Mark This! is a podcast in which we peel back the corporate curtain to reveal the cool and innovative people, programs, and projects that are happening all over Aramark’s varied lines of business. These remarkable initiatives happen because we have remarkable people behind them--building opportunity, building innovation, and building community.
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Mark This! Podcast: Episode 30: March is for Guinness
Host: Heather Dotchel (she/her), Corporate Communications
It is time to mark this, a podcast in which we peel back the corporate curtain to reveal the cool and innovative people, programs and projects that are happening all over Aramark's varied lines of business. I'm Heather Dotchel. As a member of Aramark's communications team, I see and hear amazing things that are happening across our company every day. These remarkable initiatives happen because we have remarkable people behind them, building opportunity, building innovation, and building community. Aramark collegiate hospitality prides itself on its listening skills, and deploys a gamut of tools to make sure they are plugged into the pulse of each and every campus they serve. Whether it is surveys, student dining groups on campus, conversation, contact forms, or a myriad of other options. Our teams on the ground truly want value and study each piece of feedback. This priority on listening is evident in its prestigious Council of Student Advisors. Today we are joined by Matt Perry, a director on the Collegiate Hospitality Student Experience team who supports the advisory council relations, and two of our current council members, Christopher Messmore and Sara Salazar.
Christopher Messmore (01:28):
Yes. Hello everybody. My name is Christopher Messmore and I'm a second-year student at the University of Virginia. I'm pursuing a double major in statistics and econ. I have a big interest in a career in sports, and this is my second year on the council.
Sara, please let us know more about yourself.
Hi everyone. My name is Sara Salazar and I'm a sophomore at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Roll Tide. And I am pursuing a degree in public relations and also my minor's in leadership communication. And I'm interested in a career anywhere under the communications umbrella. And this is my first year on the council.
I'm so glad you two could join us. Matt, let's turn to you. What is your role in collegiate hospitality and with the council?
Well, first of all, I'd like to start by saying how much I appreciate you for inviting me along with Chris and Sara to join the conversation today. I've supported the Council of Student Advisors since it was formed back in the spring of 2022. In my role, I lead the council along with two of my colleagues, Kasey Schluterman and Diana Gabbard. And our team works closely with other leaders in collegiate hospitality to select the council, identify topics to be covered throughout the year, and we organize the annual summit at Aramark headquarters in Philadelphia. I'd also like to say that working with this group of students is one of the highlights of my job because they're so outgoing and fun to work with and we learn so much from them. These council members are leaders on their campus and deeply interested in making a difference on behalf of their fellow students, which is such a rewarding experience to see their excitement and their drive to make an impact.
Fantastic. Love when we can get these collaborative groups going and learn more about what our hospitality can do and what is needed from us also. Matt, let's continue with you. I'd like to get into the details of exactly what is the Council of Student Advisors? Why was it formed? What's involved in being part of the council?
Sure. So we formed the council in spring of 2022 with two goals in mind. One, campus insights, meeting with this group on a regular basis is one of the many ways we gain student perspective and collect feedback to better serve and deliver those memorable experiences on our campuses. Particularly when we're looking to make program changes or develop new menus that student feedback is so important. And then secondly, supporting student success. Our goal with CSA is to give these students the opportunity not only to share their feedback, but also provide professional development experiences to network with each other and connect with leaders at Aramark for potential career opportunities. As far as what's involved with the council, we have virtual calls between August and May typically focusing on a particular topic for each call. Students are also invited to attend a three-day in-person summit in Philadelphia where they take part in a community service event. Of course, there's lots of food involved with a kitchen tour and menu tasting.
And the students are divided into two groups and given the opportunity to present to the Collegiate Hospitality Leadership team in the boardroom at headquarters, which is a really cool experience. This presentation is so important for students to be able to share their ideas directly with our senior leaders. And I know our team looks forward to these presentations each year.
Sara, can you share your experience as part of the council? What's your favorite part?
Absolutely. Oh my gosh, honestly just from the beginning, my favorite part so far of being on the council is when we had our in-person trip to the headquarters in Philadelphia. Just because like we had been meeting online for quite a while, so it was really exciting just to be there. It really brings everything to life and hear everyone's ideas. Also, presenting in the boardroom was so fun. I had no expectation for it to be as fun as it was, but it was so nice just getting to be heard and also getting to share ideas and be with everyone. We got so close in such a short amount of time. And though it's only my first year, I feel like I've been able to contribute a lot and also learn a lot from other people. I think it can really be easy to feel like even a number at a big school, and so it's really nice to feel like your voice is being able to be heard in a matter that you also care about.
And it has been such a positive experience so far, getting to be a part of a group and getting to meet people from so many different schools across the nation. But we all have a Aramark that brings us together. And we're able to contribute our ideas and hopefully make a difference in our dining facilities on our campuses.
So follow-up question. You mentioned the presentations, which Matt talked about also, what did you do during that conference at headquarters?
Yes, it was so fun at our conference at headquarters. So apart from the presentations, with the presentations we were able to have two different topics and split up. So it was like four of us or five of us on each, I don't know, sorry, but to present our questions which was really fun. And we were also able to be in front of everyone, so it was really nice to feel like your complaint or comment or whatever it was, was going right to the people itself instead of just like, I don't know if people hear it in a survey or whatever. It was really just nice to be on the front end, especially in public relations. We talk a lot about the importance of focus groups and surveys, and really kind of being able to be on the other side of it and see there really are people listening to your concerns, actually wanting to make a difference.
And especially after we presented, it was nice to hear like, "Oh, here's what we're going to do to take action to the comment you made." And not it just be like, who knows what's going to happen? Which was really cool. And also we were able to participate in a service activity with students from Drexel and the institute there, which was super fun being able to make interview packets for them. And also it was just neat being able to like explore the city, even though it was a really short amount of time we had. We got to the Flyers game, which was so fun. Definitely an experience I'll never forget.
All right. Well, thank you. Chris, I'm going to ask you the same questions. What has your experience been like and what has been your highlight? This is your second year.
Christopher Messmore (07:56):
Right. Sara took my answer there right at the end. As a big sports guy, I love the Flyers game. We got to go into the Wells Fargo Center and we got a nice suite and a big tour of the entire stadium. We got see the behind the scenes work, everything that kind of goes into the game that you don't really think about, which really interests me in a career path. And so it was really cool to see my two worlds collide of sports and Aramark and how those combined together. And then up in the suite, not only did I get to watch hockey with this community of people that I've grown with over the past two years I should say. But you turn your head this way and the president of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality is sitting there talking with another council member or like your regional director is right behind you. And as Matt said, you really get to network and make connections in that suite and press room. And it's a really cool experience to hear from the tech side of things, the HR side of things, marketing, from chefs.
You really get to see all that goes into serving a plate of food at your school, which we don't always think about. And so that's a really cool experience. I also think getting to go in the big boardroom and present your idea is really cool. You also get to be really creative. Something that I saw over the past two years is a creative outlet for people, whether it's doing a magic trick or doing a board game. Or making these high ups at Aramark come play a game at the front of the room or write their favorite part of food on sticky notes and putting that on a window. There's a lot of really cool outlets that come out of that, and it's a really cool experience, really great trip.
And my final thing I would say that I really like is at the end of the year, we always do a meeting where we look back on all the advice that we've given or something that we said in one meeting and how that correlated to a change in the company at the end of the year. And it's really cool to see like, oh, I feel so insignificant. I just mentioned a little thing here, a little thing there, what is it really doing? But seeing that all come together and change at the end of the year is a really cool experience.
I love that those dots get connected, so you see what you're saying has true impact on what Aramark does. Matt, how can interested college students become part of this group?
Well, this is great timing because applications for the council will be available in mid-April through May. And students who are subscribed to Dining Rewards on our campuses will receive an email when the application opens. As part of the application, students are asked to share a little bit about themselves, their major, any groups or organizations they're involved in on their campus. And they'll also submit a short video talking about their experience with the dining program on their campus, and share their ideas for the future of campus hospitality.
Great. I hope you are inundated with applications. Chris, I'm going to start with you this time so Sara can't steal your answer. What advice would you give future members of this group?
Christopher Messmore (11:10):
Yeah, I guess the first thing I would say is don't be afraid to speak your mind and say what you're really thinking, good or bad. Everyone at Aramark really wants to improve the dining experience and build a community, and so actually identifying problems, identifying ways to make things better, it goes a long way and they need that. So don't feel like you're hurting anybody's feelings, like everyone's being professional here and so really dig into a problem if you need to. Also next, I would say Matt, Teresa and Kasey just are the best. Ask and you shall receive is what I say, they're always on top of it. They make the whole process silky smooth and stress-free. So really use that connection. They're there for you, really buy into that. And finally practically, I'd say pack an umbrella. Every time we go to Philly, there's some sort of rainstorm, some sort of snowstorm, a blizzard. So just be ready and really take it all in, make all the connections you can while in Philly.
Personally, I met my director of my region and I've already met with him thrice, and there's a ski trip in the makings potentially. So it's worth making the connections and those do go a long way. So definitely utilize that.
[inaudible 00:12:33] as a word fan, I absolutely approve of that usage. Sara, what advice do you have for students who want to take advantage of this opportunity?
Oh my gosh, I completely agree with, especially the first thing that Chris mentioned, was you can speak your mind. Which is really awesome to know that's a safe space for you because thankfully, Aramark is just one of those places that really is looking here from the other side and you'll not feel ignored. And you'll feel so seen with your concerns, questions or comments. And they really make a welcoming space for that, which is really awesome to know that what you say matters and you really do feel that way walking away. And also just really make the most of it. Also, you never really know if you'll have an experience like that. It's definitely been one of the highlights of my time in college. I'll never forget something like that, and it's so awesome that they provide opportunities like that. I think that a lot of times, places may feel like it's too much work to bring kids out or really just get to hear what they have to say.
But it's really awesome to know that they care enough to make the effort to do that and give us, even if it's a short time, such a great experience. And it's really great for professional development as well. That's something you're looking for, really getting to see what it may be like in the real world and give you something to look forward to as well. Definitely apart from that, even our meetings every month are things that I look forward to as well. Really brought it to life after meeting everyone in person and just really, again, like I said, make the most of it because it is so short but you are one of few, few, few students across the country to be able to even be chosen for this, which is really cool. And if you're on the fence about applying, definitely do it. You really never know what can happen and just give it your best.
All right. Well, the enthusiasm is appreciated. And I know Matt and his team do a fantastic job organizing all of this, so sure, pretty gratifying to hear. I certainly love hearing it. Matt, do you have any closing remarks?
Sure. First of all, I'd start by saying thanks to Sara and Chris, not only for joining this conversation but for your commitment to the council. They're two of our most engaged members of the group, and it's really been fun getting to know them over the past year, well, two years for Chris as a returning member. And then this group, it's just so important that we have that direct connection with the students we serve so that we can better understand their needs, ensure we have that student feedback on innovative new programs under development before rolling them out. And identifying ways that we can foster connections in dining spaces that build community, make students feel at home, and create that hospitality experience on our campuses. And if I could give a little teaser for fall of 2025, we are looking to make a few changes to enhance the program and make it even more engaging for our students. So we're really looking forward to this academic year ahead.
Fantastic. Want to know more about the Council of Student Advisors? Visit our newsroom on aramark.com to access more information. Matt, Chris, Sara, thank you for being here. And as always, a big thanks to our listeners for helping us to mark this.
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