wishing the ceg family a happy 2016!

CESCAPHE EVENT GROUP NEWSLETTER • WINTER 2016
WISHING THE CEG FAMILY A HAPPY 2016!
LETTER FROM JOE . . .
As we move into the new year we can all
take a moment to breathe after the busy
holiday season, which is always where
I see our CEG family shine brightest.
While I know everyone is working extra hard to make 2016 our best year yet,
I want each of you to remember to take
the time to celebrate and enjoy your own
family and friends. Family is important
to me and I want to make sure this value
carries over to my CEG family as well.
is an amazing facility seated at the foot of
the Art Museum with breathtaking views
of Boat House Row and the Center City
skyline. The unique structure is a wonderful addition to the CEG collection and
will allow us to host couples looking for
smaller and more intimate celebrations.
We are currently hard at work giving the
space the signature “Cescaphe touch” and
I cannot wait for all of you to get a chance
to be part of the iconic venue’s history.
This September the Water Works became
the sixth venue for Cescaphe Event Group.
It was a long 8 month process to acquire
the historic property, something that would
not have happened without the exhaustive work of Maggie Lahr, SVP Strategic
Development. Maggie worked countless
hours on this project and thanks to her efforts I am proud to say that this national
treasure has been entrusted into the hands
of all of us at CEG. The Water Works
As we look ahead to all of the big things
happening at CEG in 2016, I cannot help
but reflect back on the wildly successful year we have had in 2015. In just one
year we hosted 675 events – our biggest
year ever! We are all lucky enough to
be part of one of the biggest days of our
Brides & Grooms and I am overwhelming thankful to each and every member of
the CEG family for their hard work that
continues to bring happiness to our guests!
Happy New Year! Joe Volpe
THE SWEETEST THING
In any given week, the Client Development Sales Team typically receives more than 95 inquiries; some via the
web and others by phone. One question clients always get asked from our team is “how did you hear about
us?”... many have attended an event with us, or have found us via a search engine or wedding website and then
there are clients who have simply heard about the “Cescaphe Experience” - our food, our service and our
venues! Our reputation often supersedes us and therefore motivates us to stay on top of our game. Clients often
make great connections with their sales associate as the team makes every call personable and heartfelt… so it
is no surprise when a Mother-of-the-Bride ends her phone call with her sales associate saying “I Love You!”
With engagement season at its prime, we can expect many newly engaged couples searching for the perfect
CEG venue and the absolute perfect date. The sales team - Betsy, Lisa, Nikki, Dana and Sarah (seated left
to right below), are happy to assist clients through the overall booking process and with so many years of
experience under their belts, the team can also help find the perfect vendors to create a memorable day. Whether brides and grooms are booking their date 18 months, 7 months,
or even 1 month out (Yes, 1 month out!), the sales team will gladly guide clients through the process and assist them with all of their needs. And that is how Cescaphe Brides and Grooms are born!
- Kelli Coyle
THE CESCAPHE FAMILY IS GROWING
It is no surprise to anyone that Cescaphe Event Group is growing! Just this year, CEG has added more than 135
new employees! We have also created new roles and entirely new departments, such as the IT Department. Each
week, CEG receives hundreds of applications for open positions and finding that right fit can be quite a task that
takes a lot of teamwork. Each qualified applicant starts with a phone call to discuss their experience and most
importantly “Why Cescaphe?” We want people who want to work here and grow here. After that, it is on to
meeting with the position’s respective hiring managers. Depending on the position, applicants can be asked to
complete online assessments or projects to show their skills. It everything goes well, references are checked, and
background check is done… on to a start date!
Once a candidate becomes an employee, it is our job to make sure they are brought up to speed on how Cescaphe
operates and the integral role their position plays. This will vary depending on the roll. Front of House staff will
(like all new employees) go through orientation, a training class, and then a few shifts to get them comfortable
with their position and the flow of an event. A new Event Manager or Event Coordinator on the other hand, can
be in training for upwards of three months! They work in each department, understanding how all of the pieces
come together at an event so they can guide our clients through their special day.
Keep an eye out over the next few months for some exciting changes in the Recruiting and Training department!
We are growing and evolving too. Questions about open positions can be directed to holly.dougherty@cescaphe.
com
CORE VALUE FOCUS
This season, our Core Value Focus is on: HOW TO DEMONSTRATE “GENUINE CARING” AT
GENUINE CARING
CESCAPHE EVENT GROUP :
Hospitality is our one true competitive advantage
• Be polite to everyone you meet
”Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” • Support both guests and fellow employees in their goals
– Dalai Lama
• Take time to see situation from the other perspective
“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles,
before reacting to a situation
it may be the only sunshine he sees all day.”
• Bring a positive attitude and smile with you each day – H. Jackson Brown, Jr. at CEG
SHINE BRIGHT...
BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS INSPIRED
Cecilia Bright
Cecilia is the friendly voice
behind every phone call that comes
through to CEG. She speaks to
every guest and goes above and
beyond to make sure they are taken
care of. She not only knows how to
juggle ten phones calls at once, while
greeting guests of the office, Cecilia is
also a great source of help to all of
the staff at CEG. As part of the Client
Development team, Cecilia proves that
a simple ‘Hello’ can go a long way...
she is the first point of contact for
many of our brides and grooms and
they always remember her kindness!
- Sonia Forcina
WHAT’S IN BLOOM...
Cali Baskin
We’d like you to meet Cali who
is a student at Drexel University, majoring in Marketing, and an
intern at BB. We are thrilled that
she joined our team in September
and will be with us for the next
six months. Cali chose Beautiful
Blooms for her internship to gain
more experience within the design
and event planning industry. With
our Northern Philadelphia location,
endless resources, and incredibly
friendly staff, she couldn’t see herself interning at any other company. Thanks for your kind words
Cali! We are so glad you are here!
- Donna O’Brien
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS...
With flower walls being a hot trend right now
Beautiful Blooms and Cescaphe jumped right
on it. A fabulous flower wall that can be used in
many ways is now part of the BB inventory. It can
serve as a beautiful backdrop to a ceremony or a
perfect photo booth wall. The wall can be customized with florals, monogram, and also can be staged
with furniture to create the ultimate photo experience
that guests can partake in at any event. Expect to
see images on many of our upcoming blog posts.
- Donna O’Brien
COOPERAGE NEWS
Meg Kelly
Meg Kelly is a “Jill of all Trades”
at Cescaphe. In addition to serving,
Meg also is one of our top trainers
and assists in the office once a week.
Her versatility and knowledge of the
company enables her to help push
the company forward! When asked
about her favorite part of working
for Cescaphe, Meg says it’s “Creating
those once-in-a-lifetime moments.”
- Emily Costa
WHAT’S COOKIN’
Roberto Gutierrez
Roberto is a great asset to our
Culinary Team & brings to CEG
more than 20 years’ experience in the
hospitality & food industries. While
specializing in multi-unit operations
& kitchens within a group, Roberto
is skilled in bringing personalized
touches to each event! His passion for
excellence, food, & organization are
just some of the qualities that make
Roberto a great leader, motivator, &
mentor for his teams. He takes great
pride in his Mexican heritage & we
can often find influences in his dishes,
as well as a sense of pride for family
and food, in true Cescaphe form.
- Chef Joe LaPorte
Based on the success of our Saturday classes, Cooperage will also be hosting weekly
Whiskey classes every Tuesday at 8pm. Sean
Morris will host and expound his knowledge on four new whiskeys each week. CEG
employees can enjoy a special rate if they attend.
Cooperage is also offering Wine Flights along with
our Whiskey Flights. You can choose from three
wines from by-the-glass option. Want to get a group
together? Private tastings are available by request!
Now that it’s officially winter, we have changed
our menu for the season bringing back favorites
such as Chicken Pot Pie and Eggplant Parmesan
in addition to new items such as the Southwest
Salad and Baby Back Ribs. Our signature Cheese
Steak Fries continue to be our most popular item.
-Kevin Krop
KUDOS FROM OUR GUESTS
UPCOMING WEDDINGS
DOWN TOWN CLUB
CESCAPHE BALLROOM
“Where do I even begin? I have been away on my honeymoon but
anxious to write you. Alana and her team made dreams come true on
my wedding day two weeks ago. I could not have imagined it to go
any better than it did. Guests are still talking about the food, service,
small touches like the flower cannon and champagne upon entering!
The venue was set up beautifully and it looked exactly like the picture
I had dreamt up in my head. Alana was always there to help whether
it was making sure we were on track with the timeline or helping me
bustle my dress in the bridal suite! I cannot thank Cescaphe enough
for making my dreams a reality. My family and friends were truly
blown away by the service that was provided. Daniel was absolutely
amazing as he catered to every need Brendan and I had. He made sure
we were fed and always had a drink available. He also made sure we
were where we needed to be and when. His service was outstanding. I
know my parents also really loved Diana and Brendan’s parents were
blown away by the catering provided to them as the groom’s parents.
I wish we could re-do the day over and over again! I know for a fact
my wedding day will be talked about for a very long time because of
all of Cescaphe’s efforts. Thank you again, I plan on telling everyone
about Cescaphe!”
Kristina & Brendan
TENDENZA
“Ollie and I wanted to take quick moment to thank you and your team
for everything on Saturday! We could not be happier with the way our
vision really came to life! We were completely blown away by Vince
and the rest of the staff as they were absolutely impeccable and went
above and beyond in all aspects. We have heard endless compliments
about the food, the staff and the venue itself from all of our guests!
We truly could not have asked for a better experience. So, we
extend our thanks to you and your team for such an awesome day!”
- Kim & Ollie
DOWN TOWN CLUB
“We are still dreaming about our wedding day and how beautiful and
perfect it was. We have so many friends and family members telling us that
it was the best wedding reception they have ever attended. Delicious food,
attentive staffs, just a magical night! Thank you for the perfect reception!”
- Lana & Tung
ATRIUM AT CURTIS CENTER
“I was recently a guest at a wedding at the Curtis Center and I just wanted to email you about how amazing the food was. For me, the food is
what people remember about weddings (or maybe just me?) I wanted to
commend you on the great chefs you must have at the helm of your operation. On top of the insane and decadent cocktail hour, my dinner was
outstanding. For dinner I had Veal Milanese- deliciously breaded veal on
top of scrumptious mashed potatoes and I honestly wish I could eat it all
the time. I find myself dreaming about it sometimes. job well done! And
I hope more of my friends use cescaphe for their events in the future!”
- Carrie
VIE
“I have to tell you how great Lauren’s wedding was awith
Cescaphe Event Group. The people from Cescaphe could not have
been any nicer. The number of people who told us afterwards that
it was the “best” wedding they had ever been to was just over the
top. The food, the service and how it looked could not have been any
better. One of my partners wife told me “you gave your daughter
the wedding every girl dreams of” …… can’t ask for more than that.”
- Joe (FOB)
WATER WORKS
“Sarah! I just wanted to let you know the party was incredible on Saturday at the Water Works and everyone was raving about how amazing
the food and venue was set up. Thank you so much for putting that all
together! Also- because I know you guys will be busy, we were
hoping to hold a date for next year’s party... that would be amazing.“
- Judith
CESCAPHE.COM • 215.238.5750
JANUARY
Brittany and Jake
Christina and Justin
Ashley and Grant
Nicole and Brian
Jaclyn and Michael
FEBRUARY
Shana and Brian
Lauren and Charles
Laura and Erik
Kimberley and Daniel
Lauren and Adam
Mia and Matthew
ATRIUM AT
CURTIS CENTER
1.2
1.8
1.15
1.22
1.23
2.5
2.6
2.13
2.19
2.26
2.27
MARCH
Julia and Fran
Amy and Matthew
Dana and Jared
3.5
3.11
3.12
Kristen and Christopher 3.18
Beth and Brian
3.19
Nikki and Dean
3.26
Kellee and Eric
Kelsey and William
Karina and Matthew
Crystal and Ronald
Amanda and Chris
Madalyn and Paul
Danielle and Dennis
FEBRUARY
Michele and Matt
Caitlin and Dustin
Marina and Alex
Danielle and Michael
Janae and John
Lauren and Brad
Jessica and Lee
MARCH
Lynda and Don
Jen and Michael
Lauren and Kevin
Karin and Brendan
Sarah and Ryan
Sanam and Amit
3.5
3.18
3.26
VIE
JANUARY
Stephani and Steve
Sara and Nick
Colleen and Rob
FEBRUARY
Kimberly and David
MARCH
Diana and Steven
Ilana and Jeremy
Carly and Chad
1.2
1.16
1.29
2.26
3.12
3.19
3.26
DOWN TOWN CLUB
TENDENZA
JANUARY
MARCH
JANUARY
1.2
1.8
1.9
1.15
1.16
1.22
1.29
2.6
2.12
2.14
2.19
2.2
2.26
2.27
Beverly and Brian
Jessica and Wayne
Ryan and Evan
Julia and Charles
Lynn and Greg
Lulu and Chris
Jessica and Alexander
FEBRUARY
Jamie and Edward
Stephanie and Carmen
Jennie and Zach
Noah and Ethan
Vicki and Elliott
MARCH
Christina and William
Laura and Mark
Jessica and Kelvin
3.11 Jennifer and Daniel
3.12 Karolyn and Ryan
3.19 Lauren and Stewart
1.2
1.8
1.17
1.22
1.23
1.24
1.30
2.6
2.13
2.14
2.2
2.28
3.5
3.12
3.13
3.18
3.19
3.26
CESCAPHE EVENT GROUP IS ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES!
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
/CescapheEvents
@BeautifulBlooms
Who says you need to wait until brunch to enjoy some post-wedding
breakfast food!?!
Photo Credit: Matthew Szoke Photography
Today is the best day! #lovewins
INSTAGRAM
PINTEREST
@CescapheEvents
Anyone have a tissue? This photo is so adorable it has us in tears!
#grandmasarethebest
Photo Credit: Pat Robinson Photography
Photo Credit: Beautiful Blooms
@CescapheEvents
Photo Credit: Artisticimagery.com
BLOG BRILLIANCE
REAL WEDDING: Loren and Jerry
“As a bride you are asked many times by multiple people “Are you nervous?” “Are you going crazy planning?” I confidently
answered “NO” every single time.. It is impossible to worry about a single thing when having your wedding with Cescaphe Event
Group. Because of the Cescaphe team I got to enjoy planning without any worries, as well as our big day without any stress.”
Photo Credit: cinematicbyDavidM
Venue: Vie Florist: Beautiful Blooms
- Loren and Jerry, October 2015