In the recent weeks, I’ve had the joyous opportunity to sit down with two lovely, working women in my life. Both women radiate confidence, poise, and determination. Both women possess career titles that they consider “out-of-the-normal,” yet they are each working wonders. The two women work and reside miles from each other. Their positions require them to complete diverse tasks. The paths they each took were extremely different, in comparison. However, while conducting my interviews, I could not help but see the similarities in personality, work ethic, and the PR strategy of these two fierce women.
Melody Craig
Melody Craig is one-of-a-kind. Melody does not have a college degree under her belt, but her experience qualifies her for the position of Manager at Schwartz Country Kitchen in Akron, Indiana. She is the mother to two successful children, and she is the grandmother to five beautiful grandchildren. She is also the “work mother” to the Schwartz Country Kitchen staff. Melody’s grace partnered with her maternal instincts allow her to ease a potentially difficult situation at the kitchen. Whether that be with unsatisfied customers, troubling employees, or discrepancies among the business and its suppliers (Pepsi, Stanz, Wildman, etc,) she has proved time and time again that she can knock out any curveball thrown her way. Alongside these qualities, Melody has had years of experience working in the food service industry. She has done everything from waitressing to owning her own small business. Her practice has provided her with a great deal of clientele, too. When she started working as manager (momager) at Schwartz Country Kitchen in December 2014, a great sum of people followed her. These are just a few of the attributes that Melody Craig brings to the Schwartz Country Kitchen dinner table.
One of my first questions for Melody was about her daily routine. She starts every morning with coffee with her sister, Tammy. Between the hours of 8:00 and 9:00am she arrives to her desk at the kitchen. She checks for notes or mail she may have received. If there is anything that needs to be handled with urgency, she makes it a priority. From there, she assesses the situation on the floor with the staff. When she and the staff feel that all is well, she makes a trip uptown to Lake City Bank to get backup change for the register. (Also, if the restaurant is out of stock of an item, she will use this time to go to the local grocer and pick up the necessary item(s).) Upon returning back, she will take time to have some breakfast at the counter and see how the staff is personally doing. When she does this, it also gives her a chance to talk with the customers and ask how they are doing. The small town atmosphere and business style allows Melody to make personal connections with the employees and the regulars. The rest of the day Melody can be seen completing a variety of tasks. These include, but are not limited to, managing the budget, taking inventory, contacting suppliers, ordering stock, prewriting the necessary checks, maintaining the sanity of the employees, showing customer appreciation, and preparing some of Schwartz Country Kitchen’s signature dishes. Melody also mentioned that Friday is her busiest and longest day. By the end of the work week, she normally has 45-50 hours spent at the restaurant.
One of the biggest challenges she has faced is bringing back customers from the previous ownership. A great deal of clients stopped coming into that location because their prior experience was anything but good. In December 2014, it not only transferred ownership, but it transferred management. Getting the word out was difficult, but within a month the previous customers started returning to the location to “see what the word was about.” They were all pleased with the new transformation. Melody used the power of advertising by customizing new shirts available to employees and customers, purchasing newspaper, radio, and yearbook ads, and using good ole’ word-of-mouth. She also encouraged the employees to follow suit. The greatest experience for Melody is to meet new customers. She loves going out of the floor and hearing the words “It’s our first time here!” The expansion of clientele signifies that the team is working well. She makes sure that all the customers leave full-bellied and satisfied with the intent of returning. Melody Craig’s advice for those working with the public is “Evaluate the situation, always be kind, and handle things thoroughly.”
If you’d like to witness Melody Craig’s fabulous managerial style while eating remarkable home-style cooking, visit Schwartz Country Kitchen at the corner of SR 14 and SR 114 in Akron, Indiana!
Anisa Baisa
Anisa Baisa is a 2015 graduate of IUPUI with a degree in Communication Arts. Anisa is the loving mother to a gorgeous little girl, Alena. Motherhood has only enhanced Anisa’s success in her education and career. In early 2015, she was presented with the opportunity of an internship with the Indiana Pacers. Out of 600 applicants, she was chosen. Her internship included the duties of updating spreadsheets and contact lists, researching leads for the sales representatives, and was a sort of “bodyguard” for the Indiana Fever. She escorted them to and fro, as well as accommodated their needs. Her internship provided her with not only experience but with lessons she now uses daily. Anisa powerfully said “Take all your skills with a good work ethic and you cannot fail.” She also stated her belief of the importance of making connections: “Meet as many people as you can. It’s not always the degree or how qualified you are.” The connections that Anisa made during her internship led to her current position: Sales and Event Coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts Grille.
Anisa Baisa’s daily responsibilities are answering emails and inquiries from potential clients, researching leads, preparing specified menus for upcoming events. She noted that she is constantly making checklists for herself and for the events. She conducts pre-checks with the servers of the events. Weekly, she will partake in conference calls with her boss who resides in Houston, Texas. (He also owns the Jerome Bettis Grille 36 and the Houston Texans Grille.) Every month, Anisa is given a specific number that signifies her sales goal for that time period. From there, she is to respond to potential clients and conduct outreach so that she can book events at the Indianapolis Colts Grille. The sales of these events must total up to the specified amount for Anisa to meet her monthly goal. For October, Anisa had all of the events completely booked in a timely manner, but she also exceeded her goal by $10,000. I found that to be positive, but she noted that it is somewhat negative because now she is struggling with outreach. One of her biggest challenges right now is that she is so busy (working 45 hours a week) that she does not have much time to contact other businesses or previous clients to promote hosting their event at the Indianapolis Colts Grille.
Anisa Baisa came to this job as a fresh student with some intern experience and she is tackling it wonderfully. She quoted “As long as you work your hardest, no one can ever expect more from you.” The dedication, strength, and poise found in the workings of Anisa Baisa is both admirable and inspiring.
Looking for a place to host your meeting, holiday party, or happy hour? Look no further! Contact Anisa Baisa via the Indianapolis Colts Grille website. http://coltsgrille.g3restaurants.com/
Both of these inspiring ladies have shed light on various sides of public relations. Melody Craig’s managerial position viewed public relations in the eye of suppliers and consumers. In the face of an irrational complaint, I have a tendency to be hot-headed. Melody showed me that it is best to handle a complaint or concern with grace and to promptly solve the issue. I also learned that clientele is very important. They can ultimately make or break your brand. With Melody’s guidance, I will make note to assess a situation from all sides in the future rather than “jumping the gun.” Not considering all views leads to emotional bias and irrational decisions that can affect the business. Melody Craig also taught me to have great working relationship with fellow employees and clients. Those ties lead to greater overall positive decision making.
As a current student, my interview with Anisa Baisa felt more personal. Anisa stressed the importance of making positive connections with everyone you can. A simple hello can snowball into a career opportunity. She also taught me to remain dedicated and hardworking. These qualities will shine through in your work. All of the opportunities that Anisa was granted in the midst of graduation truly inspires me. Her story can serve as motivation to all students. During the rest of my time at Indiana University Kokomo, I’m vowing to make as many connections as I can. I am going to take full advantage of the education and opportunities presented to me. Doing your absolute best can take you far. I fully intend on seeing where my absolute best will take me.
Triple C. 