Dining and Conference Services are undergoing staff restructuring and plans for expansion.
This comes after the departure of Ernie Gionis, former director of Dining and Conference Services. He left on Friday, Oct. 16.
Gionis had worked as director of Dining and Conference Services for about a year and a half.
Dana Wavle, vice chancellor for Administration and Finance, said for the sake of protecting Gionis’ privacy, the justifications behind his departure will remain undisclosed.
“It’s a personnel matter,” Wavle said. “There are no plans to hire a new director at this time. We’re going to work with what we have.”
A meeting was held for Dining and Conference Services on Tuesday, Oct. 20, by Wavle. The meeting discussed new staff positions and job responsibilities.
“It will be a more team-oriented environment,” Wavle said.
Wavle said Vickie Hartman, associate director for Dining and Conference Services, and Dylan Starkey, chef for Dining and Conference Services, will now be jointly managing the department.
Hartman said Gionis’ departure occurred while she was on vacation and was unaware of it until she returned.
While Hartman will be managing more of the front services, such as serving and customer service, Starkey will be running the back area that includes kitchen and food preparations.
Edna Linn, supervisor for Dining and Conference Services, will oversee cash control and scheduling.
Wavle also said there currently is a Dining and Conference Services deficit.
“We want to improve financial performance, without cutting services,” he said. “Currently, there are more expenses than there is revenue for Dining and Conference Services.”
Wavle said the treasury office accounted for a 28 percent financial drop in the Dining and Conference Services department for the first quarter of the 2009 to 2010 academic fiscal year, which lasted from July 1 through Sept. 30.
Despite the financial deficit, they will be saving $24,000 per year by no longer having to pay for transaction fees on credit card sales, which were no longer accepted in the Food Court as of Aug. 17.
He said funding has been approved to expand the Food Court and proposed plans for construction are in summer 2010.
Expansions include more space by occupying extra storage space in the back and sides of the Food Court and providing a new grill.
Wavle said an expanded menu will include more grilled foods, burgers and pizza options.
Dining Services include the Food Court, the Campus Grounds coffee shop and the Library Bistro. Conference Services include catering and booking conference rooms at IU Southeast.
Dining and Conference Services are merged together because of the close proximity between the office locations in the University Center.
By LEAH TATE
Staff Writer
lmtate@ius.edu
