January 15, 2025
Making a Distinction with Small Initiatives
Making a Distinction with Small Initiatives

Roger Franke, Vice President and CIO at Aramark

Roger Franke is presently the Vice President and CIO at Aramark Locations, bringing intensive expertise from earlier roles at Xanterra Journey Assortment, Caesars Leisure Company, Aramark and Onerous Rock Lodge and On line casino. He earned a bachelor’s diploma in lodge administration from the College of Nevada Las Vegas. Roger has made a big contribution to the trade by a strong ability set in Workforce Constructing, Consulting, Operations, Budgeting and extra.

Please share your journey through the years within the trade and point out your key roles and duties at your group.

I’m presently the vp and CIO at Aramark Locations. I launched into my journey within the on line casino trade, working within the vendor sector to assist casinos earlier than transitioning to roles amongst them. I’ve engaged with famend organizations like Bellagio and Beau Rivage for Mirage Resorts in Las Vegas. I used to be additionally concerned with the hospitality trade, serving the second tenure at Aramark for 20 years. All through my profession, I’ve labored with nationwide and state parks, notably in distant and distinctive places.

What are a few of the main challenges that the CIOs are dealing with in the present day?

I’ve encountered two main challenges within the trade – labor scarcity and accessibility of AI. Everyone knows how AI has taken the world by storm, opening up quite a few alternatives. Nevertheless, the places the place we work in quite a few nationwide and state parks have bandwidth constraints for enterprise operations and visitor providers. This ends in subpar web entry as there may be little or no scope to discover the implications of AI and automation.

What are the tendencies or methods the CIOs have to implement to mitigate these challenges?

I imagine we must always prioritize inner schooling earlier than in search of new expertise externally. First, we have to strengthen the bottom by investing within the progress of current workers to bridge each prevailing information hole within the trade. This results in sustainability and expertise retention, which helps forestall pricing challenges brought on by exterior hiring.

“We prioritize flexibility and flexibility within the ever-evolving world of know-how, embracing innovation and receptiveness to serve our visitors and purchasers. Our premise for innovation is about on understanding the wants of each particular person.”

Is there any latest venture initiative that you’ve been part of and also you have been profitable in implementing?

Recognizing the prevailing challenges, now we have began engaged on supplementing bandwidth by non-traditional alternatives. The opposite space of focus is automation since there’s a labor scarcity. We’re engaged on automating duties through the use of know-how that may seamlessly fulfil our shopper’s expectations.  You will need to have workers within the hospitality trade, however now we have to be artistic and have a look at choices to satisfy the wants of our visitors and operations.  

How do you envision the trade’s future in a few years, and the way ought to CIOs adapt to the adjustments?

I believe we should be extra versatile and open to adjustments to greatest serve the wants of enterprise. Within the fast-paced world of know-how, it is very important emphasize the necessity for fixed innovation and accountability for technological adjustments for higher outcomes.

What recommendation or strategies would you prefer to impart to your fellow CIOs?

The one recommendation I need to give to my fellow friends is to be an energetic listener earlier than changing into a very good speaker. It will assist you to higher analyze the enterprise panorama and discover alternatives. You must guarantee that you’re heard and seen as a accomplice and a pacesetter.