Breakfast Diva
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 27, 2009
- Messages
- 5,911
- Reaction score
- 29
Jay K. has just given his notice. The PAII board has been removed. No one seems to know the whole story and the board of it's parent company DIA has not released any notice. Here is Jay's letter to the membership this afternoon:
Every year at this time I remember my days in high school, in Latin class specifically, when I learned about the Roman god, Janus. Janus was a deity with two faces and represented new beginnings, as well as passages, doors, transitions, etc. One bearded face is looking to the past, while the other looks to the future. The Romans named the month of January in honor of this god. It seems both coincidental and appropriate that as January begins, I share with the association and industry that I recently tendered my resignation to the PAII board of directors. In my farewell column, I will look both at the past and to the future.
Believe it or not, my first-ever interaction with PAII was around 2002, well before I was hired. When PAII was still in Santa Barbara, California, and they were looking for a new CEO at that time, this young buck (I was 28 at the time) sent my resume to some lady named Jo Ann Bell. I didn't even get a phone interview.
Fast forward to the spring of 2007, and the job opening showed up on my radar screen once again. This time, I think the decision-makers at PAII saw something in this 33 year old kid.
The PAII conference was in Myrtle Beach that same month, just 90 miles up the road from Charleston. I had cleared a fantastic and fun phone interview with board member, AnneMarie DeFreest, and asked if I could get a badge and come to the show "incognito." I wanted to check things out, and what a great opportunity at which to get a feel for the culture of PAII - their annual conference. I walked into the convention center, got my badge from a curious and whispering PAII staff, and ventured into the men's restroom. Upon entry into the restroom, I was greeted by some incredibly friendly innkeepers, asking who I was, where was I from, what inn did I have, etc. I thought to myself, "Well, isn't THIS a friendly group of people." I sat in the audience of a few classes and the "State of the Industry" panel discussion, which included as I recall Eric Goldreyer, Phyllis Murray, Deb Mosimann and a few others. I started thinking, "OK...these people know what they're talking about. They have some visible passion." I was beginning to really like this group.
Then I had my two formal interviews with the full board at both the Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast and the Haddonfield Inn. This is when I fell in love with PAII. The passion, enthusiasm and dedication of this group of volunteers - and simply their fantastic personalities - sealed the deal for me. So much so that I dragged my Southern-bred wife and 18-month old daughter out of Charleston, South Carolina, to South Jersey. The board-CEO relationship is critical to the success of an organization, and I knew that we would strike the right balance and work together incredibly well.
There is no question that PAII was facing many challenges at that time. Despite the work of some very good people I admire, the trajectory had been moving downward for several years. I was honestly relishing the opportunity to reverse the trends, repair relationships and elevate the association and the industry's standing in multiple ways. When I was a kid, I took a personality test that said my personality type was a "gardener," and I couldn't wait to start tilling the soil and planting some seeds at PAII.
Here is a little list of the highlights:
Reversed the shrinking membership and brought new innkeepers into PAII, as well as brought back scores of long-gone members
Launched and maintained a well-loved magazine, Innkeeping Now (keeping print alive isn't easy in this day and age!)
Hosted and improved our industry's best conferences, including the Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show, as well as regional conferences
Launched the industry's first-ever, grassroots campaign to kill stereotypes and convince travelers to give B&Bs a shot - the Better Way to Stay campaign
Improved the portfolio of member programs and services, including quadrupling the volume of educational offerings to innkeepers
Rebuilt and built positive relationships with all of the allied associations in our industry, including the scores of provincial, state and local B&B associations and Select Registry
Served and elevated the B&B industry in leadership capacities at the US Travel Association, Advocates for Independent Business and other impactful organizations
Successfully represented the B&B industry's interests with some big-hitters like TripAdvisor, Yelp and various legislative and public policy officials
Cultivated positive press for our industry in publications like the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and dozens of other trade and mainstream news outlets
Engaged sponsors and vendors in new ways that made them truly a part of the PAII family, including the launch of the Key Supporter recognition program
Overall, strengthened the financial positioning of PAII by improving the top and bottom lines and diversifying our revenue streams
Over the past six and a half years, and during one of the most difficult economic times we have seen in our lifetime, we were able to accomplish some wonderful things. And when I say "we," I truly mean that running PAII is a team endeavor. We've had dozens and dozens of dedicated volunteers help in so many ways - from introducing speakers at conference...to teaching their peers at the same events...and giving feedback and input on our Advisory Council and Committee of 100...to dedicating hundreds and hundreds of hours of service in critical leadership posts on our board of directors. And the PAII staff ALWAYS gave more than we paid for. Their commitment and desire to serve our members and industry always humbled me.
I want you all to know that my resignation comes not as a result of some seven-year-itch or desire to go on to bigger and better things. I love this industry. Love the people. But there have been changes in circles higher than my seat, and I had a vision for PAII that wasn't necessarily congruent with their vision. We have agreed to disagree about many decisions made here at PAII, and I tendered my resignation on December 30th, giving a required three months of notice with my final day of employment to be March 30, 2014 with the offer to continue my hard work as President and CEO until that time.
I wish my exit was under different circumstances, but I offer nothing but my sincerest best wishes to all the members of PAII - the aspiring innkeepers, vendors, interim innkeepers and innkeepers - and all other good people within the B&B industry. I'll close by sharing a fortune I received recently in one of those classic Chinese cookies: "We can't control the wind, but we can always adjust the sails." If you wish to reach me, feel free to email me at [email protected].
Warmest regards,
Jay
Every year at this time I remember my days in high school, in Latin class specifically, when I learned about the Roman god, Janus. Janus was a deity with two faces and represented new beginnings, as well as passages, doors, transitions, etc. One bearded face is looking to the past, while the other looks to the future. The Romans named the month of January in honor of this god. It seems both coincidental and appropriate that as January begins, I share with the association and industry that I recently tendered my resignation to the PAII board of directors. In my farewell column, I will look both at the past and to the future.
Believe it or not, my first-ever interaction with PAII was around 2002, well before I was hired. When PAII was still in Santa Barbara, California, and they were looking for a new CEO at that time, this young buck (I was 28 at the time) sent my resume to some lady named Jo Ann Bell. I didn't even get a phone interview.
Fast forward to the spring of 2007, and the job opening showed up on my radar screen once again. This time, I think the decision-makers at PAII saw something in this 33 year old kid.The PAII conference was in Myrtle Beach that same month, just 90 miles up the road from Charleston. I had cleared a fantastic and fun phone interview with board member, AnneMarie DeFreest, and asked if I could get a badge and come to the show "incognito." I wanted to check things out, and what a great opportunity at which to get a feel for the culture of PAII - their annual conference. I walked into the convention center, got my badge from a curious and whispering PAII staff, and ventured into the men's restroom. Upon entry into the restroom, I was greeted by some incredibly friendly innkeepers, asking who I was, where was I from, what inn did I have, etc. I thought to myself, "Well, isn't THIS a friendly group of people." I sat in the audience of a few classes and the "State of the Industry" panel discussion, which included as I recall Eric Goldreyer, Phyllis Murray, Deb Mosimann and a few others. I started thinking, "OK...these people know what they're talking about. They have some visible passion." I was beginning to really like this group.
Then I had my two formal interviews with the full board at both the Hamanassett Bed and Breakfast and the Haddonfield Inn. This is when I fell in love with PAII. The passion, enthusiasm and dedication of this group of volunteers - and simply their fantastic personalities - sealed the deal for me. So much so that I dragged my Southern-bred wife and 18-month old daughter out of Charleston, South Carolina, to South Jersey. The board-CEO relationship is critical to the success of an organization, and I knew that we would strike the right balance and work together incredibly well.
There is no question that PAII was facing many challenges at that time. Despite the work of some very good people I admire, the trajectory had been moving downward for several years. I was honestly relishing the opportunity to reverse the trends, repair relationships and elevate the association and the industry's standing in multiple ways. When I was a kid, I took a personality test that said my personality type was a "gardener," and I couldn't wait to start tilling the soil and planting some seeds at PAII.
Here is a little list of the highlights:
Reversed the shrinking membership and brought new innkeepers into PAII, as well as brought back scores of long-gone members
Launched and maintained a well-loved magazine, Innkeeping Now (keeping print alive isn't easy in this day and age!)
Hosted and improved our industry's best conferences, including the Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show, as well as regional conferences
Launched the industry's first-ever, grassroots campaign to kill stereotypes and convince travelers to give B&Bs a shot - the Better Way to Stay campaign
Improved the portfolio of member programs and services, including quadrupling the volume of educational offerings to innkeepers
Rebuilt and built positive relationships with all of the allied associations in our industry, including the scores of provincial, state and local B&B associations and Select Registry
Served and elevated the B&B industry in leadership capacities at the US Travel Association, Advocates for Independent Business and other impactful organizations
Successfully represented the B&B industry's interests with some big-hitters like TripAdvisor, Yelp and various legislative and public policy officials
Cultivated positive press for our industry in publications like the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and dozens of other trade and mainstream news outlets
Engaged sponsors and vendors in new ways that made them truly a part of the PAII family, including the launch of the Key Supporter recognition program
Overall, strengthened the financial positioning of PAII by improving the top and bottom lines and diversifying our revenue streams
Over the past six and a half years, and during one of the most difficult economic times we have seen in our lifetime, we were able to accomplish some wonderful things. And when I say "we," I truly mean that running PAII is a team endeavor. We've had dozens and dozens of dedicated volunteers help in so many ways - from introducing speakers at conference...to teaching their peers at the same events...and giving feedback and input on our Advisory Council and Committee of 100...to dedicating hundreds and hundreds of hours of service in critical leadership posts on our board of directors. And the PAII staff ALWAYS gave more than we paid for. Their commitment and desire to serve our members and industry always humbled me.
I want you all to know that my resignation comes not as a result of some seven-year-itch or desire to go on to bigger and better things. I love this industry. Love the people. But there have been changes in circles higher than my seat, and I had a vision for PAII that wasn't necessarily congruent with their vision. We have agreed to disagree about many decisions made here at PAII, and I tendered my resignation on December 30th, giving a required three months of notice with my final day of employment to be March 30, 2014 with the offer to continue my hard work as President and CEO until that time.
I wish my exit was under different circumstances, but I offer nothing but my sincerest best wishes to all the members of PAII - the aspiring innkeepers, vendors, interim innkeepers and innkeepers - and all other good people within the B&B industry. I'll close by sharing a fortune I received recently in one of those classic Chinese cookies: "We can't control the wind, but we can always adjust the sails." If you wish to reach me, feel free to email me at [email protected].
Warmest regards,
Jay
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