented by Panelists Don Hillman, Rey O’Day speaks Hillman Consulting, during the “Making Fairs Kathy Kramer, CEO, OC Affordable Again” Panel Fair, Miguel Santana, President and CEO, LA County Fair, Jan Gary, Leap of Faith Concessions, and Jennifer Giordano, CCE, C&C Concessions. These Industry professionals covered the responsibility of event producers, building promotions around yield management, the value of building community relationships, the importance of length of stay to per-capita spending, and the cumulative effect of rent and fee hikes. We appreciate their leadership. On Wednesday, Michelle Card, Executive Director, led “Strengthening Relationships with Sister Organizations.” During her presentation she shared the many successes that OABA, IAFE, NICA, WFA, IFEA, and other State Associations have had by working together on shared concerns and projects. We appreciate her leadership and attendance at the WFA Convention. On Wednesday, Kim Barr hosted the NICA Membership Meeting where Michelle Card awarded her with her Certified Concessionaire Executive (CCE) title. It represents a standard of professionalism that she and her company definitely represent. Dan Lusenhop, 2018 President, presented his “State of the Organization” message Kim Barr receiving her CCE Award from Dan Lusenhop, and Kathy Ross, 2019 2018 President, and Michelle President, presented Card, Executive Director her “State of the Future” message. Both were inspiring. Ryan Long introduced his longtime friend Jimmy Howell, Safety and Security Specialist, who spoke to us about “Personal, Business and Fair Safety.” The meeting closed with a 13 minute celebration of Food Network videos, in which so many of our members have been featured. Food at Fairs is creative, tasty, and newsworthy. It is also the number one reason most Fairgoers attend Fairs! 18
April 2019 NICA News
“Making Fairs Affordable Again” Panel: Don Hillman, Hillman Consulting, Kathy Kramer, OC Fair, Miguel Santana, LA County Fair, Jan Gary, Leap of Faith Concessions, and Jennifer Giordano, CCE, C&C Concessions
There are two events that will be the topic of future articles in the NICA News. One was a meeting with many of the Sysco Operating House leaders and sales teams that make the NICA Sysco Marketplace successful. The other was a collaborative session with the WFA Industry Standards Committee and the NICA West Council, which featured Panelists who are practicing our Industry Standards/Best Practices successfully and passionately. They share stories that touch many lives in positive ways. We are proud that Nate and Stephanie Janousek, Fun Biz Concessions, won the Barham Award for their creative design of two State-of the-Industry food locations: The Hangar at the Minnesota State Fair Sarah Cummings, WFA, and Backyard at the State presenting the Barham Fair of Texas. Hopefully Award to Nate and we will tempt them to Stephanie Janousek, write an article about the Fun Biz Concessions, pictured with their process and results. We daughters Sofia and are also very honored that Audrey Executive Director Michelle Card, a trio of NICA Presidents (Dominic Palmieri, CCE, Dan Lusenhop, and Kathy Ross, CCE), and Treasurer Jennifer Giordano, CCE all attended. We welcome Jan Gary, Leap of Faith Concessions, and Ryann Newman, Fruit Caboose, to the West Council in an exercise of “baptism by fire.” NICA is especially grateful for the ongoing committed work of the West Council: Jeff Ames, Ames Concessions, Kim Barr, CCE, Pacific Crest Concessions, Ryan Long, L&L Concessions, Erica Quintero, JLQ Concessions, Steve Vartanian, Vartanian Concessions Management, Jay Wells, Wells Concessions, Daryl Whicheloe, CCE, Southern Oregon Food and Beverage, and April Wood, Rawlings Concessions. “Together We Can Do Meaningful Work!” ▲