Amazed that the hand drier in the men's room on the lower floor in the North Lodge is STILL not working properly (no heat, just air). It's been this way for the last two seasons and heading into 3rd. I've noted this a number of times over the last couple years - it's a bit petty, but surprising it still has not been repaired. Someone should be evaluating these types of things on some regular basis...once a season, twice?? Also clocks at the top and bottom of each lift...facing outward for staff and our guests. Everyone has phones with the time on them, but pulling them out all the time is a pain in the you know what. Again, simple stuff, but super helpful!! Thanks. 😁
That dryer located at the basement level of the North Lodge is the most used dryer of the 4 in the men's room. Many guest put their gloves over the heat / air / exhaust port to dry them out. This often times burns out the heating element. If you try the other dryers they all work. It's interesting how that dryer is the most popular - probably due to its location. Kent Fellows has shared this with me before as I too had noted this dryer had no heat. Possibly switching to the other style (Dyson hand dryers) might provide more consistent heat and hand drying. Agree that having clocks functioning, accurate and facing out are helpful at the lifts. Each gate also has a time on it - so right before you enter the gate, check the time on the left side near the green/red light. Then you don't have to grab your phone or look at your wrist watch. - Tyler Barnes, MLC Ops & Training Manager
Good so far... 🙂
Ski schoolers are rude and uncooperative when I try to educate them on why thier student needs a functioning pass. A huge majority of these people have no idea what is protocol. I am really disappointed that they are rewarded for putting in such little effort and time. Lifties are the #1 group of people who make or break guest experiences. You should spend more time incentivising and rewarding them than people who work 18 shifts a year. We are being neglected. Every single guest on the hill interacts with lifties at every lift. Most guests never even talk to ski school. Get priorities straight. We work hard, shovel snow, deal with guest issues and oh yeah, Make sure people don't die.
I would like to take a moment to address the concerns brought up here. Saying that “ski schoolers are rude and uncooperative” is not helpful and not what we consider constructive feedback. When placed in these situations, it is a great opportunity for you to politely educate them on the process. If they do behave rudely then get their name and a manager can follow up with the MLC leadership team. We have a very good relationship with the MLC and they always take the time to listen to how we can make things better. As far as protocol, if they are unaware of the proper procedure, it is OUR job to teach them so that they know what to do in the future.
At MHM we are ONE team, there is no ‘#1 group”. None of us can operate without the others and we need to remember that. As far as “incentivizing and rewarding” our staff more, I would like to remind you that we are starting the Employee of the Week program on the 1st as well as the Safety winner of the Week. We will also be starting our monthly employee BBQs next month. We usually have these catered from Apple Valley and I don’t know of any other departments that do this.
To address the comment about us being neglected, I would have to disagree. When MHM planned the uniform replacement capital investment project, LOPS was the first department to benefit from it. Each uniform was four hundred and eighty dollars each and the jackets and mid-layers alone cost seventy six thousand dollars. MHM also just invested twenty two thousand dollars into new tablets for our department so that we had the tools we need to do our job effectively. We have also gotten new drills, bits, tools, speakers, etc. Every department has a budget that they operate off and each department operates differently.
The MLC is also the FIRST department to help us out when we need it. There were several days last season when we would have not been able to operate without their help and we shouldn’t forget that. It all comes down to us being one team and remembering that everyone shovels.
Our management team is committed to building strong relationships not only with the MLC but with every department at MHM. When we have concerns or questions we should address these is a professional, constructive way. Drama and misinformation can be very damaging and in those moments of frustration I would ask you to hold a mirror up and ask yourself if what you are doing is helping. If you would like to follow up with me further, feel free to reach out.
- Cody Howe
Schedule integrity. Getting called off 12 hours before my shift caused a lot of hardship. Being scheduled to do banquets was another surprise and hardship as I didn't realize that was part of my job. This is a significant part loss I didn't count on.
I am sorry for the scheduling issues. This time of year is tough on everyone as we try to get the operation fully up and running, and the weather causes expected business to vary a lot. We try to be very proactive with how we do last minute changes because it is not our desire to wait until the last minute to send folks home after they made the effort to get up here…so I am happy you were told the day prior. Unfortunately our business is driven by weather…especially as we start up operations and are not fully open. It is not the norm to have the schedule change, but it does happen. I think you will see much more consistency moving forward and we do appreciate your flexibility. Banquets are a part of our operation…and many in the department work them when they occur. If you would prefer to not work them, please advise your manager of that, but again, it is part of the business. Please feel free to reach out to me personally if you would like to chat more.
- Mark Fellows, Director of Culinary Services.
Had a great time at re-hire training! It was a good refresher and a good way to connect with other instructors. I'm really looking forward to another season at Meadows!
Great to hear! - Tyler Barnes, MLC Ops & Training Manager
I'm hearing wonderful things about our mountain team from the people of Hood River.
Thank you.
That’s due to you, too! Thanks for working on behalf of our most vulnerable guests and representing us well. That reputation doesn’t come easy. - John Bain
Thanks for passing on that feedback - it comes from everyone putting forth such great effort in these early days. It is a boost to be able to read about what is going well! - Matt Troskey
Access control and lift operations needs to get some cross training and better communication quickly before the holiday starts.
I know these teams have been meeting together weekly to continue to improve the working relationship. I have noticed a big improvement in access at the lifts this season and I'm sure it will continue to get better.
-Jeremy Riss
Maybe making some vendor and pro forms available to access or knowledge of where that info may lie?
Great suggestion - and we are working on it. With our new Team software (Dayforce) we lost the Team & Talent Center that held the items you mentioned, plus the bus schedule, wellness calendar and T4T list. We are still discovering what Dayforce can do and broadcast/messaging has been a way to send you the team newsletter and other messages - you can access these via your email and the Dayforce message center. We are aiming to build out this team site for now so you don't have to scroll through old blogs/newsletters. - Matt Troskey
Thank you for all of the support the last few weeks.
Snow!!! Lots of snow! 😊