A few minutes with Food Service Holdings & BSI’s Stephanie Gilbert, CFSP, LEED
diversity aligned professionals in our sphere. I am incredibly fortunate that our CEO, Bill Reeves, is in full support of this aim. I presented a vision and he was willing to entrust me with bringing our organization to the next level, as it relates to catapulting brand visibility across the marketplace, implementing core KPI’s to evaluate performance and address how, where and when we can drive improved results. Now, we are able to do the same with our teams and invest in their creativity, passion and pursuits in much the same way. Change and evolution can be scary, but much less so when it grows organically from within. The cross-functional taskforces and initiatives we have launched enable all facets of our company and staff to have a voice and make a difference, both in and beyond their specific scope of responsibility. It’s also fostered far greater collaboration and empathy, as it becomes much more difficult to point a finger when individuals realize they’re part of this greater ‘whole’ and intricately involved in not just the challenge, but the opportunity to identify, define and implement the solution. Empowerment, accountability and empathy are all tenets by which I and we operate. Things get done when nobody gets to pass the buck, so to speak.”
A 20+ year veteran in the foodservice and hospitality arenas, with a specific focus on driving impactful results within the commercial equipment and supplies sector, Stephanie has long been recognized as a force and resource to our Industry. She is a trusted thought leader and subject matter expert across the broad spectrum of non-commercial foodservice design, innovation and solutions uniquely curated for foodservice environments. In her current role as Executive Vice President, Corporate Growth Strategy for BSI, LLC, she leads commercially facing efforts to include sales, marketing, new product development and IT initiatives. Equally vital is her ability to build effective, impactful teams that are laser focused on identifying and creating next generation solutions for foodservice operators. On her passion as it relates her leadership responsibility within BSI, her volunteer roles across the Industry and beyond, Gilbert states, “In addition to being of service to our customers and industry partners, there is truly nothing more important to me than mentoring and advocating for the development and growth of our team members, along with fellow women and
STEPHANIE GILBERT Executive VP Corp Growth
Part of Gilbert’s mission is to encourage internal teams and external stakeholders to think of food guards, counters and servery fabrication as much more than an amalgam of their ‘parts.’ There’s a ‘why’ to what we all do in foodservice and this extends far beyond merely preparing and serving food, or manufacturing equipment and tools that supports said execution. continued on page 44 w
Keynote Speaker
January/February P 7
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