# Disposition Services leadership serves holiday spirit to workforce

/ Published Dec. 8, 2022
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. , 
After a two-year hiatus, Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services employees gathered at the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, to enjoy a holiday breakfast made by the leadership team. 

                DLA Disposition Services' leadership team serves HDIFC employees breakfast at holiday event.                            DLA Disposition Services hosts holiday breakfast event                            DLA Disposition Services' leadership team serves HDIFC employees breakfast at holiday event.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Kelly BurellVIRIN: 221206-D-YU183-018Before the pandemic, it was an annual tradition for leadership to cook for the team as a way to celebrate the season and show appreciation for their hard work. 

Director Mike Cannon opened this year’s event by thanking everyone for attending the long-awaited tradition. 

“Enjoy; interact with each other – this is a great time to celebrate each other and the season,” Cannon said. “You also have the choice to eat good pancakes or eat mediocre pancakes.”  

Cannon referencing pancakes made by himself or Chief of Staff Pete Foreman.

Over the years, Cannon and Foreman have turned the annual holiday breakfast into a competition to see who makes the “best” pancakes.                 DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon makes intricate pancake designs as Chief of Staff Pete Forman observes.                            DLA Disposition Services hosts holiday breakfast event                            DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon makes intricate pancake designs as Chief of Staff Pete Forman observes.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Kelly BurellVIRIN: 221206-D-YU183-001

“I’ve been cooking pancakes for eight years, which means we’ve been competing for eight years,” Foreman said.

This year, Cannon raised the stakes by introducing designs to his repertoire. Snowmen, candy canes, holiday bells, and ornaments filled the plates of many breakfast goers.  

“They are doing a great job; I like Mr. Cannon’s creativity,” said Disposition Services Issue Division Chief, and employee of 40 years, Sherri Underwood. “This gives people time to chat [with leadership] while they are standing in line waiting for a pancake. The syrup fountain is a cool idea; I haven’t seen that yet.” 

                Neighboring childcare center, Stars and Stripes Learning Station visited Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center to perform a holiday concert.                            DLA Disposition Services hosts holiday breakfast event                            Neighboring childcare center, Stars and Stripes Learning Station visited Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center to perform a holiday concert.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: KateLambertLeeVIRIN: 221207-D-QJ961-204The syrup fountain and intricate pancake designs were new but celebrating the holidays as a team is not. The major subordinate command has been hosting an employee holiday event since 1994. 

“It started as a nighttime event with hors devours in the ballroom,” said Disposition Services Executive Officer Janine DesVoignes. “That was my first year organizing the event. Then it turned into a luncheon in the Palm Garden Room and now it’s a breakfast. I prefer the breakfast because people talk about it for the rest of the day.”

The Palm Garden Room was filled with laughter and conversations and smelled like pancake mix and melted butter. The neighboring childcare center, Stars and Stripes Learning Station visited HDIFC for a festive holiday concert.

“Thank you for coming, this is something that we’ve done for years,” said Battle Creek Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Director Tiffany Schmidt. “We brought it back last year and I’m happy we can do this again this year. We appreciate everyone who came down to listen to the kids and get into the holiday spirit.”

After their performance, the children, their family members and other HDIFC employees went to the cafeteria for a holiday-themed craft.