Michelle Shriver knows what it takes to land a job — and keep one. After rising to the position of senior vice president of Ameristar Casinos, she became regional developer at Patrice & Associates Hospitality Recruiting, which works with companies nationwide to find workers in the hospitality industry. She also is a Tropical Smoothie Café franchisee, so the success of her business is tied to her ability to hire employees who are as invested in the restaurant’s success as she is.
How have you seen Las Vegas evolve in your 20 years of management experience?
Whether it’s in the boutique hotels or opulent resorts, the creativity and eclectic food offerings and chefs, or the intense amount of talent in showrooms across the city, we no longer are known for cheap buffets and showgirls, although we still have some of those. People don’t start their careers here to be “discovered” and move on to places such as New York or Los Angeles. Instead, they strive to come here to be among the best in their respective businesses.
You own multiple Tropical Smoothie Cafés in Nevada and Colorado. How do your businesses in the Las Vegas Valley differ from your businesses in Colorado?
Honestly, it’s easier to hire in Las Vegas than in Colorado. We receive far more applications, and since hospitality is such a significant part of the Las Vegas economy, we are more successful in finding terrific talent, whether for Patrice & Associates or Tropical Smoothie Café.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
I wear a lot of hats — CEO, marketer, recruiter, dishwasher — so it’s incredibly important to focus on the tasks that will make the biggest impact in my businesses and to be able to recognize what that is in any given moment. It isn’t always the same. For example, when I’m visiting a café to check in on the business and meet with employees, I’ve been known to jump in and start doing dishes. If I did that all the time, obviously I wouldn’t be focusing on what is most important. But, through showing the employees I am willing to do what they do and helping them out when they really need it, I create more goodwill and loyalty than I can in almost any other way.
What has been the most rewarding part of your job?
With Patrice & Associates, I love that we are helping companies employ talented managers who are a great fit, and we also are providing opportunities for employees to grow their careers with strong, high-performing companies. I employ dozens of people in businesses they can be proud of and help them start their own businesses. There is nothing more rewarding than that.
What are you reading right now?
“Tribal Leadership” by Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright. I’ve read it before, and it’s definitely worth a second read, particularly as I am in growth mode with Patrice & Associates and continuing to build, or help others build, new cafés.
What do you do after work?
What brings me the most joy in life is my family. I am incredibly blessed to be close to my sons, and I also get to spend time with my grandson often.
Blackberry, iPhone or Android?
iPhone, iPad and Mac — I am all-in with Apple. I love the connectivity between the devices, and I was ticked off when one of my sons went with an Android because I can’t iMessage him when I’m on a plane with WiFi.
Describe your management style.
When I was a young manager, I thought I had to have all of the answers, and I was also a perfectionist. While that served me well in growing my career, over time, I learned the value of being collaborative and surrounding myself with people who frankly are smarter than me. I’m much better at delegating now, and I work hard to use an individualized approach to managing people. You have to understand how your employees best receive information and feedback, and provide it in a way that they can and will receive it, believe it and then act on it.
Where do you see yourself and your company in 10 years?
I can see Patrice & Associates growing significantly in the next decade within my territories — Las Vegas, Utah and Colorado. We are working diligently to ensure the franchise opportunity is awarded to motivated, hard-working candidates who want to take control of their own destinies.
As for myself, I thrive on being productive, and I’m achievement-oriented. Even if I’m not actively running a business (or two), I want to be serving on a board and providing value to an organization and to people in general.
What is your dream job, outside of your current field?
I always wanted to be a writer. As a child, I wrote plays and short stories. In fact, I would make my cousins participate in my plays and try to force them to practice for weeks in advance before performing them in front of our families. Maybe that’s what I’ll be doing in 10 years. I can see my cousins running in the opposite direction as we speak!
Whom do you admire and why?
My grandmother was an amazing woman. She was the first female manager of the Scheaffer Pen Company and was a driven but incredibly kind and generous woman. I spent hours with her every week while my parents were in choir practice at church. It truly was one of my favorite times of the week. She would tell me stories about her childhood, she encouraged my writing and my appetite for reading, and we played many a card game around her dining room table. She was the perfect example of a strong, accomplished woman leader with a big heart. I pray that I honor her memory as a woman and a grandma, and that I’ve made her proud.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
I hate to admit I have a number of pet peeves. Just ask my husband. Probably the biggest is when people don’t live up to the commitments they’ve made.
What is something people might not know about you?
I once competed nationally as a gymnast. I also had gymnastic “classes” in my front yard and even created a membership program and newsletter for it. It didn’t last long. I was too demanding of a coach, and the ground was too hard.
Any final thoughts?
I am a big believer that small businesses positively affect owners’ and customers’ lives. We can provide personalized, unique services while fulfilling our own goals in a genuine way. Franchising is a great way to achieve business ownership. For one thing, it means an entire company is behind you and committed to your success. I’ve also found it gives me the opportunity to network and discover alternate strategies for success. Never give up on your dreams; find a way to make them your reality.