Marketing Manager, Author at Hotel Julien Dubuque

Author Archives: Marketing Manager

Meet The Team: Margaret O’Reilly
January 10, 2019

Name: Margaret O’Reilly
Title: Sales Manager
Hometown: Lansing, Michigan
LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/margaretoreilly20

1. How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?

Since October 2018

2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

My love for the hospitality industry started when I was in high school. I was constantly planning things for my friends and I to do, or planning events for the school. I am lucky to say that I knew pretty early on what path I wanted to explore for a career. It also helped that I had one of the best hospitality programs in the country right in my backyard. I studied Hospitality Business at Michigan State University. Having a job while in school wasn’t just encouraged, it was required. I constantly had multiple jobs and was heavily involved with the hospitality school. I was dedicated to learning as much as possible about the industry. Some of my favorite experiences were when I was a wedding coordinator, when I was the event design director for the hospitality school’s annual auction, and when I worked at the arena that Michigan State played basketball. Once I graduated college, I accepted a job with Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa out in Galena, IL. I was their corporate event planner for about two and a half years before joining the team here!

3. What are you most passionate about professionally?

That’s a hard one! I tend to be very passionate about a lot of different things professionally. I think the number one passion I have is helping people have a great experience. I enjoy being the one people come to with requests, but also when they need help fixing a problem. There’s nothing like having a guest leave the hotel after a successful stay or a successful event with us. I also have a deep passion for customer service, I am very customer service minded and that doesn’t shut off when I walk out the door. I think the last very important passion is learning. I believe that you should always be learning how to be better in your profession, and learn how the industry is change.

4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

I love traveling, exploring new restaurants, hanging out with friends, and sports. I like to spend my weekends traveling to different locations, hanging out with friends here and in different cities.

5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

I am really enjoying all the new restaurants that have popped up in the last year. I love going to dinner and drinks with my friends.

6. What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

I love the atmosphere and the rich history of this hotel. There are so many different unique stories that are so fun to talk about with people.

7. What is your personal motto?

I have two. “Be the change in the world you wish to see” and “A dream without a goal is just a wish.”

8. Describe your typical work day.

My day is usually different from day to day. I spend a lot of my time responding to emails or on the phone with clients or potential clients. With the new position I have spent time reaching out to clients to introduce myself and letting them know I can help assist them going forward. I will have potential clients reach out to me for more information so I will draft up a proposal for them. I also will have clients reach out to me knowing they want to book so I will draft contracts for them. I talk to multiple people regularly so it is very important for me to stay organized. When I am not talking with clients I am attending a lot of community events. I think it is important as a hotel to constantly have an ambassador in the community, getting to know the community.

9. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

I won best dancer when I was a senior in high school.

10. Is there anything else that you’d like to share?

Have family, friends, or a client you’re trying to impress? Bring them to the Hotel Julien! Now you know who to call when you have any group lodging and meeting requests!
Meet The Team: Kim Kruser
November 12, 2018
Name: Kim Kruser

Title: Esthetician

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? Four Years

What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry. It was my passion for skincare and make-up that led me to my profession. I got into aesthetics because it was something different and new
to the industry.

I came to Dubuque to get married after living in Las Vegas for 18 years. I knew of Hotel Julien Dubuque as well as Potosa Spa. I was drawn to work here because of the spa’s great reputation.

What are you most passionate about professionally? I am professionally passionate about making clients feel confident and good about the way they look too.

What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? I’m passionate about aesthetics personally and professionally. I also enjoy traveling on weekends when possible.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Some of my favorite things to do in Dubuque are to walk along the river, try out new restaurants, and meet new people.

What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? I love that we are a boutique hotel. There’s nothing else like it around here.

What is your personal motto? “The best education you can give yourself is to travel.”

Describe your typical work day. My typical work day includes seeing and educating clients about making good choices when it comes to their skin care.

Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself. I grew up in a military family and lived all over.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share? Everyone, man or woman, should pamper themselves. Remember to take time for yourself.
Meet The Team: Bryan Anderson
October 30, 2018
Name: Bryan Anderson

Title: Beverage Manager

Hometown: Rockford Illinois

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? March 2018

What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry. This past spring, our General Manager, Dwight Hopfauf, offered me the open Assistant Food and Beverage Manager. Without hesitation I accepted the job. I’m grateful to be offered this exciting role with the company. My background started back in 2008. I was offered a part time bartending job in banquets at Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort in Rockford, Illinois. I found it as a something fun to do on weekends while making a little extra money. Right away I fell in love with the industry! My co-workers encouraged me to make a career out of this industry. They told me to pursue it and everything will fall into place. A year later, I was promoted bar manager. I held that role for two years, until I moved to Texas in 2013. I returned to the Midwest in 2015 to work for Henrici’s Corporation. They own two restaurants in Rockford, one of which has been around for 50 years. They also run one of the busiest catering companies in Illinois. I started out working part-time, but soon moved up in the company. Eventually I would assist with running their top catering accounts, while still working in their restaurants. I then moved on to Greenfire Bakery & Bar. It is considered the best restaurant for craft cocktails and food in the Midwest. Now I’m here and I’m grateful for the opportunity!

What are you most passionate about professionally? What I am most passionate about professionally is making ever guest feel like they are at home when they visit Hotel Julien Dubuque. Whether it’s from delivering flawless service during someone’s wedding celebration or birthday party, to just whipping up that perfect cocktail, I strive to create a memorable experience for our guests that keeps them coming back. When a regular comes and makes a point to see you, it makes you feel like family. That is more gratifying than any gratuity I could receive.

What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? I’m big into sports! Especially the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. I love to go to a game or sit back and watch from the comfort of my home with friends. Family is also important. I try to visit my parents and three younger sisters as much as I can. For fun I like to bowl and watch movies and check out locally owned restaurants.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? For fun, I like to check out the local wineries and breweries. I also enjoy going to the dog track when I have family or friends in town.

What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? The history and the structure are fascinating.

What is your personal motto? Nothing is impossible, even the word itself says possible.

Describe your typical work day. My work shifts vary each day. One day might consist of paperwork or ordering and the next I will be setting up for a party. Everyday holds something different.

Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself. I’m terrified of clowns!

Is there anything else that you’d like to share? Check out our amazing craft cocktails in Riverboat Lounge!
Meet The Team: Sam Feehan
October 8, 2018
Name: Sam Feehan

Title: Chief Engineer

Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? 14 years

What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque?
Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry. I started working for the hotel prior to the remodel as a busboy in the restaurant when I was 14 years old. Over the years, I have worked in various departments from kitchen, banquet, bar to maintenance.

What are you most passionate about professionally? I strive to provide the best service possible to all who enter the property.

What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? My passion is woodworking, but I also enjoy spending a free weekend with my wife and two kids camping or going out of town.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Boating, fishing, camping, hiking, and anything outdoors.

What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? The property overall, this hotel is not a run of the mill hotel. The owners took the time to develop a property that will continue to stand the test of time. The amount of restoration to restore it back to it original grandeur is truly remarkable.

What is your personal motto? Learn something new everyday.

Describe your typical work day. My day starts at 7am with a brief walk through of the property to check the systems and operations within the hotel, making note of problems that may have developed. After that is completed, I begin with repairs, routine preventive maintenance, and projects that maintenance is working on. I run shuttles to and from the airport and port of Dubuque. At times, I will be requested to assist banquet groups with audio visual in the banquet rooms. The Maintenance Department is always moving to assist guests and to keep the hotel rooms and the outlets in top condition.

Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself. My daughter looks exactly like me when I was 3.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share? Go Cowboys
Meet The Team: Sonja Harris
September 10, 2018
Name: Sonja Harris

Title: Director of Hotel Sales

Hometown: Galena, IL

1. How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? 6 years

2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry. I’ve worked in the hospitality industry for 23 years and loved it from the very start. I majored in fashion merchandising in college, but found hospitality to be far more engaging. I began my career in the hospitality industry at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa. I worked there for 17 years. In 2012, I crossed the river to Hotel Julien Dubuque as their Sales Manager. I recently accepted the position of Director of Hotel Sales in August. I truly enjoy our clientele and being a part of the growth of this extraordinary property.

3. What are you most passionate about professionally? I’m passionate about helping people find success for their events that are important to them by providing the perfect venue and services.

4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? I love to cook & spend time outdoors walking, bike riding & kayaking.

5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Boating on the Mississippi, Saturday mornings at Farmers Market and exploring Mines of Spain.

6. What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? The beauty, I feel lucky to walk thru the doors of such a beautiful environment everyday.

7. What is your personal motto? What you do everyday matters more that what you do every once in a while.

8. Describe your typical work day. Hotel Julien Dubuque is a bustling hotel and the busiest environment I have ever worked in. My days are full of interaction with new and interesting people. Each day is different and unpredictable.

9. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself. I’m a first generation American. My father is from Italy and my mother from Germany – I have been fortunate to be raised with influence of two different cultures.
Meet the Team: Samantha Korman
August 20, 2018
Name: Samantha Korman

Title: Wedding Specialist Sales Manager

Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? I have been with Hotel Julien Dubuque since April 2018.

What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Weddings have always been something I have loved. Whether it was watching various shows on TV or helping my friends plan their weddings, it’s always been something I have enjoyed. Professionally, I have been in the wedding industry for 3+ years working my way up from Wedding Assistant to Wedding Coordinator to where I am now as Wedding Specialist Sales Manager at Hotel Julien Dubuque.

What are you most passionate about professionally? I have always been a people pleaser and enjoy customer service. Being in the wedding industry allows me to do both. I love building relationships with couples and their loved ones. I feel honored that every couple I work with at Hotel Julien Dubuque trusts me to help plan and execute the most important day of their lives. And at the end of the day, seeing all of the love and happiness on a couple’s wedding day reminds me that I have found my true calling and my heart is full.

What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? When I am not working weekends, I love to spend time with my daughter. My husband and I are expecting a baby in November, so we are soaking up all the time we can with her. I do also love a good cat nap and golfing.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Being from Florida, we never got experience the seasons as we do in Iowa, so I enjoy soaking up all four here. I love to go out on the river during the summers or riding snowmobiles in the winter and everything else in between.

What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? How welcoming everyone has been. I feel like I have worked here for years and not just five months or so.

What is your personal motto? That I treat every wedding as if it were my own.

Describe your typical work day: I check emails, meet with couples to go over details of their special day and check out the latest wedding trends.

Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself. What most don’t know about me is I am a huge tomboy. I love hunting, fishing and shooting guns. I also love working on or talking about cars with my dad. It has been something we have bonded over since I was 11 years old. We actually rebuilt my first car together. Not many girls are mechanically inclined and I am very proud that I am.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share? Looking to book a wedding? Contact me either by email at weddings@hoteljuliendubuque.com or by phone at (563)588-5568. And be sure to follow our Weddings at Hotel Julien Dubuque Facebook and Instagram pages for tips, info, pics and more!

#yourdreamyourday
Meet The Team: Chiquitta Carroll
August 6, 2018
Name: Chiquitta Carroll

Title: Licensed Massage Therapist

Hometown: Dubuque, IA

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? Four and a half years.

What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? I was previously in the nursing field before changing to the beauty and wellness industry. My doctor recommended I look into an alternative to to nursing, because of the mental and emotional stress it was having on me. I switched fields in 2010 starting with cosmetology. I became dual licensed in 2014, by adding massage therapy. I recently completed my certification in Yoga Instruction in May of this year.

What are you most passionate about professionally? Understanding and specializing in pain management.

What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? I’m an outgoing introvert, so I enjoy my alone time as well as camping and pottery.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Spending time outdoors at Mines of Spain and Eagle Point Park.

What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? I love Potosa Spa and my co-workers.

What is your personal motto? Respect: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Describe your typical work day: Busy! My feet hit the floor at 6am and I’m on the run till 8pm at night.

Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself. I’m allergic to bananas.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share? I’m thinking about going back to school to become a chiropractor.
Meet The Team: Chef Jason Culbertson
July 23, 2018
Name: Jason Culbertson

Title: Executive Chef

Hometown: Dubuque, IA

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? Three years this Fall

What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? I began my journey in the culinary arts as a busboy in a restaurant. Eventually I would make my way into the kitchen and worked my way up to management. I felt if I wanted to grow in this industry, I would need to attend culinary school. So in 2005, I enrolled in Le Cordon Blue Culinary School in Minneapolis. While there, I began working at Bearpath Country Club in the Twin Cities. I moved back to the Tri-States to open Potosi Brewing Co. Restaurant and managed the Holiday Gardens Event Center in Potosi, WI. From there, I left to open Woodfire Grille where I stayed until three years ago this fall, when I joined Hotel Julien Dubuque as Executive Chef.

What are you most passionate about professionally? My passion derives from customer reactions when you take fresh local ingredients and turn them into flavorful works of art that exceed guest expectations.

What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? I was blessed with two beautiful daughters, so when I’m not working, I’m spending time with them. My secondary hobbies include bow hunting any and everything!

What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Spending time outdoors, whether it is hunting for sheds, morels or just in nature.

What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? I love the balance between historic charm and modern refinement.

What is your personal motto? It’s better to be a lion for a day, than a sheep for all your life.

Describe your typical work day: It really varies day-to-day and based on business. I could be doing breakfast service one day and dinner service the next. No day is truly the same.

Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself. I’m red/green color blind.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share? Stop in and try out our NEW Dinner menu at Caroline’s Restaurant!
Meet The Team: Lucy Merfeld
June 25, 2018

Name: Lucy Merfeld

Title: Cosmetologist/LMT

Hometown: Epworth, IA

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? 4 years

What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? I came to Potosa Spa for the calming atmosphere and opportunity to utilize both my massage and cosmetology skills.

What are you most passionate about professionally? I really love the versatility of all the services I am able to perform but, what I am most passionate about is working with brides on their special day. I enjoy both styling and applying their make-up for what is one of the most important days of their life!

What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend? I am passionate about being outside and enjoying nature. My favorite way to spend the weekend is being with friends and family on the river.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Some of my favorite things to do in the Dubuque area would be anything on the water, whether it’s relaxing by the pool, boating, going on the beach, floating backwaters, or canoeing. I also enjoy four wheeling, bike rides, hikes, fishing, gardening and trying different restaurants.

What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? I love the diversity of clients we see come through the spa/salon. I enjoy hearing their stories of life experiences or places they have been or plan on going.

What is your personal motto? Travel as much as you can! And, always be humble and kind to others. You never know what some people are going through and you can make a difference just by being kind to others.

Describe your typical work day: My typical work day is different everyday depending on what services I have. I come in set up for everything. In between clients take laundry down and inventory.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share? Book you next appointment at Potosa Spa with me!
Meet The Team: Fiona Howard
June 11, 2018

Name: Fiona Howard

Title: Caroline’s Restaurant Manager

Hometown: Hanover, IL

How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque? 3 years

What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? I have loved food, wine and restaurants from the first meal I had in a fine dining establishment. My first job as a busser at Café Italia solidified this love. I continued working in restaurants, resorts and hotels around the country. During my years in the Hotel Restaurant Management School at Cornell University, I worked at the Statler Hotel as a banquet supervisor. I can say I have deeply loved every job I have had in the restaurant and hospitality industry. When I moved to Dubuque three years ago, I started as the Restaurant Supervisor in Caroline’s. It has been a little over a year since I took over my current position as Restaurant Manager.

What are you most passionate about professionally? I love food and wine. It is magic for me! When my guests or my team gets that look of awe and surprised delight after experiencing a perfect pairing I want to jump up and down in joy. Ok, I may have done that once or twice.

What are you passionate about personally? Words are my personal passion. I write poetry, read books, talk (a lot) and play Boggle with my friends and family. My favorite way to spend a free weekend is to curl up with my cat and read a good book.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area? Art Museum, walking around downtown, skiing and snowboarding in the winter, swimming in the river and going to the great restaurants.

What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque? I love the history and the wonderful people who work here. This is a family and when our guests visit, they join our family for that time.

What is your personal motto? Moderation is a fatal thing, nothing succeeds like excess!

Describe your typical work day: I’m typically here in the afternoon, preparing for the evening’s guest. The dinner team starts arriving at 4:00 pm. It’s at that time, we try the feature and choose a wine to pair with it. We will have a quick pre-shift powwow and open the doors at 4:30 pm. Guests start arriving and I am like the director of a theater production. We have rehearsed and I trust the cast to execute a flawless performance. We smile and dance through the evening with the goal of wowing our audience. Each perfectly poured wine, beautifully presented plate of food and smiling interaction is orchestrated by me. It is like magic! I enjoy speaking to our guests, telling them about local history and everything Dubuque. My team works hard and when they leave at the end of the night, it is with a satisfaction no other industry can give.

Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself: I sing Swedish folk songs on command.

Is there anything else that you’d like to share? Come see me at Caroline’s. I can’t wait to see you!