- I speak Spanish in at a conversational Level.
Kerry Gunther
Cody,WY
Summary
Hotel/Resort General Manager: 15+ years managing branded & independent hotels, glamping resorts and ranch resorts. Hospitality Human Resources Director: Managed all HR functions for 5 hotels and corporate offices. Opened a Luxury Property as GM: Reported a profit by year three of operations.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Human Resources Director
Blair Hotels
Cody, WY
08.2019 - Current
- Solely responsible for managing all human resources functions for 5 hotels and corporate offices in Wyoming, accountable for 350-400 employees.
- Recruit for all positions within the company-local workers, Workampers and foreign visa workers. Maintain and track all applicants. Ensure all new hires are onboarded properly and eligible to work in the US using E-Verify.
- Facilitate employee terminations, disciplinary actions and performance evaluations.
- Manage all Worker’s Compensation claims, Unemployment claims & hearings, FMLA requests and approvals and minor worker compliance. Represent company at hearings.
- Handle all employee complaints, sexual harassment claims and incidents at all properties. Implement all investigations. Coach employees and management through these processes.
- Develop and implement new company policies and SOPs. Maintain the Employee Handbook. Ensure all policies are compliant with local, state and federal laws.
- Manage six H2b visa petitions and extensions for April to October with an average of 60 foreign workers each season from up to 3 different countries. Facilitate travel all travel in and out of country. Manage all compliance of the program. Manage all visa worker housing.
- Generate all Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly reporting to local and government agencies (Semi-Monthly/Quarterly Labor Reports, BLS, OSHA-300, EEOC-1).
- Assist payroll department with employee timekeeping, wage evaluations, and benefits management using Kronos, PrimePay and Paycom.
General Manager
Under Canvas-Zion
Virgin, UT
08.2018 - 05.2019
- Managed all aspects a new luxury glamping resort with 66 tents and a full-service restaurant with a liquor license on 100 acres adjacent to Zion National Park. The camp is completely off grid running on Solar Power and utilizing a Reverse Osmosis system and well for water. Camp opened August 2017. Recorded a profit by year end of 2018.
- Directed all operations of the front desk, guest services, maintenance, F&B in a challenging outdoor desert environment.
- Prepared and executed an operating budget of $4.1 million. The camp had never had an operating budget until my leadership. Oversee capital projects and expenditures.
- Hired and managed a team of 48 across guest services, F&B and operations departments, developing structure, implementing processes, integrating systems, and coaching to improve performance. Implemented all HR functions. Managed employee housing and housing issues.
- Ensured compliance with SOP’s, policies, procedures, service standards, local, state and federal laws.
- Managed on-going profitability of the camp, ensuring revenue and guest satisfaction targets were met and exceeded.
General Manager
Big Bear Frontier
Big Bear Lake, CA
09.2017 - 08.2018
- Managed a resort property with 31 individual cabins and 26 motel units in a ski and lake resort community.
- Drove all marketing, forecasting, revenue management, customer service and service recovery.
- Ensured full compliance of operating controls, SOP’s, policies, procedures and service standards set forth by a management company and ownership.
- Generated, oversaw and executed the operating budget. Generated end of month reporting for human resources, financials, KPI reports, occupancy reports and a narrative for ownership.
- Hired and managed a domestic and foreign team of 22 across guest services and operations. Implemented all HR functions.
General Manager
Best Western Alpenglo
Winter Park, CO
09.2016 - 09.2017
- Managed a branded 58-room hotel providing an exceptional guest experience in a ski resort community while maintaining the status of #1 on TripAdvisor for Winter Park hotels.
- Ensured profitability of the hotel, ensuring revenue and guest satisfaction targets were met and exceeded.
- Increased revenue in the first quarter of 2017 by $75,500 with a higher ADR and increase in rooms sold.
- Coordinated all functions in the hotel providing hands on leadership stepping into all departments as needed.
- Managed the operating budget, payroll and accounting functions.
- Managed all human resources functions from talent acquisition, onboarding, payroll, offboarding, employee engagement and discipline.
- Collaborated with the regional revenue manager to set revenue goals and pricing.
- Implemented Best Western standards throughout all departments.
Assistant General Manager
Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center
Cody, WY
02.2016 - 09.2016
- Managed guest experiences and service recovery for a 186-unit full- service hotel and convention center. Manager on duty in the absence of the General Manager every evening.
- Collaborated with the GM in directing and overseeing all operational activities and departments in the hotel to maximize revenue and to deliver a positive experience and provide exceptional customer service for guests.
- Ensured the hotel’s performance met or exceeded brand standards as well as company standards in all areas such as owner's scorecard, guest scores, etc. Hotel consistently ranks in the top 10 of North American Holiday Inns.
- Coordinated with all managers across the hotel with immediate needs including stepping into roles within various departments.
- Served as the IHG Brand Loyalty Champion to ensure guest loyalty was being recognized and encouraged throughout the property.
General Manager
7D Ranch
Cody, WY
12.2005 - 04.2010
- Managed and marketed a full-service historic guest ranch in a remote wilderness area adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. Increased employee retention to 75% within two years.
- Managed all operations of the office including marketing, account payables/ receivables, bank records, created budgets, oversee cash flow, payroll and personnel management.
- Hired, trained and managed a team of 18-20 seasonal staff. Maintained a 75% employee retention year over year.
- Managed all human resources functions from talent acquisition, onboarding, offboarding, employee engagement and discipline.
- Coordinated with the Board of Directors to establish short term and long-range planning.
- Implemented all SOP’s and guest programming for the ranch.
- Generated all F&B functions including menu development, purchasing and staffing.
- Coordinated with Forest Service agents, Wyoming Game & Fish agents, US Fish & Wildlife agents regarding grazing leases, range management, grizzly and wolf conflicts.
General Manager
Smith Fork Ranch
Crawford, CO
02.2002 - 11.2005
- Hired at the start-up of a rebranded to a luxury, full-service guest ranch. Managed all departments of the property. Solely responsible for marketing. Reached financial viability by year 3 of operations. Awarded the Andrew Harper Hideout of the Year in 2005.
- Implemented the overall set up and SOP’s of the office and guest programming, including account payables/ receivables, bank records, budgets and cash flow, fine dining food and beverage management, payroll and personnel management.
- Drove all marketing functions and campaigns. Coordinated with Abercrombie and Kent and Off The Beaten Path to create marketing campaigns.
- Managed all aspects of human resources including hiring/termination, training, setting policy, and preparing work schedules. Recruited staff through a variety of means, including college recruiting fairs.
- Created customer service guidelines and training specific to serving high profile clients.
- Managed the big game hunting program in the fall. Trained new guides on how to be a guide through guiding me on hunts.
- Secured and planned weddings, corporate retreats and special events. All events were with high profile clientele.
General Manager
Whistling Acres Ranch
Paonia, CO
11.1999 - 02.2002
- Managed all operations for a year-round guest ranch and cattle operation. In addition to regular guests, the ranch was part of a corporate incentive program for employees at two companies in Denver, Colorado.
- Implemented all functions of guest and employee operations within a lodge/cabin setting.
- Managed the office operations including marketing, accounts payables/receivables, payroll, personnel management. Generated SOP’s and guest activity programs.
- Managed all human resources functions from talent acquisition, payroll, onboarding, offboarding, employee engagement and discipline.
- Implemented the food service program within strict budgetary guidelines. Served as relief cook in the summer and main cook in the winter months.
- Managed all aspects of a 150 cow/calf cattle program. Worked with cattle brokers to sell calves each fall.
- Managed the big game hunting program from fully guided hunts to drop camps. Worked with other outfitters to provide access for mountain lion hunts.
- Coordinated with state and local government agencies with Forest Service permits. Collaborated with Arch Coal on 3000 acres of leased property to ensure compliance.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Mesa State College
Grand Junction, Colorado05.1995
Child Development Major – Transferred
California State University
FullertonSkills
- Human Resources Experience
- Compliance
- Performance Management
- Employee Relations
- Talent Acquisition
- HR Management
- Onboarding Management
- HRIS
- Hotel General Manager
- F&B Manager
- H2b Visa Expert
- Policy/SOP Development
- Benefits Management
- Communication Skills
- Employee Retention
- Employment Law
Certification
- Best Western General Manager Certified
- Member of SHRM (Society of Human Resources Managers)
- ServSafe Certified
Languages
Timeline
Human Resources Director
Blair Hotels
08.2019 - Current
General Manager
Under Canvas-Zion
08.2018 - 05.2019
General Manager
Big Bear Frontier
09.2017 - 08.2018
General Manager
Best Western Alpenglo
09.2016 - 09.2017
Assistant General Manager
Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center
02.2016 - 09.2016
General Manager
7D Ranch
12.2005 - 04.2010
General Manager
Smith Fork Ranch
02.2002 - 11.2005
General Manager
Whistling Acres Ranch
11.1999 - 02.2002
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Mesa State College
Child Development Major – Transferred
California State University
COMMUNITY
Dude Ranchers’ Association Educational Trust Board Member – 2009 – 2010, Provisions of Grace Food Bank Assistant Director/Volunteer - 2012 – 2013, Yellowstone Quake NA3HL Junior Hockey Team Secretary and Billet Coordinator – 2015 – 2016