Spectrum Connection
September Edition | Issue 78
From the desk of Dave Smalley
New Business
New business is always a hot conversational topic it seems. We at Spectrum are so fortunate to have experienced an abundance of new opportunities over the years. As we
move through our 23rd year in business, I am pleased to say that every single year, since
our inception, we have grown over the prior year. Usually that growth is in the double
digit percentage, and the past four years or so we have seen consistent 25 and 30% plus
growth annually.
Founder | CEO
There is no doubt that new business is exciting. The competition to win the business is stimulating and the victories are oh so sweet! But the value of that new business pales in comparison to the intrinsic value of our existing business. I guess my point is that new business is nice, but our existing business is, well, what keeps us
existing.
Based on that premise, we owe it to all concerned to treat our existing business with the same excitement, passion and attention that we give to the pursuit of new business. If we have new technology for new clients, we
must roll it out for all…new equipment, new uniforms, new presentations…everybody gets them. I know for a
fact that if we continually give our existing clients the attention we give our potential new clients, our existing
clients will never have a reason to look elsewhere to find “the love”.
I believe we do an admirable job, a better than good job, of keeping our operations and presentations fresh. I
believe we currently make sure our existing clients get our best. But we can ALWAYS be better. We must not
ever allow ourselves to give in to human nature and be complacent. We can never take anyone or any business
for granted.
Compete for your existing clients’ business with the energy you would use to gain new business. You will be
rewarded and your current client will be yours forever.
Somewhat related, we are experiencing another extraordinary year and while that is wonderful, our year is not
over and is still in full swing. There are still many more roads to run, many more opportunities to be great,
many more clients to wow. Clients who are our longtime friends that we can continue to make feel as special
as the very first time they got to experience the Spectrum difference. Let’s keep the focus and stay on this most
successful path that is paved with hard work and detailed preparation.
Thank you, a big thank you, to each and every individual that contributes to our continued success. My very
best to you and yours.
Most sincerely,
Dave
From the desk of
Melanie Parker
I don’t know about you but I keep learning life lessons, every…single…day.
I have had moments of genuine “really, how many more lessons, at my age,
do I need to keep learning, uh?!?” The fact is, as we continue to get older,
with age comes different life lessons and experiences so I’m learning to embrace them.
Through recent highs and lows, I
have experienced the true definition of big lessons learned and,
maybe more importantly, I have
President
learned that people can change
at any age. If one sincerely wants to make a
change in their life and “wants” is the key word,
one can make that change and make it stick, regardless of their circumstances. Whether you are
trying to quit smoking, quit gossiping, quit feeling pessimistic or even working hard to change
yourself from within, change your circumstances,
change your destiny…YOU CAN! It is never too late to work on you and the self-proclaimed
rewards really do exist.
I have learned that no mountain is too high to climb, that what one thinks is the worst case scenario…it really isn’t. I have learned that braving the mountain and getting to the other side has
such “loss for words” rewards, that just staying and living in these rewarding moments is the
greatest reward of all. Maybe it’s not always the tangible rewards we seek but the rewards that
come from the cheering section, from those that walk beside you, from that ultimate feeling of
self-satisfaction that only you experience and celebrate. One of life’s richest rewards is to believe in one’s self, have the confidence to brave the mountain, stay in the moment and celebrate personal accomplishments. I wish these rewards for all of you, for your family.
Time to Wake Up?
A Buddhist monk strode into a Zen pizza parlor and said, "Make me one with everything." The
proprietor appreciated the Zen humor and, when the monk paid with $20 bill, the guy pocketed
it.
"Hey," asked the monk, "where's my change?"
"Change," replied the owner inscrutably, "must come from within."
And it's true: we can wait for things to change or we can change ourselves. One way rarely
works while the other rarely fails.
I have a friend who used to teach literature to high school students. He once told me how maligned the name of Ebenezer Scrooge has become. “Dickens never meant for Scrooge to be a
villain,” he once said, speaking of Charles Dickens' classic “Christmas Carol.” Yes, Scrooge
was a miser and disliked by pretty much everybody. But my friend reminds me that the story
doesn't end there. It doesn't end with Scrooge dying a miserable and lonely death. The point of
the story is that Scrooge WAKES UP. After the restless night of ghost visitations, he wakes up
and decides that things truly can be different. He can choose to be compassionate, generous
and happy. He understands that he can behave toward others in a different way. He can look at
things differently. His miserable past does not need to determine his future. His life story illustrates the words of George Elliot: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
“To this day,” my friend says, “the name of Scrooge is synonymous with somebody stingy and
selfish when it should be just the opposite. Scrooge woke up and made different decisions. He
lived the rest of his life a model of generosity and joy and goodwill toward all. Nobody ever
“kept Christmas,” Dickens tells us, like Ebenezer Scrooge.
I regularly remind myself that it is not too late to be what I might have been. And I'm learning
that anything can happen...when I wake up and make different decisions.
-- Steve Goodier
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Don Carpenter
Company: The Lone Star Convention & Expo Center
How you know Spectrum and since when: I met Dave Smalley and Melanie Parker in 1998
when I came to Montgomery County. I was appointed director of a newly created department
that was to oversee the construction of the new Convention & Expo Center, set up the operation, write the procedures and policies and then open and manage the facility.
Tell us about your family: I am married to Shirley Carpenter who is retired from thirty years
of retail working as a manager and buyer. Shirley finished her career the last five years as a
buyer in the Montgomery County Purchasing Department. We have three children. Donald
Carpenter III is the Treasury Manager for Liondell-Bassel and married to Lindsay. They are
parents to grandsons Owen Ray (age 4) and Jake Robert (4 months). Lisa Carpenter Richardson is a teacher in Clear Creek ISD and married to Jon. They are parents to grandson Elyx
(age 8). Crystal Lively is mother to Hennsley, Katie and Nathan. Nathan is the father of our
first great grandchild Landon Curtis, age 3 months.
Your interests when time permits away from our crazy world: Golf, boating, traveling
and grandchildren.
Favorite foods, books, vacation spots: Seafood and anything Spectrum prepares with the exception of green beans. I do not like green beans! My favorite book is the Bible. As for vacation spots I enjoy just about any place with water. We enjoy cruising, Hawaii, Florida (Disney
World) and my favorite dry spot is Las Vegas.
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Welcome to the team!
Kadie Fields
Hey y’all! My name is Kadie Fields and I am the newest Catering
Manager in the Backstage Division here at Spectrum. My very first
event was rainy Governors Ball as an intern two years ago. That’s
where I got a taste for the crazy world of music festivals and concerts.
I grew up just west of Houston in Katy, where I attended Katy High
school. I went off to college a whopping forty minutes away to the
University of Houston (Go Coogs!). I attended the Hilton College
as a Hotel and Restaurant Management major with an emphasis in
event management and graduated this past May. During my time in
college I was a member of the Spirit of Houston Marching band,
playing flute and then cymbals.
I feel lucky to be a part of the Spectrum family and I am looking
forward to getting to know everyone.
From the desk of
Dianne Holmes
Don’t Dip Into Your 401(K)
Sometimes I get phone calls from employees about taking money out of their 401(k)s.
They are tempted to do it because emergencies arise and the funds are there. I always
advise them not to do it unless they have no other alternatives.
Dipping into your 401(k) could have disastrous effects down the line. By taking money
out early you greatly reduce the tax-free compounding that is critical for successfully
building your nest egg, which could result in you having to work well past your planned
retirement age. While it may be tempting to dip into these funds if you fall upon hard
times, try exhausting every other option before touching your 401(k).
A 401(k) can and should be something to help you achieve financial independence, and
for many of us it is the only investment vehicle that we use to prepare for retirement.
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We do what it takes to get the job done!
Spectrum Events
Made in America
Alliance Air Show
Life is Beautiful
Afropunk
Spirit International Championship
Lighting of the Doves/iWOW
September 5 – 6
September 12 – 13
September 25 – 27
October 3 – 4
October 8 – 14
TBD
Milestones
Birthdays
Tony Terwilliger
09/01/2008
Carlos Juarez
09/03/1974
Kyle Carter
09/01/2011
Wayne Easton
09/10/1950
Adam Lassetter
09/01/2008
Jared Blacklaws
09/11/1990
Maria Elena Barrera
09/08/2014
Roland Silvas
09/13/1971
Brian Philipose
09/09/2014
Nick Parson
09/13/1978
John Ward
09/10/2012
Tony Terwilliger
09/16/1968
Derek Mills
09/17/1981
Maria Elena Barrera
09/19/1964
Ray Goodin
09/22/1965
Keith Haskins
09/26/1974
September 2015
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October 2015
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25 26 27 28 29
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IT ASSISTANCE:
Keystone Consulting Group, Inc.
281.494.9444
CHAT: via the Keystone icon installed on
your desktop
Spectrum Connection is a publication of:
Spectrum Catering, Concessions & Special Events
P.O. Box 7130
The Woodlands, Texas, 77387
Office: 281.363.0900
Toll Free: 877.567.0900
Fax: 281.362.7111
www.spectrumconcessions.com
GOLF CATERING AND CONCESSIONS | CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Dave Smalley
Melanie Parker
713.897.8240
713.897.8239
[email protected]
[email protected]
713.897.8238
713.897.8237
[email protected]
[email protected]
713.897.8233
713.897.8266
713.897.8265
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
713.897.8235
[email protected]
713.897.8232
713.897.8234
[email protected]
[email protected]
713.897.8245
[email protected]
WICKED WHISK CATERING
Paul Fanelli
Sandra Bell
MUSIC FESTIVALS
Maverick Smalley
Tyler Fredricksen
Kezia Callahan
SPECIAL EVENTS
Tony Terwilliger
GOLF VOLUNTEERS | STAFFING | VENDORS
Missie Martinez
Drea Ferrel
ARTIST & TOUR CATERING
Shelley Gatchell
STADIUM DIVISION | ICE RINK MANAGEMENT
Jim Smalley
713.897.8262
[email protected]
617.692.0011
713.897.8258
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ruben Garcia - Operations | Management
Robert Jones - Rentals | Fleet
713.897.8242
713.897.8268
[email protected]
[email protected]
Frank Norgan - Warehouse Management
713.897.8268
[email protected]
713.897.8257
713.897.8253
713.897.8254
713.897.8255
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
THEATER DIVISION
Jason Reed - Northern Division
Jay Jung - Southern Division
WAREHOUSE | RENTALS
ACCOUNTING
Derek Mills - Chief Financial Officer
Peggy Kozan - Accounts Receivable
Kim Smidlein - Accounts Payable
Dianne Holmes - Payroll | HR