President/Owner Jerry Haase worked hard to strengthen the corporate culture and ensure employees were equally dedicated to achieving success. “In the beginning, turning the company around had a lot to do with instilling a winning attitude in the minds of our team members,” Haase says. “Today, we still have several of the original employees from when we took over.” Haase has a keen ability to “see the potential in someone that the person cannot even see in themselves,” Human Resources Manager Keith Sharber asserts. “he has built and surrounded himself with a remarkable management team and a staff of outstanding employees.” Years ago, Haase saw the potential in one of the company’s current managers, who was then working at a golf pro shop. “Although he didn’t have much experience, Mr. Haase recognized his customer service skills,” Sharber explains. “He knew these skills would translate into our business. He was right, because this manager has now been with us going on 10 years.”

The company strives to understand its customers’ needs and expectations by staying in constant communication. Its Canteen Connect program ensures a representative of the company calls each customer on a scheduled frequency, Sharber says. “The program helps us uncover issues or concerns that have not yet been brought to the attention of our service people,” he explains. “We’re very proactive in getting to the bottom of issues before they become true problems.” In addition, the company publishes a monthly newsletter for both employees and customers. The newsletter features a column written by Haase, highlighting new products and developments throughout the company. “It serves to remind our customers of our various services, such as catering parties or corporate events,” Sharber explains. “It also serves as a tool for us to recognize our team members, as well. We use the tool in a multidimensional capacity.” According to Haase, the company plans to strengthen its customer relationships to remain a peer-recognized industry leader well into the future. “We plan to stay on the cutting-edge of whatever will be required in the future,” he says. “We always tell people that it’s one thing to be on the top, but an entirely different thing to stay there. We refuse to sit idle and give our competitors the opportunity to catch up to us.”

Canteen Service Company of Owensboro, Inc. is very proud to have received “Best Operating Standards” from Canteen Corporation. We have received this award seven years in a row beginning in 2000 – 2006. Over 100 other Canteen franchises compete for the award on an annual basis.

In 1992, Canteen Service Company of Owensboro, Inc. received the “Entrepreneur of the Year” from Inc. Magazine.

After a seven year winning streak of the Best Operating Standards, we were first runner-up this year among 110 other franchises. Many other awards have been received over the years from various community organizations such as United Way, Boys and Girls Club, and Local Chamber of Commerce’s.