Accustomed to Celebrating Staff, Joe Issa Says It’s Cool, Critical for Brand Success Smart-working Cool Corp Executive Chairman Joe Issa needs no excuse to celebrate one occasion or another; and when it comes to thanking his staff for their contribution to the success of his Cool brands, he goes all out, and even gets commendations for his innovative ways of creating the right ambience for a rocking party. Take, for example, the Cool Christmas party as far back as a decade ago. It was Friday night, just three days before Christmas and inside of one of Ocho Rios trendiest spot, Hard Rock Cafe was rocking with music and dancing and the best wine and cuisine money can buy, and this was all happening right across the pavement on the resort town’s famous Main Street, amidst some of Jamaica best known restaurants and bars. “The cool breeze in Ocho Rios on Friday night epitomised the ‘Cool Party’ that rocked the Hard Rock Cafe on Main Street in St. Ann,” was how the event was described, saying, “The cool duo, Joey and Asha Issa, sure knows how to fete their employees.” Issa brought closed the curtain on what he described as a "Cool" year, treating his employees with class and lavishing them with fine wine, a menu of delectable food, and fabulous entertainment, and rewarding all of those who “showed their stripes and served the Cool Corporation well with a token of appreciation.” Staff members with 10 years were also recognised for long service. They were: Blair Gonsoles, managing director of Cool Oasis. Vannette Brown, financial controller of Cool Oasis, Sydia McKenzie service station manager Brown's Town, Christine Jeffrey Cool Lubes administrative assistant and Juliet Hurst, assistant manager Cool Oasis, St. Ann's Bay.
In short speeches thanking his team before presenting the awards, Issa described them as “the best in any company in Jamaica.” In reflecting on the growth which the Corporation experienced over the last three years, the Cool Chairman said, “we have come a long way and we have a long way to go...let's push on and run Jamaica next year!” The team of the Cool Companies were dressed to impress in the latest fashion. Kahlil, the boy group from Montego Bay provided additional entertainment with a live performance from lover's rock to dancehall that thrilled the audience. Hits such as Dream Lover, and My Girl, had the crowd singing line for line but it was their rendition on Sean Paul's Temperature, and Give It Up To Me, that revved up the vibes. The peak of their performance came when they performed Tony Matterhorn's "Dutty wine" that saw Kay Wilson, general manager of Cool Card, doing her version of the dance, 'clean wine.' Some of the beautiful people who made the party included British-Trinidadian theatre actress Rebecca Aldred (nominated for best actress in Trinidad for her role in the play 'My Children, My Africa’); managing director for Quick Shots, Ravi Chatani; Bijou's director Bobby Chandiram; as well as Dani & Sandra Gonzalez of Beep Beep Tyres; Tanya Phillips, wife of National Meats chief executive officer David Phillips; Paul and Sandy Goldsmith of Car and Driver; and owners of Hard Rock Cafe, Sanju Chatani and his lovely wife Krisha, who gave Joey a plaque for creating the perfect set they have seen for a Christmas party.