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Home>About Us>Maggie Bayless

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Maggie Bayless

Founder, ZingTrain
Bio

Zingerman’s Delicatessen has become an Ann Arbor institution, and Maggie Bayless has been associated with it since the doors opened in 1982. Back then, as a student in the University of Michigan’s MBA program, she left at 4:00 AM every Saturday to drive to the Detroit suburbs and collect the bread needed to make the Deli’s world-famous sandwiches. According to Maggie, “After a week of dealing with business theory, it was great to get behind the wheel of the bread truck. I’d spend my day loading and unloading bread, selling cheese, and helping make a brand new business successful. I’d collapse into bed on Saturday night – physically exhausted but ready to face school again on Monday morning.”

Maggie moved to Ann Arbor in 1979, after graduating from Oberlin College with a degree in German Literature and spending two years working in a Chicago bank. Her first job in Ann Arbor was as a server in a restaurant, where she met Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw, founders of Zingerman’s. In 1982, she enrolled in the University of Michigan’s MBA program. After graduation, Maggie worked for General Motors before joining American Natural Beverage (maker of Soho Natural Soda), as Midwest Regional Sales Manager. In 1988, she helped Zingerman’s computerize their inventory and product costing systems, while working full-time as project manager and instructional designer for Arbor Systems Group. At Arbor Systems, and later on a freelance basis, Maggie managed the development of training courses for corporate clients that included IBM, NCR, and the Ford Motor Company.

In 1994, Maggie decided to partner up with her old pals from Zingerman’s, and Zingerman’s Training, Inc. (a.k.a. ZingTrain) was born. ZingTrain acts as “keeper of the corporate knowledge” within the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, helping Zingerman’s managers improve their departmental training. In addition, ZingTrain shares Zingerman’s expertise with outside clients through seminars, virtual workshops, on-demand courses, and customized private training. ZingTrain’s clients include specialty food retailers, as well as organizations from many other industries, including banking, real estate, health care, manufacturing, and non-profits. Her “Staff Training” column was a regular feature in Gourmet Retailer magazine.

Maggie leads Zingerman’s staff Train-the-Trainer classes, is a guest star facilitator of ZingTrain seminars, and continues her deep relationships with long-term clients.

Q&A


Best menu item at any of the ZCoB Businesses?

Mac and cheese at Zingerman's Roadhouse


Best (non-Zingerman's) restaurant in Ann Arbor?

Cardamon


Best piece of advice you've ever received?

"Don't act in anger."


If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve …

Sunshine and warm weather


If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be?

Harriet Tubman


My most used emoji is...

I don't use emojis - I use emoticons :-)


The song that always puts me in a good mood is

"The Harder They Come, The Harder they Fall" by Jimmy Cliff


My favorite word in the English language is ...

antidisestablishmentarianism (no idea what it means)


When I was 5, I was pretty sure I'd be a [JOB/PROFESSION] when I grew up

Mom

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Address 3728 Plaza Drive Suite 5, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone (734)930-1919
Email [email protected]

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Address
3728 Plaza Drive Suite 5
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone (734)930-1919
Email [email protected]

Training
In-Person Seminars
Virtual Workshops
For Your Team
Calendar
Keynotes
Books
Free Resources
About Us
Contact Us
Our Clients
Coming to Ann Arbor
Sitemap

Debuting June 24

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Tuesday, June 24 from 1:00-3:30 PM (ET)

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