AEG Facilities-managed Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) announced that the venue hired a culinary extraordinaire to head the Center’s food & beverage (F&B) department. Jeff Leidy will step into his role as Director of Operations for Taste of L.A. by Levy Restaurants starting June 15.
In Leidy’s previous role as Regional Executive Chef for the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) and Qualcomm Stadium, he led the culinary team with a staff of 220 employees, managing events ranging from half a dozen people to 10,000. While in San Diego, Leidy also became one of the city’s first participants in a food composting program and worked to source many of his products from local and regional producers.
A vital component of Leidy’s role at the LACC will entail employing environmental best-practices for all food and beverage initiatives. His leadership role on SDCC’s Green Team along with the aforementioned sustainability efforts align closely with the LACC’s policies that will support the Center’s position as a model environmentally-friendly and socially responsible facility.
“As we continue to spearhead developments toward the futurization of the Los Angeles Convention Center, we are incredibly excited to welcome Jeff Leidy as Director of Operations. With 32 years of culinary experience in the hospitality industry, we know Jeff’s talents and commitment to culinary and operational excellence will take us to the next level,” added Brad Gessner, AEG Facilities Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Leidy is an innovative professional passionate about exploring culinary trends and implementing them in a manner that is fitting and delightful to his audience. Leidy was recognized as Ocean Spray’s “Ultimate Cranberry Contest” winner and he was also named Food and Beverage Person of the Year at the 29th Annual Gold Key Awards sponsored by the Hotel Motel Association and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association. Previous achievements include developing cuisine for former Vice President Al Gore and former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev.
“Joining the Los Angeles Convention Center is a tremendous opportunity to continue showcasing and creating exquisite, eco-friendly culinary experiences, especially during this exciting period of revitalization of both the LACC and Downtown Los Angeles,” commented Leidy.
