MCHS Leadership Conference

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton hosted the 2024 Marine Corps Hospitality Leadership Conference October 8 through October 10, 2024. This three day  Leadership Conference focused on bringing together 33 MCHA leaders to share knowledge, strategies and best practices for achieving the MCHS Vision of “Creating Exceptional Experiences One Moment at Time.” Keynote Speakers were BGen N.I. Brown, Commanding General MCIWEST-MCB Camp Pendleton; Edward Cutshall, Chief Executive Officer, Director Business and Support Services; and Anthony Cisneros, Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Community Services, Marine Corps Installations West.  Our 3 Guest Speakers were Jennifer Wible, Deputy Director, Chief Operating Officer Business Operations, Business and Support Services; Ric Pomeroy, Branch Head, Food, Hospitality, and Commercial Recreation, Business and Support Services; and Stephen Pepe, Jr, Director, DoD Reservation Center, NEXCOM Hospitality Group. 

New initiatives briefed include the new Guest Service Gold training program from American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) – with train the trainer sessions. Other subjects discuss include What is Hospitality?, Overview of Preventative Maintenance for the Lodging Facilities Financial Performance, KPI’s, and employee and Guest survey results for FY23 and FY24 YTD.

A panel discussion was held with the Leadership team of Business and support services which included Francisco Badiola, Chief of Staff MR, Chris Carlson, Senior Attorney – Advisor MR, John Johnston, Acting Chief Financial Officer, Dennis Ray, Deputy Director, Human Resources, John Nettles, Deputy Director, Support, and Jose Tores Pastrana, Deputy Director, Chief Information Officer.   Educational sessions on Creating Exceptional Moments were presented the team from Marine Corps Hospitality Services to include Michael Barber, Marine Corps Official Lodging Manager, Don Lockhart, Regional Lodging Program Manager, East, Angela Roberts, Lodging Program Manager, West, Mia Mejia, Lodging Program Manager, Pacific, Ebony Makell, Lodging Program Specialist, and Thomas Snellings, Facilities Maintenance Manager.  Mike Barber, Marine Corps Lodging Manager stated that “the conference was a success! [the] Guest Speakers shared their expertise on cultivating Guest and Team-centric cultures and the important role of MCHS within the Marine Corps.  [The]  team of hospitality professionals were able to exchange ideas, form partnerships and gain new perspectives on creating Exceptional Experiences for our Guests and our teams.”