Meet Your Chicago Conference Team
“How have you partnered with others in your company to expand perspectives or lead change?” These volunteers are working hard to craft OUR Chicago conference experience. To get to know THEM a bit better, we asked them:
“At Sonesta, my training team stays connected to every department in the company to create impactful training that delivers the results that we’re looking to achieve in various initiatives. Currently, one of our projects requires us to work closely with our Brand Team as we redefine and grow our brands. We are using innovative training techniques and technologies to engage our employees and educate them on important brand work. We also recently partnered with our Sales Team to assist with creating a brand-new sales training for our Focused Service hotels. We have been delivering this three-day session and are already closing tens of thousands of dollars in business since rolling it out!”
Silent Auction Co-Director Kate Stiteler Corporate Director of Training, Sonesta Hotels
“Expanding perspectives goes hand in hand with leading change, as both require embracing, understanding, and challenging diverse viewpoints. By collaborating with cross-functional teammates, I help develop training materials and content that drive sales, enhance guest satisfaction, and promote team member growth.”
Facilities Co-Director James Lee Manager of Multimedia Design & LMS Administrator, Del Taco
“When I first started in my current role, we had just created a new department that would be responsible for helping support all of our brands to build consistency. The only department that was taken completely out of individual brands was training. This was a huge change for the organization and our internal training team because the entire team was now responsible for learning multiple brands and leading New Store Openings for more than one brand. Three years later, all of our team has gone through brand training for all of the other brands and can lead training for multiple brands. Currently, about 50% of our New Store Openings are co-branded openings with one, two, or even three other brands all in the same building. Had we not done this, we would not have been able to grow the business as rapidly as we have.”
Activities Co-Director Winona Bullis Director of Field Training-Specialty Brands, GoTo Foods
“Change is a constant and is necessary for the brand to grow; even more so in more mature brands. It requires looking at your guest and realigning your processes and delivery based upon their changing needs. Start by asking why we do something and then ask the same question three to four more times until you have the root of why something is done a certain way. Then take a moment and see if the result you are getting still aligns with your guest expectations. It takes dialogue which requires more than one person to create the momentum for the change. We should be constantly evaluating processes and results based upon our guest expectations to ensure we stay relevant with their needs and desires.”
Volunteer Co-Director Keith Strew Sr. Director of Learning & Development, On The Border
“We have recently partnered with our Revenue Department to announce our partnership with Booking.com to enhance inclusivity and diversity within our properties through the Travel Proud Certification Program. Our goal is ambitious – we aim for all of our properties to attain the Proud Certification by the end of 2024.”
Registration Co-Director Myisha Smith Corporate Director of Training, Pacifica Hotels
“I am so proud to be on a team that is passionate about our employees' quality of life. Since joining the company, I have partnered with colleagues in various roles (and in various countries) to focus on mental health in deliberate and powerful ways which earned us a Bell Seal from Mental Health America! Only one in four employers meet the Bell Seal certification standards. We honor the humanity of our team by being a change leader in workplace mental wellness.”
Service Event Co-Director Serah Morrissey Senior Director, People & Culture, Schoox, Inc.
Communications Director Audrey Benet Director of Training, GuestCounts Hospitality
“By asking what each department needed: a focused plan and strategy meeting. Here, marketing, operations, and training meets with our SVP to discuss current findings, the upcoming month's initiatives, and plans for the quarter. Without this, we were all siloed, and we are now working toward common goals and seeing results.”
Registration Co-Director Lauren Mendenhall Director of Learning & Development, Life's Food, Five Guys
“It’s the role of learning and development to partner with all areas of the company to ensure training matches operational goals and organizational targets. Everything we do requires operations buy-in and commitment to making the training a success. We’ve championed management training programs that have led to consistency in performance and role clarity across the company. A win-win!”
Silent Auction Co-Director Angelina Sabatini Director of Training, Ford’s Garage
“By partnering with cross-functional teams, sharing ideas, and leveraging diverse expertise, we’ve fostered innovation and challenged traditional norms at Ford’s Garage. Additionally, aligning our mission with like-minded partners has allowed us to extend our impact beyond individual interests.”
Volunteer Co-Director Sylvie Mitchell Sr Manager, Learning Solutions, Delta Sky Clubs
You’ll have to ask her in Chicago!
Matt Clark, formerly announced as Communications Director, has moved to the role of Activities Co-Director.
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