Shari Prause, Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center
Shari Prause, of Alexandria, MN, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center. Shari was born and raised in the hospitality industry as her parents owned a Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor in Marshall, MN which was later renovated into a Family Restaurant featuring a large banquet room. Shari and her sister worked side by side with their father at the restaurant and offsite caterings. This began her passion to work in the hospitality industry. After living in Minneapolis for seven years and working at two hotels, she moved to Alexandria in October 1998 to become the Director of Catering. She works with many clients planning their meetings, conferences and wedding of all sizes. In September 2013, she was promoted to Director of Sales and is now on the front end of the business, working with existing and new clients in securing their events to be held at the resort. When not working, Shari enjoys spending time with her hubby, two dogs, baking, playing the piano, scrapbooking and relaxing at the lake.
Shari Prause, of Alexandria, MN, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center. Shari was born and raised in the hospitality industry as her parents owned a Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor in Marshall, MN which was later renovated into a Family Restaurant featuring a large banquet room. Shari and her sister worked side by side with their father at the restaurant and offsite caterings. This began her passion to work in the hospitality industry. After living in Minneapolis for seven years and working at two hotels, she moved to Alexandria in October 1998 to become the Director of Catering. She works with many clients planning their meetings, conferences and wedding of all sizes. In September 2013, she was promoted to Director of Sales and is now on the front end of the business, working with existing and new clients in securing their events to be held at the resort. When not working, Shari enjoys spending time with her hubby, two dogs, baking, playing the piano, scrapbooking and relaxing at the lake.
6:30 Awakened by my two dogs (cocker spaniel/pomeranian mix & black lab) to head outside. Bring my phone with me to check emails that arrived overnight. Feed dogs and get ready for work.
7:45 Leave for work, stop at Caribou for coffee and change voicemail greeting for the day.
8:00 Arrive at Resort. Start my computer, open Outlook so the emails are there when I return as I head off to the conference space to touch base with my group contacts & staff, assist with their needs and questions. Fill my tumbler with ice water and return to office.
8:35 Check voicemails and emails and start responding while drinking my Caribou. I know I will need it to get through the day (good thing I got that extra shot of espresso!). Greet staff as they arrive to work and watch a video of the day to get us going!
9:10 Answer inquiry phone call regarding possible conference for next year. Check dates, get information from client so I can start working on proposal for them.
9:30 Answer questions from staff on inquiries and incoming groups.
9:45 Receive phone call from client regarding their contract. Answer questions and start revising contract with their requested changes.
10:00 Grab coffee and head off to our weekly staff meeting.
10:45 Return to office, check voicemails and emails again and get questions answered about luncheon.
11:00 Head to the General Managers office for our weekly Revenue Meeting.
12:00pm Finish meeting so we can head to the kitchen to dish/serve lunch for our group and check in with contacts.
12:30 Return to office, check emails and voicemails again. Return voicemail and work on the items discussed in the revenue meeting.
12:55 Grab a quick bite to eat, bring lunch to desk to respond to emails and start on tasks discussed during Revenue Meeting—Facebook special, email blasts, rate specials, etc. Send info email to staff about our revenue meeting.
2:00 Attend Food & Beverage Meeting.
2:25 Return to office, respond to voicemails and start making calls to potentials clients. Send information to them.
3:45 Answer more questions for staff, respond to emails and work on revising the contract for my client.
4:25 Receive a call from our F&B manager regarding group dinner. They need to go help set banquet room with tables, linens, silverware, centerpieces and programs. Speak with our Chef to give him an update on the group’s dinner time.
5:20 Return to office, again respond to emails while fixing my hair/makeup for the group’s dinner.
6:00 Check in with group contact, assist the kitchen with serving the dinner.
7:15 Return to office, continue going through emails and getting caught up, finalize revised contract and continue working on proposal.
8:30 Finally realize what time it is and decide it is time to head home for the day!
Once I get home I spend time with my two dogs and husband, get my clothes set out for tomorrow (a vital part of keeping me on track!) and crawl into bed so I can check out Facebook to see what is going on with my friends and family. Before shutting down for the night, check my emails one more time and off to sleep I go!
7:45 Leave for work, stop at Caribou for coffee and change voicemail greeting for the day.
8:00 Arrive at Resort. Start my computer, open Outlook so the emails are there when I return as I head off to the conference space to touch base with my group contacts & staff, assist with their needs and questions. Fill my tumbler with ice water and return to office.
8:35 Check voicemails and emails and start responding while drinking my Caribou. I know I will need it to get through the day (good thing I got that extra shot of espresso!). Greet staff as they arrive to work and watch a video of the day to get us going!
9:10 Answer inquiry phone call regarding possible conference for next year. Check dates, get information from client so I can start working on proposal for them.
9:30 Answer questions from staff on inquiries and incoming groups.
9:45 Receive phone call from client regarding their contract. Answer questions and start revising contract with their requested changes.
10:00 Grab coffee and head off to our weekly staff meeting.
10:45 Return to office, check voicemails and emails again and get questions answered about luncheon.
11:00 Head to the General Managers office for our weekly Revenue Meeting.
12:00pm Finish meeting so we can head to the kitchen to dish/serve lunch for our group and check in with contacts.
12:30 Return to office, check emails and voicemails again. Return voicemail and work on the items discussed in the revenue meeting.
12:55 Grab a quick bite to eat, bring lunch to desk to respond to emails and start on tasks discussed during Revenue Meeting—Facebook special, email blasts, rate specials, etc. Send info email to staff about our revenue meeting.
2:00 Attend Food & Beverage Meeting.
2:25 Return to office, respond to voicemails and start making calls to potentials clients. Send information to them.
3:45 Answer more questions for staff, respond to emails and work on revising the contract for my client.
4:25 Receive a call from our F&B manager regarding group dinner. They need to go help set banquet room with tables, linens, silverware, centerpieces and programs. Speak with our Chef to give him an update on the group’s dinner time.
5:20 Return to office, again respond to emails while fixing my hair/makeup for the group’s dinner.
6:00 Check in with group contact, assist the kitchen with serving the dinner.
7:15 Return to office, continue going through emails and getting caught up, finalize revised contract and continue working on proposal.
8:30 Finally realize what time it is and decide it is time to head home for the day!
Once I get home I spend time with my two dogs and husband, get my clothes set out for tomorrow (a vital part of keeping me on track!) and crawl into bed so I can check out Facebook to see what is going on with my friends and family. Before shutting down for the night, check my emails one more time and off to sleep I go!
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