Category: Uncategorized

Rachelle Matthiesen, Human Resources Coordinator, has earned a Certificate of Specialization in Human Resources Management from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. Areas of study include Hotel and Restaurant Accounting, Leadership and Management, Training and Development, Supervision in the Hospitality Industry, and Managing Hospitality Human Resources.

Catie Franks, the Director of Sales for Staybridge Suites has received Forty Under 40 award.

The Springfield Business Journal proudly features 40 leaders who are under the age of 40, in the Springfield and neighboring business communities. Individuals are selected based on their contributions to our local business community and the community in which they have chosen to reside. They represent, in part, the future of business in our community and in central Illinois. They have the ability and dedication to change and to preserve the face of our community landscape.

Catie has been recognized by the American Hotel and Lodging Association as a certified hospitality sales professional, a designation bestowed on those who demonstrate the ability and knowledge to meet the demanding hospitality industry standards for sales, professionalism and expertise. Her commitment and knowledge is further exemplified by repeated acknowledgement by the InterContinental Hotels Group, which has invited her to its advanced sales training program – an elite, nomination-only group of top franchise sales professionals in the Americas region.

Outside of her relentless sales efforts, Catie plays a strong community and charitable role. She is an ambassador for the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and a consistent advocate of charitable participation for her hotel and our company.

Add one more name to the list of certified professionals in Johnson Development Company. Catie Franks, Director of Sales for Staybridge Suites of Springfield, Illinois was recognized by the American Hotel and Lodging Association with the designation of Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP). Today’s sales professionals need a competitive edge to succeed and the CHSP designation lends added credibility and increases confidence. The addition of the CHSP designation provides her customers an assurance that they are dealing with an individual that has the ability and knowledge to meet the demanding hospitality industry standards for sales professionalism and expertise.

Johnson Development Company congratulates Ms. Franks for exhibiting her knowledge in all areas required of a CHSP.

Phyllis DeRosear, Director of Sales for Hampton Inn and Suites of Springfield, Illinois and Angela Ford, Director of Sales and Catering for the Holiday Inn of Urbana, Illinois were recognized by the American Hotel and Lodging Association with the designation of Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP). Today’s sales professionals need a competitive edge to succeed and the CHSP designation lends added credibility and increases confidence. Customers know that when they are dealing with a CHSP they are working with an individual that has the ability and knowledge to meet the demanding hospitality industry standards for sales professionalism and expertise.

Johnson Development Company congratulates Ms. DeRosear and Ms. Ford for exhibiting their knowledge in all areas required of a CHSP.

Liane Joyce, Human Resources Director and Lindsey Perrine, Human Resources Coordinator have both been recognized by the American Hotel and Lodging Association with the designation of Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE). The CHRE designation is a top designation among hospitality human resource professionals. It is an honor awarded to professionals who, by combining education and experience with dedication to their field, have achieved a high level of expertise.

Today, a human resource professional must be an expert at providing quality service amid growing competition, technological innovation, and an increasingly sophisticated and demanding clientele. Successful managers have outstanding organizational skills, technical proficiency, and a commitment to the highest standards. Johnson Development Company congratulates Mrs. Joyce and Ms. Perrine for exhibiting their knowledge in all areas required of a CHRE including: personnel administration, managing skills, general administration, hospitality law, and hospitality operations.

Angela Ford, the director of sales and catering for the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Urbana, Illinois, was elected president of the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE).

Ms. Ford, along with three other individuals, was nominated for the office out of a membership of 109 people. She will be responsible for chairing the board of directors’ meetings, tracking the chapter’s finances, and communicating with the national organization as well as sitting on its president’s board of directors.

Terry Truman, General Manager of the Staybridge Suites of Springfield, Illinois was recognized by the American Hotel and Lodging Association with the designation of Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA). The CHA designation, recognized worldwide, is the premier symbol of professional achievement for lodging executives. It’s an honor awarded to professionals whose leadership and managerial abilities are exemplary; professionals who, by combining education and experience with dedication to the industry, have achieved a high level of expertise.

Today’s successful general managers and top hospitality professionals must have effective human resources and property management expertise, sound judgment, and practical skills. They must keep pace with change, improve knowledge, and share their experience with others. Johnson Development Company congratulates Mr. Truman for exhibiting his knowledge in all areas required of a CHA; financial management, sales and marketing, leadership and management, human resource management, rooms management and, food and beverage management.

Jason Tauscher, a guest service agent at the Hampton Inn East Peoria, Illinois, was recently awarded the coveted Spirit of Hampton award from Hilton Hotels Corporation.

The Spirit of Hampton award is the Hampton brand’s most prestigious team member award and is given annually to someone who continually brings home the gold by making a positive impact on guests and his department, teammates and community.

Murat Coskun, CHA, general manager at the Hampton Inn East Peoria, believed that Mr. Tauscher was deserving of the top honor for the connections he makes with guests, his co-workers, and even other employees in the company. Jason recently spent a week helping to train at another company hotel.

Here is an excerpt of Mr. Tauscher’s award nomination sent in by his manager, Mr. Coskun:

“When I hired Jason I had an idea of his leadership skills from current employees that had worked with him before. Since he started, I have seen his biggest impaction on our overall SALT (Satisfaction and Loyalty Tracker) scores. Jason finds time from his busy schedule to volunteer for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. Our company has two other Hampton Inn hotels in Springfield that needed Jason for training an implementation of some new procedures for one week. Of course, Jason without a doubt came to the rescue and took responsibility immediately. Thank you Jason for all your hard work.”

Jeff Edwards, CHA, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Urbana, Illinois has been accepted into the International Association of Holiday Inns’ (IAHI) General Manager Academy. Mr. Edwards was one of only thirty applicants from the hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America representing the Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites brands to be accepted into the elite program.

The focus of the General Manager Academy is to provide strong leadership skills and general management principles to the individuals that attend the program. The curriculum, designed around the concept of creating and leading winning teams and organizations, assists the selected participants to focus on their leadership skills, knowledge and behavior; increase business and organization competence; and raise the bar on performance in the hotel. The sessions are held at the renowned Purdue Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Krannert School of Management Executive Education Programs. Purdue was ranked last year by Business News and World Report as the top hospitality school in the United States and the Krannert School of Business was ranked by the Wall Street Journal as the top business school in the United States.