In this issue
Pass it on
If you know someone who may be interested in receiving this newsletter, you can easily
forward up to five copies at once. |
Happy Holidays From Our New GM
We would like to wish all of our friends and clients Happy Holidays and a joyous New Year! This year, GCR enters the holiday season with a new GM! On October 15, Lon Yaeger joined the Garrett Creek Ranch team as General Manager. Lon has over twenty years experience as a hotel/conference center GM and comes to GCR from the Marriott Hotel at the Galleria in Houston. Lon and his wife, Tammie, bring years of experience and a myriad of fresh ideas for GCR and our clients. This is part of the strategic plan we developed to help us truly become the best place to work in Wise County and the best place to meet in the Southwest! Lon and Tammie will be living on property and are eager to become part of the Wise County community. Please help us welcome them and feel free to contact Lon directly any time at lon@garrettcreekranch.com
Bragging Rights
To stay at the top of their industry, companies employ a variety of tactics to keep their staff ahead of the competition. Benfield, the world’s leading independent reinsurance and risk intermediary, takes this concept to a whole new level. “The Top Gun program is a well-known Benfield tradition designed to identify our high performers and emerging leaders. Not everybody is invited,” says Benfield Director of Learning and Development Margie Solomon. “The founders of the company believed that a sign of a good leader is a person who can push themselves both mentally and physically. The team arrives to Garrett Creek Ranch for vigorous training. They are up at 6:00 A.M. and are going non-stop until dinner time with no breaks.” Benfield has been coming to GCR for six consecutive years because of the unique 460 acre facility. The Ranch is perfectly suited for
Benfield’s strenuous outdoor training that includes Navy SEAL exercises in GCR’s secluded pond. GCR customer service puts the whole experience over the top. “The GCR staff really knows what we need. On those hot Texas days, one of the elements of my job is to ensure that everyone stays hydrated. The truth is I don’t even have to think about it. GCR’s Conference Hostess Helen Cryer (featured below in Staff Spotlight) is always there with a full cooler of drinks,” says Solomon.
Must Have Meeting Tips
By Leslie Schultz, GCR Founder
In our last edition we covered meetings and meeting rooms. Now what about meals?
Whatever the objective of a meeting, it is important the food served be appetizing and the attendees have the opportunity for a bit of fun. A few suggestions:
- Try to have meals in different setting arrangements
- Check the room set up 30-60 minutes prior to the meal to ensure it is the way you requested
- To ensure people get to know each other you may want to consider arranged table seating
- Choose a room that fits the size of your group
- When planning the menu ask what the chef does best and if you are planning a multi-course dinner make sure to go light on the cocktail food
- The selection of food should have broad appeal
- Allow at least 45 minutes for lunch and an hour and 15 minutes for a seated dinner
- Cocktail parties should never last more than 60 minutes
- An inexpensive yet beautiful centerpiece - native plants from the meeting location
- A variety of desserts is the fun way to go -- makes for sharing and conversation!
Look for "Must Have Meeting Tips" in future issues of Successful Meetings Magazine under "Leslie's Notbook". For more information contact Adriane Dean, Peter Arnold Associates: adean@parnold.com
Staff Spotlight
Now at GCR for almost a decade, Helen Cryer is described by her managers and colleagues as the ideal employee. During this time she has never been late or called in sick. Humble and hardworking, Helen commands great respect among her coworkers who recently decided to mark her 70th birthday with a party at the Ranch. The first birthday party Helen ever had. Helen is also a favorite among customers. She is known for being extra sensitive to the special needs of GCR visitors, often preempting their requests. In fact, when customers return they come bearing gifts and often offer her standing ovations before they depart. Helen does not view any of this as extraordinary. Without any pretense Helen remarks, “I love meeting our clients. They come to the Ranch from all over the world and I want to make sure they have the best experience possible. That’s my job.” And you sure do it well
Helen. Many thanks from everyone at the Ranch!
|