Dining facility wins AMC Hennessy Award

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  • By Tailwind Staff
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA. --  Travis Food Service facilities won the Air Mobility Command Services Hennessy Award for the fourth time since 2001.

However, this is the first time Travis Food Service has won in the single facility category.

“It’s a great program and as that bar continues to rise, it’s our Airmen that win,” said Maj. Tim Telega, 60th Services Squadron commander. “The Hennessy program has certainly helped the Air Force progress from the old ‘chow hall’ days.”

The Hennessy team came to Travis Oct. 19 to 21, 2005 to evaluate kitchen operations, serving and dining operations, training and readiness, sanitation and repair, and management.

“Essentially, what lead to our selection is our customer-driven programs,” said Master Sgt. David Wisecarver, Food Service superintendent. “Everything we do revolves around the customer.”

Travis competed against three other bases and won due to: enthusiastic teamwork, innovative programs and customer-driven program excellence, according to an AMC press release.

“Our goal is to continue strengthening the programs we have and offer the best customer service in the Air Force each and every day,” Sergeant Wisecarver said.

“Winning this prestigious award would not have been possible without the phenomenal support of the Travis Team, especially the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron, 60th Contracting Squadron, 349th Memorial Affairs Squadron, and PRIDE Industries,” said Sergeant Wisecarver.

“Hennessy is not the metric we use to measure our success in food service. We gauge our success one customer at a time,” he added.

Customer service is priority one for the Travis food service team. Every manager reviews each comment card and online feedback for the food service program. There is also a Dining Facility Advisory Council, which has a quarterly meeting.

As a result, several programs have been implemented based on customer suggestions, including weekly ethnic meals and the ever popular sandwich wraps.

The Sierra Inn also features more brand name items due to customer suggestions.

“Our goal is to ensure our customers know it is their food service program — we just run it,” Sergeant Wisecarver said. “Hennessy validates to our food service professionals that their hard work and dedication to the Travis community has been recognized. It gives us a chance to showcase what we do for Travis every day.”

The Travis Team will now go on to compete at the Air Force-level in February against bases from each major command.

“We provide the very best in food service to our customer 365 days a year,” Sergeant Wisecarver said. “The next step in the Hennessy evaluation is just another opportunity to showcase our food service motto, ‘Out cook, Out serve, Outstanding!”’