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Gina Marquez surprised her husband John Marquez in below-freezing Minneapolis where the accolades were warm for his outstanding service for Schwan Food Company’s Santa Paula center. |
Night of surprises: Marquez honored
with Marvin Schwan Excellence Award
February 27, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Santa Paulan John Marquez got two great surprises when he traveled recently to a Schwan Food Company leadership meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota… his wife Gina “popped in” unexpectedly to accompany him to a company dinner where the unsuspecting John was honored with the company’s top award.
The weather was below freezing in Minneapolis but the accolades were warm for John who was honored with the Marvin Schwan Excellence Award.
The award, named for the founder of the food giant Schwan, is the most prestigious honor the company bestows to employees who exemplify the company’s values and the “how we work” cultural statements that are part of its “Desired State” of business excellence.
John, a native Santa Paulan, was honored as an employee that strongly demonstrates and identifies with Schwan’s core values of “Growth, Hard Work, Helping One Another, Enthusiasm and Integrity.”
The February 11 banquet was held at the famed Windows on Minnesota where John was one of four employees who were the first recipients of the rechristened award.
Earlier that evening Gina had arrived at the hotel, a visit arranged by Schwan’s and one John was not expecting.
Gina said “The plan was for me to surprise him,” at the pre-dinner reception, but despite the efforts of Schwan’s Vice President Ed Forrest to keep John busy so Gina could change and surprise him at the reception, John returned to his room.
When Gina looked out and saw John in a crowd of people headed toward the room she felt a certain sense of relief knowing, “If I got emotional it would be just me and him… ”
But her sense of fun was intact as she looked out the keyhole, saw John was “right outside the door,” and she opened it at the same time he did.
“He was looking down and said ‘oh, I’m sorry… ’ He thought I was the housekeeper.”
During the excited reunion Gina said, “I told him ‘Schwan called and wanted me to have dinner with you… ’ At that point I started to get emotional.”
But the secret of John’s award was safe with his wife who held back her tears until the executives started to publicly laud Gina’s husband.
As John’s accomplishments were detailed, “I broke out in tears,” said Gina. “It’s one thing to know what John does for others but to hear another person describe it — and that Schwan included me in all this — really went to my heart.”
John is “Constantly giving back to the community, he likes to be involved,” and Gina said although her time is limited during the week due to work obligations, “I try to support him as much as I can... and on the weekends whatever he signs me up for I’m there!”
According to a company publication, CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios said at the ceremony that, “The Marvin Schwan Excellence Award is represented tonight by four outstanding leaders in our company.
“When you hear the stories of these four individuals, I think it compels you to up your game. I can’t thank all four of you enough.”
John and the other honorees received the gold swan Marvin Schwan Excellence Award, a plaque and a monetary award.
Paul Schwan, the son of Marvin and a current board member, was on hand during the celebration. During a brief speech, Paul said each of the nominees embodies the vision and values set by Marvin years ago.
“You all have shown leadership in your position and have brought the values of the company to the forefront to be modeled. That is something that I am very proud of, and I thank you for that,” he said.
John, who works at the Schwan’s Home Service depot in Santa Paula, was the first to receive the award presented by Home Service President Dave Muscato.
John has worked for Schwan for 18 years and currently serves as a Home Service Sales Distribution Support Supervisor covering a wide regional area.
John’s co-workers noted his ability to work as “one Schwan team” and as a leader that executes projects “with urgency” as their reasons for his nomination. He was also commended for recent efforts to help lead a project to install low-energy lighting in several California locations within a tight 45-day completion window.
John also trains others and his dedication to getting the job done is obvious through his dedicated community volunteer efforts including the Future Farmers of America, Rotary Club of Santa Paula and serving as Chairman of American Cancer Society’s Santa Paula Relay for Life fundraiser, among others.
“John has a passion for helping others to be successful and drive positive results. He displays a strong sense of urgency to operate as one Schwan team,” his nomination form states. “His hard work and enthusiasm for helping others has significantly helped our team to be one of the top ten operational districts in our company.”
Dimitrios and Dave presented John with the award for his management expertise and devotion to Schwans.
“Congratulations and thank you for your leadership,” said Dave.
Others honored that evening were Michael Joyce of Idaho,
Jackie Johnson of Kentucky and Jodi Schreurs of Minnesota.
