Susan (Sue) Winn was recently awarded the Marriott Team Member of the Year Award. This award honors the best of the best, demonstrating achievement in history with the brand, service excellence, teamwork, and contributes to hotel performance. Sue was one of four associates to win this award in 2022. Here is her story.
Sue started working at the SpringHill Suites State College in 2014 after she retired from The Pennsylvania State University. She helped on weekends in the laundry department but soon moved over to breakfast. By the end of the year Sue was working alongside managers to streamline the breakfast program and keep the hotel within budget. Sue took some time off during the pandemic and as soon as the SpringHill Suites started offering breakfast again, she was offering to come back and do whatever was needed. She once again streamlined the new breakfast program and helped us reach our budgeted goals.
Sue has always been creative and goes out of her way to bring a smile to our staff and guests. We had an extended stay guest that moved from Florida for a job at Penn State. Sue got them a Penn State Nittany Lion print for them to hang in their house when they checked out of the hotel.
When we have a holiday party for the staff, Sue likes to come up with theme ideas. One year she made a loaf of mini pumpkin bread for each staff member. Another year she went with a snowman theme and had snowman painted wine glasses for everyone. The most recent year we had a Candy Land theme. Sue made non edible gingerbread houses that were raffled off and each staff member got a hot chocolate theme cup. The entire room looked like you walked into the board game, and it brought a smile to everyone’s face.
Sue has always gone above and beyond to help not just the breakfast team but the entire hotel. She is the first one to offer a comment during our daily huddles. If there is something on the ground, she will run to go pick it up. If someone calls off in laundry, she is already pulling towels out of the dryers to start folding.
We like to joke that Sue is our hotel’s grandma. Everyone gravitates to her because of her jolly demeanor and ability to crack a joke. If someone is going through something Sue is normally the first one to pick up that something is wrong and jumps right in to be a listening ear or someone you can talk to.
We are so happy to have Sue taking care of the guests and fellow associates at the SpringHill Suites State College hotel. The impact she has on the staff and guests are undeniable. Congratulations Sue! Thank you for everything you do each and every day.
