Our Team Personnel
Jim McKenzie – Corporate Affairs, Governance & Compliance FAIM; AAMI
Jim has over 40 years’ experience in all components of the hospitality and tourism industry covering strategic planning and marketing, operational financial analysis, information technology standards and human resource development.
He has consulted to private and listed national companies on hospitality issues since 1988 resulting in being accepted as an expert witness by legal practitioners for Court proceedings on hospitality issues. Over the past 20+ years he has managed varied projects for numerous insolvency practitioners and venue operators as their hospitality specialist covering the operational control, compliance and analysis of all formats of hospitality and entertainment businesses.
His passion is to maximise business performance for his clients. In this regard in 2003 he pioneered software that delivered hosted solutions allowing businesses to identify their performance gaps using diagnostic reviews, appraisals, and surveys. The identified gaps were bridged through actioning learning and development systems to deliver improved productivity and performance.
Jim has been a member of various hospitality industry advisory bodies and have acted as a consultant to educational institutions, government departments, finance institutions, national retailing groups and project developers.
Contact Details:
Mobile: 0411 223 881
Email: jim.mckenzie@maconsultants.com.au
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mckenzie-80bb2418/
Grady Patching – Director - Projects
Grady is a distinguished national hospitality operator, focused, communicative, knowledgeable and ethical. As the National Operations Manager for the Colonial Leisure Group he has led his team of venues to numerous National and State Awards.
He has built his industry knowledge through a history of management roles in National hospitality groups and has been at the forefront of promoting change in Industry leadership style.
In his 5 years role as National Operations Manager, his ability to recognise venue potential allowed him to identify and supervise venue acquisitions, refurbish their operations in line with the local market and deliver an operations team that ensured a successful outcome.
Grady has an underlying passion for the Hospitality Industry and his dialogue is heard by his peers through his industry speaking engagements. He has a desire to give back energy to the Industry.
Contact Details:
Mobile: 0457 714 577
Email: grady.patching@maconsultants.com.au
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grady-patching-1107741a/
Trent Smith – Director - Operations
Trent Smith is a seasoned hospitality operation’s specialist. His industry journey has taken him through the key management of iconic hotel venues for multiple National Hotel Groups, such as ALH Group, Mundy Group and Colonial Leisure Group.
Qualifications in hospitality management provided him with a focus on building a team culture for his venues which have covered all facets of hospitality offers including gaming.
His venues’ operations have included large entertainment and seaside resort venues, all providing bistro through to fine dining with funky beverage offers.
Trent supervised and managed the refurbishment and relaunch of Brighton’s iconic Halfmoon and has for the last 6 years been General Manager of the Portsea Hotel being Victoria’s premier seaside venue in the holiday playground of the Mornington Peninsula
His wide operational experience underpins his ability to change underperforming venues into market leaders in their local demographic.
Contact Details:
Mobile: 0448 778 669
Email: trent.smith@maconsultants.com.au
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-smith-00223b169/
