Michigan Works! Tips Off Employer About Missing TIPS
While helping the Ramada Inn of Grayling with a job posting, Michigan Works! Business Services Professional, Julie Creps, learned that to protect the company from liability and prevent customer intoxication, Ramada servers needed to be TIPS or TAMS certified. Finding Ramada lacking the needed TIPS training, Julie contacted TIPS trainer, Scott Forbes, and Catholic Human Services representative, Sheryl Hubbord, to look into providing the Ramada Inn an avenue for reduced costs for the training. TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) is a skills-based, 100% online responsible alcohol training and certification program that is designed to prevent intoxication, underage drinking, and drunk driving by enhancing the fundamental “people skills” of servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol.
One challenge was to get the TIPs training at a location close enough that Ramada could release a number of staff without negatively affecting daily business. Michigan Works! offered their office space and computers and the training was held for seven Ramada employees on 11/22/14.
At this same time, Ramada sought to open their restaurant full-time, but found themselves in need of a qualified maintenance person. They were concerned they’d have a challenge finding reliable, qualified talent. They came to Julie for assistance with posting the position and finding help in finding suitable applicants. At that same time, US Navy Veteran Ray Hendrickson was working with Veterans’ Employment Specialist, Doug Robinson, to find employment. Finding he met the proper qualifications, Julie worked with Doug and advocated for Ray as a qualified candidate. Ramada agreed and Ray was hired into the building maintenance position.
“Grayling Ramada Inn and Conference Center has benefited from the services that Michigan Works has provided to us. We have received several applications and resumes which has allowed us to employ job seekers. Also they have provided us with the opportunity to send employees for a TIPS Training class. This class was instrumental in providing the training our staff needed for alcohol sales and all that it entails. We appreciated everything that the Grayling Michigan works has done for our establishment and its employee’s. Our Michigan Works! representative Julie is always quick to respond to any of our needs or concerns, which we really appreciate. Thanks to Michigan Works! services, we were able to train 7 individuals and fill one position!” said Ramada Inn’s Don Ritter.
The full service Ramada Inn and conference Center is located just off Interstate 75 next to Grayling Golf Club at the western edge of Huron National Forest and offers 151 rooms. They offer an on-site restaurant, AuSable Grill and Bar, and an indoor recreation area with pools and a hot tub. They offer armed services discounts to servicemen and women, and several tour packages are available.