Once again, a big shout-out to our culinary team for the new Chef Special creations.  Our Ahi Poke Bowl is absolutely hitting it out of the park – the #1 selling chef special by a good margin.  Brussels Sprouts and the Ahi Poke Appetizer are killing it too.  We added shrimp to the taco protein choices and it has quickly become the top seller.  For those of you who have not tried the Charred Prawn Pizza, it is amazing.  I was surprised and blown away by how tasty this pizza is.  Give it a try.  Sell it.  Your guests will love it.

By now most have either met Keone Jay, visited with him on the phone or participated in one of his conference calls.  Keone is our new Training Operations Leader.  He is responsible for helping train up our teams to shower our guests with Gracious Hospitality.  He led a very informative training conference call about Taco Tuesday last week.  Hearing great things from our leaders on how Keone is inspiring our teams and helping them celebrate and give gratitude for positive performance.  Game On Keone!

            We have been discussing our Kids’ Program the past couple of weeks at the Home Office.  The questions being, are we happy with the program and what, if anything, can we do to elevate the experience.  Feedback on our Kids’ Program is very high.  This is coming from guest sentiment and random solicitations.  The exercise is prudent though.  Some things that have come up for discussion are:  expanding sides, bigger/fresher menus, kids’ birthday offer, entertainment, fast prepackaged signature desserts, contest frequency and signature plateware.  If you would like to add anything to that discussion, please let Marty Hillis hear it. 

Hello and congratulations to Aaron Ramirez for his assumption of the helm in Salem.  Aaron has been with the Ram for 11 years Making ‘em Smile as a bartender and supervisor.  Welcome Aaron.  You are part of a great team and we are all here to help you and your team in Salem. 

            This June we say Happy Birthday to:  Tiffany Spaulding, Jack Barker, Laura Anguiano Davalos, Jen Borchers, Carlos Sanitago and Alicia Medina-Azpeitia.

            We extend a heartfelt “thank you” to the following team members who celebrate significant anniversaries with their Ramily this month:  Noelle Downey (8 years), Katelyn Jennelle (5 years), Katherine Bundy (5 years), Gina Kessner (33 years), Tia Erickson (13 years), Hannah Unger (7 years), Shawna Woods (8 years), Christopher Lam (7 years), Alicia Medina-Azpeitia (16 years), Ty Tran (6 years) and Kelly Van Matre (11 years).  What a team! 

“You have not lived a perfect day unless you’ve done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

` Ruth Smeltzer

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is:  What are you doing for others?”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.