Gold Award Spotlight: Mackenzie Petersen, Avanti Restaurant Solutions

You worked across departments to complete a large-scale project at San Diego International Airport. Can you tell us a little about that project and how you became involved in it?

The San Diego International Airport project was a large-scale foodservice equipment project that required a significant amount of coordination across multiple departments and teams. As the account manager, I became involved from the customer-facing side and helped serve as a bridge between our customer, our internal teams, manufacturers, and the various people responsible for executing the project. What made the project especially rewarding was the level of collaboration required. There were a lot of moving pieces, and my role was not just about managing the account; it was about understanding the customer’s needs, communicating those needs internally, helping solve problems as they came up, and keeping everyone moving toward the same goal. It gave me an opportunity to really step outside of the traditional account manager role and take ownership of a much larger project.

What skills did you need to build or develop to make this project a success?

One of the biggest skillsets needed was project leadership. I had to be comfortable coordinating across departments, managing competing priorities, and keeping communication consistent between a lot of different stakeholders. I also developed my problem-solving and communication skills.

On a project of this size, things don’t always go exactly according to plan. I learned to focus on identifying the issue, understanding the impact, bringing the right people together, and finding a solution rather than getting caught up in the problem itself. I also became much more confident in taking ownership. I learned that leadership doesn’t always mean having the official title or authority. Sometimes it means being the person who steps up, asks the questions, connects the right people, and keeps everyone focused on the end goal.

How did your company support this project?

Avanti provided the resources and the people needed to execute a project of this scale. I had the support of our internal departments and leadership, which allowed me to collaborate with people who had different areas of expertise. I also felt trusted to take ownership of my role in the project. That trust was important because it gave me the confidence to make decisions and lead conversations when challenges came up.

Projects like this also provided a tremendous amount of on-the-job development. I was able to learn by working alongside experienced people throughout the organization and by being given the opportunity to take on responsibilities beyond what I had traditionally done as an account manager.

How did you measure the project’s progress and success? Did anything change about your approach as a result of that tracking?

We looked at progress through several different areas: project milestones, sequencing, communication between teams, customer needs, and, ultimately, whether we were delivering what we committed to. Tracking the project closely helped identify potential issues before they became larger problems. As the project progressed, I became more intentional about communication and follow-up. Instead of waiting for something to come up, I focused on anticipating what the customer or our internal teams might need next. We measured success by ensuring that our customer was taken care of, inspections were passed, and all opening dates were met.

What were some ways you demonstrated leadership on this project?

I demonstrated leadership through ownership and accountability. I took responsibility for making sure communication stayed clear between the customer and our internal teams. I worked to bring the right people together when decisions needed to be made, helped address challenges as they arose, and made sure the customer continued to feel supported throughout the process. I also tried to lead by example. When something needed to be done, I didn’t wait for someone else to take ownership. I stepped in, asked questions, and worked to find a path forward. The project reinforced something I really believe about leadership: You don’t have to have all the answers to be a leader. You need to be willing to ask the right questions, bring people together, and take responsibility for moving things forward.

How does this project fit into your company’s larger strategy?

The San Diego International Airport project became much more than a single project. It helped strengthen our relationship with the customer and demonstrated what Avanti could accomplish when our teams worked together. That relationship and the success of the project helped lead to additional opportunities, including work at Sacramento International Airport and another phase at San Diego International Airport in a different terminal. To me, that is a great example of how one successful project can create a larger, long-term customer relationship. The goal isn’t simply to complete one project successfully. It’s to build trust and demonstrate enough value that the customer wants to continue working with you.

As you look ahead in your career, what excites you about the future of the foodservice equipment and supplies industry?

What excites me most is how much opportunity there is for the industry to continue evolving. Foodservice is changing quickly, and customers are looking for more than just equipment. They’re looking for partners who understand their operation, can help solve problems, and can bring ideas to the table. I think the role of the equipment dealer will continue to evolve from supplying products to becoming a true strategic partner for customers.

From a career perspective, I’m excited about continuing to grow as a leader, taking on larger and more complex projects, and helping build strong customer relationships. The San Diego project showed me what is possible when you bring together great people, strong communication, and a willingness to take ownership. That’s something I want to continue building on throughout my career.