Spotlight on Jeanette Rolla, Senior Account Manager, IMI Agency

SPOTLIGHT ON Jeanette Rolla

Senior Account Manager

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I joined IMI in October of 2017 as an Account Manager to oversee the Aramark Sports & Entertainment Adult Beverage Program. After 20 years of onpremise food & beverage management, I was excited to find a role that would capitalize on my experiences and keep me in the industry I love, while still allowing for that sought-after work/life balance. The last three and a half years have flown by as I learned an entirely new aspect of the F&B business. I specifically have enjoyed being part of a team with such a diverse background of knowledge and experiences. The collaboration and resources are endless! Prior to joining IMI, I worked as a Premium Director with Aramark Sports & Entertainment for six years at Citi Field and Wells Fargo Center, consecutively. While this last year brought a lot of change in how we do our business, it also brought the happiest of personal changes: my engagement!

What are your responsibilities within IMI?

I focus on curating beverage programs with my clients. The process always starts with selecting partners and brands that make sense for different occasions and experiences, in addition to those that drive revenue and appeal to a wide variety of guests and fans across the country. I’ve concentrated on cultivating relationships with the client and suppliers to provide operators with resources in

mixology, beverage trend insights, onsite or virtual training and education, as well as service innovation and creative menu design. Over the last year, I have expanded into providing unique virtual tasting experiences to keep operators engaged with the program.

With your work with Aramark, you probably can’t have one favorite sports team, but do you?

As I was growing up on Long Island, my uncle sparked my love for baseball and the New York Mets by bringing me to many games at Shea Stadium. When I started working at Citi Field in 2011 with Aramark, it was literally a dream come true to walk the halls with some of the legends I had grown up watching on the field.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I love to be outdoors, at the pool, running the trail along the Chattahoochee River, or kayaking down it.

What is your favorite adult beverage?

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

What is your favorite travel destination?

My first overseas trip was to Italy in 2014, and it sparked my passion for international travel. The history, culture, marketplaces and food surrounding the city of Rome paired with the beaches of Positano and Capri make up my ideal vacation.

Tell us about that adorable dog of yours!

I rescued Tucker in 2015. I fell in love with his underbite and signature snaggletooth while volunteering at a shelter in Philadelphia and had to adopt him. He quickly became my travel companion and has adventured everywhere with me. We lovingly call him the mascot of the Atlanta IMI office. Supporting local charities is extremely important to me and most recently, Tucker won Georgia’s Cutest Pet Contest and raised over $1,000 for the Atlanta Humane Society.