To understand what makes Cathi Lackney tick at work - - just look at a spotlessly clean and immaculate guest room at the Courtyard. To understand what makes her tick outside of work - - hand her a couple of slot machine tokens, the keys to a Harley Davidson, a kiss from her husband of 28 years and a cold Coors Lite. She is as down-to-earth and real and committed to professional excellence as they come.
It would be hard to accept that a person who joined a hotel at the age of sixteen and is still at that hotel thirty years later truly believed in The Journey principle, Change is Good. But Cathi Lackney has been successful at the Courtyard by Marriott because she has been willing to consistently and affectively change with the guests, owners, brands and associates that have moved in and out of this Canton, Ohio icon.
She was born in Canton, Ohio and one week after her sixteenth birthday she met Mike Lackney. He was her first true love and she knew they would spend the rest of their lives together. That same year, 1978, she found herself in the hospitality industry as a room attendant and she joined the Sheraton in Canton. Little did she know she would stay there for the long haul as well.
Her skills developed and in 1989 she became the Executive Housekeeper. She has held that position ever since. Change has entered in and walked out of that hotel since Cathi joined. Meyer Jabara bought the Sheraton in 1995. Today Cathi embraces the opportunity to deliver exceptional service to the guests of her “home away from home” as they enter the new Courtyard by Marriott.
The Journey culture has allowed Cathi to continue to learn and grow while never leaving home. “The Journey is simply how we do business. The transparent organization and sharing of important information was something we were never allowed to do in our previous environment. Today it is how we run our department. Everyone knows what they must do to create success.”
She is confident and proud as she speaks. “The tools available for personal growth have been my source for nurturing many of my associates.” To listen to Cathi is to listen to a person who speaks passionately about her “family” at the Courtyard by Marriott. |
