Los Angeles Convention Center Welcomes Jeff Leidy As Director of Operations for Taste of L.A. by Levy Restaurants
Jun 10, 2015
Los Angeles, CA (June 10, 2015) – AEG Facilities’ Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is pleased to announce that the venue has hired culinary extraordinaire, Jeff Leidy, to head the Center’s food & beverage (F&B) department as Director of Operations for Taste of L.A. by Levy Restaurants starting June 15, 2015. Jeff Leidy’s 32 years of culinary and operations expertise and remarkable talent will contribute to an elevated guest experience for every visitor, while offering delectable meals inspired by the City of Angels.
In Leidy’s previous role as Regional Executive Chef for the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) and Qualcomm Stadium, Jeff led the culinary team with a staff of 220 employees, managing events ranging from half a dozen people to 10,000. While in San Diego, Leidy also became one of the city’s first participants in a food composting program and worked to source many of his products from local and regional producers.
A vital component of Leidy’s role at the LACC will entail employing environmental best-practices for all food and beverage initiatives. His leadership role on SDCC’s Green Team along with the aforementioned sustainability efforts align closely with the LACC’s policies and will continue to support the Center’s position as a model environmentally-friendly and socially responsible facility.
“As we continue to spearhead developments toward the futurization of the Los Angeles Convention Center, we are incredibly excited to welcome Jeff Leidy as Director of Operations. With 32 years of culinary experience in the hospitality industry, we know Jeff’s talents and commitment to culinary and operational excellence will take us to the next level," added Brad Gessner, AEG Facilities Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Leidy is an innovative professional passionate about exploring culinary trends and implementing them in a manner that is fitting and delightful to his audience. Leidy was recognized as Ocean Spray’s “Ultimate Cranberry Contest” winner and he was also named Food and Beverage Person of the Year at the 29th Annual Gold Key Awards sponsored by the Hotel Motel Association and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association. Previous achievements include developing cuisine for former Vice President Al Gore and former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev.
“Joining the Los Angeles Convention Center is a tremendous opportunity to continue showcasing and creating exquisite, eco-friendly culinary experiences, especially during this exciting period of revitalization of both the LACC and Downtown Los Angeles,” commented Jeff Leidy, Director of Operations for Taste of L.A. by Levy Restaurants.
About the Los Angeles Convention Center
The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is one of the most technologically advanced convention and exhibition centers in the world. Operated by AEG Facilities, the LACC attracts more than 2.5 million visitors annually and is renowned internationally as a prime site for conventions, trade shows and exhibitions. An integral economic component to the Southern California area, total sales from client secondary spending tops $1.1 billion annually, generating and sustaining over 12,000 local jobs. LACC is a model environmental-friendly facility, holding the prestigious US Green Building Council’s LEED-EB GOLD Certification. LACC is also a Bronze Level recipient of the California Award for Performance Excellence (CAPE), Eureka Award. For more information, please visit lacclink.com.
About Levy Restaurants
Founded 1978, Levy has pioneered premium sports and entertainment dining and remains one of America’s fastest growing and most critically acclaimed restaurant companies. Named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants, iconic sports and entertainment venues including retail operations for Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Blackhawks; convention centers, and major events like the Super Bowl, World Series, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, NHL, MLB and NBA All-Star Games. For more, visit http://www.levyrestaurants.comor follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
About AEG Facilities
AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, is the leading sports, entertainment and venue operator in the world. AEG Facilities, a stand-alone affiliate of AEG, owns, operates or consults with more than 100 of the industry’s preeminent venues worldwide, across five continents, providing complete venue management, as well as specialized programs in operations, guest services, ticketing, booking, sales and marketing. AEG Facilities also provides resources and access to other AEG-affiliated entities, including live event producer, AEG Live, AEG Global Partnerships, AEG Development, AEG 1Earth, AEG Encore and AEG Creative to support the success of AEG venues and events across the globe. For more information, please visit aegworldwide.com.
Media Contact:
Los Angeles Convention Center
Victoriya Karpilovich
(213) 765-4664
vkarpilovich@lacclink.com
