Introducing M&R’s People & Culture Department
M&R’s Human Resources department has been renamed the People & Culture department as part of the company’s ongoing effort to implement a more friendly and effective approach to recruitment, retention and support of all employees.
Cleo Clarke, whose title has become M&R vice president of people & culture, noted that the department’s repositioning is consistent with a national trend, adding: “Employees today are more likely to be viewed as multifaceted people who have a contribution to make, rather than an abstract resource.”
Mureka Walcott, corporate director of people & culture, said M&R’s objective is to attract and retain top talent, improve job satisfaction, accelerate career development and thereby improve the guest experience. “We believe our employees are our most valuable asset, and their success and advancement are integral to M&R’s success,” she said.
The renewed emphasis on attracting top talent became even more important in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, which saw many qualified workers leave the hospitality industry. Now that the industry is recovering, hotels need to hire the best people at all job levels.
With this in mind, M&R’s People & Culture team has begun participating in career fairs, including one held recently at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island -- one of the country’s leading hospitality schools.
“Fifty-to-60 students stopped by M&R’s booth, attracted by M&R’s position as a management company with a growing portfolio of nationally-known brands,” Cleo said, adding that many students were interested in training opportunities, including internships.
Cleo was accompanied at the career fair by Neil Genel, who recently joined M&R as its first corporate recruiter. M&R is next expected to participate in a career fair at St. John’s University in Queens, New York, in April.
Cleo, Mureka, Neil and their team are working to create an environment where employees feel supported, engaged, and empowered to achieve their full potential. The People & Culture team also includes Roma Owsianowska and Mel Rodriguez, managers, and Calvin McBurrows, payroll manager.
