Celebrating Champions

A favorite part of my job every year is when I curate stories highlighting remarkable, passionate industry professionals who give 110% on a daily basis – because they love what they do. Each fall, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) honors several outstanding members of Oregon’s food service and lodging industry as part of the statewide Hospitality Industry Awards. ?

These industry “champions” were nominated by their peers and recognized during the ORLA Hospitality Conference, held September 30-October 2 in Ashland, Oregon. We applaud their passion and dedication, recognizing how each in their own way has helped raise the bar for service and excellence in Oregon’s hospitality industry. ?

Employee of the Year

Demetrio De La O Rendon, Maintenance Engineer, Lakeshore Inn?

For the past seven years, Demetrio De La O Rendon has demonstrated an unwavering work ethic and determination to do his job exceptionally well. He has one of the toughest jobs at the hotel, responsible for a wide array of duties and critical upkeep of the property. His reputation among coworkers as a hardworking and caring employee also transcends to guests who continually praise his work and comment on his “helpful nature.” There isn’t a task asked of him he isn’t willing to do and he’s always first to offer assistance to coworkers and guests whenever he sees a need. Demetrio is also an excellent trainer and teacher to those he works with, leading by example and building trust in his working relationships. Heather Welker, General Manager, feels very fortunate to have Demetrio as a team member, sharing that everyone is more at ease when he’s around. “This man strives to make the world a better place and does so silently without any thought,” she said. And the best part? He always wears a smile on his face no matter how tough the day’s challenges have been.

Team Leader of the Year

Crystal Brenneman, Manager, Dixie Tavern

Successful teams are usually driven by a dedicated team leader who is hardworking, respected, and helps create an inspiring environment with an open communication culture. Crystal demonstrates all of that, epitomizing a dynamic leader with a passion for hospitality, dedicated service-mentality, and serving as a role model for her colleagues. She has been a valuable team member of the Dixie Tavern for many years, consistently going above and beyond to create a positive and productive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Before she stepped into her manager role, Crystal learned every position at the tavern, including maintenance – spending much of her time helping with the remodel during the pandemic shutdown. Crystal has embraced all aspects of management, leading by example what it means to give amazing service in a fast-paced environment. Often referred to as “the backbone of Dixie,” Crystal enjoys serving as the unofficial ambassador for Dixie Tavern, always making guests feel welcome with her patience and positive energy. As for her motivational mantra at the start of every shift, it’s an enthusiastic “It’s going to be a great night!”

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Lodging Operator of the Year

Taran Patel, Managing Principal, A-1 Hospitality Group?

Taran Patel grew up in the hospitality industry watching his parents grow their business from a 36-room independent motel to what it is today – a premier hotel property management company with 12 properties in the portfolio. From his youth, Taran has been motivated by opportunity and achieving the “American Dream,” but not without learning and demonstrating the true meaning of hard work. After completing his MBA in 2015, Taran started working in Operations and Development for the company, determined to continue cultivating the supportive company culture created by his parents in the early years. As with many in the hospitality industry, the pandemic tested the company’s resiliency. Taran proved to be a great leader with integrity and courage during this time. Under his guidance, the hotels supported their local communities by providing a safe place for people to isolate themselves. They also teamed up with fellow AAHOA ambassadors to donate masks to the local hospitals. And true to their culture of “family first,” they kept each of the hotels open to ensure their teams were able to keep their jobs and support their families through difficult times. Taran’s contributions go beyond A-1 Hospitality, as he’s actively engaged in several industry boards and organizations including serving as the Northwest Regional Director for AAHOA.

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Restaurateur of the Year?

Lisa Schroeder, Executive Chef/Owner, Mother’s Bistro & Bar?

Mother’s Bistro & Bar has grown from a charming 90-seat restaurant on Stark Street to a beautiful 200-seat restaurant in the Embassy Suites by Hilton, garnering numerous accolades for the restaurant and its chef/owner from local and national publications. This kind of success doesn’t happen overnight nor without years of hard work and determination. As Executive Chef and Owner of Mother’s Bistro, Lisa Schroeder has created a Portland institution, providing “better-than-authentic” renditions of traditional home-cooked dishes from recipes derived from real mothers in their own homes. Inspired by her own mother who was a hard-working single mom (and amazing in the kitchen), Lisa’s tenacity and passion for “Mother Food” helped her dream of opening Mother’s Bistro become a reality. Running an award-winning restaurant is certainly a testament to Lisa’s determination and leadership, but she’s quick to recognize her amazing team and the culture they’ve built at Mother’s. Guests ‘feel at home’ with the welcoming ambiance, delicious comfort food, and hospitality-focused service. “It’s all about the love,” she says, acknowledging the nobleness of taking care of others’ needs first and making them comfortable. Lisa’s motherly instinct also extends to her community by actively participating in charitable causes and civic engagement. Lisa was recently recognized as Oregon Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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Allied Partner of the Year

Risk Strategies Company | Fournier Group?

Oregon’s hospitality industry is fortunate to have a large number of purveyors focused on providing the best products and services to help operators run a successful business. Risk Strategies Company | Fournier Group is one of those companies that stands out and deserves recognition for their exceptional service and innovative contributions to the industry. The team at Risk Strategies recently partnered with ORLA to launch a new member program, the Hospitality Insurance Program (HIP), to address property, casualty, and cyber insurance needs as well as save members money on premium costs. With rapidly increasing risk and liability exposures, Risk Strategies answered the call by helping business owners navigate the insurance landscape and providing tools to help them take better control of their business. The HIP team recognizes that restaurant and lodging operators can’t be specialists in risk management, so they provide needed education and information, allowing operators to focus on their business.

In case you missed the event, visit YouTube.com/ORLAvideos to hear their stories. You are welcome and encouraged to nominate your own team member or colleague for the 2024 awards by visiting OregonRLA.org/nominate. | Lori Little