Innside TPI Winter 2014 - E-mail Copy.pdf

8/10/2019 Innside TPI Winter 2014 - E-mail Copy.pdf

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/innside-tpi-winter-2014-e-mail-copypdf 1/24

A game changer!

WINTER 2014 / 201

TPI

Hospitality becomes a

100% employee owned company



Hello to all of you associates that make up the TPI Hospitality team. We have so much goion out of the normal this year; however with all of that we can never lose sight of thimportance of taking care of our guests. Always, we at TPI need to take care of our guesand for the TPI Corporate team, YOU are our guests. And in turn, you need to take care your guests, our CUSTOMERS. If we continually do this, everyone is a WINNER. At TPI, wlike to use the phrase, “We believe in win-win-win outcomes”. Whenever that gets out

balance and one or two “losses” are inserted into that scenario, no one wins, not even the onthat “thinks” they are winner.

In taking care of YOU, TPI corporate’s guests, we have been working overtime and we hoyou are beginning to see the results of this. We restructured our non-managemecompensation plan and benefits plan this summer to better compensate you for the extra hawork you do, day in and day out, in taking care of your guests, who are all of oCUSTOMERS. We are finalizing the plans for the ownership of TPI Hospitality to transitifrom me to an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) whereby you, all the associates of TPwill directly benefit from the future success of TPI. An ESOP can be complicated and requirmore explanation for sure.

Over the period of time that I have participated in ownership of TPI, we have seen the company grow by 13 to 14 times in sifrom what it was 20+ years ago. During that period of growing, we built strong systems and relationships. Systems that wdeveloped over the years and operate today make us one of the most organized and sophisticated hospitality companies our industry. Our relationships with franchisors, lenders, capital partners, land owners, contractors, third party venders, ethave been based upon trust and consistent delivery of expectations. In addition to the strong systems and relationships whave built together, we have also built a strong balance sheet. When you bring these three things together; strong systemstrong relationships and a strong balance sheet, the last item that is essential to light this organization on fire is YOU. We anot missing you, but we want to take YOU to an entirely different level than you have ever thought you could perform at. Whif all of a sudden on January 1, 2015, you became an owner of TPI Hospitality? Well, that is exactly what is going to happe

On January 1, 2015, YOU become 100% owners of TPI. There will exist a highly regulated ownership structure called Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that is administered by the federal labor department under a law called ERISERISA stands for Employee Retirement Income Security Act. It has a lot of similarities to a 401K plan, yet is different. It

designed to be a long-term retirement benefit for you and the value of that retirement funding is based upon the growth anappreciation of TPI Hospitality during the time you are employed. Based upon the growth of TPI Hospitality, your ownershshare at retirement or departure from the company, will be bought back from you over five years, one payment per year. significant difference between a 401-k plan and your TPI ESOP is that you do not invest your money into the ESOP, yoownership interest in TPI will be given to you. There exists specific criteria and minimum requirements for you to receive thelong term benefits and my summary is only that, a brief summary. Bottom line is my personal participation in the growth of Tfrom an ownership standpoint ceases on January 1st and our growth going forward all goes to the benefit of YOU, thassociates of TPI…excuse me, owners of TPI.

We are extremely optimistic about the future of TPI and feel it is in its best position in its history to grow and maximize its valugoing forward. In recent town hall meetings, I told a little story for purposes of comparing and contrasting TPI when I bougit, versus TPI when you buy it. Back in the early 90s, it was I, along with my mother and one brother who purchased TPI. Wwere financed by the seller, my father, much the same as your purchase will be financed by me. However, there is a hu

difference from back in the early 90s, when we did not have any working capital. Working capital can be defined as cash hand to fund payrolls, mortgage payments and operating costs on a monthly and annual cycle. In order to pay our bills time, we obtained a loan from a local bank for $350,000 and as security for that loan we gave the bank titles to our vehicle jewelry to place in the bank vault, and interests in our houses. Over time we were able to pay that loan off. In stark contrato that early beginning, YOU, the new owners of TPI, will have a war chest of cash in the checking account way above anbeyond any needs for working capital. We intend to put that extra cash to work by investing in new properties to help groyour value in TPI.

continued on page 22

Tom TorgersonChief Executive Officer

TPI Hospitality

What if you were the owner of TPI Hospitality?Tom Torgerson communicates that employee ownership is not too good to be true!

2



Through the years, TPI has gone through some very exciting changes and some significa

challenges as well. Whatever chapter we were in at the time, good or bad, we found a w

to leverage our condition to create a stronger and better company. As you read th

newsletter, it will be clear to you that we are on the doorstep of the single greatest change

our history as we transition the company into a 100% Employee Owned Company. This,

and of itself, is outstanding news for each of us. The magnitude of this change is furth

highlighted by the fact that we will be in the top 1% of all ESOPs in the country in terms size. In addition, TPI is poised to become the largest 100% employee owned hospita

company in the entire nation!

Becoming an ESOP will require a change in perspective by everyone. As of the first of t

year “we” will own TPI Hospitality, as Tom transfers his interests to us. Simply put, we w

have the opportunity on a daily basis to individually profit from this change in the form of

retirement account that will grow in value as “we” grow the value of TPI. This change to

ESOP has been in process for many months. In addition, we have been laying t

groundwork from an operations standpoint to be best prepared to maximize the value of o

TPI ESOP moving forward. As we worked through the process it caused me to envision wh

our company would look like if everyone acted as an owner without regard for their speci

role within the company. If each of us approached our jobs with the same set of principles and ideals and viewed our work l

through the same lenses, we would have the foundation for creating results that we ’ve never before seen! This dynamic wou

accelerate the growth of your ESOP benefit within TPI as it creates the platform for both company and individual succes

Ironically, both company and individual success will become even more synonymous as we build our ESOP together.

We will create the platform for success by “laying the groundwork”. As I communicated in my last newsletter article, we a

deeply invested in weaving our newly memorialized Core Values, our existing Vision Statement and the value of Leadersh

through every bit of TPI’s fabric. Just imagine the results we will create when each of us lives and breathes these principl

in our daily activities. As we rise up to the challenge of this next chapter for TPI, just imagine the power of having 1,7

owners approaching their jobs the same way. This process is a marathon, not a sprint, but it is clear to me that the results w

be outstanding as we continue to change our perspectives!

The last remaining piece to the puzzle in preparing for our next chapter was to insure that we had the right Senior Leadersh

structure and team in place. Recently, we modified the titles for members of our Operations and Administrative teams to moclosely align with today’s recognized standards in the hospitality industry. This change also provides a more accura

reflection of the Operations or Administrative responsibilities to which each person is held accountable. Our assessme

determined that we would need to add additional support in the area of Hotel Operations. This additional support

necessitated by our current, aggressive hotel development plans, which will provide enormous momentum in allowing th

ESOP to gain traction quickly. As I am writing this article the selection process is well underway for the newly created Direct

of Hotel Operations position. It is our hope and belief that this position can be filled by an internal candidate and we anticipa

making a decision mid to late December.

C-level team:

Tom Torgerson Chief Executive Officer

Mitch Peterson Chief Operations Officer

Kathy Aamot Chief Administrative Officer

Sheryl Walton Chief Financial Officer

Administrative team

Paul Carlson Director - Internal Auditing

Gene Lubbers Director - Information Technology

Marlene Kubasch Director - Administration & Accounting

Teresa Runke Director - Administration & Accounting

Jennifer Serbus Accounting Associate

Terri Grussing Accounting Associate

Caitlin Lieser Accounting Associate continued on page 24

Laying the groundwork for becoming an ESOPMitch Peterson summarizes the building of an ESOP from the ground up

Mitch Peterson

President of Operations

TPI Hospitality



Monday, September 15th, 2014, will go down as one of the more memorable dates in the long and storied history of TPI. T

day started off like any of the previous thirteen TPI annual conferences with a general session led by Tom Torgerson. But tha

where the similarities ended. This year, Tom had a message to deliver that would leave the TPI team speechless.

Mitch Peterson led off the general session with a review of where TPI was a year ago, where it is today and where it is goi

in the future. He summarized the tough love message that was delivered a year ago, and followed that up by reviewing t

many changes that had occurred at TPI over the past twelve months. Mitch mentioned the introduction of TPI’s core valuethe focus on leading rather than managing and the expansion of the operations and administrative teams. Mitch remind

everyone that “We will push ourselves and each of you towards achieving excellence and we will ask more of ourselves a

each of you than we believe is possible.” Mitch closed his remarks by stating that “TPI is one large step closer to being a fir

in class organization.”

Following Mitch’s comments, Tom Torgerson reviewed the multiple growth and enhancement projects happening througho

TPI. He mentioned the nearly completed Willmar Legacy Project and the exciting anticipation of opening the Minneton

Hampton Inn and the Rochester Homewood Suites in the near future. In addition, Tom updated the team on current and futu

enhancements happening in Maple Grove, Shoreview, Golden Valley and New Ulm.

What happened next caught the TPI team by surprise, as Tom identified that beginning January 1st, 2015, he will b

transitioning the ownership of TPI to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This move will make TPI what is believ

to be the largest 100% employee owned hospitality company in the nation. Tom said,“I chose an ESOP to reward you for yo

past, current and future diligent service to TPI, to preserve the legacy of our work here and position TPI for the next 50 yea

and beyond.” The announcement placed a brief hush over the room as those in attendance weren’t sure how to react. To he

everyone better understand the transition to an ESOP, representatives from Chartwell Capital Solutions were on hand

clarify the transition and answer any questions.

After an extended question and answer session, there was only one thing left to do...celebrate! And what better way

celebrate than with a marching band. The Willmar High School band kicked off the rest of the evening with a surprise entran

and moved throughout the room playing a high energy version of “Get Ready For This”. The room was electric as the O

team threw out TPI core values t-shirts, as well as tropical leis to enhance the Caribbean theme for the social hour.

certainly was a night to remember, and marked the beginning of TPI

Hospitality being owned by its associates.



The journey continues...TPI Hospitality will be 100% employee owned...what does that mean for you?

For almost 85 years, the Torgerson brand has been built and preserved through hard work and the ability to create

memorable guest experience. Whether it was Tom Torgerson’s grandfather establishing R. E. Torgerson Clothing

Kerkhoven, Minnesota in 1930, or Tom’s father establishing the Holiday Inn of Willmar, Minnesota in 1972, or Tom Torgerso

expanding the company today, one common denominator has always existed...exceptional people creating exceptional resul

Beginning January 1st, each of us will be entrusted to carry on that legacy. As owners, we have a responsibility to ourselv

and to those working around us to execute our roles to the best of our abilities. It will be this relentless attention to ownersh

that will not only create an amazing experience for our guests, but it will provide financial security for each of us and o

families. Success does not happen by accident, it takes a dedicated group of people led by the same values and practici

the same vision. TPI Hospitality has the people, our associates, has the values, our core values, and has the vision, our visi

statement. We are poised for success, now it’s just up to each of us to make success a reality.

The TPI Hospitality Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) allows Tom Torgerson to transition his ownership to t

associates of TPI though the ESOP. We maintain the same culture through our core values and vision statement. W

maintain the same policies, procedures and benefits. We maintain the same corporate structure, with Tom Torgerson as o

Chief Executive Officer. The only thing that changes is that over time, the value of TPI transitions from Tom to the associat

of TPI. At the end of each year, the increase in the value of the company is shared by all associates. Each spring, beginni

in 2016, every associate will receive a statement that reflects the amount of ownership the associate has earned. Over tim

the value of an associate’s ESOP account can grow substantially, providing a valuable source of retirement funding.

participate in an ESOP, the Federal government sets forth two specific criteria that must be met. The associate must be

least 21 years of age, and the associate must work at least 1,000 hours per calendar year (about 19 hours per week). If

associate meets these two criteria, they begin vesting at a 20% annual rate, meaning that over five years an associa

becomes fully vested. Being fully vested means that the funds in your ESOP account are 100% yours. If you are fully vest

and should leave TPI or retire, 100% of the funds in your account are distributed back to you over a five-year period (20% p

year). These funds can then be rolled into another qualified retirement account with no tax penalties. Spending the funds m

involve paying taxes, depending on your age and current income.

ESOPs are not uncommon. Today, there are almost 11,000 ESOPs operating in the United States. A few of the mo

well-known ESOPs in our part of the country include Anderson Window Company, Hy-Vee, Scheels and Kwik Trip. What

more surprising is that far less that 50% of all ESOPs are 100% employee owned. In many cases, the employee ownersh

may be 50% or less. That is not the case with TPI. As of January 1st, 2015, TPI will become 100% owned by TPI associate

Out of the 11,000 ESOPs nation-wide, TPI will rank as the 90th largest ESOP, and even more exciting is that also on Janua

1st, 2015, TPI will become the largest 100% employee owned hospitality company in the nation! Wow! Now that’s somethi

to be proud of, and something we can all work hard to build on.

In the very near future, all TPI associates will be able to learn more about the ESOP at www.TPIowners.com. This website wbe loaded with information and resources that will allow us all to learn more about what it means to each of us to be an owne

Watch for this new tool to be available shortly after the New Year.

So what does “100% employee owned” mean for you? It means that you will be part of a group of owners who have

opportunity each day you work to improve the value of the company you own. Every time you check a guest in at the fro

desk, or cook a guest’s meal, or clean a guest’s room, or fix a guest ’s air conditioner, or deliver a guest’s meal, or wash

guest’s dishes, or simply pass a guest in the hallway...you have an opportunity to help TPI grow. It’s not a few big things th

make a difference, it’s the hundreds of little things we each do every day that determine our success. We must each begin

think like owners, act like owners and hold each other accountable as owners. Together, we can continue the success th

Tom Torgerson’s grandfather started in 1930.



Are you always on your phone? Do you like real

time interaction?

@TPIHospitality

Like TPI Hospitality

on Facebook

facebook.com/tpihospitality

Do you believe a picture is

worth a thousand words?

Follow TPI on Instagram

instagram.com/TPIHospitality

Check out our website at

www.tpihospitality.com

Follow TPI Hospitality on Google+

plus.google.com/+TPIHospitalityWillmar

Are you strictly business? Do you want

to see and share TPI developments?

Follow TPI on LinkedIn

LinkedIn.com/company/tpi-hospitality



TPI Hospitality recognizes its 2014 top performersTwenty-one different properties were nominated for the eleven annual TPI awards

Property of the Year Award

Perkins Austin

Sales Achievement Award

Days Inn Willmar

Teamwork Award

Hampton Inn Shoreview

First Impression Award

Courtyard Arbor Lakes

Closer Award

Staybridge Suites Naples

Safety First Award

Green Mill Shoreview

President’s Award

Staybridge Suites Eagan

Web Warrior Award

Holiday Inn Austin

Outrageous Guest Service Award

Torge’s Live Austin

Core Values Award


Top Gun Award

Homewood Suites New Brighton

TPI Hospitality recognizes its 2014 top performersTwenty-one different properties were nominated for the eleven annual TPI awards

Property of the Year Award

Perkins Austin

Sales Achievement Award

Days Inn Willmar

Teamwork Award

Hampton Inn Shoreview

First Impression Award

Courtyard Arbor Lakes

Closer Award


Safety First Award

Green Mill Shoreview

President’s Award

Staybridge Suites Eagan

Web Warrior Award

Holiday Inn Austin

Outrageous Guest Service Award

Torge’s Live Austin

Core Values Award


Top Gun Award

Homewood Suites New Brighton



This page from the Spring 1992 edition of Innside TPI summarizes the effects that the legendary 1991 Halloween Storm had

TPI and its associates. It was certainly an event to remember. The newsletter also announced the beginning of TPI’s 401

plan. How many of you knew that Mitch Peterson was once the General Manager at Perkins Austin? The proof is below...

A Blast From The Past!

8



Are you preparing properly for your retirement?Taking advantage of Target Retirement Date Funds can help you get on track for retirement

You work hard to save for retirement, now you can choose a fund that works just as hard for you. Sweet Financial can hel

you choose the fund that best suits your needs. These funds can offer the following advantages.

Get a complete portfolio in a single fund:

Vanguard Target Retirement Funds give you a straightforward approach to a sophisticated problem: how to invest success-

fully for retirement. Each fund is designed to help manage risk while trying to grow your retirement savings.

Less risk through broader diversification:

Each of the Target Retirement Funds invests in Vanguard’s broadest index funds, giving you access to thousands of U.S.

and international stocks and bonds, including exposure to the major market sectors and segments.

A professionally managed asset mix:

The funds’ managers gradually shift each fund ’s asset allocation—to fewer stocks and more bonds—making the fund more

conservative the closer you get to retirement.

Automatic rebalancing:

The managers then maintain the current target mix, freeing you from the hassle of ongoing rebalancing.

Low costs:

On average, Vanguard Target Retirement Fund expense ratios are about one-sixth the cost of their peers. That’s a savings

of nearly 84%!* When you are paying less for your funds, more money stays in your account working for you.

You can find more information on these investment opportunities by logging on to your TPI

Hospitality 401k Retirement

Savings Plan at www.alerusretirementsolutions.com or by calling 800-433-1685. You can also contact Sweet Financial

Services at 800-658-2507 for any of your investment related needs.

*Vanguard Target Retirement Funds average expense ratio: 0.17%. Industry average expense ratio for comparable target-date funds: 1.05%. Sources: Vanguard and Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company, as of December 31, 20

Investments in Target Retirement Funds are subject to the risks of their underlying funds. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the

workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative ones based on its target date. An investment in a Target Retirement Fund is not guaranteed at any time, including

or after the target date. These fund suggestions are based on an estimated retirement age of approximately 65. Should you choose to retire significantly earlier or later, you may want to consider a fund with an ass et allocat

more appropriate to your particular situation. All investing is subject to risk, including th e possible loss of the money you invest. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. Investments in bonds are sub

to interest rate, credit, and inflation risk.



10 Torgerson Properties rebrands as TPI Hospitality

9 Perkins Austin is recognized as “Best Family Restaurant and Best Dessertin Mower County”

8 Steve Mallan from Holiday Inn New Ulm won 7th, 6th and 1st place medalsat the USA Special Olympics bowling tournament

7 TPI Hospitality opens its first Best Western Plus branded hotel

6 Hampton Inn Fairmont earns the highest guest satisfaction score amongall Hampton Inns worldwide for two consecutive months

5 TPI Hospitality is awarded Top Hotel Management Company by HotelBusiness Magazine

4 17 TPI Hospitality hotels were awarded TripAdvisor’s prestigiousCertificate of Excellence Award

3 4 TPI Hospitality hotels are ranked in the top 10 of 222 hotels throughoutthe entire Minneapolis and St. Paul area

2 $4,250 was raised for local charities at the TPI Hospitality annual basketcompetition during the 2014 team conference

1 TPI Hospitality announces an Employe Stock Ownership Plan beginning Januar1st, 2015 which will make TPI Hospitality the largest 100% employeeowned hospitality company in the nation

TPI’s top 10 list of 2014A lot has happened over the past twelve months, here are the highlights of 2014

10



The face of TPI continues to changeRecently completed and ongoing initiatives illustrate TPI’s impressive growth

It’s

NEWNEWIt’s

NOWNOW

1



Tim Mattern (2002 to present)

General Manager

Green Mill and Ruff ’s Wings & Sports Bar in Willmar

What attracted you to TPI? What attracts me most to T

is the fact that TPI promises growth and opportunity

anyone who works hard and is loyal.

What has your career path been to this point at TPI?

started in Willmar back in 2002 working in banquet set-

in the conference center, and then moved to the Green M

in 2006 as a bartender. In 2007, I began supervising in

Green Mill and then accepted my first full time position

2008. In 2010, an opportunity arose to become

Assistant General Manager at Green Mill Shoreview.

2012, I was offered the Assistant General Manager posit

for the newly acquired Hurricane Grill & Wings franchis

where a short while later I assumed my first Gene

Manager role. After TPI’s decision to part ways with t

franchise, I transferred for a short stint as General Manag

at Torge’s Live in Austin, and then most recently assum

my current General Manager role at Green Mill and Ruf

Wings & Sports Bar in Willmar. It has been an incredib

learning experience for twelve years.

What do you think has gotten you to where you a

today? It is the loyalty and willingness of TPI to alloassociates, such as myself, to grow and create our ow

career path. The company is set up to allow any individ

with the determination to succeed to create their ow

opportunities.

What advice would you give to other TPI associat

who would like to grow with the organization? If you s

your mind towards a realistic goal, TPI will allow you t

best shot to achieve that goal. It is completely up to t

individual to create a successful path. TPI has and w

continue to allow opportunities to those who perform we

Growing withGrowing with

Are you interested in growing with TPI

Hospitality?

associates who have grown within the organization.

and commitment to TPI’s core values and vision st

advancing your career, let your General Manager kn

property! Also, be sure to check the TPI

Hospitality

new opportunities there as well. Come on...let’s gro

12

Tim Mattern (2002 to present)

General Manager

Green Mill and Ruff’s Wings & Sports Bar in Willmar

What attracted you to TPI? What attracts me most to T

is the fact that TPI promises growth and opportunity

anyone who works hard and is loyal.


started in Willmar back in 2002 working in banquet set-u

in the conference center, and then moved to the Green M

in 2006 as a bartender. In 2007, I began supervising in th

Green Mill and then accepted my first full time position

2008. In 2010, an opportunity arose to become a

Assistant General Manager at Green Mill Shoreview.

2012, I was offered the Assistant General Manager positio

for the newly acquired Hurricane Grill & Wings franchis

where a short while later I assumed my first Gener

Manager role. After TPI’s decision to part ways with t

franchise, I transferred for a short stint as General Manag

at Torge’s Live in Austin, and then most recently assume

my current General Manager role at Green Mill and Ruff

Wings & Sports Bar in Willmar. It has been an incredib

learning experience for twelve years.

What do you think has gotten you to where you a

today? It is the loyalty and willingness of TPI to alloassociates, such as myself, to grow and create our ow

career path. The company is set up to allow any individu

with the determination to succeed to create their ow

opportunities.

What advice would you give to other TPI associate

who would like to grow with the organization? If you s

your mind towards a realistic goal, TPI will allow you th

best shot to achieve that goal. It is completely up to t

individual to create a successful path. TPI has and w

continue to allow opportunities to those who perform wel

Growing withGrowing with

Are you interested in growing with TPI Hospitality?

associates who have grown within the organization.

and commitment to TPI’s core values and vision st

advancing your career, let your General Manager kn

property! Also, be sure to check the TPI Hospitality

new opportunities there as well. Come on...let’s gro

12



Jason Hall (1997 to present)

General Manager

Staybridge Suites Bloomington

What attracted you to TPI? Growing up in Austin, the

Holiday Inn, and specifically TPI, had a very positive

reputation. Once I decided to focus on Hospitality

Management while in college, TPI was a natural fit for me

to apply to for my college internship.


Internship at the Austin campus in 1997

Guest Service Representative at Hilton Garden Inn Eagan

F&B Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Eagan

Assistant General Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Eagan

General Manager at Staybridge Suites Eagan

General Manager at Staybridge Suites Bloomington

What do you think has gotten you to where you are

today? I am extremely grateful for the opportunities this

company gives to associates who wish to grow and move

up within the company. I have had many past TPI General

Managers and current TPI leaders who have invested their

time and expertise in me, and given me opportunities to

advance.

What advice would you give to other TPI associateswho would like to grow with the organization? Attempt

to learn something from everyone you come in contact

with. There are a lot of smart, creative, and dedicated

associates in our company. Take advantage of that, and

you can learn all sorts of things that will allow you to

continue to grow.

TPI Hospitality TPI Hospitality

Jason are just two examples of the many current TPI

es strongly in promoting from within, and your hard work

n lead to a rewarding career. If you are interested in

may be an ideal opportunity waiting for you right at your

website at www.tpihospitalityjobs.com. You may find a

as owners!

1

Jason Hall (1997 to present)

General Manager

Staybridge Suites Bloomington

What attracted you to TPI? Growing up in Austin, the

Holiday Inn, and specifically TPI, had a very positive

reputation. Once I decided to focus on Hospitality

Management while in college, TPI was a natural fit for me

to apply to for my college internship.


Internship at the Austin campus in 1997

Guest Service Representative at Hilton Garden Inn Eagan

F&B Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Eagan

Assistant General Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Eagan

General Manager at Staybridge Suites Eagan

General Manager at Staybridge Suites Bloomington

What do you think has gotten you to where you are

today? I am extremely grateful for the opportunities this

company gives to associates who wish to grow and move

up within the company. I have had many past TPI General

Managers and current TPI leaders who have invested their

time and expertise in me, and given me opportunities to

advance.

What advice would you give to other TPI associateswho would like to grow with the organization? Attempt

to learn something from everyone you come in contact

with. There are a lot of smart, creative, and dedicated

associates in our company. Take advantage of that, and

you can learn all sorts of things that will allow you to

continue to grow.

TPI Hospitality TPI Hospitality

Jason are just two examples of the many current TPI

es strongly in promoting from within, and your hard work

n lead to a rewarding career. If you are interested in

may be an ideal opportunity waiting for you right at your

website at www.tpihospitalityjobs.com. You may find a

as owners!

1



Ashley Clark joins TPI as the ExecutiveHousekeeper at Staybridge SuitesEagan. Ashley, born and raised in St.Paul, took a big leap of faith after highschool and accepted a position on acruise ship as a bell person. She lovedthe experience and soon moved into thehousekeeping department for ninemonths of traveling between the

Hawaiian Islands. Ashley was hookedon hospitality, as she also spent timeworking on a steamboat traveling theMississippi and a seasonal adventure atGlacier National Park. Minnesota wasalways “home”, so she returned and isvery happy to be a part of the TPI team.

Trevor Nystrom recently took on therole of Assistant Kitchen Manager atRuff ’s Wings & Sports in Willmar. Hewas promoted from within TPI after working at Green Mill Willmar for justover a year. Trevor jumped at theopportunity to take on the new Ruff ’sconcept and has quickly become a vitalasset to the Willmar Legacy Project.

Trevor enjoys staying active withbasketball and outdoor activities as wellas spending time with family.

Staybridge Suites Naples welcomesDivina Corkery as Assistant GeneralManager. Divina is a graduate of theUniversity of San Jose, Cebu City,Philippines with a Degree in Hotel and

Restaurant Management. After college,Divina worked at the Shangri-la MactanIsland Resort and Spa as the FrontDesk/Group Coordinator. She later move to the Tampa area and pursuedher career in the hospitality industryworking for a Marriott and later a DoubleTree Hotel as a Front Office Manager.Divina and her husband recentlypurchased a home in the Ft. Myers area.Welcome to the TPI family, Divina!

Tracy Neumeyer , General Manager (left), and Karin Borgerlink, Director of Sales (right), from Staybridge SuitesNaples, present a check for $2,125 tothe Cancer Alliance of Naples. The

donation was made possible though thehelp of TPI associates who participatedin the annual basket competition duringthe 2014 TPI Conference. TheStaybridge Suites basket generated themost funds during the raffle, allowing theNaples team to award 50% of the overallearnings to the organization of their choice. Total proceeds of the basketcompetition were $4,250. Thank youStaybridge Suites Naples!

Preston Bennet is the AGM at Tnew Homewood Suites in RochesPreston grew up in Mazeppa, MN majored in Travel and Tourism at Cloud State University. His

hospitality job was in the laundepartment at the Homewood SuiteSt. Cloud, where he eventually worhis way up to Front Office Manag After a year and a half, he accepted AGM position at the Homewood Suat the Mall of America. Preston sayam very excited to be working with Homewood Suites Rochester team, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!

Inn the news at TPI Hospitality

Angela Terry returned to the Fairmont team in July of this year as Front Office Manager. Angie previoworked at Fairmont’s Hampton InnFront Desk Supervisor and feels like is coming home again. Angie worked in a variety of areas that invoguest satisfaction, team work hospitality. She enjoys the day to

challenges that come along with front desk position, A/R, and the teatmosphere. When she has free tshe enjoys walking, bicycling, reading just hanging out with her husband and children Grace, 7 and Noah, 5.

14



The Hampton Inn Arbor Lakes team

recently held a carnival complete with

games, prizes, food and even cotton

candy! The carnival was a thank you to

the Hampton Inn associates for their

outstanding performance during Hilton’s

Catch Me At My Best program. The

associates competed in ring toss,

balloon pop, basketball and bean bag

toss games. Tammy Hillyard from HS,Alaina Bartholomay from the Maple

Grove Sales team, Andrew Rohlik from

CYAL, Chad Pemberton and Jessica

Kloss from TPI all pitched in to make the

even a huge success. At Hampton Inn

Arbor Lakes, the show must go on!

Chris Warnke was recently promoted to

Chief Maintenance Engineer at the

Homewood Suites St. Louis Park. Chris

joined the TPI Hospitality team in 2009

as the Maintenance Engineer at the

Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomington. Hecurrently resides in Howard Lake with

his wife and two labs. Chris loves the

outdoors! In his free time he enjoys

camping, hunting, and fishing. Welcome

to the Homewood Suites family, Chris!

Trista Hillenbrand has taken the lead

role of Dining Room Manager at TPI’s

new Ruff ’s Wings & Sports Bar in

Willmar. Trista is new to TPI, but brings

almost fifteen years of experience in the

hospitality industry. Her knowledge and

experience have been a valuable part of

Ruff ’s initial success. Trista enjoys

bowling, spending time at her rural

house and prime hunting land, and mostimportantly, being with her husband Kyle

and family. Welcome to TPI, Trista.

Dana Saboe joined the Willmar Hotels

team in November as the Assistant

Executive Housekeeper. She hails from

Melrose, Minnesota and currently lives in

Pennock. Dana has two girls, ages five

and seven. She enjoys working on therestoration of items, and is a committed

vegan who enjoys searching out natural

remedies and cures. Welcome to TPI,

Dana!

Please welcome Comaya Bens

daughter of Courtney Sparks fr

Holiday Inn Express Golden Val

Comaya, pronounced Ka-My-a, w

born on Monday, November 24th

8:30am. She weighed six pouneleven ounces and was 19 3/4 inc

long. Mom says, “She’s so calm

alert.” Congratulations Courtney!

Valerie Hicks is the new Execu

Housekeeper at Holiday Inn Expr

Golden Valley. Valerie has been in

hospitality industry for nine yea

starting as a Guest Service Agent,

then as a Front Desk Supervisor for

Embassy Suites. She moved on

Lebourget, which is now a Holiday

as a Front Desk Supervisor and t

became a Housekeeping Supervisothe Marriott. Most recently, Valerie w

the Assistant Housekeeping Manage

the Double Tree Park Place. She s

she is really excited about being at

Holiday Inn Express Golden Valley

enjoys working with the team.


1



The West End Campus would like to

welcome Brady James Halen. Brady is

the son of Tara Halen, Campus Director

of Sales at the West End Hotels, and her

husband Derek. Brady was born on

Saturday November 1st. He weighed inat 7 pounds, twelve oz. and was 21

inches long. Congratulations Tara,

Derek, and sister Kaylee on your new

addition to the family!

Scott Baanrud recently joined the Hilton

Garden Inn Bloomington team as their

new Assistant General Manager. Scott

has been with TPI Hospitality for five

years and has worked for three different

TPI hotels. Having worked in the

industry for over fifteen years in a variety

of positions, Scott has shown a great

passion and commitment to guest

satisfaction and hospitality and enjoysthe challenge of exceeding our guest’s

expectations. When not at work, Scott

enjoys spending time with his wife and

two children, going to the cabin, hiking

and camping, or just embarking on

random adventures.

Ruff ’s Wings & Sports Bar would like to

congratulate Jesse Serbus for his new

role as Kitchen Manager. Jesse, who is

also the current Kitchen Manager of

Green Mill Willmar, has been with TPI

Hospitality since 1998 and was more

than accepting of this dual role as

Kitchen Manager at both Ruff ’s and

Green Mill. He brings a wealth of

restaurant knowledge to the table andhas been a backbone to the success of

Green Mill and the early success of

Ruff ’s. As you can see, Jesse loves to

fish, hang out with family, fish, and ice

fish.

Melissa Gepp has accepted a

promotion to Director of Sales &

Catering at the Eagan Campus. Melissa

started in the hospitality industry at the

front desk of TownePlace Suites in

Eagan. She soon advanced to SalesCoordinator and then SMERFE Sales

Manager. After six years, Melissa

moved to Bloomington with Hyatt Place

and Holiday Inn Express to learn

different brands and a different market.

When the opportunity arose to return to

Eagan, Melissa jumped at the chance.

She is very excited to learn more about

her new role alongside the fabulous

Eagan Campus Sales Team.

Dan Nelson is the General Manage

TPI ’s newest property, Homew

Suites Rochester. He grew up

Minnetonka and attended Hopkins H

School, where he played footb

baseball and was a ski jumper, tplayed baseball at the University

Minnesota before graduating sum

cum laude from UW Stout. He

managed hotels and resorts in Chica

the Twin Cities, Brainerd and Roches

Dan has a daughter, Katie, and a s

Erik, who are both in college. He lo

all Minnesota sports teams, espec

the Vikings. Dan enjoys golf, pinb

ping pong and downhill skiing.


John Tracy is excited to join the

team as Arbor Lakes Campus Directo

Sales and looks forward to working w

everyone at the Arbor Lakes camp

He has over 25 years of sales

catering experience and has worked w

a number of hotel brands. He m

recently worked for LHR Hospitality a

Corporate Director of Sales. John g

up and currently still lives in New Howith his wife, Jeanne, and

daughters, Laura and Megan. He enj

golfing, watching Minnesota sp

teams, watching his daughter p

volleyball for UW Eau Claire, a

spending time with his family.

16



Gabriella Auspos recently joined TPI

Hospitality as the Dining Room Manager

at Green Mill Willmar. Gabriella studied

visual arts at State University of New

York in Buffalo, and has worked in the

hospitality industry from the time she

was sixteen years old. She is married

with a nine month old daughter, Aurelia,

a three year old daughter, Mari, and an

eight year old stepson, Carter. Sheenjoys running, camping, snowboarding,

drawing, painting and spending time with

her family. Gabriella says she has

thoroughly enjoyed her experience at

Green Mill thus far and is looking forward

to growing with TPI.

Holiday Inn Austin is excited to welcome

Nick Roth to it’s team as the Director of

Sales. Nick spent four years at Winona

State University, graduating with a

Bachelor of Science Degree in

Marketing. Nick has always had apassion for hospitality which brought him

from the insurance business to TPI. He

is an avid hunter, fisherman, and golfer.

Welcome to the team Nick!

The Staybridge Suites Bloomington

team would like to congratulate John

Jericho on his recent promotion to Chief

Engineer! John has been with the

Staybridge since 2008, working first as a

Preventative Maintenance Person and

then as an Assistant Maintenance

Engineer. Congratulations John, and

best of luck in your new role.

Ryan Edner was recently promoted to

the Assistant General Manager position

at the Holiday Inn New Ulm. Ryan was

most recently working at the Homewood

Suites St. Louis Park. Ryan is a

drummer, a song writer, and hasgraduated in the field of Sound Design.

He enjoys outdoor activities including

kayaking, hiking, camping, star gazing

and photography. As a child, he always

enjoyed hotels because there was

always something different happening.

Ryan is excited to be a part of the

Holiday Inn New Ulm team and the

historic German Heritage from which

New Ulm is derived.

Congratulations to General Mana

Sean Twedt and his wife, Kristi, on

arrival of the new addition to their fam

Adalynn Faith Twedt. Their new bun

of joy arrived Saturday morning, Octo

25th and weighed six pounds, twe

ounces and was twenty inches lo

Sean says that Adalynn likes sleep

eating, burping and watching

Minnesota Golden Gophers. Her ocurrent dislike seems to be the Gr

Bay Packers.


Samantha Nelson grew up in a sm

town in northern Minnesota, and mo

to the metro area in 2008. Sam sta

with TPI at the Staybridge Suites

Bloomington as a Guest Serv

Representative. She was promotedFront Desk Supervisor in 2012,

recently became the Sales Coordina

for the Bloomington Campus. S

enjoys spending time with friends

family, especially her nephew and

nieces. She also spends her free t

with church activities, crafting,

traveling. This spring she is plannin

travel to Ireland to visit friends that

met while working at Staybridge Suite

1



Holiday Inn & Austin Conference Center

team is excited to welcome Ben Ankeny

as their new Director of Catering. Ben

came to us from the local newspaper,

where he worked on the sales team. He

was born and raised in Austin and is veryactive in the community, including

working with Austin’s Vision 2020

Waterways Committee. He has three

boys, a wife of twelve years and enjoys

live music, canoeing, and helping out his

family business. Welcome to the team,

Ben!

Garrett Erickson at Green Mill Willmar

was recently promoted to Assistant

Kitchen Manager. Garrett has been with

TPI Hospitality for almost two years and

is becoming a valuable asset to the

Willmar team. He is looking forward to

the opportunity of continued growth with

the TPI team. Garrett is an avid hunter

and enjoys most outdoor activities.

Congratulations on your new position,Garrett.

Lacy McNicol has joined the Fairmont

team as their Director of Sales. Lacy is

originally from Mountain View, CA. Her

family moved to Minnesota when she

was young, but she says, “I’m always

going to be a 49er ’s fan!” Lacy studied

Psychology and English while attending

Minnesota State University in Mankato.

She joined TPI in 2009 where she was a

Cook, a Banquet Server and aBartender, then a Guest Service Agent

at the Holiday Inn. In 2012 she had her

first child, a gorgeous little girl, and

enjoys playing with her, going to the park

and going for walks.

Etta Mae Alfonso, the daughter of

Kendra Alfonso from Hilton Garden Inn

Bloomington and Dan Alfonso from

Hampton Inn Minnetonka, was born at

Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park on

Thursday, April 24th at 8:39am. Sheweighed eight pounds, one ounce and

was twenty-one inches long. Please

help us congratulate the Alfonsos on

their new bundle of joy!

Lisa Barney was recently promoted

the Executive Housekeeper position

the Willmar hotels. Lisa is a New Ye

Eve baby, born in Alaska and raised

northern Minnesota. She is a Will

resident with three kids, and when shnot working she enjoys restoring salv

items to their original condition,

better! Congratulations, Lisa, and b

of luck in your new position.


Denise Logman has been promoted

Sales Manager at Homewood Su

New Brighton. Denise started

hospitality career at the AmericInn

White Bear Lake as a Front Desk Ag

She worked there for three years

then joined the TPI Hospitality team

2009 as a Front Desk Agent at

Homewood Suites in New Bright

Denise lives in Shoreview with her daughters, Jessica, and Michaela. S

enjoys working for Caribou Cof

part-time as a Barista creating co

beverages and making people hap

Congratulations, Denise!

18



Jessica Schoenberger has recentlyjoined the Eagan campus sales team asthe new Sales and Catering Coordinator.She was born and raised in Eagan, MNand loves being able to work in her hometown. Jessica graduated from theUniversity of Northwestern – St. Paulwith a degree in Public Relations. Shehas worked in government, non-profit,

education and the private sector. In her free time Jessica enjoys any activityinvolving creativity and connecting withfamily and friends. Welcome to TPI,Jessica!

The Staybridge Suites Bloomingtonwould like to welcome Tommy

Robinson to the team in the role of Executive Housekeeper. Tommy and hisfamily moved to the Minneapolis area

from Montana, where Tommy worked inmany roles at a family of hotels andresorts. Welcome Tommy, and goodluck in your new position!

Kham Vue was recently promoted toExecutive Housekeeper at the HiltonGarden Inn Bloomington. Kham hasworked in the housekeeping departmentfor six years and it has proven to be atremendous learning opportunity for her.She says, “The entire staff motivates andsupports me at all times, and that is whywe are such a great team.” Kham is

married and has three beautifulchildren. She is very outgoing, quiet andeasy to get along with. During her sparetime, she loves spending time with her family while camping, swimming andplaying sports.

Kyle Hannan has changed addresses!Kyle previously worked at TPI’sHomewood Suites New Brighton, andrecently transferred to HomewoodSuites Rochester as Front Office

Manager. After high school, Kyle joinedthe Minnesota National Guard and wasdeployed oversees. Upon his return, hebegan working at the Rochester HiltonGarden Inn, then moved back to hishome town of Coon Rapids and joinedthe New Brighton team. Kyle and hiswife, Alyssa, have a beautiful daughter named Mavie. Kyle says, “I can proudlysay I have found my passion and I lookforward to an exciting career with TPI”.

Sara Schoenrock has recently bpromoted to SMERF Sales Managethe Eagan Campus of Hotels. Soriginally started with TPI in 2001 afront desk associate at Hilton GardenBloomington. She was promotedFront Desk Supervisor and laterExecutive Housekeeper. Sara took years off to be with her son and to tr

different career, then realized her passion for the Hospitality Industry returned to TPI. The Eagan Cam jumped at the opportunity to hire Sarathe Sales & Catering Coordinator. Sis very excited for this new opportuni


As winners of the “Most Creative” bas(see above) during the 2014 TPI

BasChallenge, Homewood Suites

Louis Park was able to donate 50%the proceeds from the event to the ch

ity of their choice. They choseMiracles of Mitch Foundation as tsingle benefactor and presented organization with a check for $2,1The Miracles of Mitch Foundation hechildren with cancer and their familiesproviding basic needs support unique family programs. Kudos to entire TPI team for making this possiand to the St. Louis Park team choosing this amazing organization.

1



For over twenty-two years, Innside TPI has shared the memories and told the stories of current and past TPI associates. Fro

describing the historical Halloween snow storm of 1991, through the development of over thirty new properties, to t

announcement of employee ownership, one thing has remained constant...amazing people!

Below are trivia questions created from past issues of Innside TPI. The first person to submit the correct answer to ea

question to [email protected] will be awarded a certificate for a two-night stay at any TPI hotel location. Do you know your T

history? Hint: You can find all of the past issues of Innside TPI at www.tpihospitality.com/about/innside-tpi. Good luck!

1. This TPI hotel opened on June 5th, 1998: _ _ _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _ N I _ _ _ _ _ _ N

2. Holiday Inn Willmar 1995 Employee of the Month: _ _ _ T _ _ _ _

_

_

_

_

_

T

3. Current TPI associate who started with TPI as a Torge’s server in 1991: _ _ N _ E _ _ _

4. A current TPI General Manager who did an internship at Staybridge Suites Eagan in 2002: _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ H

5. The original hotel brand of Hampton Inn Shoreview: _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ _ N

6. This current TPI associate was named GM at Holiday Inn Express Eagan on September 11, 1997: _ O _ _ _ _ _ _ _

7. A current TPI associate who was chosen as the 1994 Perkins Austin Employee of the Year: _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ N

8. This person was the first GM at Holiday Inn Express Golden Valley: _ _ _ _ _ S _ A _ _ _ _ _ _

9. A one-time delivery driver for Green Mill, with Fargo as his home town: _ _ _ E _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _

10. Director of Sales at the Shoreview Plaza hotel in 1995: _ _ _ D _ _ Y

11. The Holiday Inn Austin restaurant name prior to Torge’s Grille & Bar: _

_

L

_

_

_

E

12. Director of Sales at Holiday Inn Fairmont in 1995: J _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E _ _

13. 2003 Associate of the Year at Hilton Garden Inn Shoreview: _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ L

Internships provide more than a summer jobHaley Harms receives a valuable experience in Fairmont as she pursues her degree at SMSU

Haley Harms, a student majoring in Hospitality Management at Southwest

Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN, completed a working internship this past

summer at the Holiday Inn Fairmont. She did an outstanding job helping guests andlearning all of the different departments within the hotel. Haley worked in

housekeeping, as a prep-cook in the Green Mill kitchen, all of the shifts at the front

desk (even the overnight), and attended multiple management meetings and

participated in strategic market development. Haley also attended meetings for the

Fairmont Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Minnesota Lodging Association and

was a guest at a TPI GM Council meeting. Haley was a great addition to the TPI

team over the past summer, and we expect big things from her in our industry in the

future. She is just one of many interns who have been part of the TPI Hospitality

family, if only for a summer. TPI is committed to helping develop future leaders in

our industry, and Haley has certainly “Set the example for others to follow”!



Whatever it takes for outrageous guest service...

“Every time I stay at Hilton Garden Inn Bloomington it’s a wonderful experience! I travel quite a lot for a living, and have fo

over thirty years, and I can say without any reservations that Sue Lawson, Kendra Alfonso, John Brandel , and Sco

Baanrud really make me feel like I am amongst friends.”

“I strongly recommend the Hilton Garden Inn Eagan to anyone. They have an awesome staff of people who make your sta

really pleasant and trouble-less. Special recognition to Chelsea Girten and Jason Davy , these guys are just top of the line

“My wife said it best, ‘From the front desk to the restaurant employees, they made us feel like we were celebrities. The

wanted to do anything to make us more comfortable. I can't tell you what to do, but I can tell you whenever my family need

to stay for the night, if we are anywhere close, we are staying at the Holiday Inn in Austin, MN!”

“I had a great experience overall and cannot thank Dan Alfonso enough for his over the top hospitality as he certainly wen

way out of his way to take care of someone that was staying at his hotel. Thank you for such wonderful help and not lettin

me go through all of the hassle and trouble of getting the car fixed or calling the rental company or taxi or anything else. Yo

made my stay that much easier and you are most definitely one of a kind. What a wonderful, wonderful gentleman simpl

pleasing a guest at your Hampton Inn & Suites in Minnetonka.”

“Please pass along my gratitude to your front desk employee, Megan Bender . She did a heroic thing by helping me ge

medical attention after going into anaphylactic shock. I have always had great experiences at the Homewood Suites in S

Louis Park, but this stay was exceptional. It is rare to find customer service at this level and I thought you should know.”

“I wanted to thank Serena Hoisington for her wonderful service this evening at Perkins in Red Wing. Her personality an

smileyness made my night! Keep it up!”

In my job, I travel all over the country every week and have stayed in some of the most expensive hotels available. Th

Fairmont Holiday Inn is the best hotel I have ever stayed in. The food is the best and the bar is the nicest and friendlies

that I have experienced in many years. The Green Mill General Manager, Mike Christians, came to our table and just talke

for several minutes while we waited for our food. He’s a great guy and a super representative of the Holiday Inn name.

“Our high regards go to Tracy Neumeyer , Lindita Fteja, Pleshette Hurm, Sarah Brandhorst , Mileydi Guevara and Stev

Carroll , a group that is always visible and involved in making this a reassuring reason to return year after year to relax

unwind and simply make us feel like Staybridge Suites Naples is our home.”

A outrageous story from Hampton Inn Shoreview: When a guest returned from work one evening, she realized she had los

the book she was reading. She realized she may have left it on the roof of her car when she left the hotel that morning. Sh

called the front desk to see if anyone had found it in the parking lot, but they had not. The woman was beside herse

because it was a library book. Sherry Mueller got in her car and drove the route. She found the book on the exit ramp t

the freeway and retrieved it for the guest. The woman was thrilled!

“There was an emergency involving my daughter. Because of the heroic actions of the Holiday Inn Maple Grov

employees, Kristin Anderson and Sandra Prill , my daughter is back in Texas. They were quick to respond not only to he

room, but to get an ambulance response also. I truly believe they saved my daughters life that evening.”

“We will stay at the SpringHill Suites Rochester every time we’re in town. We were treated like family. The personal effo

they put into our stay was above and beyond anything we have experienced before. My wife was scheduled fo

appointments at the Mayo Clinic the day of our anniversary. The hotel staff found it was our anniversary and asked if it woulbe okay to decorate our room while we were out as a surprise to my wife. They did a wonderful job.”

“On the survey question about breakfast, I wish I could have given Suzanne Sukalski a 20 out of 10! She was th

sweetest person I have ever met in my entire life. She gave me the sweetest card, one that I will keep forever, and I rea

ly needed to receive that message on that day. She really made my day and I hope I can visit again soon. I can’t sto

telling my friends about the sweet girl I met at the Fairmont Hampton Inn!”

“I am grateful for Jamie Larson and Stephanie Scharmer on the Best Western Plus side, Lynn Mattern who was the lea

in the banquet room, Carol Paulson at the Holiday Inn Express and just the entire team as they were all outstanding. I hav

done nothing but spread the word. People in small towns like ours cannot believe it. Everything was stellar!”

2



...continued from page 2, What if you were the owner of TPI Hospitality?

One last point I will comment on in regard to the ESOP is that all of TPI ’s leadership team will stay in place. There is anotharticle within the newsletter that outlines the corporate team at TPI. The couple of things that do change have to do with tTPI Board of Directors. I will continue to be a board member and Chairman; however, we will have two outside boamembers that include Don Haas and Bob Thurston. In addition, Ardent Trust has been appointed as the trustee on behalf YOU, the new owners of TPI. The trustee appoints the board members and provides oversight and reporting to you and tgovernment. I will now pause on the ESOP subject at this point, but you can expect further communications in the future back fill you on all of the details of how this somewhat complicated part of the federal law works. However, a significant iteto point out is that on January 1st, 2015, TPI Hospitality will become the largest 100% employee owned hospitality compa

in the nation.

We do have several large scale repositionings and new developments in the works at TPI, here is a brief summary.

The $15,000,000 Willmar Legacy Repositioning recently completed its final phase with the opening of Ruff ’s Wings & SpoBar. The entire project included a Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Best Western Plus, Willmar Conference Center, Green MRestaurant & Bar and finally Ruff ’s.

The $4,500,000 New Ulm Repositioning is nearing its completion to include Best Western Plus, New Ulm Conference Centand Green Mill Restaurant & Bar.

The $5,500,000 Golden Valley Repositioning got under way in July, will be completed this spring and will result in a brand neand expanded Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

The $4,600,000 Shoreview Repositioning got underway in August and will be completed this June resulting in a Best WestePlus, an expanded North Metro Event Center and a brand new Green Mill Restaurant & Bar.

In August, we opened a newly constructed Hampton Inn and Suites on I-394 in Minnetonka/West Minneapolis.

In November, we opened a newly constructed Homewood Suites in downtown Rochester.

In November, we started the new construction of a Hampton Inn in West Bloomington at I-494 and Normandale Blvd.

We recently closed on a deal to purchase land in Roseville on I-35W and we are in the process of getting entitlements anconstruction plans for a new Hampton Inn and a new Home2Suites by Hilton. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spriof 2015.

Beyond the above new investments that TPI has underway, we are looking for other opportunities to grow and expand in thMinneapolis, outstate Minnesota and southwest Florida markets. We are currently in negotiations on multiple deals in eachthese three markets.

I will close this article in a fashion very consistent with previous ones. That is, to communicate that I am more passionate aoptimistic about TPI today than I have ever been. We have many great things yet to accomplish together, and I am grateful be a part of this great organization. I want to thank you all for the amazing work you do day in and day out. It is your hawork that is the absolute essence of what sets us apart from our competition!

I wish you all a very enjoyable holiday season with family and friends!

~ Tom Torgerson

22



Did you know that every TPI associate has an opportunity to help with decision making and enhance

company wide communication through their experiences and feedback at the hotel or restaurant

level? The TPI General Manager Council meets every quarter for just that reason, and each

district/campus is represented by a member of the General Manager Council. The list below

identifies each General Manager Council representative and the representative’s constituents.

Jeremie Slagle (Holiday Inn & Suites) - Arbor Lakes (Chair)Sean Twedt - Staybridge Suites Arbor Lakes

Mark Maves - Hampton Inn Arbor Lakes

Tom Rost - Courtyard Arbor Lakes

Joel Adamson (Quality Inn & Suites) - Eagan/Red Wing

Jason Mercord - Hilton Garden Inn Eagan

Chris Carey - Staybridge Suites Eagan

Travis Stevenson - Perkins Red Wing

Tracy Benesh (Holiday Inn) - Austin/Rochester

Michael Rupkey - Courtyard Rochester

Ryan Miller - SpringHill Suites Rochester

Dan Nelson - Homewood Suites Rochester

Jason Hall (Staybridge Suites) - Bloomington/St. Louis Park/Golden Valley/Minnetonka

Emmett Lincoln - Hilton Garden Inn Bloomington

Holly Rath - Homewood Suites St. Louis Park

Amy Isaacson - Holiday Inn Express Golden Valley

Bill Godbe - Hampton Inn Minnetonka

Jason Subbert (Fairmont hotels) - Fairmont/New Ulm

Rick Neumann - Holiday Inn new Ulm

Angie Winkel - Green Mill New Ulm

Marc Meier - Perkins Fairmont

Michael Christians - Green Mill Fairmont

Janet Demuth (Country Inn & Suites) - Willmar/Naples

Dave Fiest - Best Western Plus Willmar, Holiday Inn Express Willmar, Days Inn Willmar

Tim Mattern - Green Mill Willmar, Ruff ’s Wings & Sports bar

Tracy Neumeyer - Staybridge Suites Naples

Tony Donatelle (Green Mill Shoreview) - Shoreview/New Brighton

Julie Fuller - Hampton Inn Shoreview

Todd Roy - Homewood Suites New Brighton

Julie Johnson - Hilton Garden Inn Shoreview

The more feedback and input the General Manager Council receives from the property level, the

better we can achieve the intent of the General Manager Council mission, “ To create a vehiclecomprised of TPI General Managers to refine and evaluate TPI big picture decision making and

enhance company wide communication through field based feedback and input.” As new owners, it

is critically important that we all communicate freely and build trust at all levels of the organization.

Doing so will only enhance our ability to grow. Please help us make the General Manager Council

an important part of our communication efforts by providing your observations and comments. You

can reach out to your representative or contact your general manager if there are areas of

discussion, concerns or communication you would like addressed or clarified. The next meeting is

scheduled in New Ulm on Tuesday, February 3rd.

~ Jeremie Slagle, General Manager Council Chair

2

Honest and straightforward communicationTPI’s General Manager Council provides an opportunity for companywide communication



TPI Hospitality

Water’s Edge Professional Building

103 15th Avenue NW Suite 200

P.O. Box 1020

Willmar, MN 56201

Phone: 320-235-7207

At TPI Hospitality, we believe in our associates...

“Whatever It Takes For Outrageous Guest Service

...You Have The Power!”

...continued from page 3, Laying the ground work for becoming an ESOP

Operations Team:

Joel Vogler Senior Vice President - Hotel Operations

Dennis Wallenta Senior Vice President - Hotel Operations

Pete Bromelkamp Senior Vice President - Human Resources

Dee Anne Osborne Senior Vice President - Sales and Marketing

Bob Smith Senior Vice President - Facilities Maintenance

Mike Lamoureux Vice President - Restaurant Operations

Larry Eisenberg Vice President - Restaurant Operations

John Cox Vice President - Revenue Management StrategiesJessica Kloss Vice President - eCommerce Strategies

To Be Determined Director of Hotel Operations

Becca Gross Director - Sales Support

Chad Pemberton Coordinator - Sales, Revenue & eCommerce

I would like to personally thank each of you for your contributions on a daily basis. Without question, your efforts are t

backbone of TPI’s success.

I hope that you all have a great holiday season and can find an opportunity to inventory the blessings in your life. I also lo

forward to seeing each of you after the first of the year as you enjoy your new titles within TPI…that of “Employee Owner”!

~ Mitch Peterson

T PI Hospitality...”Working like owners, thinking like guests!”

Innside TPI Winter 2014 - E-mail Copy.pdf

Documents

Transcript of Innside TPI Winter 2014 - E-mail Copy.pdf