Food and Hospitality Activities Recognized for Excellence
HQMC (MR), QUANTICO, VA – The Business and Support Services Division has awarded 46 Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) activities aboard 11 Marine Corps installations and support activities for their exceptional performance in 2022 with the Food and Hospitality Excellence Award.
The award program allows any club, restaurant, snack bar, or recreational lodging facility, regardless of size or location, to measure their results against criteria in pre-established categories of customer service, financial performance, human resources development, and operational excellence.
“The leaders and business selected have shown extraordinary performance that positively impacts the entire organization. They have demonstrated the value of their programs to the lives of Marines and families,” said Cindy Whitman Lacy, CEO/Director, Business and Support Services Division (MR), Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps.”
The recognized groups continue to accomplish the primary mission of taking care of Marines and their families by enacting best-in-class operating practices and infusing their activities with the voice of our guests.
“Congratulations to all the teams at the 46 businesses that earned the 2023 Food & Hospitality Excellence Award! Your dedication to delivering an experience befitting Marine customers is evident in these amazing results! All of these businesses are highly aligned in supporting Marine Corps mission initiatives like Food Security and wellness” said Jennifer Wible, Deputy Director of Business Operations, Business and Support Services Division. “Our 2023 activities of the year are the shining star examples of putting Marine customers at the heart of all we do. Providing places for camaraderie and PME’s like the Miramar Officers’ Club; or recreation spaces on base like recreation lodge of the year Onslow Beach Resort, or an elevated culinary experience at Habu Pit Clubs and Restaurants at MCAS Futenma in Okinawa, Japan truly make a difference for Marines and Families quality of life.”
Additionally, this year two new recognitions were established for our highest performing staff with the Hospitality Manager of the Year and Hospitality Associate of the Year awards.
Wible added, “I would also like to congratulate Mr. David Arena, Hospitality Manager of the Year and Hospitality Associate of the Year, Ms. Clarissa Dimalanta for leading from the front and setting the example of what it takes to deliver a quality experience! We appreciate your dedication to mission!”
The leadership and staff of these operations have excelled beyond the values, principles, and core competencies. The recognized groups understand and continue to accomplish the MCCS primary mission of taking care of Marines and their families by enacting best-in-class operating practices and infusing their activities and perspectives with the voice of our guests.
The criterion to achieve this award focuses well beyond financial performance; to achieve an Excellence Award, activities must be agile and seasoned, and place the customer at the center of all they do. To recognize this achievement, the activities will receive award plaques that will be displayed in the facilities. For more information about the Marine Corps Food and Hospitality Excellence Award Program contact Ric Pomeroy, Branch Head – Food, Hospitality and Commercial Recreation, at 703-784-3811 or pomeroyk@usmc-mccs.org.
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About MCCS
MCCS is an ecosystem of programs that supports and enhances the operational readiness, war fighting capabilities, and life quality of Marines, their families, retirees and civilians. MCCS is valued by leadership as being a single, relevant portfolio of programs and capabilities that provides unwavering support to Marines and their families throughout their entire career journey with the United States Marine Corps. MCCS leverages this single program delivery capability by consolidating MCX, MWR and Family Programs to deliver goods and services at over 2,250 facilities with a staff of more than 12,000 employees worldwide. In addition to providing the on installation services, visit mymcx.com/shopping to learn about additional online offerings.
2023 FOOD AND HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS
2023 MARINE CORPS LODGE OF THE YEAR
Onslow Beach Resort
MCB Camp Lejeune, NC
2023 MARINE CORPS CLUB OF THE YEAR
Miramar Officers’ Club
MCAS Miramar, CA
2023 RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Habu Pit Clubs & Restaurant
MCAS Futenma, MCCS Okinawa, Japan
2023 HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR
Ms. Clarissa Dimalanta, F&B Contracts Operations
MCAS Miramar, CA
2023 HOSPITALITY MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Mr. David Arena, Chef, Beaufort Officers’ Club
MCAS Beaufort, MCCS South Carolina
COMPLETE LIST OF 2023 FOOD AND HOSPITALITY AWARD WINNERS
MCB CAMP BUTLER
Bonsai Coffee Camp Foster
Life Juice Café Camp Courtney
Life Juice Café Camp Foster
Life Juice Café Futenma
Life Juice Café Camp Kinser
Life Juice Café Camp Schwab
Life Juice Café Camp Hansen
Ocean Breeze Consolidated Club
Terra Fusion Restaurant
Taiyo Steakhouse
Beach Head Consolidated Club
Bulldogs Burger Camp Foster
The Palms Consolidated Club
Butler Officers’ Club
Hashmarks SNCO Club
Legends Officers’ Club
Bayview Enlisted Club
Thirsty’s Enlisted Club
Habu Pit Clubs & Restaurant
Sumo Burrito Camp Foster
MCB HAWAII
Mokapu Recreational Lodging
9th Puka Snack Bar
Starbucks
SNCO Club at Kaneohe Bay
Aloha Kitchen Restaurant
MCAGCC 29 PALMS
Mobile Canteens
Starbucks
Warrior Club
MCB CAMP LEJEUNE
Duffer’s Retreat Snack Bar
Impulse Smoothie
La Casita Loca
Starbucks
American Treats
Onslow Beach Resort
Spare Time Sports Grill
French Creek Snack Bar
MCB QUANTICO
Leatherneck Lanes Snack Bar
MCCS SOUTH CAROLINA
Parris Island Food Court
Hangar One Restaurant
Java Café – Parris Island Visitors’ Center
Beaufort Bowling Center Snack Bar
MCB CAMP PENDLETON
Lake O’Neill RV Park
San Onofre Beach Club
Del Mar Beach Resort
MCAS IWAKUNI
Club Iwakuni
MCAS MIRAMAR
Miramar Officers’ Club
LEADERSHIP REMARKS:
2023 Marine Corps Lodge of the Year
Onslow Beach Resort - MCB Camp Lejeune, NC.
From Sarah Wiltgen, AC/S, Marine Corps Community Services, Marine Corps Installations East: “Congratulations to the team of dedicated employees whose passion and commitment to exceptional customer service has gained Marine Corps-Wide recognition as the Lodge of the Year! With creativity, teamwork, and a focus on listening to the needs of our patrons, this group managed a robust calendar of patron events at the beach, improved the bottom line, and created improvements in the customer experience, all while focusing on having fun! My hat is off to you all!!”
2023 Marine Corps Club of the Year
Miramar Officers’ Club – MCAS Miramar, CA.
From Guy Close, AC/S MCCS MCAS Miramar: “The Marine Corps Air Station Miramar’s Officers’ Club is known for its commitment to excellence in product, service, and customer experience. Under the innovative and enthusiastic guidance of Ms. Almira Vanetten, “the club” has been tremendously successful and has established the standard for military clubs not only in the Marine Corps, but across the entire Department of Defense spectrum. Congratulations to the entire Miramar Officers’ Club team on this noteworthy accomplishment.”
For more information, contact Bryan Driver in the Plans, Policy & Analysis Directorate at (703) 432-2272 or e-mail: Bryan.Driver@usmc-mccs.org
