Episode 50 of Aramark’s Mark This! podcast is a behind-the-scenes look at the show itself. Host Heather Dotchel, producers Esau Howard and Conall Smith, and review lawyer Blase Iaconelli discuss how the podcast began, how they pick, and why each of them loves working on it. They share favorite episodes and talk about what the show has taught them, mainly how passionate Aramark’s people are and how broad the business is.
Heather Dotchel, Senior Director, Aramark Corporate Communications
Heather Dotchel is a Senior Director with the Corporate Communications team where she supports external communications, media relations, and issues and crisis communications for the U.S. Collegiate Hospitality, Student Nutrition, Facilities, and Correctional Services lines of business as well as Aramark Canada.
Heather joined Aramark in 2021 as Director of External Communications and was promoted to Senior Director in 2025. She develops and executes strategies that protect and strengthen Aramark’s brand and reputation, partnering closely with company leaders to provide communications counsel and to tell the story of the enterprise’s people, programs, and partnerships. She also created and hosts Aramark’s Mark This! Podcast.
Previously, Heather founded Calluna Communications, a consultancy serving colleges, universities, and nonprofits. Before that, she spent more than two decades in higher education marketing and communications and also taught as an adjunct instructor for English and writing. Heather holds an M.S. in Communication and Rhetoric from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a B.A. in English from Immaculata University.
Blase Iaconelli, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Aramark
Blase Iaconelli is a Vice President and Associate General Counsel for the Aramark enterprise. In this role, he is responsible for business and operational legal advice as lead counsel to Aramark’s Global Supply Chain organization and GPO businesses, which include both the managed services operations of Aramark and the group purchasing organization operations of the Avendra International group of companies. Blase also has primary legal responsibility for the Aramark enterprise’s intellectual property matters as well as alcoholic beverage compliance legal advice to Aramark’s business units.
Blase joined Aramark in 2009 and has previously led legal teams in support of several of Aramark’s business units, including Sports and Entertainment, Facilities, Student Nutrition, and Corrections. Prior to joining Aramark, Blase was an associate at Dechert LLP and Alston & Bird LLP in their respective offices in New York City, specializing in complex real estate finance, CDOs, and securitization.
Blase earned his B.A. with high distinction (History and Economics) from the University of Virginia, where he was an Echols scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, and member of the University Judiciary Committee. Blase earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was an editor of the Virginia Journal of Environmental Law. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and New York bars. Blase also serves on the board of directors of Siloam, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia which focuses on the well-being of individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Esau Howard, Senior Manager, Aramark Corporate Communications
Esau Howard is a Senior Communications Manager with Aramark’s Corporate Communications team, overseeing internal communications and platforms. His diverse editorial experience strengthens storytelling and engagement to highlight Aramark’s various lines of business across different mediums.
He joined Aramark in 2019 following roles at Vanguard and ESPN, building a career rooted in storytelling and translating ideas to broader audiences. A proud graduate of Morgan State University—a National Treasure in Baltimore—Esau advocates for mentorship, service, and expanded opportunities in corporate settings.
Conall Smith, Senior Manager, Aramark Corporate Communications
Conall Smith is a Senior Communications Manager on Aramark's Corporate Communications team, where he manages external communications, earned media, and storytelling initiatives across Aramark's Collegiate Hospitality, Student Nutrition, and Facilities Management lines of business. He develops and executes communications strategies that strengthen Aramark's brand and reputation while showcasing the impact of its people, partnerships, and innovations.
Drawing on a background in journalism, Conall specializes in identifying and developing stories that connect business priorities to broader industry trends and community impact. He also contributes to the development of Aramark's Mark This! podcast and 250 Taste Tour video series, supporting content planning and production.
Prior to joining Aramark, Conall worked in higher education public relations at the State University of New York (SUNY), where he supported communications initiatives across one of the nation's largest public university systems. Before that, he was a local TV news reporter. He is a graduate of Temple University.
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