Chuck Moran couldn’t help but get choked up a bit.
It was Delaware North’s annual holiday party on Dec. 23 and as he has done in years past, Moran, the company’s president for the past 12 years and a member of the leadership team for nearly twice as long, prepared to address associates as the festivities got underway.
This year was different, though. And for that matter, so was the setting – in large part due to the company’s growth on his watch.
Associates filled the auditorium of Delaware North’s new global headquarters, with a backdrop featuring 
a sweeping view of downtown Buffalo – a drastic change from years past as the event was formerly held as a standing-room-only gathering. In the moments leading up to Moran taking the microphone, the capacity audience heard from Delaware North Chairman Jeremy Jacobs, Co-CEOs Jerry Jacobs Jr. and Lou Jacobs, and Executive Vice President and COO Rick Abramson – all of whom thanked Moran, who is set to retire, for his dedication through the years.
“I was truly moved by the kind words of the Jacobs family and everyone who has wished me well,” Moran said. “I was trying not to get emotional, but it was hard – especially when I looked around and saw so many smiling faces in our beautiful new global headquarters. Experiencing the first holiday party in our new world-class headquarters certainly seemed like a fitting way for me to cap off my time as president.”
Aside from the sure-to-be-long-lasting positive impact of his leadership, Moran will not only maintain a presence with the company by overseeing Project Maximization and as a strategic advisor to the Office of the Chief Executive, but he will also serve on the company’s board of directors, Mr. Jacobs announced.
“Chuck has been so important to the Jacobs family and Delaware North that we’ve asked him to serve on our board of directors – a role that he graciously accepted,” Mr. Jacobs said.
Delaware North’s Office of the Chief Executive – which includes both Co-CEOs and three executive vice presidents – also sang Moran’s praise.
“We’re fortunate that we’ll continue to benefit from his wisdom and counsel as he continues his work with Project Maximization, as an advisor to the Office of the Chief Executive, as a member of our board and, of course, as a member of the Delaware North family,” Co-CEO Jerry Jacobs Jr. said.
“His counsel and wisdom have been invaluable to Jerry and I throughout our careers, and especially now in our roles as Co-CEOs,” Co-CEO Lou Jacobs added.
“Chuck has always been generous with his wisdom and time, and he has helped to guide the careers of many Delaware North associates,” Abramson said.
As for retirement, Moran said he plans to split his time between Buffalo, Atlanta and Florida, where he will visit family – including his grandchildren.
PHOTO CAPTION: Delaware North Co-CEOs Jerry Jacobs Jr. (left) and Lou Jacobs (right) and Chuck Moran (center) are all smiles on the floor of the auditorium in Delaware North’s new global headquarters in Buffalo, N.Y.