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| San Diego Adds Two New Players |
| The San Diego Convention Center added two all-star players to its team, Jeff Leidy was named the new Executive Chef and Tamarah Castanada takes on the role of Fire Marshal. |
Jeff Leidy,
Executive Chef |
Chef Leidy was promoted to his new post in March 2005 by the Convention Center’s food and beverage provider, Centerplate. He previously held the position of Executive Sous Chef. Chef Leidy is now responsible for overseeing a full and part-time catering staff of 220, managing $25 million in annual sales and for providing outstanding meal service to hundreds of thousands of Convention Center guests.
Last spring, the Convention Center hosted Experimental Biology 2005, a scientific conference that attracted 16,000 attendees. Chef Leidy was on the front lines providing personal attention and lending a guiding hand to ensure that all expectations were surpassed. He and his staff prepared meals around the clock for the group – their dedication and hard work was the special ingredient that made this event a huge success.
“Jeff is extremely talented and always does an outstanding job,” said John Vingas, Centerplate Food & Beverage Vice President.
Chef Leidy brings nearly 20 years of culinary expertise to the Center. An honors graduate from the California Culinary Academy, he has catered receptions for Vice President Al Gore, California State Treasurer Kathleen Brown and former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev. He can be reached at 619-525-5900 or jeff.leidy@visitsandiego.com.
Tamarah Castaneda,
Fire Marshal |
Tamarah Castaneda is a seasoned firefighter who joined the Center in March 2005. As the facility’s new Fire Marshal, she is responsible for enforcing fire, life and safety issues on the property. Ms. Castaneda has an outstanding reputation in the community for being a strong, proactive leader and began her career 15 years ago with the San Diego Fire Department (SDFD).
“I am very happy to join the Convention Center’s amazing team,” she says. “Keeping the guests who enter our building safe is my number one priority. It’s an enormous responsibility that I take very seriously and that my past experience has trained me to do well.”
“Tamarah’s knowledge and expertise is extremely valuable to the Center and our clients,” said Convention Center Corporation, President and CEO, Carol Wallace. “She thoroughly understands the building’s complex safety demands and will do an outstanding job keeping our guests out of harms way in the event of an emergency.”
A repeat SDFD award recipient, Ms. Castaneda has earned the City of San Diego’s Diversity Distinction Award. She is also an active volunteer with the County of San Diego’s Elder Abuse Commission, Domestic Violence Task Force and Jackie Robinson YMCA. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education with a minor in Business Administration from San Diego State University. She can be reached at 619-525-5495 or tamarah.castaneda@visitsandiego.com. |
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