Duane Guidry's Retirement
April Fools 2016
After a great deal of reflection while out on a run, Duane Guidry, Founding Partner of Chrane Foodservice Solutions, LLC has announced his intent to retire at the end of 2016. In Duane’s words, “That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d run to the end of Clear Lake. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d just run across Harris County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I’d just run across the great state of Texas. And that’s what I did. I ran clear across Texas. For no particular reason I just kept on going. During that run, I decided it was time for my next adventure”.
General Sales Manager Nick Hughes shared how Duane has been both a mentor and his bubba. According to Nick, “Duane has always been big into training in so many ways and passed that passion on to me. Anyway, like I was saying, training is the key to success. You can grill people on it, boil it down so they understand it, bake the message into their head, and expose them to sauté like sizzling training. There’s sales trainings, technology trainings, computer trainings, negotiation trainings, follow-up trainings, equipment trainings, presentation trainings, luncheon trainings, chef trainings, analytical training, CRM trainings, competitive trainings, industry trainings. That- that's about it.”
Recently while reflecting on a park bench in Savannah, Georgia, Duane shared some of his life’s adventures, noting, “My buddy Dan got me invested in some kind of fruit company. So then I got a call from him, saying we don’t have to worry about money no more. And I said, that’s good! One less thing.”
Duane’s next career path appears to a joint-venture fishing expedition off the Alabama Gulf Coast with his vessel, Knotcho. Chrane Managing Partner Chris East recently went to visit Duane for a weekend on the coast and to get his sea legs. Per Chris, “You could see Duane really excited to his core to tackle this next step in life. I walked up and the first thing Duane said was, ‘that’s my boat!’. It was so good to see him happy on the water.”
After a “Million Dollar Wound”, which Duane says he hasn’t seen a nickel of, cut his Army career short, Duane has had a bevy of memorable and influential career successes, travelling the world and meeting a handful of U.S. Presidents offering him congratulations along the way. Most recently in 2008, Duane co-founded Chrane Foodservice Solutions with partner, Chris East. Duane was instrumental in both driven sales growth and his impactful approach to the company’s infrastructure, expanding the company to the fine sales organization it is today.
Chrane Sales Coach, Andy McNulty drilled Duane recently asking, “Why did you put your Company together so quickly, Guidry?” Duane’s simple response was “You told me to, Mr. McNulty!” Andy said it was a new Company record.
Duane’s Mama & Chrane’s HR Manager, Jamie Guidry, thoughtfully reflected on Duane’s departure, sharing, “This came as a bit of a surprise to all of us. But Duane has always been like a Cambro Food Box. You never know what you’re going to get inside.”
In addition to his Fishing Fleet, Duane plans to enjoy his hobbies of Alabama Football, mowing the local High School Football Field (for free), gun disassembly and reassembly, running and world-class ping-pong. Duane most looks forward to time spent with his beloved wife, Cin-day.
Being April 1st, Duane knows it would be foolish to leave now. Duane has committed to a responsible transition over the next nine months, readying Chrane for the incarnation of success. In the meantime, please wish Mr. Guidry continued success and well wishes at dguidry@chranefs.com.
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