Regal’s Corporate Magazine
SUMMER 2019
Regal Essex
SUMMER 2019 at a glance
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PUBLISHER
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PATRICK GARLOCK
Promotions Manager
CONTRIBUTORS CARLY BASKETTE
Film Booker
IRENE GILLASPY
Corporate Editor
RODNEY GRIFFIN
Creative Director
MORGAN GRIMES
Engagement Coordinator
RICHARD GROVER
Vice President - Marketing & Communications
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DEREK HAGMAN
Director of Insights
KELLY HAWKINS
Vice President - Loyalty Marketing
DUSTIN HAYES
Graphic Designer
CHRIS NEWMAN
Loyalty Campaign Coordinator
HEATHER PETERS
Director of Public Relations
CHRIS SYLVIA
Vice President - Media
GINA VAN DYKE
Marketing Coordinator
HANNAH WHITSON
Public Relations Coordinator
Special thanks to all who contributed articles and photos for this issue of ACTION.
From the Publisher
Thank you for checking out the latest edition of ACTION! To those who have been reading along with us for some time, we say “Welcome Back!” and because we believe in Stan Lee’s philosophy that every issue is someone’s first issue, we heartily salute all initial readers of this publication. In this Summer 2019 edition, we review several locations that have opened or reopened in the last several months. These stories provide first-rate insight into our new design aesthetics that we can expect going forward. Also, we’ve included interesting recaps from a handful of the general managers who attended April’s GM Conference. This issue also features other noteworthy stories, from the corporate office to communities around the country. Although it technically began with the Winter edition, we are also very excited about our transition to a digital-only platform. Since we won’t have to meet those former pesky print deadlines, this transition allows us better capability in our attempt to keep the content of ACTION as current as possible. Further, we hope this digital format will give our readers the ability to easily reference previous issues—in case anyone is feeling a bit nostalgic. We always are open to innovative ideas for ACTION stories. If your location is doing something you think would make for an interesting read, or if you know of another location doing so, feel free to contact me or another member of the ACTION staff. We hope you enjoy! Patrick Garlock, Publisher
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Regal Essex Takes Manhattan by Craig Novoa, General Manager
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egal Essex Crossing opened-up to the lower east side of Manhattan on April 6, 2019 as part of the $1.1 billion investment to redevelop the area. Five of the nine buildings are now complete, and over 1000 new residences have been created in addition to 450,000 square feet of retail and office space. Just last week the iconic Essex Street Market moved into the new space below the theatre, and dozens of eateries have now popped up for people in the area to enjoy. As the opening GM, I had the privilege of putting together the diverse team that included both veterans and new hires alike. In order to fill the staffing ranks, we partnered up with local communit y agencies such as the Henr y Street settlement and NYC Hires, furthering Regal’s positive impact on the local economy and community. I am very appreciative of how hard the staff has worked and how well they blended together so quickly. We affectionately refer to each other as the “Lower East Side Dragons” and we try to volunteer together monthly while supporting the community showmanship service initiatives. Most recently, we marched with 30 friends and families at NYC’s Central Park for this Year’s AIDS walk fundraiser. As a native New Yorker, it was a real treat to be part of such a historic event
right here on the famous intersection of Essex and Delancey, which is deep in national his tor y. A s a local kid, I went to Queens College and Baruch col l e ge w h er e I s t u d i e d e d u c a t i o n and organizational psycholog y, so it was a wonderful opportunity to share what I learned from professors about coaching and leadership development. As a community volunteer I was thrilled to be able to work in a neighborhood where I met so many wonderful people over the year s, who are absolutely thrilled with the impact that the theatre is having in the neighborhood. It was especially fun to have my family so close by while going through the whole process and while doing the best I could to make my mother Carmen Novoa proud. As an employee of Regal over 25 years, it has been a true blessing to be given the opportunity to open such an important asset for the company, and we look forward to championing the brand with every expectation put before us. Special shout-out to all NY-1 and NY-2 teammates who came out and helped us during the run-up to the opening. Finally, I would like to thank all the mentors who helped guide me over the years, with special thank s going to my district manager Anthony Sautter who inspires me and keeps our team motivated every day.
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Regal Essex interior
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Regal Bricktown Charleston Reaches the South Shore in Staten Island by Gina Moreau, General Manager
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he process of opening this new venue occasioned a host of emotions. From beginning to end, this journey was filled with feelings of anxiousness, excitement, fear, encouragement and joy, all the elements of a great movie. Though challenging at times, the end result made it all worthwhile. Like any other large construction project, there were complications and challenges; some of these were expected, yet others were not. Thankfully, assistance from corporate always was swift and appropriate. Shane Abernathy, Director of Construction; Domenic Formica, our Project Manager, and our District Manager Anthony Sautter were just a phone call, car ride or plane ride away if we needed them. Being part of the hiring and training process for this location was essential for me to better know how to develop our team’s strengths. Although this undertaking proved to be challenging at times, the effort was definitely rewarded. Hopefully we can apply any ideas learned from this mission to Regal’s future locations. From ground breaking to grand opening, we are now moving full speed ahead to be a premiere Regal location, the best place to watch a movie!
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Regal Bricktown Charleston interior
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Regal Hits Vegas with Regal Cinebarre Palace Station by Melissa Hall, General Manager
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et’s start from the beginning. From the crazy amounts of stock, hiring 175 staf f members, and the days of training, how much more fun could it be? At Cinebarre Palace Station we did just that. It was fun getting ready to open for the public December 19, 2018. You always set goals for yourself at an opening and when you reach those goals you feel so accomplished. Opening a new location always has challenges. The best part is when you have an amazing team helping you through those challenges you all grow together and set the standards from day one. The hiring event was a huge deal especially for us. We needed to hire 175 staff members in a matter of days. We posted our job descriptions on numerous sites but Indeed was the way to go. Applications were coming in ever y 2 minutes. The service industry is huge in Las Vegas; we really lucked out with all the applications coming in daily. Posting on Indeed was the best source for us before our opening. We needed results and needed them fast due to our opening rapidly arising. We needed to hit the
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hiring number of 175 and the best way was through Indeed. Shauna from the training department was amazing. She has so much experience with opening and had so much advice to share. I was so excited and grateful to have her be here for my opening. Opening day was amazing to see everything we work so hard on come together. The guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful our building is. They loved the patio and design of the building. Everything came together so well and I’m so glad I got to share it with my team. We welcome new guests every day and once they see the whole Cinebarre experience, they always say this is their new favorite theatre and they will be back. No matter how many challenges you go through during an opening, the most rewarding part is seeing how happy the guests, staff members and managers are daily. We continue to get more and more regulars in the short amount of time we have been open. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Regal Cinebarre Palace Station.
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Regal Cinebarre Palace Station interior
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Regal Naples Makes A Glorious Comeback by Hannah Whitson
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ocated in the corner of Florida, the sunshine state, Naples has been home to Regal Holly wood since late 1995. With its great arch and welcoming foyer, no one could ever imagine the damage that Hurricane Irma brought. The category 5 storm did not show mercy to that Regal location. The theatre was forced to close its doors in spring of 2017. Despite the immense devastation, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Hurricane Irma’s destruction made way for the refurbishment and reopening of Regal Naples 4DX & IMAX. The new and most-definitely-improved site welcomed back its guests in style with a polished look and an expanded concessions menu. The theatre later rolled out further major additions including state-of-the-art IMAX and 4DX screens. Following its renovation, Regal Naples offers a top-of-the-line cinema experience and is a huge hit in all surrounding areas.
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Du r ing C h a r i t y D a y s , Re g al g u e s t s were treated to newly released films featuring Hellboy, Shazam!, Missing Link and Pet Sematary. Over $20,000 was raised for the local Habitat for H u m a n i t y o f C o l l i e r C o u n t y. S e v eral theatre staf f and Regal corpo rate employees played a key role in opening-night celebrations. Following the grand opening, Regal Crown Club members enjoyed the “Regal Treatment ” from Thursday, April 11, through Thursday, April 18, that in cluded a free small popcorn and soft drink with each ticket purchased. We are overjoyed to have rejoined the rank s of “ the best pl ace to watch a movie”! Following the renovation, Regal Naples offers a top-of-the-line cinema experience, and we would like to thank all Regal employees who took part in the rebuild for their dedication and help. This spot is now a staple in Naples and the neighboring communities.
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Regal Naples 4DX & IMAX interior
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Regal Key West Reopens Following Hurricane by Hannah Whitson
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ollowing the unforgiving rains and winds of Hurricane Irma, the smell of popcorn and sights and sounds of blockbuster films no longer infused the lobby and auditoriums of Regal’s Key West, FL location. Forced to close because of inclement weather, this left a dark, waterlogged building that had once brought entertainment happiness to the Key West community. But, as is said: the show must go on. Af ter years of thought ful pl anning, construction and community outreach, Regal Key West reopened its doors in the spring of 2019. The theatre’s red carpet was rolled out for eager guests
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to enjoy a glorious remodel of this oncedestroyed address. Regal ensured this location achieved its companywide mission of being the best place to watch a movie by upgrading to a new sleek design and offering an expanded concessions menu. Amenities to be found at Regal Key West are a full-service bar that provides hand-crafted cocktails, luxury recliner seating, six screens for showcasing blockbuster movies and several premium-viewing formats. Regal continued its commitment to give back to the communities in which it operates by inviting guests to enjoy Charity
Days from March 24 to 26, funds from which were donated to the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America. Charity Days included the themes of “Regal Family Fun Day,” “Movies You Love at Regal” and “Regal Superheroes for a Cause.” During this three-day period, over $21,000 was raised for the charity, and Regal representatives proudly presented a check to the organization at the theatre’s reopening night celebration on March 28. With such a vibrant entertainment scene and community enthusiasm in Key West, Regal is ecstatic it could introduce a beautifully renovated theatre and continue to invest in such a celebrated location.
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Regal Key West VIP celebration night
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GMs Get a Glimpse of the Future at the 2019 General Managers Conference Chrisie Lancaster, Franklin Square #1845 he 2019 General Managers Conference filled us with memories. Tuesday night we star ted the week with a greeting from CEO Mook y, which was followed by a great dinner, best practice recognition and longevit y recognition awards. The night ended with a poolside af ter-par ty that was a lot of fun. The band, free drinks and a dessert of cheesecake bites were great! People were dancing and socializing under the Florida moon and it was nice seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
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Wednesday started with trailers for upcoming movies we were all excited to see, some of my favorites of the week being Rocketman, My Spy and Coming 2 America! There was plenty of material for horror fans too, although I’ll admit those trailers sounded very scary so I kept my eyes closed for them. It was exciting to hear about all the new features coming soon, especially that Till Sharing would arrive at all cinemas by July. Other great new things that were announced included getting skins for employee RCC cards and trailer automation, something that has been eagerly anticipated and everyone was very excited to learn. I am also happy to see the Vista undo button coming in because I think it is the greatest thing ever to happen to Vista. Wednesday night everyone dressed to impress as awards were given out and I think it is awesome that Jackie McClure won the CEO Award; she is very deserving of it. It is also nice to work for a company that appreciates the need to have women in leadership positions. Be-
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Jackie McClure accepting the CEO Award ing a woman in 2019, I’m excited to see our company take such a progressive approach to hiring more women. On Thursday, we learned about the extraordinary refurbishing of many of our current cinemas with state-of-the-art technology. And that night we were treated to dinner at Universal Studios, which included getting to stay in the park for two hours after closing time! I want to say “thank you” to Regal for another successful General Managers Conference. Courtney Ortiz, Mashpee Commons #1718 Regal strives to be the best place to
watch a movie, and at the 2019 GM Conference in Orlando, the company also worked to make it feel like it’s the best place to be a General Manager. As a firsttimer, I was impressed with the organization, food, freebies and fun! The hotel was beautiful and the complimentary food and drinks were great! I can’t tell you the last time I went on a trip where all my food and drinks were included (never, I think?). Then, on top of that, the freebies: a sturdy Regal backpack and travel mug, a lot of fun swag at the Trade Show and a Fitbit for everyone; it doesn’t get much better than that! Seeing all the employees recognized for their hard work at the first-ever Regal Gala was wonderful and the trip to Uni-
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Matt Eyre addresses the GM Conference summer 2019
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versal Studios was one of my favorite things about this conference. Enjoying a movie theme park and having the place to ourselves in the evening was an unforgettable experience (especially not having to wait in line to ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts!). But I have to say, the best part about this conference for me was getting to meet new people. Not only did I get to better know my fellow GMs from NY-4 (thank you for riding E.T. Adventure with me!), but I was able to meet managers from all over the country as well as many of the corporate office employees. A special thank-you to Brandi and Becky from the Film Department for sitting with me opening night until I could find my district! It was great to finally be able to put faces to the names that I see in my inbox day in and day out. The 2019 GM Conference was certainly a memorable experience for me and I can’t wait until next year!
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Melony Gonazalez, Escondido #1805 Many of Regal’s general managers look forward to the Conference every year with high anticipation, and I include myself on that list. Not only is it an opportunity to hear from our leadership about both the exciting and, at times, challenging twists and turns that come with this business, it is also a time that we get to spend with our GM peers, sharing our common experiences and knowledge that only can come from someone else in our position in the field. To me this time with them in this setting is invaluable for that reason alone. Hearing from our leadership is equally important. Knowing that there is a team behind us working to make positive change in our theatres is vital to our morale. We may not always understand some of the changes, but every single GM I know puts their all into running their business, and knowing there is support is extremely important to us all. I had an amazing time at this year’s conference.
I thought that the addition of the Gala was a great one. It was so nice to see those rewarded for their efforts. The venue was amazing again this time around and Universal Studios was awesome! This year’s conference felt to be more of a relaxed and fun experience with just enough focus on business, necessary information and announcements. Altogether, I enjoyed my time in Orlando listening to feedback from other GMs, hearing from our Corporate Team and also some much-needed time away from the theatre to let our hair down for a little fun. As fun as it was, I certainly won’t miss the traveling, especially the way back home. It was pretty brutal for the six of us who traveled together as I am sure it was for many others. Not sleeping on Thursday night to make it to the airport on time for our flights early Friday morning, then flying to Seattle from Orlando, then to San Diego was harsh!
Thank you to those who coordinated the event for all their efforts in making these conferences enjoyable and invaluable experiences. I look forward to next year! Jennifer Fuller, College Station #1623 This year’s GM gathering marked our first “official” GM conference as part of the Cineworld family; we spent last year at CinemaCon and did not have a full GM conference. I was excited to see how the Cineworld focus and philosophy would shape this conference and I was not disappointed. I think this conference gave a lot of insight into the philosophy behind the changes we have seen happen in the past year and gave us the opportunity to learn about some exciting things happening in the future. The opening dinner always sets the tone and theme for the conference and this year it was “Back to the Future” and Mr. Khan and Mr. Grover did a fantastic job as
Doc and Marty McFly, respectively. I think it’s fantastic to see how much time and effort is put into the conference to make it fun and engaging for us. If you haven’t seen a picture of Mr. Khan as Doc, I highly suggest you seek one out! [Editor Note: Oh, don’t worry, we did!]
time and opportunity to interact with my peers. I think we work in a unique industry and I think the opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with our peers is an invaluable part of the conference experience. This was a great conference and I look forward to next year!
A new addition to this year’s conference was the introduction of the Gala Dinner and several new awards. I think recognition like this is always a welcome addition and I look forward to seeing it evolve in the years to come. The Trade Show is always a great experience and it gives us the opportunity to meet our vendors who always are so generous and which allows me to provide my staff with some great incentives.
Nick Dineen, Westpark #1005 This was my first year at the GM Conference and, I have to say, I had a great time! It was nice getting to meet up with everyone in as fun a place as Orlando as well as seeing some of the new friends I made in January in Nashville. Coming from California, we arrived on Monday and it left plenty of time for a quick trip to Disney World on Tuesday afternoon!
It would be easy to say that my favorite part of the conference was Universal Studios and while it was a blast, I don’t think anything compares to being given the
For me, the GM Conference felt like the ultimate Regal “pep rally,” a way for the corporate leadership to tell us about new things, treat us to a fun time, and get us excited about where the company and
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industr y are headed nex t. It was also refreshing to be working while not being at the theatre. My favorite parts of the conference were the Real Estate presentation and the Trade Show. The Real Estate presentation showing us all the renovation plans was fascinating. It really gives me a lot of excitement for the future of Regal and had me wanting to be at one of those theatres. The Trade Show was a fun way to get to know various departments and vendors, and the gifts were a fun bonus. And of course, as a nice little bonus, we couldn’t miss taking our pictures with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear! I had a great time in Orlando and I am excited for next year’s conference! Sarah Daw, Deer Park #692 Every year I look forward to attending
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the GM Conference to catch up with old friends as well as make new ones. It was incredible to hear how many new GMs were at their first conference.
was very entertaining, and a great host! Overall, it was a truly remarkable experience and I am hoping that the tradition will continue.
Another great aspect is interacting with corporate personnel whom you email frequently and being able to put faces to names if you have not already met them. Visiting the different departments was a highlight of the trade show and was one of my favorite parts of the conference.
Another amazing part of the conference was being able to be in Universal afterhours and to have specific areas of the park open. We went through the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and had access to everything as if the park was not closed. It was an awesome experience and we also got free Butter Beer!
The Gala Dinner was another great aspect of the conference. Seeing fellow colleagues nominated as the best GMs in their Districts and DMs of their Region is something that has never been done in that way before. I think it was fantastic to see that sort of recognition. Additionally, it was great that corporate personnel were awarded for their contributions to everyone in the field. Matthew Hoffman
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Matt Basford named Knoxville’s 40 Under 40 by Carly Baskette
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Keep your head on a swivel. Look for opportunities to help those around you. Don’t wait for someone to ask for help.
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ach year, Knoxville’s Knox.biz magazine recognizes exceptional professionals with induction into the “40 Under 40” club. In January, Regal’s own VP of Technical Ser vices Mat t Basford was named to the Class of 2018 due to his outstanding achievements in business and his contributions to the community. Matt began working for Regal in 1998 as a film projectionist at the Knoxville Center. “I found out quickly that this was the part of the business I wanted to be in,” Matt said, “in the dark projection booth, not the front of the house. I’m a handson, mechanical kind of guy.” In 2001, he was offered a job in Tech Services as a booth technician, which required him to relocate to Nashville. Unfortunately, after nearly three years in that position, Matt was in a car accident that left him wheelchair-bound for four months. Unable to perform many of the physical duties of the job, he returned to Knoxville to receive rehabilitation for his injuries. Thankfully, he was able to secure a different position within the department. That turn of events ended up bringing about one of the proudest moments of Matt’s career when he spearheaded Regal’s conversion from 35mm film to digital cinema. “I developed, designed,
schedul ed and over s aw that w hol e project,” Matt explained. “At the time, it was the largest conversion from film to digital that any exhibitor in the world had accomplished.” Matt serves on the Young Variety board and on the executive board at Hope Resource Center, a local cost-free medical center for pregnant women. “They provide everything from ultrasounds to pregnancy tests to well-woman care. If you need a car seat, whatever you need, it’s all free of charge.” In addition to his professional achievements and contributions to his community, Matt related that his greatest personal accomplishment is being a husband and father. He’s been married to his wife Kristi for 18 years and has two children: Macy, 10 and Ryan, 13. Matt has advice for young people who aspire to make an impact in their communities and workplaces. “Keep your head on a swivel. Look for opportunities to help those around you. Don’t wait for someone to ask for help,” he advised. “If you see something that needs to be done, pick it up and do it. If you see something that could benefit the company, come up with an idea, come up with a solution, present that solution and run with it.”
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People On The Move by Patrick Garlock Brandon Stroud oinciding with his 20th anniversary being with Regal occurring in July 2019, along with his recent appointment as Vice President of IT Operations and Logistics, affords Brandon Stroud much to celebrate.
Derek Hagman Recently appointed as Director of Insights, Derek Hagman is a self-described cinephile. “I love to go to the movies, particularly on opening weekends; I really enjoy the energy of a theatre full of people as excited to be there as I am!”
Starting with Regal at Knoxville Center when he was just 16, Brandon greatly enjoyed his time at the theatre. “This was a fun time to work in the cinema,” he said, “and many of the people I worked with at the Knoxville Center are still with the company today.”
Although he didn’t come from the theatre level prior to joining Regal’s Marketing Depar tment, Derek views his long-time love of movies as a linked experience for an entr y way into this exhibition business. “When I had the opportunity to join Regal,” he said, “I knew I had to jump at it. Five years later, I still get excited anytime someone asks me what I do for a living and I get to talk about working in this industry.”
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After two years as a member of floor staff, Brandon moved to a position with the corporate office in its IT department. In his time in the department, he has held various roles: corporate desk support, project management and theatre infrastructures. In addition to the professional development during his Regal time, Brandon’s personal life also gained an added benefit. “I met my wife at the cinema in the summer of 1999,” Brandon noted. “Because of this, I am constantly reminded of the impact this industry and company has had on my life.” He and his wife have two children and Brandon noted that some of his favorite things to do outside of the office include helping his kids with cub scouts, junior golf (a sport which he also enjoys), piano and gymnastics. Of course he also loves movies, with the Steven Spielberg-directed Close Encounters of the Third Kind being his favorite flick.
That love of the industry led Derek to his favorite moment with the company so far. “I got to go to my first CinemaCon this year. What an experience!” he said. “I really enjoyed being around so many people from all over the globe who are as passionate about the industry as I am.” Although originally from Minnesota, Derek has had plenty of experience in SEC-country, getting his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida before receiving a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee.
Brandon Stroud Vice President of IT Operations & Logistics
Derek Hagman Director of Insights
Derek and wife Lindsay have two daughter s, four- year- old Lena and Annika who just turned one. In his spare time, Derek enjoys playing golf—although he noted that he loves golf “more than it loves me.”
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Regal Announces Appointment of Seven New District Managers by Patrick Garlock
Debbie Midgett, OR-05 t was chance that led Debbie Midgett to a career in the theatre industry that has lasted for 35 years. Offered a job at her local Cobb theatre in Port Charlotte, FL when she was just 15 by her friend who was moving to New York, Debbie quickly moved up the ranks of theatre operations, first becoming an Assistant Manager at 18, then becoming General Manger of Cobb Cinema Center 8 when she was 21.
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While at Cinema Center 8, Debbie had one of her most enjoyable moments when her team won 1st prize in the 101 Dalmatians promotion contest. Some other highlights from her time in the field include donating $13,500 to Atlanta Humane Society and her location obtaining an entire calendar year of perfect scores on blind checks.
Minh Duong, LA-06 With a nearly 25-year career with Regal, Minh Duong has held a multitude of positions within the company. Coming from Elmonte, CA, Minh first started in the industry out of high school when he took a job as Usher at the Edwards Alhambra Pl ace 6. Within six months, he was promoted to Associate Manager. Soon he earned his first GM position at the Monterey Mall 3 before returning home to run the Alhambra Place 6 for the next six years. After his time at Alhambra Place, Minh took several other GM positions throughout the California area before reaching his most recent post at the Regal Hacienda Crossings.
Debbie’s career as a GM lasted nearly 30 years where she worked primarily on the western side of Florida until moving to Atlanta to open the Regal Avalon.
What has he learned from his time with Regal? “Being a part of the Regal Team really gave me insider knowledge into how the industry works,” Minh said, “and I was able to develop my skills. I had a great group of professionals that I worked under. I’m excited to use what I learned there with my new team.”
Debbie and her husband Trever love traveling, attending sporting events and spending time with their dog, a 17-yearold chihuahua named Molly, which is fitting as Debbie lists A Dog’s Purpose as one of her favorite movies.
Jeannie Moore, OR-04 Jeannie Moore has had a long a long history with the entertainment industr y. Graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre, Jeannie taught adjunct college classes while audition-
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Debbie Midgett District Manager, Orlando
Minh Duong District Manager, Los Angeles
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Jeannie Moore District Manager, Orlando
Jamie Vandiver District Manager, Seattle
Ruben Fernandez District Manager, Orlando
ing for roles. Career highlights include working with the NC Shakespeare Festival as well as performing in a McDonald’s commercial.
Jamie Vandiver, SE-04 Jamie Vandiver had an early introduction to the role of theatre management, becoming an assistant manager at 17 before get ting her f ir st GM position at 19. While operating in a GM capacity, Jamie ran five dif ferent theatres: Capital Mall in Olympia, WA, Fireweed in Anchorage, AK, Diamond in Anchorage, Marysville in Marysville, WA and Barkley Village IMAX & RPX in Bellingham, WA.
household as the name of all the family members start with the letter “J”: Jamie, Jeffrey, Joshua, James, Joey and Jessie.
It was during her time at Barkley Village that Jamie had her favorite experience in the theatre industry when she helped open the venue in December 2012. “After running older theatres for so long , it was an incredible experience to open a brand new one, deciding where everything goes, setting it all up, hiring the team,” she said.
Ruben has been involved in the theatre industr y for 28 years. While going to school, he started with Loews Theatres in May of 1991. By November of that same year, he was promoted to Assistant Manager. He worked in that position at several locations before taking his first GM post in 1995. Ruben worked at several locations in this role before joining Regal in February of 2009 when he became General Manager of New Roc in New Rochelle, NY.
Although she had experience with the performing arts, Jeannie started her career in the restaurant business. It wasn’t until 2000 that she joined Consolidated Theatres, where she was quickly promoted to General Manager. Debbie transitioned her role to Regal in 2008 following the company’s acquisition of Consolidated. She continued to develop her skills by working at multiple locations throughout her Regal tenure. “It is a wonderful industry,” she said, “and I love going to work every day. My favorite experience in the industry is developing and helping staff to succeed.” Debbie noted that her favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption. “Stephen King just knows how to tell a good story,” she noted.
Jamie and her husband have three kids and a dog. Consistency is key in their
Ruben Fernandez, OR-01 Born and raised in the Lower Eastside of New York City to parents from the Caribbean, the theatre indus tr y has always been in Ruben’s back yard, quite literally now since Regal Essex is located right behind his alma mater Seward Park High School.
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Actually, the posting to the District Manager position in Orlando is Ruben’s second time holding that title. He was DM over the N -8 distric t from 2011-2015 before deciding to move to Florida and take over the Regal Pavilion & RPX’s GM position
In his time with Regal, Timothy couldn’t list just one thing as his favorite moment. “Several things,” he said, “meeting so many talented people, seeing the industry evolve, and movies in general. Speaking of movies, which film does Timothy list as his favorite? The Last Samurai.
With the longevity Ruben has had in the industry, what is it about his job that allows him to enjoy it so much? “I enjoy the different people I get to meet on a daily basis,” Ruben explained, “and through this industry is how I met my wife!”
Monty Gomez, OR-2 Originally hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Monty Gomez has traveled across the country during his time in the film exhibition industry.
Timothy Columbo, SE-5 Starting any job when you’re just 17 can be quite intimidating but if you have great leadership, often you can flourish. Timothy Columbo learned that when he started as an Usher for then GM and now-Regional VP of Operations Sherry Mulberr y. “She helped put me on the path to management,” Timothy said, “and I can’t thank her enough.” That path to management has led Timothy around the country where he’s held GM positions at Hollywood IMAX in Ocala, FL, Deer Park in Deer Park, NY, Butler Town Center in Gainesville, FL, Pinnacle IMAX & RPX in Knoxville, TN and LA Live 4DX in Los Angeles, CA. When not working, Timothy loves spending time with his wife of 12 years Renae and their two kids Jaxon and Kaydence.
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Monty knew the importance of a first impression as he got his first job in the business with the Loews East Hanover location where he was the first employee hired when it opened in 1993. Quickly rising up the ranks, first to Supervisor, then Assistant Manager, Monty took his first GM job with Regal in 1998 by accepting the post at Regal North Bergen. Other locations where Monty has run include New Roc City in New Rochelle, NY and Texas Station in Las Vegas, NV, both of which saw attendances over a million. The new position doesn’t mean just a career change for Monty, but for his wife as well. Mont y’s wife Aremihalli has worked for Regal for 17 years and will have to leave her position as GM at Red Rock IMAX. “We are equal parts excited and scared of this new journey,” Monty said, “but we have high hopes that the future will be bright on this road.”
Timothy Columbo District Manager, Seattle
Monty Gomez District Manager, Orlando
I N TH E FI EL D
Chief Operations Officer Matt Eyre Polos Up at Regal Davis by Morgan Grimes
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ast year, for an entire shift, Chief Operations Officer Matt Eyre donned a black-and-blue Regal polo and worked behind the concessions stand at the Regal Davis 5 in Davis, CA to celebrate the theatre reaching a milestone no other Regal location had reached, receiving 24 perfect checker reports in a row. Many locations had achieved 12 perfect ratings over the years during which their Directors of Operations or Regional VPs of Operations had participated in their Polo Up shifts. However, no other theatre ever reached 24, so Davis entered unchar ted waters! Eyre agreed that this was an accomplishment worth celebrating and joined them in California to put in his shift.
“He was very friendly and made everyone feel at ease. It was a fairly slow night, but Mr. Eyre jumped in and helped with ushering, concessions and even fixed a popper that acted up. We all enjoyed having him join our team, even if it was for only one night.” When asked about his experiences as a member of the theatre’s team, Eyre said “Although a slow night, it was a great time getting to know the Davis 5 staff. I really enjoyed my experience with them and I was glad I was finally able to make it out to go back to the floor for a night!” When the program ceased in 2018, Regal Davis had received the highest number of perfect scores in the company: 35!
“It was great having Mr. Eyre do a Polo Up at our location,” said GM James Raulien.
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I N TH E FI EL D
Bohemian Rhapsody Video Challenge by Morgan Grimes
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ast year, Regal was challenged by our Cineworld colleagues across the pond to create our own version of a hit from Queen after the team at Cineworld Northampton went above and beyond, creating at their cinema their very own lip sync video to Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Naturally, we answered the challenge with the combined teams of
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Districts NY-01 and NY-02 and showed them that “We are the Champions”! The contest was a congenial way to join the U.S. and U.K. teams and both cou n ter p ar t s f elt appr e c iably co n nected. All participants and their colleagues were thrilled to take on the challenge of creating their own videos.
If you’d like to watch Cineworld Northampton’s video, go to this YouTube link to check it out: https://youtu.be/rae4T8Ztwfk If you’d like to view the New York City response, go to this YouTube link to check it out: https://youtu.be/cvovFfEaBzA
I N TH E FI EL D
Host Matthew Hoffman at Irvine Spectrum
Regal Gets to Avengers: Endgame with 22-Movie Marvel Marathon by Morgan Grimes
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egal hosted the Marvel Marathon from Tuesday, April 23, to Thursday, April 25, at the Regal Edwards Ir vine Spectrum and the Regal Atlantic Station. The Marathon included 22 movies over a three-day period, ending with the cap stone to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame, and what an amazing three days it was! Studio-provided items were spread out each day to continue the surprise and
delight of each marathoner. On day one, they gave out Marvel blankets and care kits (which af ter three days came in handy!). On day two, Marathon shirts were distributed and on day three, a limited-edition poster and coins were presented. Along with all the trivia prizes, guests were very happy with the haul. Irvine Spectrum’s host Matthew Hoffman was just a crowd favorite, keeping guests enthusiastic with his contagious
energy; during breaks, Matthew hosted trivia to continue the fun. By the third day, the crowd became like family, some joking about having Thanksgiving together. That experience is one they will carry with them for a lifetime. A big “ thank you” to General Managers Jacob and Roger and their teams for being fantastic hosts and proving that Regal is the best place to watch a movie!
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U N TI TLED
Devon Solwold (left) and Shayain Lakhani (right)
Savannah’s Choose Happy Chosen as Coca-Cola Regal Films Winner by Chris Newman
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hen gues ts sat down in Regal theatres across the country for the blockbuster opening weekend of Avengers: Endgame, they were treated to the latest Coca-Cola Regal Films-winning short clip Choose Happy. Hundreds of thousands of eyes viewed Director Devon Solwold’s and Producer Shayain Lakhani’s 30-second movie. “We had the pleasure of seeing it premiere with Avengers: Endgame, which truly brought things full circle for us,” said Solwold. “Films like Endgame, with massive spectacle and movie magic, are what inspired us most in making Choose Happy. To see it play right before our film was a dream come true and a pivotal moment in both of our creative lives.” Filmed at Regal Charles Towne Square, the process of filming Choose Happy was intense for the cast and crew as they
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worked overnights and long hours. Solwold said it was truly humbling and they couldn’t have done it without the cast’s and crew’s perseverance. Students at Savannah College of Ar t and Design (SCAD), Solwold and Lakhani were announced as the contest winners at the 2019 CinemCon in Las Vegas. The duo’s film was selected from over 500 submitted scripts. Of those 500, only five were produced and theirs was chosen as frontrunner. Olivia Wilde ser ved as the celebrit y ambassador for this year’s program and mentored the two. What advice did Wilde, who herself had just finished her feature-length directorial debut, give the filmmakers? “The best advice she gave us was this: ‘Tell the stories that NEED to be told, and that only YOU can tell,’” Solwold said. “This hit home for
both of us and we will carry it close to our hearts as we move forward in our filmmaking careers.” Solwold and Lakhani seem poised to follow her advice with their next project, the short film American 11. “American 11 examines the aftermath of September 11, 2001 through the eyes of Nabeel, an 18-year-old Muslim-American who lost his mother to the 9/11 attack,” Devon explained. “He navigates his newfound identity as he battles grief compounded by the Islamophobia injected in post-9/11 America. We are in development for the feature-film treatment of this story.” Now in its four th year, the Coca- Co l a Regal Fil ms col l aboration wor k s to provide oppor tunities for student filmmakers to showcase their talents and ideas.
COCA- CO L A REGAL FI L MS
A special thanks to all the GMs, DMs and theatre staff that helped with yet another successful Coca-Cola Regal Films program!
Charles Town Square #383, Jeannie Moore, DM Mark Flipps, Deputy GM SCAD, Choose Happy Devon Solwold, Director Shane Lakhani, Producer 2019 Coca-Cola Regal Films winning short clip Choose Happy
Commerce Center #442, Anthony Sautter, DM Jason Shapiro, GM NYU, You Didn’t Know That Cooper Peery, Director Tyler Sanchez, Producer
E-Walk 4DX & RPX #1929, Anthony Sautter, DM Andre Levy, GM
Union Square ScreenX & 4DX #1320, Robert Fiandra, GM The New School, Exchange Thais Vitorelli, Director Jamie Rabinovich, Producer
La Habra #704, Shaun Mullen, DM Gregory Forbes, GM UCLA, It Happened Like This Nathan Nguyen-Le, Director Elon Zlotnik, Producer Olivia Wilde with student filmmakers
Cast and crew at Regal Charles Towne Square
Texas Station #836, Ian Anselmo, DM Jeffrey Amico, GM University of Nevada Las Vegas, 3 Wishes Nicolle Petersen, Director Lily Campisi, Producer
To learn more visit REGmovies.com/promotions/ coca-cola-regal-films summer 2019
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Shine for a brighter tomorrow! by Heather Peters
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egal’s 17th annual Stars of Hope campaign wrapped up Sunday, July 7, after a successful 10-week run. This year’s campaign was launched on Regal’s busiest opening weekend ever, the April 25th premiere of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame. Throughout the campaign period, the theatres showcased signage featuring our new Stars of Hope logo. For the first time, the campaign went paperless to keep costs down and our theatre lobbies clutter-free; Regal ticket kiosks provided
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the option for moviegoers to donate, and loyal Regal Crown Club members could choose to support Stars of Hope in the Reward Center. Stars of Hope is a significant outreach opportunity for local theatres to invite moviegoers to give back to their communities. Along with our annual Holiday Round Up initiative, it is one of two primary ways that Regal Foundation raises money. Collecting approximately $70 million since 2003, Regal Foundation has generously donated to local, regional and national
charitable organizations focused on assisting people with economic, social, physical or educational disadvantages. National partners of Regal Foundation include Boys & Girls Clubs of America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Variety–the Children’s Charity of Eastern Tennessee. We’re excited to report that the campaign raised more than $3.7 million. Kudos to all our theatres for their participation and for making such a difference in our Regal communities!
COM M U N I T Y
Corporate Office Participates in Habitat for Humanity Summer Build by Heather Peters
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n July 12, employees at Regal’s corporate of fice in Knox ville will participate in a half-day Habitat for Humanity build. For several years, Regal Foundation has generously partnered with Knoxville’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, sponsoring one of approximately 25 local houses built annually. Due to numerous employees desiring to be part of the build, the corporate office held a random drawing for those who expressed interest in putting their painting skills to the test. “A Regal build is one of the best builds for me,” said Regal’s Vice President of Payroll Joseph Marlowe who has volunteered with Habitat for 13 years and recently worked on his 60th house. “The dedication, hard work and skill we have in the Regal family is by far better than any other volunteer group I have worked with in my 13 years. As a group, we are efficient and deliver a quality result while having a blast every step along the way.” The homeowner of this year’s Regalsponsored house is a mother of two children who has been working tirelessly on her home and in the program to meet the required 500 hours of sweat equity. Although this mom works full-time in healthcare, securing a conventional mor tgage wasn’t possible. Thanks to Habitat, she and her children now will enjoy creating memories in a home of their own.
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COM M U N I T Y
Wish Fulfilled with Make-A-Wish Foundation - Avengers: Endgame Screening by Morgan Grimes
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ust like the Avengers films are full of heroes trying to make the world a better place, sometimes a fan’s braver y c an outshine even a superhero. Regal proudly par tnered with Makea -Wish Foundation to highlight that braver y and bring someone’s dream to reality! Evan’s dream was brought to life when he received in Knox ville the full redcarpet treatment with his own exclusive premiere of Avengers: Endgame. Evan, his friends and his family enjoyed a private screening of the film and an incredible red-carpet ceremony. Upon
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arrival, theatre team members, Makea-Wish Foundation volunteers, movie fans and Evan’s guests lined the carpet to welcome him to the theatre. Along with the Foundation’s other participants, the East Tennessee Chapter of Make-a-Wish “works to provide special moments for children with critical conditions and their loved ones to enjoy together!” Shor tly following his special event, Evan passed away. His humble spirit and braver y will be forever remem bered by Regal.
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CHARI T Y/COM M U N I T Y
by Hannah Whitson
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ne-dollar movie tickets are the perfect way to beat the summer heat through Regal’s Summer Movie Express program, a Regal incentive allowing enter tainment fans across the countr y multiple chances to enjoy family-friendly movies at their local theatres. This year, the program offers an exciting lineup of films on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, showcasing favorites that include
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The Secret Life of Pets, Minions and Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch. Since 1991, Regal’s Summer Movie Express program has been a fan-favorite entertainment option that has expanded with the company. For the 2019 season, nearly 350 Regal venues are participating and celebrating summer with a popular variety of kid-approved films.
A portion of the Summer Movie Express proceeds benefit Will Rogers Institute, an industry-related charitable organization that works to promote education and research surrounding cardiopulmonary diseases with the goal of eradicating such health issues. Regal is excited to partner with this incredible organization and looks forward to another fabulous season.
COM M U N I T Y
Regal Brings The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by Hannah Whitson
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miles lit the auditorium at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a special screening of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part began with a catchy remix of “Everything is Awesome.” Each year, Regal’s and St. Jude’s partnership brings a kid-friendly blockbuster film to the premises, offering patients the opportunity to experience all the fun and entertainment of at-home movies. “We were so touched by the children’s excitement for the movie, and seeing their enthusiasm firsthand made the event so impactful,” said Regal’s Director of Public Relations Heather Peters. “Bringing this
opportunity to St. Jude was truly the experience of a lifetime, and we are proud to support such an incredible cause.” St. Jude leads the charge for childhood cancer education and research, partnering with donors to ensure families never are turned away because of the inability to pay. Since the organization was founded in 1962, the childhood cancer survival rate has grown from 20% to more than 80%. Regal is proud of its long-standing partnership with St. Jude and continues to support the hospital as it works toward the imposing goal of eliminating childhood cancer in the coming years.
Regal team at St. Jude
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COM M U N I T Y
Active Employees Rewarded with Community Showmanship Award by Heather Peters
The following employees applied for and received a CSA in the last 12 months.
Kirk Allen - Team Lead, Regal Harrisburg / Whitaker Center Tabatha Buckner- Cash Management Accountant / Feral Feline Friends of East Tennessee Connor Burshears - Floor Staff, Regal Bella Bottega / King County Explorer Search & Rescue Mike Kennedy - General Manager, Regal Strawbridge Marketplace / Christopher Farms Elementary Angi Lanciano - Marketing Project Coordinator, Houston Region / Ainsley’s Angels of America Brandi Oliver - Assistant Manager, Regal Charles Towne Square / Salkehatchie Summer Service Robbie Pope - Director & Real Estate Counsel / Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee Mark Wall - Cinema Systems Engineer / AC Reynolds High School
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id you know Regal offers a Community Showmanship Award (CSA) to all employees? This award was designed to recognize our personnel who go out of their ways to assist those in need within their communities. All the volunteers are enthusiastic about the organizations for which they volunteer their time. Here’s what a few said about Regal’s CSA program: “The Community Showmanship Award is impor tant because it allows Regal employees to not just donate their time off work, but also provides money for an organization they feel passionate about.” – Kirk Allen “I appreciate that Regal recognizes employees who volunteer their time to better their communities. The Community Showmanship Award allows me to further help a charity that’s important to me.” – Tabatha Buckner “I love the Community Showmanship Award because it provides a great way to give back in suppor t of non-profit organizations. It truly helps to show how much Regal cares about its employees and what we do to be positive influences in our communities.” – Angi Lanciano
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Angi Lanciano (far left)
Brandi Oliver
“ I l o v e t h e Co m m u n i t y S h o w m a n s h i p Aw a r d b e c a u s e i t a l l o w s m e (with Regal pride) to give back to the school . T his award has encouraged me to go the extra mile in helping out.” – Mark Wall So how does CSA work? When a Regal employee volunteers for a U.S. based 501(c)3 organization for a specified num-
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ber of hours in a calendar year, Regal provides a grant to the organization on behalf of the company and the contributing employee. Regal believes in giving back to our communities and the CSA Award is one means to support that anchor of importance. For more information, contact Hannah Whitson in Marketing.
Mark Wall
Photo from phillyvoice.com
GU EST SPOTL I GH T
Regal Crown Club Member had 300+ Visits in 2018 ®
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egal Crown Club ® has incredibly dedicated members. When asked, most floor staf f members and managers would be able to quickly identi f y their loc ation’s top Crow n Club member. In most cases, that member probably has a usual seat in the auditoriums or a specif ic concessions order that Regal employees can have ready before the regular even gets to the stand. “Our top Crown Club members are some of the most passionate moviegoers out there. We appreciate their loyalty and strive to offer them superior rewards
and recognitions,” said Ken Thewes, Regal’s CMO. T his pas t year, however, one Crown Club member, Glenn Miller, blew past others and was named Regal’s 2018 Top Customer. So, what led to Miller receiving the honor? He saw 316 films in the calendar year! With an average of 26-plus visits per m o n t h to his l o c al Re g al UA R i verview Plaza IMAX & RPX in Philadelphia, Glenn estimates he saw the films Black Panther and Creed II at least 25 times each, noting that the former is prob-
ably his favorite movie of all time. He added that in 2019 he was most looking forward to the films Avengers: Endgame or The Secret Life of Pets 2. Although he admits he’s not much of a popcorn guy, he did note that when he visits he prefers to order either Junior Mints or Buncha Crunch from Concessions. “Going to the theatre puts me in my comfort zone,” Miller said. “I enjoy the movies, the atmosphere and the people.” To celebrate his dedication, Regal rewarded Glenn with a private screening of his film choice and a $500 Regal gift card.
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I N OU R TH E ATRES
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Octavia Spencer
Gina Rodriguez
Octavia Spencer with Luke Evans
Spider-Man: Far From Home VR Station at Regal Essex
Men in Black: International VR Station at Regal Long Beach
Toy Story 4 at Regal Temecula
Toy Story 4 build a Forky at Regal Temecula
Something interesting going on in your theatre? Be sure to share your images with a member of the ACTION staff.
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GEM
In Memoriam
Guest Experience Management
Top Performing Cinemas - Overall Satisfation January 1 - June 30, 2019
Brunswick, Brunswick, ME GM – Jason Towle DM – Bob Jessman
Regal deeply appreciates the dedication and service of all its employees. We are saddened by the loss of the following employees who recently passed away. They will be greatly missed.
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Massillon, Massillon, OH 82 GM – Scott Youngblood DM – Bryan Kjar Brass Mill, Waterbury, CT GM – Rawson Sillsby DM – Bob Jessman
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MGM Springfield, Springfield, MA GM – Ashley Birkett DM – Bob Jessman
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Essex Crossing, New York, NY GM – Craig Novoa DM – Anthony Sautter
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Pointe Orlando, Orlando, FL GM – Shawnta Ives DM – Ruben Fernandez
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Nu’uuli Place Twin, Pago Plaza, AS GM – Isala Pauu DM – Minh Duong
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Columbiana Grande, Columbia, SC GM – Dana Sykes DM – Jeannie Moore
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Hudson Cinema, Hudson, OH GM – Stephanie Wright DM – Bryan Kjar
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Westfork, Pembroke Pines, FL GM – Danielle Santiago DM – Monty Gomez
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Patricia Averill, Box Office # 442, Sawgrass 23, Sunrise, FL 10 years of service Kayli Guthrie, Associate Manager # 745, Hollywood 24, Chamblee, GA 2 years of service Donald Underwood, Usher # 165, Virginia Center 20, Glen Allen, VA 12 years of service Jonathan Titus, Floor Staff # 601, Goldstream 16, Fairbanks, AK 2 years of service Ernest Robart, Usher # 1992, Winrock Stadium 16, Albuquerque, NM 14 years of service Lee Milstead, Maintenance Tech # 165, Virginia Center 20, Glen Allen, VA 21 years of service Liz Kalikow, Associate Manager # 1329, King of Prussia Stadium 16, King of Prussia, PA 22 years of service Brandon (Zachary) Mendoza, Wait Staff # 1446, Warren Old Town 7, Wichita, KS 2 years of service
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