Jason’s Deli founder Tortorice gives PN Chamber advice on success

PORT NECHES — Joe V. Tortorice Jr., founder and CEO of Jason’s Deli, had some words of wisdom to give to patrons at the Port Neches Chamber of Commerce’s 75th Annual Banquet on Thursday.

A Beaumont native and successful restaurateur, Tortorice drew inspiration from different sources. There is David Glass, retired CEO of Walmart, who tells of servant leadership and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning in which he chronicles life as a concentration camp prisoner and the importance of finding meaning in all forms of existence.

“When asked how he (Frankl) survived he said he ‘took ownership,” Tortorice told the crowd of more than 120 people.

Servant leadership involves setting a vision and encouraging others and remaining humble.

“The concept of IQ, intelligence quotient, shows how smart you are. Then there’s the concept of EQ, emotional quotient. This ensures how you relate to other people, manage your emotions and reach out to others,” he said, adding a survey showed EQ as a trait amongst top businesses in Fortune 500.

Tortorice spoke of empathy as well and how his company has a ‘fishing program school.’ The program is based on providing training for unskilled employees to climb the ladder ad become skilled. It is based on the phrase, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.

Also during the event, Port Neches Police Chief Paul Lemoine bid farewell to his year as 2015 president of the chamber while welcoming 2016 as he takes another turn at the position.

The executive chamber board consists of Lemoine, president; Brian Swindel, president elect; Shane Reedy, vice-president/treasurer; Stefanie Wolfford, past president; and Debbie Plaia, executive director/secretary.

Local business owner Chris Johnson, whose business distributed free flags during the Fourth of July and has worked with the Little White Cross movement in the city received the first ever Community Enhancement Award.

Johnson was also named as small business person of the year as well.

E-mail: mary.meaux@panews.com

Twitter: MaryMeauxPANews

 

SportsPlus

Local

ICYMI: 24th Annual Backpack Giveaway set for Aug. 3

Local

Law enforcement seeks help in locating missing Nederland teen

Beaumont

Indictment: Port Arthur man struck other man with shotgun

Beaumont

Drug traffickng sting leads to arrest, indictment for Beaumont man

Local

Wheelchair transit a topic in Port Arthur

Local

Bartie’s bid at charter change, possible third term, fall short

Beaumont

Port of Port Arthur receives Government Finance Officers Association Excellence in Finance Award

Beaumont

Three area teens arrested for alleged theft, evading officers in Louisiana

Business

Golden Pass issues statement on Zachry’s bankruptcy order

Beaumont

Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 partners with Bechtel on project

Local

Nederland Police calls, arrests week of July 15 to July 21

Groves

Groves Police calls, arrests July 17 to July 23

Local

Bond set for man who reportedly hid in attic to avoid arrest warrant

Local

Flood watch in effect through 7 a.m. Thursday

Local

Nederland maintenance retiree honored by city council

Local

Nederland council approves new restaurant incentive, plus traffic study

Beaumont

Scientific testing confirms remains found belong to woman missing for 25 years

News

ASK A COP: Who has liability for cracked windshields?

News

Culinary Thrill Seekers: Lovin’ Luby’s. Don’t ever Change.

Local

Bartie looks to the past to see city’s future

Local

24th Annual Backpack Giveaway to aid local students set for Aug. 3

Beaumont

Police seek help in finding missing/runaway teen

Groves

Groves police calls, July 10 to July 16

Groves

Local filing for November election underway