Cupcake Wars

Posted in: Ambassadors
Tags: food network, frost bake shoppe, cupcakes, the woodlands

Decorated sugar cookies, brownies and cupcakes, oh my! Frost Bake Shoppe is expanding its tasty operation to a second location at Waterway Square across the street from Hubbell & Hudson.

Owned and operated by local resident Terese Yates, Frost Bake Shoppe’s 15 employees begin baking each day at 4 a.m. The bakery produces about 1,000 cupcakes a day including gluten-free options.

Everyday flavors such as Red Velvet, Chocolate-Vanilla and Confetti are made in small batches using the highest quality ingredients. The shoppe also features a couple of "specialty" flavors each day.

If you stop by today, you’ll find flavors like Black Velvet, Chocolate Covered Banana, Dulce De Leche and Italian Cream.

“We don’t have a ton of leftovers, but they never go to waste,” says Terese. “Leftovers are donated to area churches and nursing homes.”

Her sweet treats gained a following after appearing on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars.

After a two-month-long interview process, Frost Bake Shoppe was selected to appear on an episode of the popular television show and walked away with third place.

Click here to view her submission video on YouTube.

What a job!
 

Employee Spotlight: Rafael Richard

Posted in: Ambassadors
Tags: employee spotlight, rafael richard, the woodlands resort

Before Elton John takes the stage, before President Obama addresses the country, before Mark Zuckerberg presents the latest changes at Facebook, a comprehensive audio-visual systems check is performed.

At The Woodlands Resort, keynote speakers and conference presenters can rest assured that their presentations will run as smoothly as possible with the help of Rafael Richards.

Rafael, part of the conference center’s audio-visual team, is responsible for setting up and testing the audio-visual equipment before each business meeting. Rafael also meets with presenters to ensure they are able to operate the equipment with ease.

His responsibilities don’t end there. Rafael also works behind the scenes and remains on standby in case any technical issues arise during the presentation.

One thing Rafael loves most about his job is interacting with guests and providing the best service possible. When guests leave the resort, he hopes they have had a very enjoyable and successful meeting.

After 20 years at the resort, Rafael maintains a personal goal to improve every year and continue to be an asset to The Woodlands Resort.

We appreciate Rafael’s continued dedication and are proud to have him as part of The Woodlands Resort family.

Employee Spotlight: Shirley Hulin

Posted in: Ambassadors
Tags: employee spotlight, conference planner, the woodlands resort, shirley hulin

In 1979, Shirley Hulin joined The Woodlands Resort team as a file clerk where she proudly worked on the loading dock in her “business suit, high heels, and all!”

Shirley has worked in many different departments over the years including purchasing, food and beverage, catering and sales. Knowing the resort inside and out helps Shirley in her current position as Conference Planner.

As a Conference Planner, Shirley’s top priority is to “make each guest feel as though they’re the only one at the resort.”

During her 32 years, Shirley has seen the resort grow and expand rapidly and loves seeing the constant improvement – most notably the guest rooms and meeting facilities.

Shirley has also met (and had her photo snapped!) with quite a few celebrity guests over the years including President Ford, Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope, James Garner, Fred McMurray and Willie Nelson.

Despite meeting big-name guests, Shirley’s favorite part about working at the resort is the relationships she has established with fellow employees.

At The Woodlands Resort, we believe our employees are one of our greatest assets and we are proud to have many long-term employees, including Shirley, on our team.

After 32 years of hard work and dedication, Shirley is retiring from The Resort. The good news? Living just 5 minutes away we know we’ll see her friendly face often and look forward to her stopping by for a quick “hello.”

Thank you, Shirley for 32 wonderful years!
 

Employee Spotlight: Kevin Pysell

Posted in: Ambassadors
Tags: kevin pysell, pasty chef, employee spotlight, the woodlands resort

Executive Pastry Chef Kevin Pysell hopes each and every guest leaves The Woodlands Resort remembering the pleasant surroundings, friendly staff, and of course, the irresistible creations that come out of the resorts bakeshop.

On a recent visit to The Woodlands Resort, travel writer Kat Robinson blogged about Kevin’s Famous Bubba Chunk Cookies. “The cookies were full of chocolate chips and chunks with dark, semisweet and white chocolate, pecans and black walnut chunks. And they were divine. I want the recipe.”

Mission accomplished!

Whether he’s making danishes, muffins and desserts, constructing elegant wedding cakes for the hundreds of weddings held here each year or creating new recipes with flavors inspired by the season, Kevin and his team work tirelessly making enticing confections that taste as good as they look.

What is Kevin most proud of? “Working with the staff in the bakeshop. They do work that makes me look good and maintains a quality of service our clients deserve and expect,” says Kevin.

Kevin’s talent, creativity and commitment to the culinary arts continue to impress. We are proud to have him on our team!

Next time you’re visiting the resort, be sure to try one of his fabulous creations...we promise you won’t be disappointed!
 

Employee Spotlight: Marissa Abboud

Posted in: Ambassadors
Tags: employee spotlight, assistant front office manager, employee of the year, marissa abboud

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. It’s why The Woodlands Resort depends on employees like Marissa Abboud to make certain every guest is pleased from the moment they arrive.

As Assistant Front Office Manager, Marissa devotes much of her time to working behind the scenes with the concierge, housekeeping and engineering staff in preparation for each guest arrival.

Marissa is responsible for ensuring the front desk runs smoothly and guests are checked in and out quickly and efficiently. When checking guests in, Marissa loves nothing more than providing complimentary upgrades when available to guests celebrating special occasions.

“It is fun to see the expression on their face when you tell them we can give them a room upgrade. They get really excited and are always appreciative,” says Marissa.

During her four and a half years at The Resort, Marissa has especially enjoyed building relationships with repeat guests. Marissa believes that it is the amazing amenities that The Resort has to offer that keeps them coming back, most notably the Forest Oasis Waterscape, two on-property golf courses and tennis facilities.

Marissa’s most memorable moment while working at The Resort was when she was nominated for, and won, Employee of the Quarter and Employee of the Year. Marissa credits much of her success to the support she receives from her colleagues and their upbeat and positive attitudes.

So next time you’re checking in to The Resort look for Marissa’s smiling face waiting to greet you and be sure to tell her hello!
 

Employee Spotlight: Diana Nemeth

Posted in: Ambassadors
Tags: employee spotlight, diana nemeth, catering manager, the woodlands resort

Details...Details...Details. When it comes to planning a great event, Catering Manager Diana Nemeth knows that it’s the little details that make or break an event. Diana works closely with each client every step of the way, listening to their wants and needs and learning everything she can (down to their favorite color and preferred brand of drink) to ensure the event not only meets but exceeds their expectations.

Diana is committed to providing the best service and enjoys building relationships with her clients, never failing to go above and beyond. From returning phone calls and emails in a prompt and timely manner to meeting after-hours and on weekends, Diana is happy to accommodate clients whenever possible.

One thing Diana loves most about her job is that no two days are ever the same. She enjoys working with a variety of different people and personalities, and working together with her coworkers to ensure each event goes off without a hitch.

Though Diana spends her days communicating with clients and planning events down to the smallest detail, she knows that she has to be ready to think on her feet.

On one occasion, Diana recalls being alarmed when a wedding ceremony at The Resort was getting ready to begin and the DJ hired for the reception was no where to be found. Instead of sending the bride into a panic, she calmly alerted the groom that their DJ was not on-property and ensured him she would find a replacement in time for the reception.

Diana quickly worked behind the scenes, tracking down an alternate DJ, rearranging the evening’s agenda, setting up a sound system and preparing music to play until the DJ arrived.

The alternate DJ made it just in time for the couple’s first dance. When the reception came to an end, the groom took the microphone and thanked Diana for all she had done on the bride and groom’s behalf to ensure their wedding night was perfect.

It’s Diana’s endless dedication that makes her stand out to each and every person she works with at The Resort. Diana hopes that when everything is said and done, her clients look back and think, “...if [I ]had it to do again, [I] would not have chosen to work with anyone else.”