horizontal. If one element is out of sync with the others, the whole organisation is off balance.’ Quennec’s mix of drive, passion and humility is a large part of how he gets the best out of his staff . ‘Th ere’s no such thing as being the best, but we strive to be considered among the best sports organisations in the world.’ Th e tip of the iceberg is Quennec’s philosophy. It could have been applied to any number of organisations, it didn’t have to be a sports club. But Quennec chose GSHC, and the reason behind this was for more than just the challenge of turning the club into a successful sporting team and entertainment enterprise. For him and Chris McSorley being the best means much more than simply winning games. GSHC is a vehicle, a launching pad for projects that can make a real diff erence to the community, thanks to its reach through its fan base and corporate sponsors, through the media attention it generates and through the infl uence of its players. Th e GSHC message goes beyond the rink: the club aims to be a model for youth hockey development and to provide a positive impact on the local community. ‘It’s not about money, and it’s not just about winning games. It’s about all this positive energy, and how far that can go,’ says Quennec. GSHC devotes much of its time and energy into Geneva’s children. In Switzerland today there are kids of all ages and from all across the city who are discovering and enjoying ice hockey. Some may even be the hockey stars of the future. Th anks to the Genève Future Hockey Association (GFH), a non-profi t organisation set up by GSHC, both aspiring athletes and kids who just want to have fun playing the sport have the opportunity to play hockey with their peers, get professional coaching and interact with star hockey players who act as mentors and role models to educate them about the positive attributes of the sport. GFH will even give career advice to help promising players think about their future both inside and outside the rink. Eighty-Two Below: a GSHC player mentors a young child. Bottom: Hugh Quennec (left) and PrivatAir’s Victor Grove (right) enjoy a big match But that’s not all. Th anks to GSHC’s overwhelming popularity and media attention, the club is able to organise a number of high-profi le charity fundraisers and events through the Genève- Servette Foundation for Children and Humanity. A great example is the Teddy Bear Night when fans throw stuff ed animals onto the rink after the fi rst goal of the home team is scored. Th e bears are then collected and delivered by the players to local children’s hospitals. And on Pink Night in support of breast cancer charities, players don pink jerseys as they play. Th eir kit is then sold off at auction and the proceeds given to charity. Hugh Quennec’s Sport for Life Foundation illustrates how sport can benefi t the community in a variety of diff erent ways. Take the Community Rinks programme for example. Th e foundation provided funding that was instrumental in helping several communities in the Geneva area to build outdoor rinks. Th ese rinks have become a meeting point for family recreation, social events, school outings as well as venues for hockey initiation programs for boys and girls, that are managed by GFH. Th e Sport for Life Foundation’s Le Petit Sport programme aims to allow children as young as four to learn good manners, follow rules, work as a team and stay focused on a task, all through the use of stories and games. ‘We’re getting four-year-olds to shake hands when they say hello, look you in the eye when they’re talking to you, and accept time-out when they’ve not followed the rules, respected the other participants or the equipment. It’s not just about sport, it’s an education for life,’ says Quennec. GSHC is already changing the face of sport in Geneva. And it’s not just thanks to good business sense or solid sporting performance. It’s largely because everyone involved wants to work towards the positive ideals that the club believes in. Quennec’s drive is contagious because his values are sound, and you can bet he gained these through his love of sport. ‘It is about sport,’ he says. ‘But more importantly, it’s about good people doing good things for good reasons.’ AMEETINGOFMINDS When Victor Grove, senior vice-president for training and customer service at PrivatAir, met GSHC president Hugh Quennec, their joint appreciation of sport was just a starting point for a friendship that is based on many shared values. ‘In my role at PrivatAir, it’s all about people. We aim for that heightened level of excellence among our staff . When we talk about customer service, we call it our Service d’Excellence. I’m a great believer in the values people can learn through sport, and apply to every area of life: the team spirit, hard work, focus and discipline. There are many ways to communicate those values to our staff and our customers. Highlighting role models like the GSHC is a fi ne example.’ IMAGE©BOMBARDIER
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