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Cuyahoga Group Employee Spotlight: Willie Madison and Pamela Smith

July 12, 2019
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Cuyahoga Group Culinary Associates, Willie Madison and Pamela Smith, have been selected as our Employee Spotlight for July. This year marks Willie’s and Pamela’s 20th Anniversary of employment at The Cuyahoga Group. Their individual service and creativity, team effort, integrity and unwavering work ethic over the past two decades continues to strengthen all levels of operations at our Culinary Center in North Ridgeville, and they set a strong and solid example for colleagues and new employees.   

Congratulations on your 20th Anniversary with The Cuyahoga Group! Thank you for your dedication and hard work—we are grateful that you’re both part of our team! 

What is your role with The Cuyahoga Group?  
 
Willie: My current role is Chef at the Culinary Center; Past roles include Catering Division, Route Driver and Warehouse Receiving.   
 
Pamela: I work as a Culinary Associate at the Culinary Center. 

What do you like most about your job, and why?  

Willie: I enjoy creating a variety of foods that are good and appealing to our customers. 
 
Pamela:  I like working in a clean, safe environment and I like the people I work with. I’m proud to tell others where I work because it’s a great company to work for. 


Tell us a fun fact, or facts, about yourself: 

Willie: I play smooth jazz guitar and I’m also a jazz guitar instructor. 

Pamela: My husband and I just celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary on May 26th. I have four children and 18 grandchildren. I love cake decorating and baking. 
 
What is your favorite kind of food or meal?  
 
Willie:  BBQ ribs and chicken. 
 
Pamela: I don’t really have a favorite. 

What kind of music do you like? Do you have a favorite band or singer?  

Willie: Jazz and instrumental rock. 
 
Pamela: Any music from the 50’s and 60’s. 

Please share with us a goal you’d like to accomplish someday:  

Willie: I would like to travel to Egypt to see the Pyramid of Giza. 
 
Pamela: To travel to places I’ve never been. 

 
Thank you, Willie and Pamela, for participating in The Cuyahoga Group Employee Spotlight, and Congratulations on 20 Years of Service! 

Grilled, hot meals at work? A big, sizzling YES!

July 8, 2019
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Warm summer days means all-around, outdoor awesomeness, including the time-honored tradition of firing up the outdoor grill. July has been designated as  National Grilling Month, and at The Cuyahoga Group, we bring the savory, grilled and barbecued flavors of summer onsite, directly to your workplace! 

Our Mobile Dining Program brings hot, grilled meals to you! 

The Cuyahoga Group has the expertise to bring the best in daily-prepared, customized menu selections on-site, with our MobileDining Unit program. Fresh, homemade meals created in our Culinary Center are delivered same-day, complete with our culinary associates to serve your team. 


Our menu options change with the seasons, and our variety of meal selections include customized options and side dishes, like grilled veggies, chicken, or beef, or good old-fashioned burgers and hotdogs. Whatever your team craves, we deliver delicious summer meal options directly to you!  

We transform parking lots into summer grilling sensations! 

At The Cuyahoga Group, not only do we specialize in the very best in workplace Mobile Dining, Vending, Market and Office Coffee, our Catering Division chefs have years of experience and talent in creating morale-raising, outdoor grilling events at your company’s workplace parking lot—for all work shifts!  Tents, tables, chairs, set-up and clean-up—we do it all! 

Contact us Today! 

Whether you want to provide your team with grilled meal favorites with our Mobile Dining Unit, or you’re looking for a catered event outside, The Cuyahoga Group brings the greatness of grilling and the magic of summer to you!  
 
Contact us today—your employees will be glad you did!   

Cuyahoga Group Employee Spotlight: Patrick “Ox” Neligh

June 28, 2019
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For the past two years, Patrick “Ox” Neligh has worked at the Erie, Pennsylvania Branch of The Cuyahoga Group. In a short amount of time, Patrick’s strong worth ethic, ability to lead and work well with team members, excellent customer relation skills and positive attitude enabled him to quickly ascend to the role of Supervisor.  Patrick’s strong bonds with both customers and team members continues to strengthen operations and enhance customer retention in Erie. Congratulations, Patrick—we appreciate all that you do and we’re grateful that you are a part of The Cuyahoga Group team! 

What is your role with The Cuyahoga Group? 

Patrick: I’m currently employed as a Supervisor for the Erie Branch, and I worked previously as a Route Driver.   

What do you like most about your job, and why?  

Patrick: For me, personally, it’s the people! From our staff in Erie, to the company as a whole, and of course, our clients—I really enjoy being able to connect with and get to know people from all walks of life. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow—both personally and professionally. While everyone has their individual duties within the company, it really takes a “team” mentality to accomplish what we do, and I consider myself lucky to be part of this team.

Tell us a fun fact, or facts, about yourself:

Patrick: I really enjoy having the opportunity to coach my daughter’s youth soccer team during the summer months. I also enjoy getting out to the firing range from time to time to shoot pistols.  

What is your favorite food or favorite meal?  

Patrick: My favorite meal would include a Delmonico steak, and my wife’s strawberry shortcake.  

What is your favorite type of music, or favorite band or singer?  
 
Patrick: I’m a fan of all genres of music, from rock to early 90’s hip hop, and everything in between. My favorite band is the Dave Matthew’s Band.  

Please share with us a goal you’d like to accomplish someday: 
 
Patrick: My family and I would like to purchase our first home in the near future. I would also like to take my wife and daughter to Sicily, where I lived with my family for three years when I was younger.   

Patrick, thank you again for participating in The Cuyahoga Group Employee Spotlight!  

Cool Drinks & Tasty Eats are steps away, in your Breakroom!

June 21, 2019
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It may be the rainiest spring season we can remember, but hope is on the horizon. Summer officially arrives today, June 21, which also means it’s the summer solstice—the longest day of the year!

The first day of summer has been celebrated since the beginning of recorded history. At The Cuyahoga Group, we’re celebrating too, by promoting cool hydration with our thirst-quenching beverages, delivered as always, straight to your workplace.

Need a Cool Beverage? Just take a walk to your breakroom!  

From refreshing ice teas, to ice cold fizzy sodas, to tried, true and trending water product brands, we carry all the new and classic favorites in our Vending units and Markets that your team needs to stay hydrated, healthy and happy all summer long.  

Check out our QUENCH Your THIRST Promo: June 17 to June 28! 

Check out our “Quench Your Thirst” hydration promo at a Cuyahoga Group Market in your workplace!  Use your Market card to purchase Aquafina, Deja Blue, Life Water, or Smart Water products for a chance to win a Gift Card! Winners will be chosen at random and notified by a rep from your company. 

Hydration Programs at work? We do that! 

The Cuyahoga Group has the perfect Hydration Program to keep your team going strong and staying cool all summer. We deliver fresh fruit, popsicles, ice cream treats, and favorite brands of pure water products, energy drinks and refreshing cold teas. We even bring the ice and cups!  

For the best in Workplace Vending and Markets, contact us TODAY! 
 

Summer, fall, winter or spring, The Cuyahoga Group provides the very best in Vending, fresh food, Coffee and Market products and services.  From healthy snacks, beverages and classic favorites, to our signature subs, sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads and meal options prepared homemade in our North Ridgeville culinary center—we have the beverage, snack and meal options your employees need to bring refreshment and energy into their work day!  

And don’t forget the Catering! Whether your company is planning an Employee Appreciation Day, hosting out of town guests or holding a formal business gathering, our Catering team will create the perfect atmosphere to fit your event, at your workplace and for all three shifts—including our popular parking lot barbeque! 

To contact us, just click here—and let the summer hydration, elation and culinary sensation begin! 

Happy Father’s Day from The Cuyahoga Group

June 16, 2019
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The Cuyahoga Group salutes and honors fathers everywhere, with a special acknowledgement to the fathers who are part of our Cuyahoga Group team. We appreciate your hard work, and we know your dedication to your job begins and ends with supporting and caring for your family. 

Whether you are a single father, or you have a partner, we honor the sacrifice, unconditional love and commitment you bring into the lives of your children.   

We also honor the men who may not have the official title of ‘father’, but who nonetheless wholeheartedly stepped in to mentor, guide, support and care for a child: Stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, teachers, coaches and friends—you’ve made a child’s world a better place, which makes our world a better place.   

Father’s Day and Mother’s Day can be extremely difficult for those who are missing their loved ones today. So today we also honor the memory of fathers who are no longer with us, while embracing the memories and lessons taught, and knowing that a father’s love lives on forever, and they will never be forgotten. 

From The Cuyahoga Group family to yours, we wish every dad, papa and father a Happy Father’s Day! 

Dear donut, we love you

June 6, 2019
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Out of the way, chocolate chip cookie and your national holiday, because today is National Donut Day! Not that a popular cookie doesn’t deserve its own day, they’re amazing. It’s just that donuts have that certain extra-something, that flavor, texture and character—that is completely out of this world.  


No one in the world worships the sugary, velvety dough and variety of sweet fillings, icings and flavors of donuts like us Americans.  Which donut ranks as the number one favorite in the U.S? If you guessed the classic glazed donut, you’d be correct.  


The Cuyahoga Group is celebrating the occasion, because, well, who doesn’t love donuts, and all things baked and sugary sweet?  



Donuts & coffee, the perfect pairing for your work break!  

You’re at work, and it’s early morning, late afternoon, or two a.m. You have a steaming cup of freshly poured Cuyahoga Group Office Coffee, and all you need is one more thing to complete your break…something awesome and sweet—yes! A delectable donut or delicious pastry! We’ve got you covered! 


We bring the most coveted, tastiest and most popular brands of donuts and assorted pastries straight to your Cuyahoga Group vending units and markets. 

 
The history of the doughnut is magical yet complex  

The treasured donut has been around for eons, possibly dating back to prehistoric times.  Can you picture Neanderthals huddled near their caves, trading donut recipes? We can’t either, but it may have happened.  The true history of the humble donut is round, classic and complex, and in the end, it may be a box of donuts that inspires peace and love throughout the land.  This epic story is too fresh and delicious to summarize in one post, so if you’d like to learn more about the history of the donut, click here. 


The main takeaway?  Be good to your employees and for the love of humanity, contact the Cuyahoga Group to add year-round sweetness to your workplace—you’re employees will be glad you did!  


“Let a donut make a difference in your world” — Author Unknown  

The Cuyahoga Group helps you stay hydrated at work!

May 31, 2019
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Whether at home or at work, staying hydrated is key to overall health and wellness.  The first day of summer is just a couple of weeks away, and we know your team will need quick, easy access to pure water, refreshing cold brewed teas, and array of vitamin water products. That’s why The Cuyahoga Group provides the very best in water and beverage products in our Vending and Markets.  


Pure water is the center of workplace wellness initiatives, and we have the variety of water products that your employees want! From Deja Blue, Smart Water and Aquafina®, to Life Water® brands, to several more water brand options, The Cuyahoga Group makes it quick and convenient for employees to maintain healthy choices by keeping pure water and refreshing cold beverages stocked just a short walk away, in your office breakroom or on your warehouse or plant floor. 


Check out our Hydration Promo for all Markets in June! 

 From June 17 – 28, purchase Deja Blue, Smart Water, Life Water or Aquafina with your Market card for a chance to win a $10 Market Gift Card.  Winners are chosen randomly and notified by the end of June by a rep from your company. Be a winner and stay hydrated!


Hydration Programs at work? We do that!

The Cuyahoga Group has the perfect Hydration Program[Symbol] link to graphic to keep your team going strong all summer. We deliver fresh fruit, popsicles, ice cream treats, and favorite brands of pure water products, energy drinks and refreshing cold teas. We even bring the ice and cups!


Pure Hydration + Great Workplace Food = Good Vibrations 

Hydration alone isn’t enough! Your team also needs the fuel of great meals and quick snacks to stay cool and productive through the warm months. Enter our Summer Menu! This menu begins July 1 and runs through the end of September. From Monday through Friday, we deliver the freshest, on-the-go meal and snack favorites for our workplace Market and Vend Unit customers.


From tried and true favorites like our Cuyahoga Group signature line options, including Vinnie V Sausage, Egg & Cheese Croissant, Jimmy V Pizza and Grinder Subs, and Marty V Hot Dogs, to our popular Chicken Salad Wedges and Homemade Garden Salads, to favorite brand selections like Sabra Hummus, Sargento Cheese Strings, Hershey Chocolate Pie, Chobani Yogurt and Jack & Olive homemade meals, to numerous choices in between, we have the culinary options our customers want!  




Bevi® Water: Still, sparkling, pure and earth friendly! 

Bevi® was designed to provide workplace customers with natural, hydrating water with many natural flavor options—while removing the ecological destruction of throw-away plastic water bottles.


With Bevi®, our customers at The Cuyahoga Group have quick access to still or sparkling water, with numerous naturally sweetened and unsweetened flavor choices, ranging from unsweetened raspberry and unsweetened coconut, to orange mango, blueberry cucumber and blackberry lime.  


Refreshing, pure, delicious and easy to pour—just bring your own reusable water bottle! Contact us to bring Bevi® to your workplace!  


For the best in Vending and Markets, Contact us today! 

For 31 years, The Cuyahoga Group has delivered the best in Vending, Micro-Markets, Mobile Dining, Office Coffee and Catering services.  We provide meal, snack, coffee and beverage choices that your employees need to reenergize throughout the workday, without the hassle or expense of leaving the premises. To contact us, click here or call us at 800-901-8363.  

A Barista-Smoothie Bar Café at work? YES, we CAN!

May 22, 2019
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Wouldn’t it be grand to have a Barista-Smoothie Bar Café at your workplace? We already know that the answer is YES! Imagine taking a short walk or elevator ride to get a bold, silky Cappuccino, or a protein-packed, delicious Chocolate Avocado smoothie in mere minutes, without leaving your workplace. Well, now you can! 


The Cuyahoga Group is happy to announce the recent Grand Opening of our first-ever, full-service Barista Café – Smoothie Bar, located in the heart of Cuyahoga County’s vibrant eastside.  

Hundreds of employees at this newly renovated office facility are now enjoying the zip and great taste of artisan coffees, flavorful, natural smoothies and homemade baked delicacies, infusing a sense of renewal, zest and happiness into their workday! 
 

A Variety of Flavors for a Variety of Tastes! 

Our Barista Café – Smoothie Bar selections are many, and prices are well below artisan coffee shops. We use Fair Trade, organic beans and offer all the favorites, including Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha, Caramel Latte, White Chocolate, Mocha Americano, Espresso, Hot Chocolate, and flavored shots of White Hot and Chocolate.  


For a refreshing Smoothie, you can choose from our classic list, or make your own!  Selections include: Frozen Vanilla Latte, Frozen Mocha, Green Pomegranate Tea, Frozen Chai, Frozen Lemonade, Frozen Strawberry, Lemonade, Classic, Strawberry, Strawberry Banana, Chocolate PB2 Banana, Chocolate Avocado, Triple Berry, Pineapple Mango, Raspberry White Chocolate Swirl, Peach and Oreo Smoothie. 


Or, create your own smoothie! Fruit options include: Strawberry, Banana, Pineapple, Mango, Raspberry, Blueberry, Peach, Apple, and Avocado.  You can add these wonderful options: PB2, Chai Seed, Flax Meal Protein Powder, Honey or crushed Oreos. You can even choose your base: Greek Yogurt, Ice Cream, Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, or Lemonade.  

Fast, Affordable & Delicious Food & Beverage Options!  

Our workday is sometimes beyond busy, and we don’t have the time to leave the premises to take a break. We have solutions for that, and we know tastes vary, that’s why we bring a wide array of artisan coffees, smoothies and teas, great snacks, healthier meal options and homemade, hot meals to you! 


Employees can stop by our Barista Café – Smoothie Bar for a wide selection of fresh-brewed artisan coffees or natural, fruity smoothies, then later in the day, walk around the corner to get a delicious, hot, homemade meal at our Mobile Dining unit. For a fresh salad, healthy wrap, cool beverage or protein packed snack, our self-serve Market is also just steps away.

For a tour of our new Barista Café-Smoothie Bar, CONTACT US! 

Happy, nourished employees boost morale and productivity, so, to keep your employees energized all day, without ever having to leave the premises, contact Marlene Raulston, Director of Dining Services, at 330-322-1782.  
   

The Cuyahoga Group brings Great Taste to your Workplace! 

For 31 years, The Cuyahoga Group has delivered the best in Vending, Markets, Mobile Dining, Office Coffee and Catering services and products. We provide endless options of meal, snack, coffee and beverage choices that your employees need to reenergize throughout the workday, without the hassle or expense of leaving the premises. To contact us, click here or call us at 800-901-8363.

Happy International Day of Families!

May 15, 2019
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May 15th is designated as International Day of Families. At The Cuyahoga Group—a family owned and operated company, we understand that family bonds bring strength, well-being and support to all facets of our lives.   

Family- and veteran-owned and operated since 1988, family values of dedication, hard work and being true to your word, exist on all levels of The Cuyahoga Group. Jim Variglotti,  U.S. Navy Veteran, is the Founder and CEO of The Cuyahoga Group; his son, Vince, a U.S. Navy Veteran, serves as President; and Jim’s daughter, Carla Variglotti, serves as Vice President. To learn more about our history and mission, click here.  

Our Customers and our Employees are Family too! 

We consider Cuyahoga Group customers and team members as part of the family, and that’s a two-way street—building strong partnerships that are created by trust. For more than 30 years, the commitment to The Cuyahoga Group customer family hasn’t changed: To bring the best in quality  Vending, Markets, Mobile Dining, Office Coffee,  and Catering services to our customers.  


Our handshake is our word, and trust is paramount, that’s why The Cuyahoga Group goes the extra mile to make sure your team members know they can trust us to deliver affordable, quality snack, meal and beverage options that they need to stay nourished and energized throughout their workday.


Just as our commitment to our customers hasn’t changed in more than 30 years, the same is true of our  commitment to our employees: When you take care of family, they take care of you. That’s why we support the efforts of all our Cuyahoga Group team members, from our route associates, to our office team, to our warehouse associates, to our executive  team.  We offer pay incentives, excellent health benefits, opportunities for advancement, tuition reimbursement programs and much more.  For information on joining The Cuyahoga Group team, click here.  


To contact us to learn more about the workplace culinary offerings at The Cuyahoga Group, click here.  

Cuyahoga Group Employee Spotlight: Yolanda Parker

May 10, 2019
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Yolanda Parker, Staff Accountant at The Cuyahoga Group, has been selected as our June Employee Spotlight. For the past 12 years, Yolanda has been an integral part of our team.  Her experience at The Cuyahoga Group spans Accounting, Human Resources and Payroll, and her wide array of operational knowledge brings efficiency and strength to our day-to-day operations. Moreover, her excellence in attention to detail, follow-up, unwavering work ethic and ability to create strong bonds with colleagues, continues to be an invaluable benefit to all of us at The Cuyahoga Group. We are grateful that Yolanda is part of our team, Thank you!   

What is your role with The Cuyahoga Group? 

Yolanda: I have been working at The Cuyahoga Group for twelve years.  I currently work in the Accounting Department as a Staff Accountant, and I previously worked as Payroll Specialist, and Human Resources Specialist.   

What do you like most about your job, and why?  

Yolanda: With my years of experience, being open to learn different roles has allowed me the opportunity to assist people in different capacities within the company.  In my early years, a franchise owner once told me, “Learning all aspects of a company shows you how to be a greater asset to that company.”   

Working with the day-to-day team provides me knowledge, vision, and offers me creative ways in making myself effective.  Self-improvement is one aspect I like about working at The Cuyahoga Group—the company provides opportunities to gain greater knowledge to accomplish goals that anyone wants to reach.   

Tell us a fun fact, or facts, about yourself: 

Yolanda: I love shoes. I dream about having a shoe closet like Goldie Hawn had in the movie Overboard. 

What is your favorite food or favorite meal?  

Yolanda: I don’t have a favorite food, but I really don’t like soup.  

What is your favorite type of music; or favorite band or singer?  
 
Yolanda: My favorite type of music is gospel music, because it brings me serenity and peace. 

Please share with us a goal you’d like to accomplish someday: 
 
Yolanda: I’m currently accomplishing my goals by earning my master’s degree and getting my son ready for the next stage of his life. 

Yolanda, thank you, for participating in The Cuyahoga Group Employee Spotlight and Congratulations!