Domino's Pizza

A videotape about the Domino's Pizza Prep School program was submitted offline to support this nomination. Here are testimonials from several Prep School graduates and coaches:

“After spending more than 20 years at my previous company, I was convinced it would be difficult to acclimate and connect with a new job. Pizza Prep School made me immediately feel part of the fabric of Domino’s as a new leader in the company. I gained a real passion for the Domino’s brand, and will be able to represent it with honest zeal.” – Lynn Liddle, Executive Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations

“I think you see the lightbulbs come on a lot during class, but where I see it moreso is back at the World Resource Center. People have taken Pizza Prep School back to their normal jobs and when I see them in the building they relate stories of how it’s going to help them every day. I think that’s the real exciting part for me.” – Sam Fauser, Domino’s Pizza Prep School Coach and Operations Evaluator

“My ‘magic moment’ was when Harry Silverman slid a pizza down to me and it wasn’t a ‘Perfect 10.’ The fact that I had no problems pushing the pizza back to him and telling him to fix it – and this is our Chief Financial Officer – shows that Pizza Prep School is an equal playing field and that’s what makes it fun.” – Tina Newel, Corporate Software and Project Manager

“The most important thing I learned was everything comes together during ‘The Rush.’ There’s so much that the team members have to do. The piece that I bring back to my job is when I’m putting together a policy or a procedure, I have to keep in mind just how that’s going to affect them. Not during regular business, but during ‘The Rush.’ That’s the most difficult piece of the business.” – Leonard DiCello, Manager of Food Safety

“I’ve been with the company 18 years now, and the most important thing is to realize what our team members go through on a day-to-day basis, the challenges they deal with, the stress that they deal with from time-to-time. Right from the opening of the store to the closing of the store. And Domino’s Pizza Prep School really allows the office team members to experience these challenges.” – George Ralph, National Director of Safety & Security

“One of the things I enjoyed the most about being a participant, and a coach, of Domino’s Pizza Prep School is the fact that I can actually help team members at the World Resource Center realize – no matter what they do – how they contribute to our common vision.” – Aicha Bascaro, Domino’s Pizza Prep School Coach and Director of Flawless Execution – Support

Patti Wilmot, Executive VP, People First

Patricia A. “Patti” Wilmot joined Domino’s Pizza on June 27, 2000 as Executive Vice President, People First, the newly renamed department that oversees the company’s Human Resources area.

Since joining Domino’s, Wilmot has led a major cultural shift in the company through its People First Department. Wilmot has initiated several innovative programs that have contributed to the excellent results the company has achieved. Some of these programs include the diversity council, formalized recruiting and selection process for pizza stores, training for pizza store assistant managers and training for store crews. Wilmot also oversees the Domino’s Pizza Prep School training program.

As the first People First executive to report to the CEO and have a place on the executive leadership team, she has been the leading force in transforming the People First department into a strategic partner, valued by the other departments in Domino’s Pizza.

Carol Weaver, Senior Director of Leadership Development

Carol Weaver has been with Domino’s Pizza since 1983 when she started working in the communications area of the Distribution Department. While there she was responsible for the Distribution Olympics, an annual program that held events in each of the major job categories for the distribution centers. She also held the position of training director for the Distribution Department.

In 2002, Weaver joined the People First Department and is responsible for company-wide Diversity initiatives, chairing the Diversity Team and developing training programs that enhance the skills of team members in the areas of leadership, performance management and Diversity training. She has also been integral part in implementing and overseeing the Domino’s Pizza Prep School program, scheduling the courses and recruiting coaches and team members to participate.

John Kissinger, Leadership Center Manager

John Kissinger has worked at Domino’s Pizza since 1987 when he started as a customer service representative at a Domino’s Pizza store. His store operations experience includes positions as a safe delivery specialist, assistant manager and the general manger of a pizza store.

In 1998 Kissinger was hired as an international franchise consultant at the Domino’s Pizza World Resource Center. Since 2002 he has been in his current role as the leadership center manager in the People First Department. He is responsible for the instructional design, facilitation and evaluation of innovative leadership-based learning programs for all corporate team members as well as internal learning and performance consulting to the World Resource Center team members. Kissinger is also the co-facilitator and manager of Domino’s Pizza Prep School.

Mark Watkins, Leadership Development Director

Mark Watkins joined Domino’s Pizza in 1997 as a recruiting manager in the People First department. He was responsible for the development of tools and techniques for marketplace recruitment. Watkins also held the position of recruiting manager and urban initiatives manager as well as director of marketplace recruitment and retention.

In his current role as leadership development director Watkins delivers leadership training to marketplace support team members. He is responsible for internal learning and performance consulting to the World Resource Center team members including diversity training and new team leader orientation. He is also the co-facilitator and manager of Domino’s Pizza Prep School.