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Besides being a KCBS certified judge and competitor, I am the founder of the very successful online BBQ community, “The BBQ-Brethren” and the pit master for our flagship team. Like KCBS, The Brethren was established specifically to promote our craft, and to bring together BBQ enthusiasts from around the country. Our membership now exceeds 4,100 enthusiasts visiting from 58 countries. Not only does this make me easily accessible to hear your voice, but also, it is this devotion and experience that will enable me to see to it that the ideas and concerns of KCBS cooks, judges, reps, and general membership are addressed.

Professionally, I am a Technology Manager for a major defense contractor and have been with them for 28 years. My responsibilities have included the management of a large staff and million dollar budgets. I'm formally trained to work with people, initiate change and assist in long-range growth of a corporation through team building. My management skills are geared towards being a leader, not a boss, fostering a loyalty in our employees that encourages them to work productively and efficiently. My staff works with me, not for me, and we do things together as a team. My technical responsibilities are to establish and implement processes that enable our division to perform our functions effectively and efficiently with minimal waste and overhead.

In my personal life, I’ve owned a small computer consulting company since 1984. Additionally, I have served as President of my hometown Civic Association since 1987. In that capacity, I have the responsibility of meeting with elected town board members, developers, and representatives of businesses, to ensure they hear and understand the concerns of our residents. Our association has been responsible for many positive changes that have allowed our community to grow, improve, and prosper. On behalf of town residents, I have negotiated with the corporate offices of large business chains, and their attorneys. We fought hard against negative impacts and always supported the positive. A major accomplishment of our association was to have our Town Board address, update, and rewrite our community's outdated strategic plan, originally written in 1915. It is this practical experience that I offer as evidence of the skills I possess. I believe these are the assets required to assist in the growth of KCBS and work with the members of the board.

As both a competitive cook and a judge in the Northeast, I am witnessing the increased popularity of BBQ in this region. Like other areas of the country, the art of “low and slow” is gaining momentum and these areas need representation. My major short term goal is to strengthen representation of the new regions where BBQ is starting to boom. The Northeast is lacking in representation and recognition within KCBS, as are other understated regions such as PNW and West coast. These regions need representation as BBQ grows and flourishes. I would attempt to organize some regional representation within KCBS for theses areas by involving people from the many BBQ organizations such as NEBS, CBBQA, Mid Atlantic BBQ Association, etc. I would also drive to have KCBS meet directly with theses regions and ultimately strive to have KCBS become more regionally aligned.

In the long term I plan to utilize my professional abilities in Information Technology to assist KCBS to run more efficiently and effectively.

The KCBS board needs experienced business people running the business side of KCBS to help it grow and flourish. However, KCBS also needs people who will keep the ideals and goals of the BBQ enthusiast in mind. The membership needs someone to listen to and bring their issues to the attention of the Board. As the leader and founder of The BBQ Brethren, a large international BBQ Community of 4000+ members in 58 countries, I have the channels already in place to hear the voices and needs of many KCBS members and bring them directly to the table. I have the open channel, the training, and the experience to hear, understand, and act on your issues. If elected to assist in the growth of KCBS and the growth of our craft, I will bring to the table a solid background in corporate business management and technology, a vision for the future, and a proven passion, and devotion to the art of BBQ.

I ask for your vote, thank you for your consideration and taking the time to read this.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at

bbqchef33@bbq-brethren.com

 

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Endorsment letter from Jerry Mullane.

-----Original Message-----
From: KCBS Jersey <kcbsjersey@aol.com>
To: kcbsjersey@aol.com
Sent: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 10:55 am
Subject: Happy Holidays - CBJ's

This letter is going out to both our new CBJ’s and former students. If you have completed a questionnaire prior, please do not fill out another one.
The questionnaire is at the bottom of this letter. Thank you and Happy Holidays

At our last CBJ Class I was asked by current members who I thought should be elected to the Board of Directors in the upcoming elections. After a lot of thinking and soul searching I have come to the following conclusions.

First let me say that the candidates I will vote for are strictly my choices and no one has asked me to write these endorsements.

I have no agenda other than to endorse two genuine BBQ candidates who I feel will have the most impact on our organization as a whole, as well as having the pleasure of knowing both of them for many years in my position as a Contest Rep, CBJ Instructor and in my personal life. The two Gentlemen are as
follows:

Phil
Rizzardi
Phil has been a long time friend since I first met him at a CBJ class I was conducting in Philadelphia. He and his teammates had traveled from Long Island, NY to become CBJ’s and learn more about what we look for as judges during BBQ competitions. He is Founder and head of the BBQ-Brethren, a 4100 member strong BBQ Group with firm beliefs in promoting Competition BBQ throughout the North East and Mid Atlantic regions as well as countrywide thru the many local and International BBQ-Brethren groups. 58 Countries and growing.
Phil is dedicated to our sport and has had a hand in many contests as a Promoter, Organizer and cook. He and his group have made the difference in making many of the East Coast contest grow from small, startup contest to well over 50+ team contests with their support and participation. He has volunteered to cook for our CBJ classes on a number of occasions as well as mentored many backyard cooks, bring them into the Competition BBQ world

Phil brings a strong diverse background in Information Technology as well

Corporate management, which I feel is a must for KCBS in the future. In order for us to move forward we need Board members like Phil who have a background in dealing with the daily problems an organization of our size produces as well as motivating us to resolve differences and move on to a more productive tomorrow.
Learn more about Phil at: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/kcbs.htm

John
Markus
I have known John for about 5 years. Originally from Ohio, now living in New York State.
We first met when he was filming a documentary about BBQ with Paul Kirk, The Baron of BBQ, and we have remained friends ever since.
John brings a unique talent to KCBS with his background in TV and films, first as an Emmy Award-winning TV writer and Supervising producer for the Bill Cosby Show winning an Emmy, a Peabody and two Humanities prizes, and then co-created the Cosby spin-off "A Different World".

The reason I have endorsed these 2 gentlemen besides knowing them personally and agreeing with their views and ideals is we need more representation on the East Coast and both Phil and John can provide that extra resource we need in addition to Linda Mullane. The East Coast is the fastest growing area of BBQ, but with the least representation. KCBS has approximately 275 contests with the East Coast hosting 54+ or roughly 20% of all the KCBS contests for 2008. We need more members on the KCBS board who will help lead KCBS and at the same time be aware of the unique position the East Coast is in. More and more you see the Mid Atlantic and New England teams scoring high in the prestigious contests and more prize money is being offered on the East Coast each year. This is our time and I believe the only way to insure our position is to increase our representation on the KCBS Board. Keep in mind this is your organization and you should have a say.

This is your chance.
Although you have 4 votes I am suggesting you use only 2. Phil Rizzardi and John Markus. They can make a difference in East Coast BBQ and KCBS.

My final point about the 2 candidates above is they do not ask what’s in it for “them” but what can they contribute to serve us all. Their mantras, “It’s not me but we” and what can I do today to make our organization better tomorrow?

As I stated in the beginning of this email, I was asked at a recent CBJ class my opinion and this is it. I have 4 votes but will only cast 2 as not to equalize my voting power.
This is strictly my decision.
Vote with your head not your heart. Once again Thank you for your time and I hope we see each other this coming season New CBJ Questionaire

Jerry Mullane (Jersey)
KCBS CBJ Instructor

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Below is a copy of the KCBS questionaire with my answers published in the December Bullsheet.

1. Please describe the skills you possess (which you believe are stronger than the other candidates) which would make you an asset as a board member, in dealing with the challenges facing KCBS, and give an example of how those skills would serve the KCBS board of Directors and its membership.

I have worked in the information technology field for 30 years. As a technology process owner for a major defense contractor, my responsibilities are to define and implement processes and technolgies that help our organization run better and more efficient.

In addition I am the founder and leader of the BBQ Brethren, a large 4000 member BBQ organization with a charter nearly identical to KCBS. Our goal is to help the growth of BBQ across the country and to encourage and mentor backyard enthusiasts, in many cases, bringing them into the world of competition BBQ.

2. If you are a Cook, Judge, Rep or Backyard Cook, please identify the major KCBS issues concerning, one of areas in which you are involved. Describe the major issue, your strategies to correct or improve the issue, and what you see as the biggest challenge to the success of your plan.

As both a cook and judge coming from the Northeast, we are lacking in representation and recognition within KCBS, as is other understated regions such as PNW and West coast. These regions need representation as BBQ grows and flourishes. I would attempt to organize some regional representation for theses areas by involving people from the many BBQ organizations such as NEBS, CBBQA, Mid Atlantic BBQ Association, etc. Also drive to have kcbs meet directly with theses regions and ultimately have KCBS become more regionally aligned.

3. Identify your major short term goal and the major long term goal, if elected to the Board of KCBS and your plan to implement change or improvement in order to carry out each of these goals.

My major short term goal is to strengthen representation of the new regions where BBQ is starting to boom. The northeast, the eastern seaboard and the west coast. As the leader and founder of a large international BBQ Community of 4000+ members I have the vehicle already in place to hear the voices and needs of the KCBS members and bring them directly to the table. As a long long term I plan to utilize my professional abilities in Information Technology to assist KCBS to run more efficiently and effectively.

Another goal, which I would like to address is to research ways for KCBS to take a more proactive role in our contests. Have our sanctioning body set the bar for performance. Things along the lines of giving organizers incentives for well run contests, team friendly events, perks for high percentages of certified judges, etc.

4 If elected please explain “you level of commitment, time and energy” for committee projects and monthly reports, board meetings and attendance, as well as representing KCBS to the public and being responsive to our members.

I already travel to many states for BBQ events of various types, which will make it easy to add some trips for KCBS meetings. I can easily attend board meetings via teleconference and take on some projects where my technical/professional expertise or position in the BBQ world can be best utilized.

5. Please describe your participation in KCBS activities and years of experience.

I have been a cook for 25 years and a KCBS member, judge and competitor since 2003.

6. Please explain why you want to be a member of the KCBS Board.

A huge part of my life, my family and my time are dedicated to BBQ. Bringing the BBQ Brethren from a small group up to 4000 members in 4 years shows the dedication and passion I have for our addiction. Joining the KCSB board seems like a natural evolution in my roles to further assist in the growth of BBQ.