SLO City News - November 1, 2007
A local husband-and-wife business team is moving corporate training out of the boardroom and into the kitchen in an effort to improve workplace relationships.
Kathy and Jeff Marcove, owners of Marcove Executive Training, have combined their talents and enthusiasm to create an effective interactive culinary team building business for companies looking to bridge barriers that may be affecting or limiting their employees' performances.
"Employees who cook together learn how to communicate, cooperate and solve problems as a team," Kathy Marcove says. "That can mean new potential for creativity and inspiration, and as a result, the team will take the business to the cutting edge of competition and bring ultimate success."
Pulling from 20 years of experience as a professional facilitator, master trainer and college business teacher, Kathy's wealth of knowledge coupled with her husband, Jeff's, passion for food, extensive experience as a culinary chief, educational background and practical work experience in international relationships, have allowed this dynamic duo to advocate the importance of teamwork in the workplace. Through a collaborative effort amongst coworkers, Marcove's executive training program focuses on different issues that may be a problem for corporations. The Marcoves design a curriculum and theme menu designed for their customers' needs and desires; whether a business's core needs are communications, participation, negotiation, appreciation, evaluation or problem solving, each retreat is strategically developed to target the issues at hand. Participants are divided up into teams that create gourmet meals, which in the end are enjoyed by everyone.
"For an exercise, this is not only fun, but productive," Jeff Marcove says. "Cooking produces an end result just like work."
The program offers different venues to host the six-hour events, allowing coworkers to get acquainted in a comfortable atmosphere outside of the workplace. The Marcoves have teamed up with such venues as wineries and bed and breakfasts to provide a relaxing setting for the perfect retreat.