A celebration for my 10-year hard working employees!
Last week, I hosted a celebration for all of the employees who have worked in my business for ten or more years. The last time we did this was two years ago and I am so surprised that this year, there are thirty new inductees in this most honorable group, making a grand total of eighty-six! Frankly, it astonishes me that I have been so fortunate to have worked with so many amazingly talented and loyal individuals for so many years. This year's party was held at Co., Jim Lahey's, (Sullivan Street Bakery) pizza restaurant located at 230 Ninth Avenue at 24th Street in Manhattan. You may remember seeing Jim on my television show. He has become rather famous for his no-knead bread and I simply love eating whatever comes out of his oven. Please enjoy these photos and thank you again, to all of these superb employees for all of your hard work and for upholding the integrity of the Martha Stewart brand.
1 The exterior of Co. with the Empire State Building shining proudly in the background.
2 This sign was posted on the front door. The restaurant was closed to the public for the two hours of our party, reopening again at 8PM.
3 At 6PM sharp, guests began to arrive. This is the bar area of the restaurant.
4 The dining room at Co. is minimalist with clean lines and warm wood. It's a very welcoming room that seats 54. There are 2 long communal dining tables in the middle and individual tables on the side.
5 The oven at Co. is a gas-fired Earthstone oven. Flavorful hard wood is also burned to aromatize the pies.
6 The pizza chef busy at work
7 Here he is constructing a Margherita pizza.
8 Just the right amount of sauce, buffalo mozzarella, and fruity olive oil
9 And of course, fresh basil completes the pie.
10 Into the oven it goes.
11 The finished pizza Margherita
12 Pizza with sausage and onions
13 Pizza topped with quail eggs
14 In addition to pizza, the menu also features 'toasts.' Here is a tray of toasts topped with Swiss chard and ricotta.
15 Toasts topped with roasted spaghetti squash and ricotta
16 Toasts with roasted eggplant
17 Toasts topped with delicious pinto beans
18 And toasts with Broccoli rabe and ricotta
19 A refreshing cold beer
20 A selection of very tasty wines
21 Desert was fantastic gelato.
22 Fernando Ferarri, Geri Porter, Martin Mendoza, Adrianna Weisberg, Claudia Salame, Ana Velasquez, Yolanda Florez
23 Here I am with Aida, Ana, and Adrianna
24 John Barricelli and Jim Klinko from Furniture on Consignment www.fine2consign.com
25 Jim isn't an employee, but knows how to get himself invited to such events. He presented me with these amazing vintage oyster plates. I cannot wait to use them!
26 A better look at one of the plates. I have never seen a set like this one.
27 Martin Mendoza, and me
28 Here I am with Geri Porter.
29 Me and George Planding
30 Sarah Carey and James Dunlinson
31 Fritz Karch and Chip Glynn
32 My niece - Sophie Herbert, me, and Sarah Carey
33 Aeysha Patel and Eric Pike
34 George Planding, Me , Dora Cardinale
35 Katie Hatch
36 Marcie McGoldrick
37 Lisa Wagner, Kevin Sharkey, and me
38 Here I am with Talley Sue Hohlfeld
39 Andrew Beckman, Tony, Bielaczyc, and Beth Eakin
40 In appreciation, everyone was given a gift at the end of the party - beautiful charm necklaces from Helen Ficalora and silver cufflinks made by Trudy Borenstein-Sugiura
Looks like a lot of fun! Great work all of you!
Posted by: Wendy (Give Love Create Happiness) | January 19th, 2010 at 12:46 am
A Wonderful Celebration ~ You have such a Loyal Staff to be working for 10 + Years.... What an Honor to work for such a Outstanding Company such as Martha Stewart!
Posted by: Cheryl | January 19th, 2010 at 1:05 am
What a fantastic posting. I'm so excited for your employees being honored. This was very nice of you to do-great work!
Posted by: K L Brown | January 19th, 2010 at 2:34 am
Pizza, ice cream, and the friendship of those you work with... what could be better?
Posted by: Lynn from For Love or Funny | January 19th, 2010 at 7:11 am
Food looked amazing!Fun party.
Posted by: Celia | January 19th, 2010 at 7:11 am
I remember when Sophie was a little girl making pies with her Aunt Martha! I still use those recipes--but now I feel ancient!
Posted by: Cindy M. | January 19th, 2010 at 10:43 am
I will visit COMPANY. I will try some of those fantastic toast ingredient combinations. Mmm good and creative! The MSO family has brought so much good information into my life..a big thank you for sharing this fun event...It looks like everyone enjoyed it!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | January 19th, 2010 at 11:01 am
My outrageous party crashing neighbor, Jimmy Klinko was at the employee bash,shamlessly basking beside Martha and her sister Laura.
Jimmy described in detail the yummy pizza he had topped with a quail egg. He is now looking for a flowing red dress for the next white house dinner!
Posted by: liz fuller | January 19th, 2010 at 11:05 am
WOW!!!!! What incredible oyster plates. Jim's vocation is to find Martha the most unique gifts. He accomplishes that quite well in addition to being part of the "staff". I wonder what Jim will find next for Martha? Hummm!
Posted by: Layton Thomas | January 19th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
It’s unanimous; we’re having pizza for dinner! I wish I could order one from Co.!
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It is so nice that you recognize your long-term employees with great parties and gifts. I know of a few companies who could care less how many years their employees were loyal to them! I often wonder if some of them are even in business anymore – probably not.
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So Martha, what other kinds of plates, dishes or whatever might you be looking for? I wouldn’t mind crashing one of your parties! Lol. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t have the nerve. Well, thanks for sharing your get-together with us. Fritz Karch never fails to make me smile and Eric Pike always looks so happy. You have great employees. Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 19th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Wow, what a great company to work for to bad I live in Atlanta or I would be applying for a position there everyday. I have been called "Martha wantabee " forever. I have watched Martha since the beginning. My wish to see Martha in person came when she visited the aquarium here in atlanta, it was my husbands birthday and he took me to see her.
Posted by: Rhonda Russell | January 19th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
A wonderful celebration to honor your loyal and talented employees. We are in the coffee business and also have some long-term employees. After attaining 5, 10 and 15 years, we take them out for lunch at a great restaurant and it's always such fun to chat with the individuals on a one to one basis. If we are in the business long enough for a few of them to reach 20 years...i know i will be feeling really 'old'!
The toasts looked especially yummy! I need to make them!!
Posted by: sherey | January 19th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I'm always so impressed how much often you mention employees and recognize their efforts. Not many ppl in your position seem to remember the ppl that work for them are a significant reason for their success.
Posted by: Jocelyn | January 19th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
It must be so fantastic to work for you, And how great that you appreciate your employees!
Posted by: April's Folky Art | January 19th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
How fun! Can I come
Posted by: April's Folky Art | January 19th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
It says a lot that so many employees have such a lengthy and loyal tenure, and just as much that you see, acknowledge and celebrate them as valued members of your team and contributors to your company's success.
Posted by: tom | tall clover farm | January 19th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Martha - the creativity and diversity of your company is an inspiration to us all. You are the best!!!
Posted by: Gary Wright II | January 19th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
I remember cooking in its entirety an Indian feast Aeysha Patel presented in the magazine many many years ago. I remember beautiful photos of her and her friends and family. I cooked it for 14 people for a New Years Eve dinner. It took me the whole week to prepare but my friends still talk about it! Congratulations to all on 10+ years.
Posted by: Ramona Barrry | January 19th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
i saw for my own eyes last week won a trip to Marthas show and she truly has a great, great staff treated everyone the same they were wonderful.Martha what a great think to do for your staff they really deserved the special appreciation dinner.
Posted by: Diane miller | January 19th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
86 people with 10+ years tenure at MSLO -- makes me wonder about the Martha Stewart as demanding, cranky crabapple that the press used to describe. Could it have been a bit of sexism at work?
Posted by: Elizabeth Gage | January 19th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Congratulations to the decade old employees and the Martha Stewart organization. Well done.
I almost received my 10 year pin, 3 months shy, when our lay offs began. What can we say?
Martha you have weathered the storms, and the employees have kept the sails (sales) billowing.
Good Job Mates.
Posted by: Margie | January 19th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Martha,
Please include more pics of different rooms of your houses. Decorating is my passion, and I am surprised how much our tastes are the same. My husband built a 3 story house with elevator on the river in Ft.Pierce, and I have decorated it with nothing but antique pieces. I have been collecting since high school, and that, believe me, has been a while ago! I too, love vintage linens, jadite, and on one of your covers, the same loop, tulip designed 1800's iced tea glasses. One collectable I love that I don't see you have is Candlewick. I have invested in many pieces, including the very rare. On a white vintage table cloth, it sets such a beautiful, simplistic design that is so elegant.
I have been a follower from the beginning of your career, and appreciate your wonderful taste.
May I wish you a long and continuing wonderful career, filled with much happiness and good health.
Gratefully,
Barbara Casper
Posted by: barbara casper | January 19th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Martha you must treat your staff very well for so many to stay for so long. Of course many people would be delighted to work for you if they qualified. Yours is a very happy organization, lots of work but lovely people and you must be the greatest boss going.
Sylvia
Posted by: Sylvia | January 19th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
The BEST pizza in town.
Posted by: Will | January 19th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Wonderful news, and happy you had a great time. MSLO Bringing Good Things to life. Real excited for your company, and the event being a success. Love this Blog.
Posted by: kristin Svens | January 19th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Hi Martha, I know why you have so many talented and loyal employees-It's because you are an extremely talented and loyal person who has an exceptional company and you care very much about all of them!!! You treat all of them so well and they repay you by doing superb jobs!!! Great photos of your fun party! Everyone looked like they were having a blast! Great TV shows today and Monday. Both were full of great ideas. Look forward to hearing you on Sirius radio tomorrow. Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 19th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Congratulations to the whole Martha Stewart organization for this spectacular success you ALL achieved together.
Cheers to you Martha and wishing you the Best!
Judit & Corina
Posted by: Judit & Corina | January 20th, 2010 at 5:11 am
I've always taken pride in my longevity and loyalty to my employers over the years, having only had two my whole work career - my first for 17 years, and my most recent employer three years ago for 9 - 9 years to-the-day and the next day, my position was eliminated! In both positions, actually, I suffered the proverbial downsizing. (Ahhh...painful memories!)
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This new group is surely to be congratulated (as are all of the 86 in total), as the trend nowadays is usually after approximately 3 years of service to an employer an employee opts to make a change and move on elsewhere.
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I would be DELIGHTED to and say that I worked for MSLO...I'm positive that your expectations are/the bar is raised very high, and to be one of those who is capable is quite noteworthy!
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Well done!...muchly deserved!
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=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | January 20th, 2010 at 9:30 am
How wonderful Martha !!! Now a days ten years is almost a life time huh ??? Congrats to all your great employees...
Have you had any lay-offs in the past year, because of the economy ???
All the best,
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy :) | January 20th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Wow that is a great shot of the Empire State building with all those lights!
Posted by: Betsy | January 21st, 2010 at 10:28 pm
I love Miss Geri! You are lucky to have her on the team. Working with her was so fun!
Posted by: Elias | January 24th, 2010 at 12:10 am
Martha and TEam--we heard you were doing a show on tall women. We have a great website for women who wear shoes size 10+. It's called BarefootTess.com and the shoes are absolutely fabulous. They pride themselves in making women feel good about themselves. We are partnering with Girls, Inc. to do an online mentoring campaign for young women who may not have the best self-esteem because they have large feet. We believe that "style doesn't stop at size 10." Our Team Tess is made of women who have Barefoottestimonials to share with young women to help them feel good about their feet, and themselves. We know that Arianne Cohen will be a guest on the show. She wears a size 14 and will be wearing our shoes. We would love to be a part of that show. Please contact us. Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Ricki in Atlanta
Posted by: Ricki Fairley-Brown | January 25th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Martha,what a great party,I hope I was there !!it seems you are a great employer ,can i apply for a job in your company & gladly, be one of your staff, martha?!why donot you expand your business & have a branch in Egypt?
Posted by: mona | February 21st, 2010 at 7:52 pm
I was just wondering how fortunate it is to be an employee of Martha Stewart. How I wish I was one of them too..i really love everything you've been sharing to us. How can I be your employee?
That would be a dream come true. God bless!
Posted by: jennet c. | March 14th, 2010 at 8:45 am