Legendary Partners of Atlanta Announces John I. Gantert as Food Services' General Manager at The Woodruff Arts Center

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary Partners of Atlanta, a collaboration between A Legendary Event, Atlanta's foremost special events firm, and Centerplate, the leading hospitality provider to North America's premier entertainment venues, sports stadiums and convention centers, announced today that John I. Gantert has joined The Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta as general manager of food services.

An experienced leader in the hospitality industry for over three decades, John most recently served as Director of Food and Beverage at the world-class, renowned Canyon Ranch Health & Wellness Resort, in Tucson, Arizona. Supervising a staff of over 300 employees, his accomplishments include designing a guest preference program to promote stellar customer relations, the introduction of an international internship program and launching Canyon Ranch's Double U Cafe.  From 2001 to 2003, he was the Director of Food and Beverage for Starwood Hotels and Resorts ranging from Cincinnati to Boston and Chicago. With strong roots grounded in Atlanta, from 1995 to 2000, Gantert was General Manager of Food Service for the Cobb Galleria Centre and previously Banquet Manager at the Georgia World Congress Center.  

Today, Mr. Gantert's newest addition to his long list of credits includes being named General Manager of food services at The Woodruff Arts Center, an Atlanta icon and signature destination - an ideal match for this talented hospitality expert. Recognized as one of the nation's most prestigious arts centers, and the only center in the nation combining visual and performing arts, The Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences.  Since 1968, The Woodruff Arts Center has served more than 30 million patrons and annually offers more than 3,300 performances and exhibitions. Its board selected Legendary Partners of Atlanta as its food and beverage solution provider after a lengthy and competitive review process.

Joe Bankoff, President and CEO of The Woodruff Arts Center, said "We are very excited to welcome John Gantert to our campus as he has a proven track record of delivering extraordinary experiences for his guests' enjoyment. We are confident he will bring the same level of excellence to all hospitality endeavors at the Woodruff."

Legendary Partners of Atlanta's Tony Conway said, "We are thrilled to announce John Gantert as General Manager.  He has such an accomplished career in the food industry with the highest level of customer service and attention to detail.  John will bring a fresh new dining experience to this landmark facility and we are looking forward to welcoming him along with all of Atlanta to the Woodruff Arts Center."

Serving twenty-one marquee performing arts centers through-out North America, Centerplate is known for its compelling food and beverage programs.  "We are honored to have this opportunity to serve the Woodruff Arts Center and the city of Atlanta, and we are extremely excited to add John Gantert to this world-class facility," said Des Hague, President and CEO of Centerplate.

John Gantert will join Legendary Partners of Atlanta which is scheduled to begin service at the Woodruff Art Center in the fall of 2010. Among its plans are a refreshed restaurant concept, enhancements to public food offerings, and offering an array of special event catering choices.  

About the Woodruff Arts Center

The Woodruff Arts Center is one of the premier cultural centers in the nation, a unique institutional model where arts institutions unite to form a collaborative and inspirational environment for the arts and education.  The Woodruff Arts Center houses four renowned arts organizations - Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences.  In addition to its role as a cultural beacon and hub of the Southeast, the Center serves as a critical economic, educational, and social catalyst for Atlanta and the region.  For more information, visit www.woodruffcenter.org.

About A Legendary Event

Tony Conway, CMP, formed A Legendary Event in 1997, which has grown into a multi-million full-service event enterprise, handling more than 2,500 events a year and is located in Atlanta, Georgia. With a client list of Who's Who in the corporate, social and charity markets, A Legendary Event has gained the confidence of the city's most celebrated events and is one of the fastest-growing, event planning and off-premise catering companies in the Southeast.  A leader in the hospitality industry, A Legendary Event was awarded the coveted 2010 Spotlight Award for Catering Company of the Year by the International Catering Association.  For more information, visit www.alegendaryevent.com.

About Centerplate

Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in 250 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America—including 21 performing arts centers. Centerplate has provided services to Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 12 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.

SOURCE Legendary Partners of Atlanta