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® #IAMBBQ #BUSINESSOFBBQ WHAT IS BBQ CULTURE? If you google what corporate culture is, you’ll 昀nd it refers to the beliefs and behaviors that determine how a company’s team members interact. It’s more implied, not expressly de昀ned. It is developed organically over time from the collective traits of owners, top management and of the people they hire. Sometimes that culture breads good times, collaboration, and great experiences. Sometimes...not so much. But what is BBQ culture? How is it di昀erent? Although, like others in BBQ, Sonny’s BBQ takes the basic philosophy of corporate culture and raises it to the next level. For Sonny’s, our BBQ culture is about Spreading the Spirit of BBQ with our guests, and our local communities. It’s about celebrating others for their contribution and sel昀ess acts through our signature cause branding program, Random Acts of BBQ. It’s about our Pit Academy that takes employees from a cook to a pitmaster. And in the 24 years I have been with Sonny’s BBQ, I have certainly seen our BBQ culture evolve into something that’s amazing. I think BBQ culture, overall, di昀erentiates itself from other industries by being sel昀ess, always looking out for others, serving those in our neighborhoods, communities, regions, and the world. It’s about competing against a team next to you, and then helping them out if they’re in trouble with equipment or product. It’s about running across the country to help out in disasters by volunteering with OBR. It’s networking and hanging out, learning tips from a legend and then hanging with them in the beer tent. There isn’t anything else like a BBQ culture. I’m proud to be part of such an amazing movement. It’s a community that welcomes and embraces all levels of BBQ skills and expertise. It’s why I love, not only being a member of NBBQA, but being on the board. My hope is to give back as much as I can to an industry that I have received so much from. Barbara Latimer Barbara Latimer, Director of Franchise Relations, Sonny’s BBQ “There isn’t anything else like a BBQ culture. I’m proud to be part of such an amazing movement.” BarbecueNews.com - 36 SEPTEMBER 2019