Title: General Manager

Company: Epoch Restaurant Group

Location: Linden, Mich.

Garnering 29 years in the food management and services industry, Collene Eller continues in her 12^th year at the restaurant chain, Epoch Restaurant Group. As general manager, she provides a wealth of expertise in problem solving, event planning operations, and employee relations to keep the Epoch Restaurant Group a world class cuisine provider for events, corporate functions, weddings, religious celebrations, private parties, and even backyard barbeque. In five years, Ms. Eller hopes to be a state manager or a manager for a restaurant group.

Ms. Eller is the director of operations of two locations, managing a staff of 80 employees between both locations. There, she oversees the daily operations and sales departments, manages the banquet planning, approving all orders, scheduling, and accounting. She also works with different vendors, marketing and promoting individual places, planning and formatting minutes, and most importantly: handling the customer services. Ms. Eller also advertises on television, through the radio and with press releases.

In 1992, Ms. Eller received an Associate of Business Management from Mott Community College. She is also ServeSafe Certified and maintains her Event Planning and Management Certification. She attributes her success to her staff members, and initially became involved in her profession while in high school; she started at a restaurant. During her free-time, Ms. Eller volunteers with the local hospice and youth groups.