18 Mar Ben Johanning Promoted to Nashville District Manager

Ben Johanning

Everyone knows Nashville’s Ben Johanning bleeds Towne Park blue more than most. As Account Manager, he has not only successfully taken on our toughest clients head-on, but he also uprooted his family for the good of the company.  Actions like these are why we’re so excited to announce that Ben has been promoted to District Manager in the Music City, sharing oversight of the district with John Utz!

Naming Ben as the newest District Manager in the Midwest was an easy decision for Midwest Vice President of Operations Chris Carsten. “In my first few visits to Nashville, it was apparent Ben had the leadership ability, people skills and business acumen to become an incredible District Manager.  We have 22 clients in the district that was long overdue for a second District Manager, and promoting Ben was a no-brainer.  Both will make a powerful one-two punch in the community!”

Not too long ago, John Utz reflected on Ben’s career and their personal and professional relationship, which I wanted to share:

Ben started working for Towne Park in Orlando as a valet in 2004, prior to a quick transition to supervisor soon thereafter.  I first met him after he was promoted to my Assistant Account Manager at the Loews Portofino Bay.  Throughout our time at the Loews, Ben helped create a winning culture through his dynamic ability to excite and motivate our young leaders! Without Ben, there was no way the Loews placed in the Top 10 of all Metrics Rankings that entire year!

 

In 2006, Ben was tasked with his first Account Manager position, at none other than the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes.  Ben’s performance remained sky high, developing client relations like the Ritz Carlton had never seen!  Ben’s last stop in Orlando was at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, also as Account Manager.  While here, Ben delivered such phenomenal results within his short tenure at the helm that the Hotel Manager at the time still frequently calls and emails Ben due to their strong bond.

 

Ben’s defining moment came in August of 2010, when I was promoted to District Manager in Nashville, TN.  One of my earliest tasks was installing an Account Manager at the Gaylord Opryland for the grand re-opening following the 2010 flood.  Ben saw the job posting and was confident in his abilities to make a difference at a premier account.  After convincing his wife to take a leap of faith to move with two small children and away from their families in Orlando, he landed the Account Manager position at Opryland, at a site with a brand new District Manager, two brand new Assistant Account Managers, four green supervisors and an inexperienced valet team… just in time for A Country Christmas!

 

Since he arrived in Nashville, Ben has cemented his status as a phenomenal client relations guru, while consistently delivering outstanding financial results.  He delivered record revenue numbers in 2011 before breaking his own record in 2012.

 

Under Ben’s tutelage, five Assistant Account Managers have developed into Account Manager over the last year alone – including two who transferred to another market to support our rapid growth just like Ben did in 2010!

 

Ben’s other Accolades include:

• 2011 District MVP   |   2011 Regional MVP   |   2011 Hotel Division MVP   |   2012 Central Region MVP   |   2012 Company MVP, Hotel Division
• 16 development candidates promoted to salaried manager position over his career
• In 2013, Ben set a personal goal to read 30 books over the course of the year in efforts to impact his Core Competencies.  Ben reached this goal on December 28th

Towne Park looks at Ben as a true leader, and he’s been integral in supporting the record growth Nashville will see over the next few years!  Personally, Ben has been truly influential to my career so please join me in congratulating Ben Johanning as he joins the Nashville Leadership Team!