Page 4 - CFESA Magazine May / June 2018
P. 4
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
JOHN SCHWINDT
How could you not love Chicago! By and to our sponsors of the event, Heritage,
far it is my favorite town to visit. The Smart Care, and All Points. It was a great
restaurant scene there is second to none kick-off to the show.
in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, my
hometown of Denver is waist deep into The FCSI Conference held in The Mile High
a renewed and thriving restaurant scene City (on 4/20) was an exciting experience
that is pretty good with great food, to attend here. What a great group of
exciting atmospheres, great craft beers people and a wonderful time had by
and distilleries putting their personal flair all. I was very impressed with the warm
into their craft. But what is missing in my welcome and attention we received as
opinion, is the lifelong career staff that CFESA representatives. Their international
seems to be in every restaurant in Chicago. organization can be a future model for
In the 30 years that I have been attending CFESA as we are getting more interest
the NRA show, and dinning at the same from Europe and South America. They are
restaurants every year, I see the same wait struggling with the same worker shortage
staff and managers year after year. These that we are and attracting young talent into
people are what make me appreciate the their workforce. Locally we are working on
town as much as the great food. Careers a joint event with FCSI, MAFSI, and CFESA
that have facilitated generations of families, to get everyone together in the spirit of the
people that have pride in their work, and five families, doing a little philanthropy and
some even remember you even though it some fun at the same time. It would be cool
was a year since they saw you last. I can’t to see other areas get together with joint
remember what I had for breakfast this chapter meetings, regional meetings, etc. in
morning. the future.
The NRA Show this year was as big as the We are holding our Summer Board Meeting
town. I think they had record attendance this year in August at the sub-tropical
and everyone I talked with said their region of Ft. Mill, SC at CFESA World
booths were busy. The technology was Headquarters and Global Training Facility.
at the forefront of the show with lots of Construction is finally underway with our
automation and robotics to help restaurants dock expansion and storage building.
with higher labor costs and the shortage of Hopefully, this will be done by the time our
labor that everyone is dealing with. I did meeting is held.
miss seeing a lot of our membership there
like days of old but did enjoy all of you who As summer comes flying up on us, I wish
attended the show and our event on Friday you all a manageable workload, great time
night. It allowed me to spend more time with family and friends, health and a well-
networking. Thanks to all who participated deserved vacation.
4 CFESA Magazine | MAY / JUNE 2018 | www.cfesa.com
