Facility maintenance in the restaurant industry – Things you should know

Sharon Anderson
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Facility maintenance in the restaurant industry – Things you should know

Do you remember the feeling you had when you opened your first restaurant? Wasn’t it a dream that your nurtured since time unknown and it finally came true! You will surely remember the thrill and every minute detail of the experience of opening your restaurant. But just when you thought that you’ve sailed through every single aspect of your business, it is most likely that there is one part that is left overlooked. Well, most restaurateurs forget to start planning their facilities management until something breaks!

Facility maintenance is something that is most often forgotten by a restaurateur and what is the sole reason behind this? This is mainly because this part is not as exciting as the remaining part of the business. Deliciously prepared food on plates, customers sitting in cozy seats, music filling in the air and the aroma of food are better subjects to dream of than facility management.

So, if you’re someone who is planning to set up a restaurant in 2022, here are a few facilities management tips that you should stay aware of. 

  • Train your staff for best customer service

There’s no doubt when we say that customer service is everything in restaurant business and if your restaurant fails to provide stellar customer service, you’ll lose out on you some of the worthiest customers. The restaurant owner is supposed to train the employees in such a manner that their sole aim is to make a customer happy. You should ensure that each of the staff members get the necessary training to meet the expectations of the customers. 

  • Make sure you are accurate about the wait timing

If there is one turn-off that makes customers unhappy about a restaurant, it is inaccurate wait timings or delays. Delay can be in providing the menu, getting the customers seated, taking the order, delivering the food, bringing in the bill or anything else. For stellar service, the wait timing should be accurate. 

  • Promote good communication among your employees

One more vital principle of a popular restaurant is the promotion of effective or consistent communication between your employees. The staff members should be given the training of professional and polite communication. The restaurant owner should conduct staff meetings in order to make sure the members are all working on the same page. The kitchen staff and the wait staff should have perfect communication to guarantee timely service. In case of swapping shifts of employees, there should be a written letter to the restaurant manager. 

  • Deal tactfully with concerns and complaints of customers

In the restaurant business, they follow the age-old proverb – ‘the customer is always right’. Any concern of issue faced by a customer should be given highest priority. You can’t forget that this is a digital age and if you don’t give priority to their complaints, they’re going to post negative things on social media platforms. With extremely high visibility of these platforms, you can soon lose too many good customers. 

  • Leverage technology for proper restaurant service

It is being seen everywhere that there is an increased use of technology everywhere and restaurant business is not an exception. More and more restaurants are getting competitive and automating their operations to enhance efficiency. You should open up online reservations of tables, tablet order taking system to boost the speed and maintain touch-free order, CRM technology for improving customer engagement and to get the accurate insights of customers. These are all a part of industrial maintenance tools that will help you gain more customers and better revenue. 

So, you have the best recipes for food and the best cooks to bring them to reality. You have systematic processes for your employees. But with everything else in place, it is important to tackle your facilities and equipment properly to reduce downtime and loss of customers. The more you’re prepared for unforeseen situations, the sooner you can get your restaurant back to working condition. 

Tips to Find a Good Business Location

Sharon Anderson
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Tips to Find a Good Business Location

Choosing a great business location isn’t something you should take lightly. It is a critical first step when you want to start an on-site business. You will need to do your research so you can pick the best spot. Luckily, there are a few ways you can find something that works for you.

Ensure It Fits in Your Budget

One of the most important aspects of finding a good location is to ensure it fits in your business budget. But know that price is not everything, and location is important as well. Just because a place is cheap doesn’t mean it’s a good investment if it is hard for customers and clients to get to. Find out about any hidden costs as well, such as utilities, taxes, renovations, and minimum wage requirements. 

Even if you are a mobile business, you will likely need certain permits to set up in a temporary location. Depending on the area, you may need to consider paying more if you find a great location. One way of expanding your budget is by taking out a small business loan. Having small business loans available can get you enough funds to pay for a better location that will result in better profits in the long run.

Consider Suppliers and Vendors

One of the best tips for first-time startup CEO’s as well as experienced entrepreneurs is to be mindful of the relationships between you and your suppliers and vendors. The location should be one that facilitates easy communication between suppliers and vendors. Otherwise, you might have delays, or there could be inventory level issues. When you are looking at the options, think about the places that make it cheaper and easier for you to get the goods your organization needs in order to keep going. 

Choose a Safe Place

Look at the crime rates of each location to determine which spots are likely to be the safest. Don’t overlook the importance of choosing a place where both you and your employees feel protected. The safety of the organization itself is at stake as well. You don’t want to be a victim of vandalism or theft, since that can result in expensive losses. Specific types of businesses, such as those with valuable inventory, might be at a greater risk of burglary. If workers will be there at night, it is important to make sure the place is safe during those hours.

Finding an In-Demand Location

The ideal location is one that that competition does not have a strong foothold in yet. Look for places where your service or product is in high demand and where the competition is not that high. It is a good idea to find somewhere where the other businesses are complementary to your offerings, not in competition with it. 

You should also consider where potential employees might want to work, especially if you are planning on growing and hiring more employees. It will be critical to open in a spot where potential employees might want to work. A place near public transportation might be appealing to employees. It is critical to find good employees, since they are the backbone of any organization, and ensuring they are happy will help you attract great talent.

Learn about online gambling bonuses and rewards

Sharon Anderson
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Learn about online gambling bonuses and rewards

A major benefit you can have by choosing gambling sites in Singapore is that many sites provide bonuses and rewards for utilizing their services. These usually give you a huge added value compared to what you can get from traditional forms of gambling. In other words, this can be a simple way you can get some extra cash for your bankroll. 

Remember that you can get a bonus and reward by depositing and betting. Most of the top gambling sites are generous when it comes to this, and you can earn a lot of cash by taking advantage of these offers. Everyone can get these bonuses and rewards, but the high rollers usually receive the best value. In this article, you will learn about online gambling bonuses and rewards. 

Types of bonuses and rewards

Many gambling sites usually have their special ways of offering the added value to their clients, so the type of bonuses and rewards on offer tend to vary significantly depending on the site you want to use. This is why it’s a good idea to know most of them before you sign up. The types of bonuses and rewards you can get include the following:

Sign up bonuses

The sign-up bonus is sometimes called the welcome bonus, and this has now become the industry standard. You can find sign-up bonuses at most gambling sites. This is what a gambling site offers you when you decide to join the site as a new player and make your initial deposit.

It’s worth noting that the size of the bonus can be based on a certain percentage of the deposit and there may be a maximum amount of money you can claim. Ideally, you can sometimes claim it once, though many sites can spread their sign-up bonus over your first couple of deposits. 

You should also remember that some gambling sites tend to provide a no-deposit bonus to new players. These bonuses are usually quite small, but they help you to try out a gambling site without risking your money. 

Reload bonus

Reload bonus is another type of bonus that is common with most gambling sites. The gambling sites offer these bonuses on later deposits that you make. You can also find some sites that offer reload bonuses to all players on their deposit of the week or month while others  only give them based on specific criteria. Also, you can find a few sites that offer daily reload bonuses or even reload bonuses on every single deposit, though this is rare. 

Loyalty scheme

Many sites offer a form of VIP program or loyalty scheme. These work by rewarding customers based on their gambling activity. In other words, when you bet or play frequently, you can receive more of these. Rewards can sometimes come in the form of money that they credit to your account or you can earn some things, such as tickets to concerts, exclusive hospitality at sporting events, or electronic items. 

Keep in mind that these bonuses and rewards that are available to you and how you earn them can vary depending on what type of gambling you are doing. You need to get specific details to understand how various gambling sites offer extra value to their customers.

Panthers Use Their First-Round Draft Pick on Left Tackle Ickey Ekwonu

Charlotte Stories
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Panthers Use Their First-Round Draft Pick on Left Tackle Ickey Ekwonu

While most NFL teams use their 1st round draft picks to sign star QBs, receivers, or running backs, the Carolina Panthers have just used their 1st round draft pick on the line – specifically left tackle.

The move may be unconventional, but after years of unrelenting QB sacks, it may turn out to be the best decision the team could have made.

In the 6th overall pick, the Panthers selected NC State tackle Ickey Ekwonu – a ridiculously fast and potential mind reading tackler.

What do you think about the Panthers’ first round draft pick?

2022 Study: Best Value Colleges in North Carolina

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2022 Study: Best Value Colleges in North Carolina

Where are college students in North Carolina getting the most return on their educational investment?

Personal finance website SmartAsset just released a study comparing the best colleges and universities in each state by measuring them across five metrics, including: scholarships, average starting salary for graduates, tuition, living costs and student retention rate.

Check out the top performing schools in North Carolina below:

Rank School City, State Avg. Scholarships and Grants Avg. Starting Salary College Tuition Student Living Costs Student Retention Rate College Education Value – Index
1 Duke University Durham, NC $48,351 $76,800 $55,695 $18,644 97% 69.78
2 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC $15,936 $60,400 $8,987 $14,824 95% 66.10
3 North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC $10,175 $62,200 $9,101 $14,876 94% 63.81
4 North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC $8,760 $57,600 $6,612 $11,524 80% 61.18
5 Appalachian State University Boone, NC $8,130 $51,300 $7,364 $11,830 86% 52.83
6 Wake Forest University Winston Salem, NC $37,880 $65,300 $53,322 $18,316 95% 47.21
7 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC $7,347 $56,800 $6,853 $16,841 85% 46.08
8 East Carolina University Greenville, NC $7,722 $52,600 $7,188 $14,484 83% 45.77
9 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC $5,641 $48,700 $3,926 $13,779 81% 42.07
10 Winston-Salem State University Winston Salem, NC $8,138 $50,500 $5,904 $14,230 77% 42.05

You can find additional details on the study, including the methodology and interactive map here: [LINK]

Crave Charlotte Food & Wine Festival Returns for Third Annual Culinary Affair

Charlotte Stories
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Crave Charlotte Food & Wine Festival Returns for Third Annual Culinary Affair

Crave Charlotte is returning this year for their 3rd annual food, wine and mixology festival.

The multi-day event will highlight over 25 of Charlotte’s finest chefs, restaurants, mixologists and winemakers from May 3 to May 8.

This year, Crave Charlotte Food & Wine Festival will introduce and host its main event, the Grand Culinary Celebration, at Romare Bearden Park on Saturday, May 7.

“The Crave Charlotte Food and Wine Festival highlights the creativity, vibrance and cultural essence of the growing Queen City–a community that SouthEnd Dentistry is proud to be a part of for 13 years with the mission to provide the best in dental care, utilizing the latest in technology in a soothing environment,” said President of SouthEnd Dentistry, Dr. Bradford L. Picot. “A few of SouthEnd Dentistry’s core values are service, giving back, and innovation, which is why we are glad to sponsor this event in support of beneficiary Envision Charlotte.” 

The Grand Culinary Celebration and restaurant based dinners will offer a variety of high-quality dishes and experiences from top culinary professionals from across the city. Participants will experience wine pairings, exceptional plates, cocktails and craft brews.

Participating chefs and mixologists include:

  • Sam Allen–Wentworth & Fenn

  • Amari Arrington–Chunk’s Chicken

  • Kevin Atkinson–Angeline’s

  • Craig Barbour–Roots Café

  • Geoff Bragg– The Common Market

  • Amanda Britton–Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails

  • Chris Coleman–The Goodyear House

  • Amanda Cranford–Paper Plane Deli & The Hangar

  • William Dissen–Haymaker

  • Hau Doan–Banh Mi Brothers

  • Kyle Duncan Gaddas– The Wine Loft

  • “Chef T” Torrece Gregoire – Former Hell’s Kitchen Contestant

  • James Jeffries–Grinning Mule

  • Andarrio Johnson–Cuzzo’s Cuisine

  • Taylor Kastl–Tayste Catering

  • Duke Kroger–Cinder

  • Erik Lujan–Nuvole

  • Olajuwon Mason–Fine and Fettle

  • Tiore McFarland–Ready Prep Eat Catering

  • Mariana Ramos–Sweet Mary Gourmet

  • Sylvain Rivet–Renaissance Pâtisserie

  • Brooke Rush–Food Director of Not Just Coffee, Night Swim Coffee and Undercurrent Coffee

  • Ashley Sarkis–Mixologist

  • David Schmidt–Fine & Fettle

  • Henry Schmulling–Nuvole

  • Julia Simon–Plant Joy CLT

  • Drew Ward–Brewers at 4001 Yancey

  • Evan Wood–Green Coffee Buyer and Director of Coffee at Night Swim Coffee

  • TBA–Golden Owl Tavern

  • More to be announced

Crave Charlotte is presented by Extreme Property Services and Greystar Apartments. All proceeds from the event will benefit Envision Charlotte, a public private plus collaborative that leads Charlotte’s progress as a global circular and smart City through innovations that strengthen economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability and positive community impacts. More information including the full schedule, tickets and updated list of chefs and mixologists can be found at craveclt.org  and facebook.com/craveclt.

For safety, event organizers will continue to monitor and adhere to Mecklenburg County and North Carolina health guidelines.

UNC Charlotte Professor of History Named Andrew Carnegie Fellow

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UNC Charlotte Professor of History Named Andrew Carnegie Fellow

UNC Charlotte’s own Mark Wilson has just been selected as one of the 28 best scholars, journalists and authors in the nation to become a 2022 Class of Andrew Carnegie Fellow.

The fellows, announced April 26 by Carnegie Corporation of New York, will receive a $200,000 stipend to enable them to devote time to significant research and writing in the social sciences and humanities. This year’s commitment totals $5.6 million in philanthropic support. The recipients were chosen from nearly 300 nominations.

This support, said Wilson, will allow him to complete the research for the book, “The Degradation of Defense: The Transformation of the US Military-Industrial Complex, 1950-2025.”

The new comprehensive book will provide the first thorough history of the U.S. defense industry, reviewing the business and politics of the modern defense sector from 1950 to the present to understand declining public oversight and growing privatization and globalization. The project is a multigenerational story including multiple perspectives, adding to its complexity and significance.

“The American military-industrial complex is an important part of our economy and society that now costs close to $1 trillion a year,” Wilson said. “I’m focused on creating a richer and more illuminating account of its history, since the beginning of the Cold War. This new history should provide policymakers and voters with valuable information about how the U.S. defense sector works, and how it has evolved over time; in doing so, it may give people ideas for positive reforms moving into the future.”

Wilson is drawing upon expertise he has developed over the past three decades in the fields of business history, military history and the history of policy and politics. During the past five years, he has gathered evidence from unique archives, including presidential libraries, records of defense contractors and papers and oral histories of members of Congress, defense officials, military officers and defense industry leaders. He also has conducted dozens of interviews for the project.

Rare among historians, Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber said in a nomination letter, Wilson has become an authority on the history of military-industrial relations in three separate time periods, the Civil War, World War II and the Cold War.

“Dr. Wilson has endeavored to make his mark in new areas, getting a deep understanding of the evolution of military-industrial relations across a broad swath of time,” Gaber wrote.

His previous two books received strong responses. In particular, “Destructive Creation: American Business and the Winning of World War II” (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016), was named winner of the Hagley Prize for best book in business history and co-winner of the Ralph Gomory Prize, which honors historical work on the effects of business enterprises on the economic conditions of the countries in which they operate. Wilson also is director of the Capitalism Studies program at UNC Charlotte.

The Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program, founded in 2015, involves a competitive nomination and selection process. It is the most generous stipend of its kind, and to date, the program has named 244 fellows, representing a philanthropic investment of $48.8 million. Selection criteria prioritize the originality and promise of the research, its potential impact on the field and the scholar’s plans for communicating the findings to a broad audience.

“In recent years, as we have looked to respond to our world’s most complex problems, the Carnegie Fellows have provided important contributions through their exceptional research, pursuit of knowledge and creative approaches,” said John J. DeGioia, chair of the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program jury and president of Georgetown University. “Our panel of jurors were gratified and inspired by the caliber of the research proposals. We believe that this year’s fellows show extraordinary potential for lasting impact.”

As part of the nomination process, more than 600 individuals — including heads of independent research institutes, societies and think tanks; university presidents; directors of major university presses; and editors of leading newspapers and magazines — were invited to recommend up to two individuals for consideration. All proposals undergo a preliminary, anonymous evaluation by leading authorities in the relevant fields. The top proposals are then forwarded to the jury for a final review and selection.

The Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program is a continuation of the mission of Carnegie Corporation of New York, as founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1911, to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. The award is for a period of up to two years, and while the anticipated result is generally a book or major study, the Class of 2022 will result in an art installation, software applications and digital platforms.

Looking to the Future, LISC Celebrates Three Years of Equitable Community Development in Charlotte

Charlotte Stories
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Looking to the Future, LISC Celebrates Three Years of Equitable Community Development in Charlotte

LISC Charlotte is celebrating its third anniversary of forging resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity in Charlotte. Coinciding with the anniversary, LISC will receive a $1.25M investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for community development in Historic West End.  The grant will support LISC’s operations and a new Historic West End Development Fund to empower minority developers.

LISC will leverage Knight’s support over three years to reinforce programs, projects and initiatives, and to raise additional funds to support the Historic West End corridor–a target area of investment for the Knight Foundation. A sum of $500,000 will help establish the Historic West End Commercial Development Fund, a target fund that will offer technical assistance and financing for small business and commercial developers with plans to develop in the Historic West End corridor.

“I could not be more proud of the LISC Charlotte team who has worked with an unwavering commitment to help achieve catalytic change in our communities,” said Ralphine Caldwell, executive director of LISC Charlotte. “The progress we have achieved would not be possible without the seed funding of the Knight Foundation. With their support, we have been able to establish strong relationships to convene, reinforce and enable local partners to pursue their community goals. LISC appreciates the renewed funding from Knight Foundation for direct services for another three years, and more targeted funding for critical and innovative projects in Historic West End.”

“LISC has played a pivotal role in building a more inclusive Historic West End that is thriving with opportunities,” said Charles Thomas, director of Knight’s Charlotte program. “The Historic West End Commercial Development Fund will help LISC Charlotte expand its important mission of empowering the residents of the West End to lead the development and success of their neighborhood.”

LISC Charlotte is excited to share three years of impact in its key areas of work–empowering people, transforming places, supporting enterprise and driving systems innovation.  Since 2019, LISC has worked with grassroots organizations, small businesses and commercial developers, community residents and large businesses to engage residents in the process of system change. Some of its greatest accomplishments include exceeding its five-year goal of securing and investing $25M by securing and distributing more than $60M in three years. The organization has also helped to create and preserve 1,047 affordable housing units through the Charlotte Housing Opportunity Investment Fund,  deployed $3.9M to more than 220 small businesses, and supported Black-led development and resident-led neighborhood revitalization efforts in Historic West End. The detailed three-year report, Impactful Growth, is available here. LISC thanks its many corporate partners, community organizations and stakeholders who helped make its first three years effective and possible.

CMPD Asking For Public’s Help In Finding Missing 9-Year-Old Girl

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CMPD Asking For Public’s Help In Finding Missing 9-Year-Old Girl

CMPD is now asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 9-year-old girl who they say may be “emotionally upset”.

Ka’Mya Yeldell was last seen yesterday evening at around 6:50 p.m. at her home in the 1400 block of Samuel Street in North Charlotte.

Ka’Mya was last seen wearing an orange and white tie-dye shirt and shorts with white colored Croc shoes.

Here are some recent photos of her:

If you any any information about her whereabouts, please call 911.

From Siri to Google Assistant: Where Will We Go Next?

Sharon Anderson
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From Siri to Google Assistant: Where Will We Go Next?

One hundred years ago, there were no digital assistants. Today, this has changed. They’ve become a staple in our everyday life and may even be considered our best friends. The following article will explore how these assistants came to be and where they will go next. You’ll have some great ideas for how your assistant is evolving alongside the technology itself by the end of it! Let’s get started.

The History of Personal Assistants

There’s no denying that technology impacts our lives in countless ways. Technology may even be considered our best friend. We rely on it for many things, from communication to entertainment. However, modern technology has only been around for a few decades. This section will explore how personal and digital assistants came to be and how they’ve evolved through the years.

Around the turn of the century, people had a new way to communicate with machines, but it wasn’t as popular as today. Some people consider these early attempts at creating digital assistants flawed and not very effective at all.

There was a time when we didn’t have any digital assistants – except for those that ran on punch cards and paper tape.

By the 1940s and 50s, we had a few more options. We still relied on punch card technology, and by now, it was possible to use a keyboard. At this point, people could enter basic commands into a computer. This led scientists to develop programming techniques that set the stage for modern-day virtual assistants.

In 1956, John McCarthy predicted that someday computers would be able to serve as secretaries and assistants. He imagined that a computer would have an on-off switch and a single big red button. This button would instantly record everything the computer did, which would make it easy to investigate. The name he gave to this hypothetical machine? The “Eliza program.”

By the 1960s, there was real progress when research into artificial intelligence (AI) began. That led to the creation of some first digital assistants like ELIZA. It even led to creation of a PA system built into ATMs in 1966. This was a big step because it allowed banks to run automatic teller machines (ATMs) without ever interacting with a human cashier.

In 1969, work on the Eliza program was completed, and it was possible to have an interactive computer assistant. By 1972, these assistants were labelled “personal digital assistants” or “PDAs.” Personal assistants were still considered a distinct concept from PDAs: Personal Assistants were less advanced and usually used within the confines of one company’s IT department.

In 1974, “Personal Digital Assistant” was becoming widely used. This implies that the concept of personal assistants was becoming more widely known.

Due to technological advances and various advancements, there’s no doubt that personal assistants have become very popular in recent years. They’ve become a big part of modern-day society. By now, you might be wondering what the future has in store for these powerful computerized assistants? Let’s take a look at some of the options available today.

Streaming Services and the Future of Personal Assistants

What are some exciting trends in the digital assistant space? According to a recent article by The Next Web, one of the most exciting trends is streaming services. It’s already possible to stream data directly into your assistant. This can also be done remotely. For example, a healthcare professional can send a patient’s data directly to their assistant without accessing their device themselves. Examples include music, podcasts and live events through the Google Home app.

Building your assistant is a great way of using streaming services. It may even be possible to use them in your car as you travel! Here’s how it works:

If you want to use your car’s AI bot, you should first set it up and pair it with your smartphone. That way, you can interact with the assistant using only a smartphone.

You can then use it in the car, but you should also connect it to a Bluetooth headset. This is very important for preventing the assistant from being connected to your phone. This way, it will only communicate with your car’s microphone.

This might sound strange, but that’s exactly how Google Guides works – and it works great! If you want to connect a voice-controlled assistant to your car or other vehicles, you can always check out Google Maps for directions. It’s a great way of navigating through a city like Los Angeles.

Another great way to use streaming services is in public transport. For example, Google Translate can be used on public transport systems to help you with navigation and navigation assistance. If you are abroad, you can also use it to ask questions in different languages and translate text. It’s a great way of using streaming services in public transport to help the users themselves.

The Future is Bright for Personal Assistants

There’s no doubt that the future will offer many more innovations and improvements in personal computer and digital assistant technology. It doesn’t look like things will change anytime soon – unless you don’t need one! Some new developments can help you seamlessly integrate your digital assistant with wearables.

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