Leadership Forum 2022

2022 Leadership Forum and Annual Meeting

Thank you to our terrific panel -- Dr. Eric Guthrie (MN State Demographic Center), Deb Broberg (RealTime Talent), David Benowitz (Craft & Crew Hospitality) and Liz Rammer (Hospitality Minnesota) led by our moderator, Chuck Paton. You gave us both a great deal to think about and real take-aways to put to use now. Listen here.

Thank you, too, to our event sponsors. You can scroll down the page to check them out.

Links to resources that may be of interest to you:

Dr. Eric Guthrie's presentation slides on Minnesota's Changing Population.
Deb Broberg's presentation slides on hospitality workforce dynamics.
- RealTime Talent Data Insights – Hotel industry analysis for Hennepin County and Hospitality Career Wage & Demand Trends for Ramsey County can both be found here.
- RealTime Talent TPM webpage – an employer strategy that RealTime Talent is expanding across MN.
- Ron Hetrick’s research on the Demographic Drought (Sansdemic) – a good read for everyone asking “where are the people”; informative insights to understand what is going on globally and within our US labor market. Applicable to companies of all sizes and reprioritizes the people who are delivering the services to customers.
David Benowitz referenced John Maxwell Leadership Training and the Entrepreneurial Operating System.
Immigration, especially through worker visas, was cited as a key driver of strengthening the workforce pipeline. H-2B Visas are an important resource for many hospitality businesses, especially seasonal ones. Look for a Hospitality Minnesota webinar on the topic in early 2023. In the meantime, there are two federal agencies that post information:
- US Department of Labor:
  - Employment and Training Administration
  - Wage and Hour Division
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services
  - Working in the US

Other resources that might be of interest:

Chip Conley, former hotlier and Airbnb hospitality guru, coined the phrase "mentern" when he realized that he was learning as much from his younger colleagues as he was sharing with them. His book Wisdom@Work is his exploration on age and ageism in the workplace.
Our panelists received the new book by Will Guidera, former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, "Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect."
Our Social Sponsor, Society Insurance, has just posted "Creative Interview Questions for Finding the Right Candidate" on their blog, offering ways that might help with hiring for values alignment.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce published a report on the "Economic Contributions of Immigrants in Minnesota" last year.

The 2022 Annual Meeting included a State of the Association from Howard Anderson, chair of the Board of Directors, as well as the election of new officers and directors. [Read Howard's remarks]

Congratulations and welcome to our new directors and officers!

2023 Officers

Chair | Cathy Bovard | Director of Operations | D’Amico Catering
Vice Chair | Scott Krause | Vice President | Sand Hospitality
Immediate Past Chair | Howard Anderson | Vice President | Odyssey Resorts
Treasurer | Ron Rykken | Owner | Timber Bay Lodge and Houseboats
Secretary | Tony Boen | Director of Operations | Grandma’s Restaurant Company

Directors Beginning Terms on January 1, 2023

Howard Anderson | Vice President Strategic Planning | Odyssey Resorts
Bill Godbe | General Manager | Element by Westin at Target Field (1st term)
Branden Robinson | General Manager | South Pier Inn (incumbent)
Cathy Bovard | Director of Operations | D’Amico Catering (incumbent)
Colin Anderson | Corporate Account Manager | Ecolab (1st term)
Joe Henry | Executive Director | Lake of the Woods Tourism (1st term)
Karen Blacik | CFO/Business Operations, National Restaurant Lead | CliftonLarsonAllen (1st term)
Paul Bugbee | Owner | Bug-Bee Hive Resort (1st term)
Tony Boen | Director of Operations | Grandma's Restaurant Company
Wesley Otto | Owner | Zanz Mexican Restaurant and Otto Media Group (1st term)

November 15, 2022 | 4:00 - 7:30 PM
Minneapolis Marriott Northwest | Hennepin Ballroom
7025 Northland Drive
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

4-5:15pm | Leadership Forum
5:15-5:45pm | Annual Meeting
5:45-7:30pm | Social Reception

4-5:15pm

Hospitality Workforce Strategies Panel: What actions can we take now and in the future to build the hospitality workforce we need?

Moderated by: Chuck Paton, President of Odyssey Resorts and an HM board member

Chuck Paton has had a presence in the Minnesota hospitality industry for more than 40 years. Currently the President of Duluth-based Odyssey Resorts, Chuck oversees the operations of eight North Shore resorts. He has in the past been Vice-President for Morrissey Hospitality, and General Manager of the Saint Paul Hotel, Hotel Ivy, and Nicollet Island Inn. Chuck has tried over the years to practice the idea that to provide excellent hospitality to guests, we must provide excellent hospitality to employees. Closing out his second year on the Hospitality Minnesota Board of Directors, Chuck also serves on the boards of the Superior Hiking Trail, Superior National Golf Course, and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce. Chuck resides in Superior, Wisconsin with his wife and their Golden Retriever.

Featured Panelists

Dr. Eric Guthrie

Eric Guthrie is a Senior Demographer in the Minnesota State Demographic Center. Eric came to the Demographic Center in May of 2021 following time in other states where he managed the South Dakota Rural Life and Census Data Center and served as the State Demographer for the State of Michigan. Throughout his career, Eric has always found the greatest fulfillment in using demographic knowledge and techniques to help others better understand the world in which we live and work.

Deb Broberg

Deb Broberg is Executive Director of RealTime Talent, an employer-led public-private collaborative focused on aligning Minnesota’s workforce. Working across education, industry and the public sector, RealTime Talent elevates employers’ collective workforce needs by providing customized research, current labor market insights, Talent Pipeline Management ® strategies, and consultation services

David Benowitz

David Benowitz is President and Co-Owner of Craft & Crew Hospitality, a growing restaurant group in the Twin Cities. After graduating from the business school at the University of Kansas, David quickly realized that the corporate world didn't move fast enough for him - so he joined his father in the restaurant business. Over the last 19 years, he has opened or re-concepted nine unique bar/restaurants while building and establishing the Craft & Crew brand as a leader in this community. David's commitment to intentional leadership, corporate culture, and employee growth has created an organization in which both salaried and hourly employees are aligned with the mission and success of the stores they serve.

Liz Rammer

Liz joined Hospitality Minnesota in 2018 as President & CEO, serving in previous leadership roles in both corporate and nonprofit organizations. Her tenure has focused on negotiating the merger, navigating the pandemic to bring support and relief to member businesses and building a stronger link between the association and the Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation to address the workforce challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry.

2022 Annual Meeting
5:15-5:45pm

State of the Association | Howard Anderson, Chair, HM Board of Directors [Read Howard's remarks]
Election of Officers and Directors | JJ Haywood, Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee

Note: Only the main contact of a member organization is designated to vote. If you the voting member in attendance, you will find a small card with a member seal inserted into your nametag. Please use this to hold up as you place your vote on the slate of officers and directors.

Slate of Directors and Officers

2023 Officers

Chair | Cathy Bovard | Director of Operations | D’Amico Catering
Vice Chair | Scott Krause | Vice President | Sand Hospitality
Immediate Past Chair | Howard Anderson | Vice President | Odyssey Resorts
Treasurer | Ron Rykken | Owner | Timber Bay Lodge and Houseboats
Secretary | Tony Boen | Director of Operations | Grandma’s Restaurant Company

Directors | Terms ending in 2025

Bill Godbe | General Manager | Element by Westin at Target Field (1st term)
Branden Robinson | General Manager | South Pier Inn (incumbent)
Cathy Bovard | Director of Operations | D’Amico Catering (incumbent)
Colin Anderson | Corporate Account Manager | Ecolab (1st term)
Joe Henry | Executive Director | Lake of the Woods Tourism (1st term)
Karen Blacik | CFO/Business Operations, National Restaurant Lead | CliftonLarsonAllen (1st term)
Paul Bugbee | Owner | Bug-Bee Hive Resort (1st term)
Wesley Otto | Owner | Zanz Mexican Restaurant and Otto Media Group (1st term)

Incumbents

Directors | Terms ending in 2024

Allison Fraser | General Manager | Hilton Minneapolis (1st term)
Clair Nalezny | Co-owner | Cascade Vacation Rentals and Cascade Maintenance Services (1st term)
David Benowitz | Owner | Craft & Crew Hospitality (1st term)
Mindy Fredrikson | Owner | Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters (1st term)
Robb Hall | VP, Hospitality Operations | Sherman Associates (1st term)
Robert Kisabeth | Chief Operations Officer | TPI Hospitality (1st term)
Ron Rykken | Owner | Timber Bay Lodge and Houseboats (1st term)
Tony Boen | Director of Operations | Grandma’s Restaurant Company (incumbent; filling 2-year term)

Directors | Terms ending in 2023

Chuck Paton | President | Odyssey Resorts (1st term)
Frank Soukup | Director of Marketing | Cote Family Destinations
Howard Anderson | Vice President | Odyssey Resorts (incumbent; filling 1-year term)
Karen Lamb | Sr. Relationship Manager | Heartland (1st term)
Kent Letnes | Partner | Letnes Restaurant Group (1st term)
Mari Harries | Owner | River City Eatery (1st term)
Robbie Soskin | Co-Owner | yum! Kitchen and Bakery (1st term)
Scott Krause | Vice President | Sand Hospitality (1st term)