2009 GSM AwardsNomination Form

GENERAL INFORMATION

Please select which one of the two categories the GSM is being nominated for: Excellence in Training & Development

Nominee: Jacques Marias Cruise Line: Celebrity

NOMINATION INFORMATION

Please highlight why you feel this GSM deserves this award:

Jacques Marias has been selected as the Gift Shop Manager who has stood out in Excellence in Training Development for Celebrity Cruise Lines. Jacques' dedication and commintment to train and develop his team is second to none, his drive and passion to grow his team to better themselves is evident if you walk on any of the Celebrity Ships he managed in 2009.

Jacques believes that his training fortifies his ability to train his team and lead them to success. He instills this commitment by his own example. His ability to recognize and develop talent within his team has made Starboard more successful. He has been an advocate of the monthly training topics, the ASM training program, the Specialist training programs, the OAM program, and the Harvard Management Mentoring program.

In 2009, Jacques fully embraced the three specialist programs and set about stregthening his bench and succession planning on each ship he managed. Under Jacques the Specialist Training flourished, his belief in the program led him to train a core team of specialists and continue building team strength by training all associates. This allowed him to ensure that guests would be greeted with knowledgeable and well trained sales associates. On Jacques' ships we have never run short of specialists to serve our guests. His ships are always 100% staffed with knowledgeable sales professionals who understand his commitment to excellence.

His commitment to training continued with the monthly topics. Jacques would always administer the training sessions ontime and utilized these opportunities to build team strength and develop his assistant sales managers to focus on developing the knowledge and strength of his team .

Jacques also understood the important of ongoing training, each month he would administrate and conduct the many excellent Starboard Training Programs to his team. His motivation and enthusiasm in each training lesson was exceptional and he would continue to monitor the progress within his team in order to ensure that the training message was not forgotten.

Finally, Jacques inspiration and dedication in his role as Shop Manager has won him over countless supporters amongst the cruise line. Senior Management onboard views him as an inspiration and a solid leader in the onboard retail environment. His revenue results have been challenging at times but his commitment to always have fully well trained and knowledgeable sales associates in his team at all times is un-touchable. He is well respected amongst his peers and newer Shop Manager's often reach out to contact him for advice and support.

Jacques truly is an inspiration to the Celebrity Team and his ability to look within his staff to locate, nurture and enhance those talents onboard have led to countless sales that may have been lost. He makes training his first priority on every ship he manages. The many associates that have worked with Jacques are now more valuable than ever to Starboard. His passion for knowledge and his never ending drive have given countless scores of individuals a view and real life perspective of how excellence in training and development should be executed and embraced.

Rev. 02/2009

Rev. 02/2009