Compass Group, North America
By Jim Kelley
 
                        
David Zimmerman introduced Phillip Wells. Phil serves as general counsel for Compass Group, North America. Phil joined Compass in 1995 and prior to becoming general counsel he served as vice president - deputy general counsel and ombudsman. He served as the first ombudsman in the foodservice industry. He received his degree in journalism from UNC - Chapel Hill and his law degree from Southwestern School of Law.
 
Phil is a member of the State Bar of North Carolina; US District Court, Western, Middle and Eastern District of North Carolina; North Carolina Bar Association; and the Mecklenburg County Bar Association. He served on the National Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign and is a member of Charlotte's City Committee Hot Jobs/ Cool Communities initiative.
 
Phil gave a presentation on Compass that was short and to the point. Compass, a British owned company, is the world's 20th largest employer with over 450,000 employees and had revenues in 2008 of $22 billion. The North America headquarters are in Charlotte. In the United States, Canada and Mexico Compass has over 150,000 employees and more than $10 billion in annual revenues. Compass has become the global leader in contract foodservice and hospitality. If you've been hungry and away from home, chances are good that you've tasted Compass Group's food.
 
According to Phil, Compass serves the following markets - corporate dining, vending, healthcare, sports and entertainment, education, restaurants, weddings, graduations and cultural and specialty dining. Phil said you might not have heard much about the Compass name because they have a 19 member family of companies such as Levy Restaurants, Canteen Vending Services and 17 others. Compass also has 19 different brands either company owned like Outtakes and Zona Mexicana, or national brands such as Wendy's and Chick-fil-A.
 
Local clients include Bank of America, Quail Hollow Country Club, Bobcats Arena, Duke Energy, TIAA Cref, UNC Charlotte, Belmont Abbey, Lowes Motor Speedway, Queens University of Charlotte, Johnson and Wales, and Microsoft among others. Nationally, clients include the Super Bowl, the Oscars, the Emmys, Disney and the House of Representatives. They also handle most sporting venues in America including football stadiums and basketball arenas.
Phil finished up the presentation by answering questions for almost twenty minutes. The most important answer to a question he gave was that Compass is currently hiring staff in its Charlotte office. Great way to end a presentation.
   
 
Head Table: Jill Santuccio, Gray Langley, John Snyder, David Zimmerman, Karen Simon, Rob Thomas;
Invocation: BG Metzler;
Visitors & Guests: Tom Bartholomy; Song: Gregg Walker; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Steve Eanes was introduced to the club by Terri DeBoo. Steve is president of Changing Matters, a training and development service, and can be reached at steve@changing-matters.com. Welcome to Charlotte Rotary!
         
• Rich Campbell, Sockwell Partners, is conducting the executive search for the new President of the United Way; the following participated in the Chamber's Legislative trip to the NC General Assembly: Natalie English, Joe Gass, Tim Newman, Ron Campbell, Lynn Wheeler, Terri DeBoo, David Dunn, Jessica Graham, Luther Moore and Denise Hallett.
 
• Omitted from last week's news - Bill Constangy sponsored new member John Mahaffey.

• 30 or so Rotarians and guests participated in the tour of the NC Research Campus last week. It was such fabulous outing, organizer Biff Virkler promised to set up another tour in a couple months; Tony Zeiss will have a book signing for The Wit & Wisdom of John Montgomery Belk at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, SouthPark Mall, May 16 from 2-3 PM.
 
• Congratulations to Travis Van Hoy (son of Phil Van Hoy) and Kate Donaghy (daughter of Hank Donaghy), who were married on May 2nd; Wedding wishes are also extended to David Norman and Louise Jordan who were married May 9th.

• ROSTER UPDATES are well underway. Changes to your profile are due to the Rotary office within the upcoming week. David Norman is available to take photos in the State room before and after Rotary on May 19 and May 26. The cost will be $15. Appointments are not necessary.