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The Authority On African-American Conventions, Incentives, & Leisure Travel |
PACESETTERS
COREEN V. BROWN:
WORKING HARD AND LOVING IT
BY JEROME WATSON
A while ago Coreen V. Brown had a choice. She could take it easy and let others do the "heavy lifting" so to speak while she just oversaw the projects. Or she could take on a more hands-on approach. The former would be easer, but customer satisfaction would sometimes be in question. Only with her personal involvement could she be sure of excellence.
Of course, she chose the latter and never looked back. Thus, she has had many of the same repeat customers for over 20 years.
Brown is the director of Catering Sales at the Ramada Plaza Hotel J.F.K. She is in charge of all the sales, books all of the meetings, creates the menus and often helps prepare and tastes the meals. She's good at and involved with just about every aspect of catering, from the bottom to the top.
Why?
Because she's a perfectionist. It's what makes her excellent at her job. "It's very hard work, but I enjoy it. I love to make the clients happy!"
Brown has worked at the Ramada in New York for 28 years. "When I started, there were no minorities that did what I did". Truthfully, working in catering wasn't her first calling: "I was in nursing school, but I didn't really like it. I realized that this was what I really loved. I started out in the pantry and worked my way up."
Brown's tenacity revealed itself early on as she moved up the ranks within the company. "I started out knocking on doors to bring in business. Some of those people whose doors I knocked on 20 years ago are still with us today."
Twenty-eight years later, because of her hard work, the Ramada stays extremely busy. In fact, weekends they are booked out further then just about any other property in the area. Brown's expertise keeps them coming back. "One of my biggest strengths is bringing in repeated business, plus we have great food and great service and we're well known for that [as well as] our custom menus. If you just have an inkling of a menu idea, I'll put it together……we're very busy and most of our business is word of mouth."
Brown's efforts have not gone unnoticed. She's been recognized around the city for her work. She's won a distinguished woman award from local assemblyman Nick Parry. She's won an award from the Hispanic Heritage Committee. And she's also won an award from the National Association of Negro Businesses and Professionals Woman's Club for event planning.
Brown has a wealth of advice for people looking to follow in her footsteps: "Go to school, learn your craft" then "start out at a smaller hotel and work your way up. The ones that work their way up are sharper then the ones that only go to school." That way you can find out what you like and stick with it"
Also, once someone has gotten their start, they should "Support events that are given by African-Americans. Become a member of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and attend their gatherings"
So what does the future hold for Brown? "I want to work more with local schools. I love to talk to kids about what I do" And as for her future career wise, she has an idea of one day opening her own business. But then again, even after 28 years at the Ramada, she still loves her job.
Brown gets lots of job offers from competing companies but she doesn't really want to leave. "I really love what I do and I love my Hotel."
That's why she's one of the best in the business.