4 minute read
What Your Peers Are Saying
Meet Some Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Members
Membership in ORLA means being part of the only organization in the state devoted to protecting and promoting the interests of our industry. It’s all of us together that makes that possible. Get inspired by these peer profiles where members share recruitment and retention strategies and pandemic changes they plan to keep. For a little seasonal fun we also wanted to know favorite Oregon summer produce, and summer travel plans.
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Tell Your Peers a Little About You!
If you are a member, and are willing to be profiled here, please email us at info@OregonRLA.org. Also, let us know if there is a question you would like to see your peers answer.
GET TO KNOW SOME OF YOUR PEERS BY READING THEIR RESPONSES TO THESE BUSINESS RELATED QUESTIONS:
What is a new idea you have implemented for recruitment and retention? What change did you make due to the pandemic, that you plan to keep?
MARTIN AND REGINA PICKE Wild Goose Meadows RV, Lakeview
Title: Owner/Operators Open Since: 2015 Member Since: 2015 Fav Oregon Produce? Watermelon Summer Travel? Warner mountains
This pandemic has made us more conscious about where we're shopping and who we're supporting with those funds. We now shop locally and choose to support the mom and pop type businesses. We are a firm believer in, "you get what you pay for."
MARIN ARREOLA III Advanced Economic Solutions, Salem
Title: Owner/President Joined the Company: 2003 Member Since: 2021 Fav Oregon Produce? Blueberries Summer Travel? Bend and New York
We created an incentive plan for employees that is based on merit. They will get bonuses or more time off depending on their needs. Additionally, we emphasize self-care plans with employees.
I think one of the biggest changes is working remotely. We will now implement two days a week employees can work remotely.
JULIE HOY Geppetto’s Italian Restaurant, Salem
Title: Owner Open Since: 2017 Member Since: Rejoined 2021 Fav Oregon Produce? Heirloom tomatoes Summer Travel? A day off would be nice!
Broadening our search field, accessing multiple platforms for assisting in job search. WorkSource Oregon, community college job boards, temp agencies, vocational rehab organizations, social media, word of mouth–we have tried just about everything. We are willing to pay more per hour to get and retain quality employees.
MARK BANNING Banning’s Restaurant & Pie House, Tigard
We ran all new exterior gas lines for outdoor patio heating, added new awnings and installed a pass-thru window for order pick-up/delivery.
DARYN WHITE The Heathman Hotel, Portland
Title: General Manager Joined the Company: 2017 Member Since: 2008 Fav Oregon Produce? Unger Farms Strawberries Summer Travel? Lost Lake
We made a digital shift from switching paper compendiums for QR codes and adding a new 24-hour Virtual Concierge service to streamline the guest experience.
LORI KELLER Saw Tooth Roadhouse, Mt. Hood
A regular recently told me that he had really missed my smile. I will always take that extra minute and make it personal. I really missed our customers.
REHAN KHANZADA Let us Nudge, Columbus, NJ
Title: Founder Open Since: 2020 Member Since: 2021 Fav Oregon Produce? Bartlett Pears Summer Travel? Hopefully Europe
After losing my job, the change was to make Let us Nudge into reality. We hope our table turnover technology helps our beloved restaurant industry.
TRAVIS WILLIAMS Royal Sonesta, Portland
Title: General Manager Joined the Company: 2015 Member Since: 2005 Fav Oregon Produce? Blackberries and corn Summer Travel? Bend!
The tight staffing levels created the need for cross training in all departments and really brought everyone together. We’ll keep that as part of our training and on-boarding well after the pandemic.
KRISTA CAULKINS Think, LLP, Newport Beach, CA
Title: Key Account Manager Joined the Company: 2021 Member Since: 2021 Fav Oregon Produce? Marionberry! Summer Travel? Albany, OR
We switched our focus from state specific tax credits to focusing on educating the hospitality industry on the benefits available through the Employee Retention Credit.
