Career Chronicles: Recent Episodes
Chris Bennis
Career Chronicles speaks with the best leaders in the hospitality industry with stories and interviews about the latest industry news.
Hi – I’m Chris and I have been in the recruiting industry for close to 9 years. I got my start in the tech industry and moved over to hospitality in 2013. My passion is for people. I am what you call “really outgoing” and can strike up a conversation with just about anyone, and about just about anything.
Ever since I was a kid in my basement studio at my mom’s house when I pretended to be a TV anchor, I would interview my friends, I wanted to hear their stories.
Everyone has a story – why they are working in the career they are. What ups and downs they have had had in their journey and the interesting stories along the way.
That’s what Career Chronicles is about – the stories of business and hospitality leaders. Looking beyond the title and learning more about the person. How they got here and what advice they have for those just starting on their own journey.
It’s their story, it’s their Career Chronicles.
I hope you will listen and subscribe!
On today’s episode we speak with Monte Silva. Monte has been a successful restaurant leader working across the country in hot spots like Los Angeles and Nashville. He has worked alongside esteemed chefs like Wolfgang Puck and his background includes roles as General Manager, Director of Operations and Director of Restaurants. Most recently, Monte started his own business helping restaurant leaders across the country and coaching those in the hospitality industry. Monte talks about the road that lead him to where he is today and some of the personal and professional roadblocks and detours he needed to take along the way. Don't forget - listeners can receive a FREE copy of Monte's new ebook - Just email Monte: hashtagrestaurateur@gmail.com and use the code word: 121HOSPITALITYEBOOK Monte is also offering a 40% off discount on his first time consultation fee for listeners of the podcast! Just email hashtagrestaurateur@gmail.com and use the code word 121HOSPITALITYCOACHING
On this week's episode of the Hospitality One2One Podcast – it's a little different. We talk about the exciting new direction we are going in and need YOUR help!
We also talk about the new game show “Resume Wars” that helps people better their resumes in a fun, light-hearted manner. Today we offer some of the do's and dont's from the resumes that have appeared so far.
If you want to check out Resume Wars – just visit: https://www.snellinghospitality.com/resume-wars
Christine Trippi has a storied hospitality background with roles as Front Office Manager, Director of Guest and Crew Member experience, General Manager, and Senior Manager of Operations for Marriott International. Most recently Christine founded her own company called The Wise Pineapple which focuses on keynotes, leadership trainings, and workshops for hospitality professionals. She is also the author of “Yes is the Answer”. A book that talks about how positivity, passion and pineapples will transform your leadership and your life” Christine talks about her passion for the industry and offers some valuable takeaways that anyone in hospitality can use right now.
Christine's website: https://www.thewisepineapple.com/
Today on the podcast, we have a conversation with the new co-host of the Hospitality One2One Podcast, Adam Stafford. Adam has spent years honing his culinary craft working in unique venues both in North Carolina and in Ohio. His passion for food is rivaled only by that for employer brand and employee engagement. Adam will offer a distinct voice to the podcast and today we learn more about his background. Here now is Adam Stafford.
Pat Schaumann is the President of Schaumann Consulting Group and is the author of Breaking the Code to Healthcare Compliance – 5th edition. The book is the resource for the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate program. Pat was named by Meetings today as 2016 meetings trendsetter and also named as one of the top 25 women in the meeting industry. She has served as an adjunct Professor at 4 universities and currently Co-chairs the Hospitality Management Industry Advisory Board at St. Louis University’s School of Professional Studies and serves as faculty for the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate.
Anthony Prusak has a varied career that includes working as the Director of Sales & Marketing for the Sheraton Cleveland Airport, followed by roles at the Marriott Cleveland East and then he worked as Senior Director of Convention Sales for the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland. Michael became the VP of Business Development for ABTS Convention Services. Anthony’s most recent role is as Director of Membership Development for Cleveland Skating Club.
Both Pat and Anthony speak about the challenges that hotels have with large meetings in our current climate, in particular when it comes to medical meetings. They also offer valuable advice on how to move forward.
Michael Bosch has a solid Hotel Human Resource background that includes working as VP of Human Resources for Twin Tier Hospitality, and also working as Director of HR for the Omni Homestead and Complex Director of Human Resources for the Renaissance and Westin Las Vegas. Michael has seen it all in hotel HR and he offers his candid take on where we are and more importantly – he offers his views on where we go from here.
Matt Snyder started his career in law but his passion for food, wine, and people led him to open a unique winery in Medina, Ohio a suburb between Cleveland and Akron. Matt has found different, “out of the box” ways to meet these uncertain times and he speaks candidly about where we go from here. A quick note: The interview was recorded shortly before Ohio Governor Mike DeWine made the restaurant re-opening announcement. Since the recording, the Governor has advised that outdoor dining can re-open on May 15th and indoor seating can resume on May 21st.
Patrick Waechter's media and marketing credentials are impeccable. From working as Vice President of Marketing for Mint Lifestyle where he curated content from more than 20 contributors across various lifestyle categories including travel, real estate, auto, retail and others – to helping to launch and work as Managing Editor for ArareWorld which is a game changing travel media company. Patrick produced 100 printed issues, where they wrote critical reviews of over 700 hotels in 77 countries. Patrick is currently working as freelance writer, editor and multimedia content creator. Patrick speaks about his background and has great insights on his perspective of the industry.
Cody Breckenridge has a solid military background with roles in the Idaho National Guard and United States Air Force. Most recently, Cody is a certified Master Resiliency Trainer. His wife Kayla is a certified Yoga instructor and expert in Yogic philosophy. Together they own B. Bloomed YMM - which stands for Yoga, Meditation, and mindfulness. They offer a lifetime access coaching program for hospitality professionals. Today they will speak about how hospitality professionals can navigate personally through all that is going on.
Justin Roberts has a varied background that includes founding several companies and he has worked closely with several small businesses as a Portfolio advisor. He has a passion for technology and the hospitality industry. He most recently helped found kickfin – a revolutionary way that allows restaurant owners and managers to get those much needed tips into their hard working employees hands.
Our guest today knows a lot about the staggering impacts that COVID-19 has on the industry - restaurants in particular. From her 10 plus years as Director of Human Resources for the Potbelly Sandwich Works, to her over 10 years running the successful Restaurant HR Group, Carrie Luxem has extensive hospitality experience and is acutely aware of the devestation that COVID-19 has leveled on the industry. Carrie talks about the current state of the restaurant industry and looks ahead to the other side. She also speaks about the personal impacts this has had on her own business.
Today we will hear from Glenn Haussman, Host of the popular “No Vacancy Podcast” Glenn is a business owner and formerly was Editor in Chef of the Hotel Interactive Network.
Glen Houseman speaks more about staggering impacts that COVID-19 is having on the hospitality industry and he looks ahead to what the landscape may look like on the other side.