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Rocky Top Catering Names Alison Purdee Gangway as CEO

Bookmark and Share Raleigh, N.C. - December 14, 2017 -

Rocky Top Catering has announced that Alison Purdee Gangway has been named CEO effective January 1, 2018. The company has also named Ciara Campbell as the new senior catering manager of the company’s operations at UNC, the position currently held by Gangway. Founder and owner Dean Ogan will transition to the role of chairman of the board.

In her new role, Gangway will report directly to Ogan, and be responsible for the continued growth of Rocky Top Catering through excellence in execution resulting is referral business, and best-in-industry hiring, training and retention. Additionally, she will manage the company’s financials, and evaluate opportunities for new relationships.

Ogan will focus on community outreach and philanthropic initiatives, supporting the Board of Directors, managing relationships with long-term clients, establishing new relationships, mentoring the CEO and directors, assisting with key personnel development, and managing the evolution of the company’s organizational chart.

In addition to operating event venues 1705 East in Raleigh and Cross+Main in Youngsville, Rocky Top is a preferred caterer for dozens of venues across the Triangle, and the exclusive caterer of the Blue Zone in Kenan Stadium at UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC football’s Training Table, the Friday Center for Continuing Education, and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The company recently announced the acquisition of a new 18,000-square-foot commissary in Raleigh to begin operation in January.

Gangway has 12 years of experience in the catering and hospitality industry, and started working with Rocky Top as a catering sales manager in 2010. She later moved over to lead the company’s operations at the Blue Zone at Kenan Stadium since its opening in August 2011. Gangway managed private event sales held within the Blue Zone and Football Center, all game-day operations, and premium seating for home football, basketball and baseball games. Since the summer of 2014, she has also overseen UNC’s Training Table in the Kenan Football Center. Gangway graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in business management.

Campbell was formerly director of operations for Rocky Top at UNC. She began her catering career in her home country of Ireland with Hamilton & Kirk Catering, one of Ireland’s premier catering and events companies. After participating in a study-abroad program and graduating from Ulster University in Northern Ireland and UNC-Chapel Hill, she worked as catering manager and general manager of Tyler’s Taproom & Restaurant in Carrboro and Durham for six years before coming to Rocky Top as event manager. For the past six years, Campbell has managed the day-to-day operations at UNC, where she designed, set up, staged and executed all Rocky Top events on campus and off premises. She is also caretaker of all of the company’s facilities and equipment on site.

“Having seen the growth and evolution of Rocky Top Catering the past seven years, I am thrilled to step into the role of CEO and lead the company to further growth in the years to come,” said Gangway. “It’s our people that make our company successful, and I am ready to take on the job of motivating and cultivating our fantastic team along with Dean and our other directors.”

“Alison and Ciara have proven time and time again that they are excellent leaders who will go the extra mile to satisfy our clients,” said Ogan. “I congratulate them both on their promotions, and I know they will both work hard to maintain and grow Rocky Top’s excellent reputation in the Triangle market.”

For more information, visit http://rockytopcatering.com/ or call 919-850-2340.

Press Contact

Contact: Dean Ogan
Email: dean@rockytophospitality.com
Phone: 919-850-2340