Born and raised in Southeast Michigan, Joanie Hales began working in the service industry shortly after graduating high school. She fell in love with restaurants and customer service and was soon attending college for Hospitality Management in Ann Arbor.
It seemed inevitable that she would start working at Zingerman’s Roadhouse while still in college. She was part of the opening crew in 2003 and spent the next two years at the Roadhouse as a server, host and bartender. In 2005 she became the Assistant Restaurant Manager, helping to manage 60+ front of house employees and finding a place for her passion for customer service to truly flourish. Joanie’s service leadership is recognized throughout the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses and in 2007 she was honored with the first annual Zingerman’s Hall of Fame Award for Customer Service.
Still at the Roadhouse in 2010, Joanie took on the role of Catering and Marketing Manager where she remained until she joined ZingTrain in 2016.
All the training she did as a manager at the Roadhouse led Joanie to realize that she had a passion for teaching. In 2008, while still at Zingerman’s Roadhouse, Joanie came on board as an occasional trainer for ZingTrain, focusing on Zingerman’s Customer Service and Leadership practices. Representing Zingerman’s and sharing the company’s philosophies and best practices with clients all over the country remain, to this day, one of the greatest rewards Joanie has ever received.
In September 2016 Joanie took the leap to leave the Roadhouse and join ZingTrain full time as a Trainer. Her 19 years of experience putting Zingerman’s business philosophies into day-to-day practice and her passion for the principles and culture of Zingerman’s shine through in her training.
I have worked for two businesses: the Roadhouse and now ZingTrain as a Trainer. I started at the Roadhouse as part of the opening crew and worked as a server, hostess, bartender, accounting assistant, assistant restaurant manager, catering manager and marketing manager. It is not an actual Zingerman’s business but I was also the Zingerman’s Camp Bacon® Director for four years, which was always a blast to plan and host.
Is it too obvious to say Ari's Being a Better Leader? But it's true, he writes about what we live everyday and it is always motivating and inspiring to read his books.
My husband and our two boys on a lake somewhere. I love hearing the three of them laugh while they play together.
Definitely a visual learner, enjoy reading instructions before being expected to do them. And I am a huge notetaker. I always like to take lots of notes to refer back to.
Hands down the people. My co-workers have become some of my dearest friends and one became my husband!
I like to think fun! I want the training to be informative and engaging, but I really want people to leave having had fun.
I am a pretty darn good Catchphrase player - I welcome anyone to a challenge.
Korean Fried Chicken with Soy Butter Rice at Miss Kim
Mani Osteria - try the pepperoni pizza and arancini!
"Plan the work and work the plan."
Being outside in the fall, lots of chocolate in many forms, and family coming together
Julia Child - her life and history is fascinating and I would love to learn more!
*thumbs up emoji*
"Happy" by Pharrell Williams
mellifluous
Kindergarten Teacher, 'cause that was the only other adult I was around that wasn't my parents!
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