Nemacolin is always looking for more ways to introduce people to our great resort. Sure, we thought about a Super Bowl AD, but just could not come up with the right story board. So we watched the Super Bowl and while some of the commercials were great… it was what came after the big game and advertising that hit us... "UNDERCOVER BOSS!" Now, that is the ticket.
In case you missed it, Waste Management President and C.O.O. Larry O’Donnell went undercover within his Fortune 200 company, posing as a new recruit and worked along side his employees cleaning porta-potties and working the conveyor belt. Check it out Here.
Not expecting much from reality TV... I was blown away. Often, these shows are staged for maximum effect. If "Undercover Boss" was staged, Waste Management has more guts than I imagined. Their sins were right there for the world to see. Would anyone else have the courage to do that with their business? Kudos to Waste Management!
Some of the things Larry found out by visiting various job locations within the company were very shocking. In Syracuse, New York, female trash route driver, Janice, described the affects corporate's stress to maintain productivity had on her position. As a female truck driver, Janice would not stop to take a restroom break because of time restraints, instead she used a can. Yes, a can!
Larry was also fired during one of his jobs. At the Central Landfill in Pompano Beach, Florida, Larry could not pick up trash fast enough. Larry's boss for the day, Walter, told him it is not "rocket science," when Larry asked a few questions about how to pick up trash effectively. It was hilarious television. Unknowingly, Walter let the C.O.O. know he was not "able to cut the mustard." It was the first time Larry was ever fired from a job.
There were a few other interesting segments including Jaclyn, an administrative assistant that was doing the job of seven plus staff members due to budget cuts. Many of the challenges Waste Management faces comes from revenues that have remained flat. One of the basic ways to improve such a company is obviously becoming more productive.
Larry found that his decisions within the company may have gone too far. In the end of the show, after seeing the struggle the front line associates dealt with during their various day-to-day jobs, Larry revealed himself to each associate and made positive changes in each area.
In your business today, have you gone too far? Do you even know about the struggles your associates have? And if so, would you be comfortable letting national television watch?
We are! Sign Nemacolin up. Here we come CBS!
- For more info on Waste Management and the ways they are improving our environment through their Waste to Energy Plan, Click Here.
Tom Smith
Vice President of Sales
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
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Leadership
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General,
Leadership
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The other morning while I was hopping around various Internet sites gathering the daily news, I came upon this article in the Wall Street Journal. It is a well written article about how some resorts in the country are dropping the word “resort” from their names because it was a road block to landing some conferences. I hope some of you reading it get as mad as I did.
I do not believe that the experiences that last a lifetime between you and your children are made at a “Hotel or Lodge.” Do you really want to reward your best associates for a job well done at a “Conference Facility?” Can you build the relationships with potential or existing clients that lead to improved sales at a “Convention Center?” I don’t believe so.
I do believe that the operators of those properties dropping the word “resort” should have spent a lot more time developing their culture and motivating their people to create spectacular sales and marketing plans and less time convincing their owners and board of directors that dropping the word “resort” will solve problems.
We are going to keep the “Resort” in Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. It is what we are, our associates are very proud of that and all our guests deserve it.
Chris Plummer
General Manager
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
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Leadership
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Nemacolin was recently honored to host a luncheon with the Greater Washington Board of Trade with guest speaker Meg Whitman. Meg proved that running a multi billion-dollar corporation is possible on the power of trust. She also found another role for technology beyond saving costs and creating efficiencies. Has your business done this?
We were fortunate to host Meg for a 
powerful lunch to begin her nationwide tour for her new book. In "The Power of Many," Meg who was the President and CEO of eBay, speaks to these two powerful attributes. She also identifies ten core values that steered her and can steer you to success without ethical compromise. During her decade at the helm of eBay, Meg transformed the tiny start-up 
into a nearly $8 billion global powerhouse. She revolutionized the way goods are bought and sold online.
The lunch was powerful and candid. She showed us that trust, authenticity and courage are not naive nor are they a luxury. They are essential tools we need in our business. Meg showed us that achievement can and should be teamed with optimism, trust and honesty. Her book offers the insights and motivation we need to propel ourselves to "the next level, or scale," as Meg said, "in business and in life." As I was driving home, I knew that we do a really good job at her key points, but where can we improve?
It made us delve closely into the trust our guests have when they visit Nemacolin. We have one opportunity to make their visit memorable. How can we engender more trust from our guests? It’s a question we will be working very hard to move to ‘the next scale’ on moving forward.
Meg Whitman was the CEO of eBay from 1998 to 2008, growing the company into an unparalleled engine of global e-commerce. Her thirty-year career includes helping many companies, including Stride Rite, Bain & Company, Procter & Gamble, Disney and Hasbro. In 2009, she announced her candidacy for Governor of California.
Tom Smith
Vice President of Sales
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
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Associates of the Month
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At Nemacolin Woodlands Resort we pride ourselves in recognizing the associates that make Nemacolin the world-class resort it is. When we ask our guests for feedback during their stay, responses include a variety of experiences regarding our accommodations, dining and amenities. However, the number one response we receive from our guests revolve around customer service, the way we made a guest feel, how a particular associate made their day or stay just that much better and even how a particular associate is on the list of reasons for why they return to our resort.
Front of the House
Beth Guthrie - The WildSide
Heart of the House
Rachel Kreger - Accounting
Rising Star of the Month
Dawn Bodes - Reservations
Leader of the Month
Lori Smith - Food & Beverage
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Leadership
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It was evident this week when we went to Mystic Mountain to check on Terence and his company. Terence bought Mystic Mountain for the day, which means he has all of the slopes and Wild Pete's Tubing Park exclusively for his regional team of managers.
He cares. It's no wonder his region repeatedly sets new corporate financial goals.
As usual, caring was evident in the Nemacolin team as well. When we walked over to the tubing park, most everyone from Terence's company had left and Mike, Shea and Justin were sending tubes down to the bottom of the hill. "That's odd!" we thought. Why was the Snow Operations team doing that when everyone was finished and heading to the WildSide for some more fun?
Mike walked up and said, "You know we have a lot of guests still playing paintball (the field is located below and a several hundred yards away from our tubing park) and we were thinking they were going to be pretty tired, they have been down there a while now. We are going to go over to the field and surprise them. They can get a free ride back up the hill this way."
Brilliant.
And as we were walking back to the parking lot, here came Ben with Jackie on the back of the snowmobile. Jackie does all of the planning for the group. As she smiled ear to ear she said, "Tom, take our picture! We are having a blast! You guys think of everything."
Actually Jackie, we just smile a lot and take pictures. The amazing team at Nemacolin takes care of the rest.
Tom Smith
Vice President of Sales
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
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Leadership
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No. Not enough. You try, but it isn’t enough. “They*” are doing more with less and “they*” deserve recognition and praise. I know, stuff comes up. Travel gets in the way. Meetings pop up because… you are also doing more with less. Make the time!
Make “them*” aware of your appreciation. You can squeeze in a quick call, text or email. Or make the time to buy “them*” lunch or a drink. Remember, you are nothing without “them.*”
* Insert any of the following for “Them” and “They”: Associates, Family, Wives, Husbands, Kids, Moms, Dads, Pets, Treadmills, Books, Music, Mountains, Rivers, Oceans and anything else that contributes to your success.
Chris Plummer
General Manager
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
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Activities,
General
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Looking for some outdoor fun? Be sure to check out Mystic Mountain this weekend!
Above average snowfall, paired with our snowmaking efforts have created fantastic ski conditions. The weather forecast is calling for warmer temperatures going into this weekend, so expect the feeling of early spring skiing at its best!
Check out video from last weekend's snowfall. Some friends stop by!
To schedule your Mystic Mountain activities please contact a Resort Sales Specialist at 866.344.6957.
