TIME FOR FAMILY, BARBEQUE, AND SOME HOLIDAY CHEER!

EXECUTIVE MESSAGE

Hello, Team City BBQ!

Football season not only brings tailgates, fantasy leagues, and some huge catering opportunities, it also signals that the end of the year is right around the corner. Hard to believe we’re in the final stretch of 2023!

The end of the year always brings so much. We not only work to close the year strong—while executing in a very busy holiday season—but we’re also planning the launch of the coming year’s plan. As if that’s not enough, today we find ourselves in a challenging time, with many headwinds out of our control. The macroeconomic environment remains strained, there’s global unrest on multiple fronts, consumer confidence is in decline, and simply put, there’s a high level of uncertainty on what to expect in the next 12–18 months.

When I find myself in a situation with so much out of my control, things get simple for me: I just focus on those things within my control. How I treat and interact with my family, friends, teammates, and guests is within my control. How I focus on my work and commitments to others is within my control. How I spend time trying to be a better “me” is within my control. How I support those around me, how I work to be a better teammate, is within my control. Reaching out and asking others for assistance when I need it is within my control.

The good news is, despite so many challenges in the current environment, our business remains strong, and we will continue to expand. We will continue to serve competition-quality food with backyard hospitality, serving and creating happiness to all who experience our craft, providing career opportunities for so many.

My ask for you is that you focus on those things within your control. Your work, your family, your friends, and YOU. Whether you are in a joint or a support role, discuss with your team those things you can focus on now to have the greatest impact on Team City BBQ. Have the same discussion in your personal life. Whether it be with family or friends, what can you do to have the greatest impact on those who you care most about? While I want you to focus on what’s within your control, let’s not forget about those being impacted by things out of their control—so many can use our thoughts and prayers now more than ever.

We will soon be rolling out our 2024 Initiatives and our 5-year plan; more to come on that soon. In the meantime, in case I don’t see you before, I wish you and your families a safe and wonderful holiday season! If there is anything Team City BBQ can do for you or your families, please let me know.

Thank you all so much!

Mike

OPENING SHOTS

Four Pillars

TEAM

Culture Meeting Held Quarterly - Chester Road, Avon

Purpose: Renew and refresh our Purpose, Mission, Values and Guiding behaviors in a fun uplifting environment while awarding high performers for the Quarter.

We incorporate these in the beginning of the meeting in a classroom setting but involve the team members by asking them for each step of the above and throwing out a prize when a team member answers with the correct answer.

Set Up: I bought about $100 worth of supplies from GFS to make the team breakfast. I have a few team members that are passionate about cooking, so they had a large hand in preparing. The week before I asked my leadership team to email me three topics each that they wanted reviewed with the team. I compiled these into a meeting agenda and team PowerPoint. I had all team members scheduled, reviewed the date in every pre and post shift leading up to the event and sent out a mass message using teamworx. We aim for the meeting to be about 30 to 45 minutes.

Agenda:

1. Open with Breakfast (Meeting at 8am)

2. Hello and thank you for all you have accomplished in the last 3 months! (Exciting music playing during intro with portable Bluetooth speaker)

3. Go over financial numbers worth sharing to the team (If they know what to push for they will help us succeed) Sales YTD vs. Budget, Catering Sales YTD, Total Comp and Void Dollars, Sales Goals

4. Section dedicated to our Guest…Open with video by chick-fil-a (One of my favorites) titled every guest has a story…. Link>>>> https://youtu.be/2v0RhvZ3lvY The video is designed to teach compassion and love in the workplace. This leads into CSI and areas of opportunity with Chester Roads Scores and Google metric scores

5. Refresh of Chester Road guidelines

6. Team building with tools on trade out with Main Event. (Massive janga this time mixed with city trivia)

7. Father’s Day Game plan and July 4th Game plan

8. Awards, Trainer Swag, 2 FOH Employee of the Quarter and 2 BOH Employees of the Quarter. (All done with trade outs, Plaques donated from a business partnership).

9. Thank you and Group Picture

Benefits: The team leaves engaged, excited and motivated. They fall deeper in love with our culture. They are educated and re-educated on any LTO’s and target specs.

We win hearts when we help our team succeed. We do that with knowledge and encouragement.

~ Zechariah Quinn, General Manager - Chester Road, Avon

Guest

Hopefully your team enjoyed taking September to engage with your guests about City Rewards. This month, we’re focusing on free delivery with a twist: Guests will use a coupon code to zero out delivery fees, but not every guest will have the code. (Of course, our members will be the first to know about the code!) We’ll be running ads, as we always do, promoting free delivery and encouraging folks to join City Rewards, as well as focusing on free delivery with our existing members. It’s another example of our two-pronged approach to building profitability: get folks to join City Rewards and keep them active once they’re members. 

How do we keep them active? Here in Marketing, we design campaigns to keep City Barbeque top-of-mind for our members. We work to win them back if they haven’t been to see us in a while. We show them we care with exciting offers throughout the year (like free delivery!).

But the very best way for anyone to keep a member active is for our teammates in the joint to ask at the register if they’re earning points on their order. And if they aren’t a member? Hand them an app card and encourage them to become one! Remember: every guest, every time!

What are you asking? “Are you earning points today?” 
Who are you asking? Every guest, every time!

~ Annica Conrad, Chief Brand Officer

Process

Welcome to Q4!

The holidays are almost here, and we have been working hard to be able to sell hams and turkeys online through our website and app.  It has been a total team collaboration between all departments to get this monster project completed!  We can’t wait to see the sales lift this project will produce to help close out 2023.

Other projects we have been working on include updating our companies labor model, Fi Serve gift card switch, and menu reorganization with The Culinary Edge.  All these projects are nearing completion, and we will share more about them as we plan to roll them out. Let’s close 2023 strong!

~ Dave Skerl, Director of Strategic Implementation

Financial

We are currently in the exciting midst of budget season, a busy time with all hands on deck. With our team leading the charge, we're embracing this cross-functional effort, setting the stage for a successful year ahead! Moreover, as we approach year-end, we're preparing for our annual audit to ensure our hard work and dedication truly shine through. 

~ Lena Hendryx, Finance Manager | Accounting

CATERING CHATTER

Second Half 2023

Hey Team City BBQ! 

What an amazing time of the year! Leaves are changing colors, jackets are being dug out of closets, and we’re keeping the smokers hot as we wind down fall wedding season and prepare for the holidays. The RCD team would like to thank you all for your hard work and dedication to serving and creating happiness, both for folks within your four walls and for thousands of catering guests every day!

For the year to date, we have served over 1.2 million guests in catering. That is a lot of BBQ—and we’ve still got a couple months left to go! Our goal is to get catering to 30% of sales companywide, and we’ve got a lot of exciting things in the works on the catering side to help us on our “Journey to 30.” We’re excited to welcome five new Regional Salespeople to our team, one new Operations manager, and the ability to sell holiday hams and chicken wings. Needless to say, we are pumped up for this holiday season!

We’re happy to welcome these folks to our team to help us own the BBQ lane. When you see these new faces in your joints, feel free to introduce yourselves and say hello!

Carson Irvin, Catering Sales Manager, Indy Catering

Heather Marszalek, Catering Sales Manager, Chicago Catering

Makenzie Mizer, Catering Sales Manager, NE Ohio Catering

Kerrin Kurzman, Catering Sales Manager, West Michigan Catering 

Kindall Traylor, Catering Sales Manager, Atlanta Catering

Nicole Young, Catering Operations Manager, Lexington/Louisville Catering

~ Scott Erwin, Director of Off-Premise Business

RDo reflections

A message of Gratitude…

I would like to thank all of you that have supported and worked closely with me in my 9-year journey with City BBQ.  I am grateful for the opportunities and support provided by our teams in our purpose of creating and serving happiness to our teammates, as well as our fantastic guests.  I am proud to be a part of this fine organization, with the strong culture that is displayed daily in serving our purpose and mission.

As I take on this new role, with the world-class City BBQ organization, I will continue to contribute and build strong relationships with each of you, utilizing our guiding behaviors.  I look forward to spending time with each of you and your teams.

~ Tim Zombek, Regional Director of Operations

TEAMMATE SPOTLIGHT

Adrian Gonzalez | new albany

Randy Arehart | Regional Sales Manager

RAVING FANS

arlington

Travis was very nice and was very patient with my young brother who was having a hard time reading the menu.

beachwood   

Doretha was absolutely amazing, she always greets with a big smile and makes the experience worth the 30 minute drive to the east side of Cleveland! 

carmel

Christian went above and beyond providing us with exceptional customer service! You’re lucky to have him apart of your staff! Give that man a raise!!!

High point

Great food, Great service, Great Experience!! Alexandria was very patient with me, it was my first time and she recommended the brisket but i got the pork and fries instead and it was fantastic!!! Definitely will be back again.

Deerfield     

Destiny, who took our order was super sweet, patient and went above and beyond to make our experience at CB great! The food came out hot and fast. The rest of the staff kept busy cleaning and organizing. Overall great service!

huntersville

Great quality food, wonderful service & extremely friendly staff. Restaurant cleanliness very good & thank you so much for providing us the opportunity to dine in and have such a pleasant experience.

centerville

I want to send a special “thank you” to Sally Fitzgibbon and her team at City BBQ, Centerville for their participation at the 25th Annual Urbancrest Golf Classic at Heatherwoode Golf Club in Springboro. We hosted the event for 120 golfers, volunteers and guests. They were a first-time participant, and greatly appreciated by everyone in attendance.

As always, the food and customer service (delivery, set-up, and serving) was fantastic. Their involvement has taken the event to a greater level of quality. I have been doing business with City BBQ, Centerville for the past 15 years.

They have also provided meals for these other annual events: - Men’s Summit Conference Dinner (400-600 attendees) - Lebanon High School Teacher Appreciation Lunch (100 attendees) - Lebanon City School Bus Driver Appreciation Lunch (100 attendees) - 5-6 smaller events throughout the year.

I want to recognize Trevor Draude and Sally Fitzgibbon for their outstanding service and commitment for these many years. THANK YOU!!!

vernon hills  

Our experience at City BBQ is always great! Friendly staff, willing to assist if you don't know what to order, they are happy to offer samples for you to try. Stacey is a gem and we just love her great attitude. The managers are always around in case you want to talk to them or ask questions also. We had our normal turkey and pork and loved them. Can't ever go wrong going here, the food is fabulous!

findlay

Had great time Exon and Maddie were a tremendous help. Exon was very pleasant to work with, and helped me understand the app and its features.

snellville

Wow. The whole experience. The staff was amazingly friendly. The food was out of this world. Snellville has a new best BBQ spot! We loves it and will for sure be back soon.

CATERING RAVES

• We loved that the food was made to perfection, and the girls were absolutely wonderful and helpful. They offered to help bring food back to seats for people who needed it and never let the buffet run out. They also left amazing honeymoon boxes for us. We were absolutely blown away with the wonderful service we received. – NE Ohio

• We have used City Barbecue for our catering for the last three weddings, and we have used Britney each time to help coordinate it. She is absolutely wonderful and very thorough in giving us estimates for everything! She always makes sure that everything is covered and double-checks everything we will need! I don’t have to worry about a thing when she handles our particular order! Awesome from start to finish!! – Charlotte

• Working with Veneisha Gordon. She was professional, friendly, helpful, and an absolute treasure when planning my Wedding. Not only was our food delicious, but the service provided by her team was tremendous. They provided a beautiful display; every member was helpful, and we've received so many compliments on how great dinner was at our Wedding! – Chicago

• We had the best experience with City BBQ at our wedding. Our guests raved about the food and the setup. We had THE SWEETEST catering team there with us on our wedding day. I’m sad I didn’t get their names, but they were so kind, and helpful and made our event the best day ever!! I would absolutely recommend City BBQ to cater your wedding or next event! – Kentucky

• We loved everything from start to finish. The food, service, professionalism, and communication were all fantastic. We had so many compliments from guests who loved the setup with the cast iron. Also, I got tons of compliments on how good everything tasted. – Columbus

• Catered for my sons first birthday - roughly 50 adults plus lots of kids. It was phenomenal! The food was excellent and service in regards to planning/ordering through the catering department (Telena) was wonderful and flawless! Will be doing this again for big events! – Atlanta

• The simplicity of the ordering. Our delivery person was fully prepared. In my 20 years at Miami University, that has never happened before. – Cincinnati

• From the moment we started looking at caterers, City BBQ (through Tori Fleming) was so patient and helpful to us. It made our decision to use City BBQ quite easy. Throughout the planning process, Tori was there if we had any questions and promptly responded. On the day of the event itself, I was very impressed with City BBQ’s execution. They made sure me and my husband ate, brought us appetizers, and took great care of all our guests. We were very happy! – Columbus

• Great delivery person, awesome food, warm and ready to eat, tons of food, even brought us ice for our drinks! So awesome!!! Thank you. – Dayton

• The food was sooooooo good! I am dreaming of more smashed potatoes! The waitstaff did a great job keeping the food stocked and fresh. As the mom of the bride I didn't have to worry about anything! – Toledo

• I loved everything about the food and service! The corn pudding is to DIE FOR! We also had leftovers that we took home that we ate in for a few days. I would 10/10 recommend having CityBBQ cater your event! -Greensboro

• Ashlee was great to work with as she helped us plan our wedding. She was communicative, kind, and gave great advice. The caterers on location were wonderful. We appreciate their kindness, politeness, and excellent service throughout our wedding. – Indy

• Working with City BBQ was amazing from beginning to end. The trial was so detailed and gave ish such a clear picture of what we would get if we were to work with them and what exactly we were paying for. They took a HUGE weight off of our shoulders by taking care of set up, tear down, and a million other little things on the catering side. And they packed us a little to go box so we could enjoy more after all the dancing. Thank you, City BBQ!!! – Louisville Catering

• Loved all the options for foods to include. The staff was also amazing for our full-service catering. Staff was also very responsive and responded quickly to any questions I had. They were really great to work with in planning the details before the event. Also, really loved that they left us with the leftovers at the end. A lot of caterers don't seem to do that, but that alone would make me order from City BBQ again. Overall, fantastic experience. - Madison

QUEMMUNITY

HEROES DAY, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OPERATION BACKPACK, AND MORE!

HEROES DAY, KEENELAND

City Barbeque frequently partners with Keeneland, the world’s largest and most prominent Thoroughbred auction house, on events such as their College Days, Taste of the Bluegrass, and Tailgating on the Hill. Our most prominent annual event at Keeneland, though, is Heroes Day. Every October, Keeneland invites heroes and their families to receive free general admission, reserved grandstand seating, access to family activities, and a complimentary meal (courtesy of City Barbeque!). The day also features special programming on the track, including a flag roll-out and honoree recognitions in the Winner's Circle, where we’re pleased to present BBQ for a Year to six very deserving honorees. Prior to the big day, we join Keeneland in delivering meals throughout Lexington to spread the word.

This sponsorship is near and dear to our hearts, as it aligns with our values as a company. Michel Keough, Market Leader in Lexington and Louisville, and Kelsey Schottmiller, Field Marketing Manager, were on hand at this year’s event to present honorees with BBQ for a Year, and the Kentucky Catering Team knocked it out of the park with service to more than 1,000 attendees. We are honored to be a part of this day every year, to celebrate those who serve our country and make sure folks know to join us on Veterans Day each November.

BE A POSITIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY!

Have you participated in any community or charity event/drive, or volunteered for any cause, either as a team or individually, at work, home, church? Please send your information and any photos you can provide to hr@citybbq.com, with Quemmunity in the subject line. We’d love to publish them in a future newsletter under this feature! We want to “share the wealth in a sustainable fashion!”

INSIGHTS

13 Easy Steps To Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

With the sheer volume of information that we’re bombarded with on a daily basis  – the ability to look at evidence, evaluate the trustworthiness of a source, and think critically is becoming more important than ever. This is why critical thinking is one of the most vital skills to cultivate for future success.

13 Easy Steps To Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking isn’t about being constantly negative or critical of everything. It’s about objectivity and having an open, inquisitive mind. To think critically is to analyze issues based on hard evidence (as opposed to personal opinions, biases, etc.) in order to build a thorough understanding of what’s really going on. And from this place of thorough understanding, you can make better decisions and solve problems more effectively.

To put it another way, critical thinking means arriving at your own carefully considered conclusions instead of taking information at face value. Here are 13 ways you can cultivate this precious skill:

1. Always vet new information with a cautious eye. Whether it’s an article someone has shared with you or information that’s related to your job, always vet the information you're presented with. Good questions to ask here include, "Is this information complete and up to date?” “What evidence is being presented to support the argument?” and “Whose voice is missing here?”

2. Look at where the information has come from. Is the source trustworthy? What is their motivation for presenting this information? For example, are they trying to sway an opinion you or get you to take a certain action (like fire someone)?

3. Consider more than one point of view. Everyone has their own opinions and motivations – even highly intelligent people making reasonable-sounding arguments have personal opinions and biases that shape their thinking. So, when someone presents you with information, consider whether there are other sides to the story.

4. Practice active listening. Listen carefully to what others are telling you, and try to build a clear picture of their perspective. Empathy is a really useful skill here since putting yourself in another person's shoes can help you understand where they're coming from and what they might want. Try to listen without judgment – remember, critical thinking is about keeping an open mind.

5. Gather additional information where needed. Whenever you identify gaps in the information or data, do your own research to fill those gaps. The next few steps will help you do this objectively…

6. Ask lots of open-ended questions. Curiosity is a key trait of critical thinkers, so channel your inner child and ask lots of "who," "what," and "why" questions.

7. Find your own reputable sources of information, such as data from reporting, trusted resources in people, and factual visual evidence. Try to avoid anonymous sources or sources with an ax to grind. Also, be sure to check when the information was published or shared.  An older source may be unintentionally offering up wrong information just because events have moved on since it was published; corroborate the info with a more recent source.

8. Try not to get your news from social media. And if you do see something on social media that grabs your interest, check the accuracy of the story (via reputable sources of information, as above) before you act.

9. It's not always easy to spot false or misleading content, but a good rule of thumb is to look at the language, emotion, and the tone of the information you receive. Is it using emotionally charged language, for instance, and trying to get you to feel a certain way? Also, look at the sources of facts, figures, images, and quotes. A legit news story will clearly state its sources.

10. Learn to spot biased information. Biased information may seek to appeal more to your emotions than logic and/or present a limited view of the topic. So ask yourself, “Is there more to this topic than what’s being presented here?” Do your own reading around the topic to establish the full picture.

11. Question your own biases, too. Everyone has biases, and there’s no point pretending otherwise. The trick is to think objectively about your likes and dislikes, preferences, and beliefs, and consider how these might affect your thinking.

12. Form your own opinions. Remember, critical thinking is about thinking independently. So once you’ve assessed all the information, form your own conclusions about it.

13. Continue to work on your critical thinking skills. Seek opportunities that challenge you to utilize critical thinking.

~ Aletha Dawson, Director of Training and Recruiting