Strike up the brand

WHILE ELLEN KOEPPEN and Alex Zabel have switched roles, Green Lake Real Estate’s commitment to customer service will be unwavering, new owner Koeppen insists.  Ian Stepleton photo

GL Real Estate’s new owner pledges continued marketing leadership

by Ian Stepleton
ians@riponprinters.com

Some businesses change hands with pomp and circumstance.

Customers of Green Lake Real Estate may have hardly noticed the difference.

Little has changed at the company, located at 610 South St. in Green Lake, since Ellen Koeppen took over from owner Alex Zabel March 1.

And that’s intentional.

Koeppen, who worked for Zabel for the past three years, wants to run with the strong brand Zabel created — and possibly grow it as the market allows.

“I was not even thinking about owning a real estate company, but through the conversation [with Alex], I said, ‘Why not?’” she said. “I’m excited about the challenge and being the owner of Green Lake Real Estate … I’m looking to build the team over the next two years, or however the market will sustain it.”

“[The ownership switch] couldn’t go any smoother,” Zabel added.

He proposed the sale to Koeppen because of a desire to shift his attention more squarely on another venture of his.

“My plate was pretty full. I own ZA Commercial Real Estate and I owned Green Lake Real Estate,” he said. “ZA Commercial has been doing so well I couldn’t do both justice, so I talked to Ellen, and it worked out for both of us.”

As was the case under Zabel’s ownership, Green Lake Real Estate’s hallmark is its strong marketing approach.

“When we started out, eight, nine years ago, the market was very strong, and we went out to create a solid brand at the time and I think we accomplished that,” Zabel said. “[Green Lake Real Estate] does marketing better than anybody.”

How does Green Lake Real Estate do a better job of selling homes than competitors? By getting homes in front of more eyes, they explained.

“[The business] belongs to three multiple listing services (MLS) so that we can really reach out to the fringes of this market. We say it a lot: we don’t care how we sell your house, and being in these MLS’s is a big part of that,” he said of belonging to services in Madison and the Fox Cities, in addition to the Green Lake/Ripon MLS. “[Green Lake Real Estate] spend a lot of time on our websites, and we have a very strong website. That’s the future of marketing [real estate].”

It’s a focus Koeppen will retain under her ownership.

“I really want to focus on the internet presence, since that is where our buyers are finding us,” she said, noting she’ll utilize “memberships through some different entities on the web. Those memberships offer additional exposure for our sellers.”

It’s a tried-and-true plan for Green Lake Real Estate.

“We are getting a lot of our buyers from out of our area, and they have done a lot of research on the internet, so when they contact us they already have a pretty good idea of what they want,” Koeppen said. “So the website is really important.”

Those buyers don’t necessarily fall into any single niche, either.

Green Lake Real Estate is willing to help home buyers and sellers at all points on the home-sales spectrum.

“[Green Lake Real Estate is] more of a generalist —we’ll work with just about anybody, take on just about any challenge,” Zabel said. “We get the local folks who are just starting out, wanting to get their first home, which is entirely different than someone who wants to come up and get a second house on the lake or a getaway. It requires quite a bit of expertise.”
It also requires someone who is capable of listening to clients and hearing what they want as well.

Koeppen, a former executive director of the Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, explained this is an area in which she’s always excelled.

“Even though I’ve only been in real estate for three years, my background of 15-plus years has been in customer service, customer relationships … so I bring years of successful customer management,” she said. “Communication is the biggest thing — letting people know what’s going on.”

She later added, “The real estate transaction is a big deal and can be scary if you don’t have good communication. We are here to guide clients through the process so they know what to expect along the way.”

Zabel agreed this is a strength for the company’s new owner.

“I  am very confident in Ellen’s experience at the chamber,” he said. “It’s been a great asset. The way she handles people and challenging situations is really her strength. The glass is always half full with her. She’s not afraid to get out there, and chase down [solutions to problems].”

“Real estate is a process, and you really work very closely with people,” Koeppen said. “It can be a scary process, because getting into a real estate transaction is a big deal. It’s real neat at a transaction when they are either buying their first home or buying their dream home on the lake, and also the sellers, handing over the keys to a new owner who will enjoy that home.

“You work so closely with the people, and then at the closing you see the different emotions. It’s a neat thing to be a part of.”

With some hard work and maybe a little luck, she hopes she can help even more of those customers enjoy that experience.

She aims to add to the business, but acknowledges that “The market will determine the growth.”

For now, she’s happy to be owning her own business in the area, after years elsewhere.

“I grew up in a small Wisconsin town,” she said. “My career took me to Arkansas, six years in Chicago, Milwaukee and then to Green Lake. I’m enjoying being part of a Wisconsin small town with so much to offer.”

She later added, “I’m very excited, because I want to stay in the Green Lake area. I’ve been here for 10 years, so it’s very exciting to have ownership in something right here in Green Lake that I can grown and own and sink my teeth into.”

Green Lake Real Estate serves Green Lake, Waushara, Marquette and Fond du Lac counties.
For more information about Green Lake Real Estate, call 294-3004 or visit it online at http://www.greenlakerealestate.com.

Highway is like a long-lost friend

HIGHWAY 23 TRAFFIC resumes earlier this month between Green Lake and Ripon. The stretch was closed since April 21. Through-traffic still needs to maneuver around the city of Green Lake, however, since the Puchyan River bridge remains closed until late November.    Aaron Becker photo

by Aaron Becker

First thing on a recent Monday morning, I happily took our new highway for a test drive.

That stretch had been closed since Monday, April 21. Exactly 20 weeks prior.

A third of the year, 140 days, 12 million seconds …

Not that anyone was counting, of course.

Before making a ceremonial trip to Green Lake, I parked at Alibi’s restaurant in Ripon and watched as westward drivers first noticed the wide-open black carpet before them. They were like whitetail deer approaching a hunter’s bait pile — curious and hopeful, but wondering if it’s a dirty trick.

Can I … Can I actually DRIVE on this?

Then …

Wow … This is awesome!

VROOOOM!

Crews had initially planned a “soft opening” of sorts later in the day Monday, but they instead dropped the gates at 6 a.m. for the morning commute.

Not everyone got the memo right off the bat, but word spread quickly.

We posted the news on the Commonwealth website and Facebook page, and soon there were 90-plus “likes” and lots of happy comments.

‰ Ya Hoo!!! Skippy Hooray!

‰ [I] had to drive it just to say I did it.

‰ I know a bunch of people who are very excited about this news!!!

And a mighty cheer went up from residents of Spaulding Hill and McConnell roads, which were used by everyone but three people to avoid the detour.

So when the highway opened, I took some photos on the edge of Ripon, then eagerly jumped back in the car and drove to Green Lake, like I had just waited in line for a roller coaster.

With the morning sun behind me and a freshly minted road ahead, the driving surface was crisp and clean. The vibrant paint had barely dried. The grass along the fringes seemed greener, the sky clearer than normal.

All the trees were just the right height.

There were several new changes and improvements to the roadway, but the journey was as familiar as ever. Like reuniting with a long-lost friend.

Plus, traffic was light, since the region was just waking up to the news.

Moments like this make a man feel like singing. I flipped on the FM radio and was greeted by Willie Nelson.

On the road again … Going places that I’ve never been … Seeing things that I may never see again … And I can’t wait to get on the road again. 

In reality, I had seen these places a thousand times, but it seemed like a distant memory.

I reached Highway 49 just outside Green Lake and pulled a delicate U-turn, careful not to leave a skid. I turned as one might cradle an expensive gadget for the first time.

In a week, it’ll be more like “Out of my way!” SQUEAL

For now, just relax and enjoy cruising the Green Lake-Ripon artery with ease.

No, this isn’t the end of the Highway 23 construction, with work continuing farther to the west (including Green Lake’s Puchyan River bridge) until late November. But still, this is a reason to celebrate.

Everybody now!

On the road again … 

Aaron Becker can be reached at 748-3017.

P.S. Check out an exciting time-lapse video of the trip from Ripon to Green Lake on our website, http://www.RiponPress.com

The Heidel House is now managed by Marcus Corp.

THE MAIN LOBBY at the Heidel House overlooks Big Green Lake. The hotel, restaurants and spa have gone under the management of Marcus Hotels and Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corp.   submitted photo

Ownership stays the same, but Marcus promises greater breadth of expertise

by Aaron Becker
aaronb@riponprinters.com

The iconic Heidel House can hang up a sign:

Under New Management

Marcus Hotels and Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corp., has taken over the management of the Heidel House Resort and Spa in Green Lake.

The deal was announced in May. It includes not just the hotel itself, but the three Heidel House restaurants and the spa across the street.

The resort along the shore of Big Green Lake is owned by the Fiore Companies Inc., based in Madison. Fiore maintains full ownership.

Running a resort such as the Heidel House is nothing new for the Marcus Corp., which claims Ripon as its birthplace with the historic movie theater.

The Marcus Corp. portfolio now has 19 hotels and resorts nationwide and more than 600 screens around the Midwest.

Leadership from Marcus and Fiore didn’t share many details on changes or improvements, but all agreed the Heidel House’s employees will have the opportunity to continue working there.

“Basically, we have offered continued employment to all current associates … The GM [general manager], all the way down,” said Chris Anderson, the senior vice president of Marcus Hotels and Resorts.

He noted discussions were in the works for some time.

“This was more than a year [in the making],” Anderson said. “This was not a decision that was made lightly on either side, Fiore or Marcus. We wanted to get to know one another … We choose our partners pretty wisely, and Fiore does the same.”

Stacy Nemeth, chief operating officer of Fiore, noted Marcus’ “tremendous depth and experience in this market.”

In contrast, the Heidel House had been Fiore’s lone hotel.

“Our company is pretty broadly diversified, and this is our only hotel in our portfolio, and we thought that the hotel should really benefit from more expertise in the actual hospitality industry,” Nemeth said. “We’ve been talking with Marcus in somewhat generalities for over a year. When we started looking at the future of the Heidel House, we thought Marcus was really uniquely qualified to help us take the hotel to the next level, with their experience that they’ve had with other properties in Wisconsin.”

It’s not fully clear what, if anything, will change on a day-to-day basis at the Heidel House this summer.

Anderson noted there may be some new faces, along with corporate involvement.

“We manage our properties pretty hands-on,” Anderson said. “All of our hotels in Wisconsin see us a lot … For us, we’re really wanting to get in there and evaluate and see what opportunities exist for us to really make some marked improvement on service and basic guest offerings — creating more amenities for them in packages, and water sports and things like that … I think we can really bring the entire property to the next level.

“We’ve got seasoned associates that are going to be there, helping our new Marcus family members understand the culture of ‘people pleasing people.’ We’ll bring standard operating procedures, that kind of thing … All of that, really, to make sure that we have the consistent and high-touch service that our customers have come to expect from a Marcus-owned or managed property.”

Nemeth, meanwhile, expects changes to be implemented over time.

“Everyone left Fiore employment yesterday and became Marcus employees today [May 15],” she said. “On property, there won’t be a tremendous, immediate change. In the future, I think the Marcus methods of hospitality — they have kind of their own program called ‘The Marcus Way’ for customer service and the way that they do things — [will become more visible], so things will get implemented over time.

“The name stays the same; the logo stays the same; the employees are still there,” she said.

The Heidel House is known for its amenities statewide and beyond, but like others in the hospitality industry, it has struggled with staff turnover.

Anderson acknowledge this challenge and noted the Marcus Corp. will seek to smooth the bumps. He left the door open for Heidel House employees to be shifted into areas where their strongest skills lie.

“Now the associates up there will see that what they do at that hotel can be career-oriented, so that there’s more rungs on the ladder now — that they can do cross-training, they can relocate to other properties,” he said. “We’re big into having our associates cross-train — not only brands but disciplines as well, so you may be front office at the Heidel House and then you may go do sales at the Hilton Milwaukee … It’s actually transitional training that we do, and it really makes everybody in a better place mentally while they’re working.

“Perfect example is food and beverage. Getting a chef of real quality is somewhat difficult in Green Lake, versus Chicago or Milwaukee, because they tend to want to be in urban areas. But the [new] chef there is from our Hilton Madison property … So he does have a backbone of Marcus culture in him.”

Nemeth indicated the biggest benefit to the Heidel House will be in the realm of marketing and sales, but she acknowledged the experience of Marcus will be “a definite benefit” in addressing the turnover challenge.

“The hospitality industry in general has a tremendous amount of turnover,” Nemeth said. “It’s a pretty challenging work environment, which is why we cherish our good employees, because it is a 24-7 operation — never shuts down. So I wouldn’t say that the turnover was anything unusual. It certainly does make it easier when you have a larger organization like Marcus, where they have more people to pull from, and more people in their ranks … There are people being groomed for higher levels.”

Over time, the Heidel House will benefit the most from the Marcus touch in marketing and sales, Nemeth said.

“The No. 1 thing that Marcus brings to the table is a much broader marketing and sales reach, because of the breadth of their experience in the market and their sheer number of properties in the state of Wisconsin,” Nemeth said. “They have a much broader reach to the customer than we individually have … Over time, I think they will bring a much greater sense of marketing and advertising to the property.”

Bigger changes could come as time goes by, Anderson noted.

“There’s no immediate renovation, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not plans in the future to change some things, which will be very exciting for the new guests, but I think probably right off the bat, they’ll just see some marketing and promotion things that will look similar to some of our other properties,” Anderson said. “Probably a lot of promotions and packaging that we do at Grand Geneva Resort will be similar up here. I think it will attract a new base of customer, and I think the customers that go there now will have some confidence and security that service is just like it is at many of the other Marcus hotels.”

There are no current plans for staff reductions or staff changes at the Heidel House, Nemeth emphasized.

“Obviously, when huge transitions [take place], there may be people who decide that this is not the place for them, but right now the plan is that we have a great staff and we hope that everyone sees us through the transition and that they’ll enjoy their new opportunities,” Nemeth said.

Marcus has seven other hotels and multiple movie theaters in Wisconsin, including its first and oldest theater in Ripon.

It was founded by the late Ben Marcus in 1935.

Anderson noted it’s neat to see the company return for a greater level of influence in the Ripon-Green Lake area.

“The whole birth of this company started right there at that theater [in downtown Ripon], so it’s pretty cool, 79 years later, that we’re back doing business in that area,” Anderson said.

Green Lake’s newest feature: Just plug it in

TESLA MODEL S owners can recharge their vehicles in Green Lake.  submitted photo

People usually take vacations to “recharge.”

Now in Green Lake, electric cars can, too.

Marcus Hotels & Resorts — which took over management of the Heidel House in May — is promoting a new addition to the historic resort: a charging station for Tesla electric vehicles.

“The Tesla charging stations will provide a convenient and fast charging solution for Tesla Model S owners staying at a Marcus Hotels & Resorts property during the busy summer travel season,” a media release reads.

This now includes the resort in Green Lake and several others around country, from Chicago to Las Vegas.

Marcus spokeswoman Jessica Vollrath Huebner said the company believes this amenity will be well received by Tesla owners and will enhance their experience in Green Lake.

“This cutting-edge, eco-friendly technology allows Tesla owners driving this summer the ability to charge their car overnight or a few hours while enjoying a drink or bite to eat,” she said.

Tesla says its Model S is the first mass-produced electric premium sedan. The release states the wall connector offers more than twice the power of typical charging stations, adding perhaps 58 miles of range in one hour.

“Thanks to our growing supercharger network, Tesla Model S owners are hitting the road in increasing numbers,” said Cal Lankton, director of global infrastructure for Tesla. “By offering convenient destination charging services to Tesla owners, Marcus Hotels & Resorts is replicating the convenience our owners have become accustomed to at home.

“Waking up relaxed with a fully charged Model S makes for a fantastic road trip experience,” Lankton added.

These high-power charging stations have been installed at the majority of Marcus-owned-and-managed properties across the United States.

“We are always finding new ways to enhance our guests’ overall experience,” said Brian Burton, vice president of revenue generation for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. “By combining the leading-edge technology and the forward-thinking of Tesla with our commitment to providing an exceptional experience for our guests, we now have the ability to offer a high-tech, eco-friendly solution for Model S owners traveling this summer.”

Full Circle – Historic Green Lake home re-opens as city’s newest bed-and-breakfast

MATT AND CHRISTINA Lyon are part-owners and on-site managers of the Greenway House Bed & Breakfast in Green Lake. The historic house will open for guests next week, after years of planning and work. Below left, the house at 380 Lake St. has been fully renovated.  Aaron Becker photo

by Aaron Becker
aaronb@riponprinters.com

Perhaps one could call it the “ugly duckling” of Green Lake.

A historic house with ties to the early founding of the resort community sat vacant and lonely, falling into disrepair.

Now, it’s been beautifully remodeled from top to bottom, poised to welcome guests in time for Harvest Fest.

For a group of investors, the opening of the Greenway House Bed & Breakfast marks the culmination of a long stretch of planning and sweat-equity in the 134-year-old mansion, resting at the corner of Lake Street and Illinois Avenue.

But for the townsfolk and longtime visitors, perhaps it means even more.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback,” part-owner Christina Lyon said. “A lot of people have dreamed about this house, been excited about it, know about it because of their family members who have lived here. And they’re excited. They’re ready for this house to be open and to come see it … We’ve had people tour from all different places.”

Christina and her husband, Matt, are part-owners as well as on-site managers.

“Throughout the construction process, people have stopped by [and said], ‘I just want to see. I just want to see that it’s actually happening,’” Christina said.

“We’ll come here, and there’ll be people just walking through the house,” Matt added. “Nobody let them in. They found their own way in. They’re just touring the house on their own.”

The high level of interest is due, in part, to the long road that led to today. The Greenway House stands at 380 Lake St. — across the street from Oakwood Lodge until its demolition in 2012. It was the retirement home of David Greenway.

Greenway was the man who in 1867 created and began to run the bygone Oakwood Resort, believed to be the first summer resort west of Niagara Falls.

A few years ago, Green Lake developer Wayne Chaney went before city officials for help to save Oakwood Lodge and the Greenway House.

“He had this dream since at least five years ago to save this house — the history of it — and the Oakwood as well. And he fought for them as much as he could,” Christina said.

In 2011, Chaney and other investors made a proposal to the Green Lake Common Council to create a tax incremental finance (TIF) district to provide funding to renovate Oakwood Lodge and the Greenway House. They asked the city for a $430,000 loan to buy and restore the buildings “in the spirit of the great summer cottages of yesteryear.”

The city wasn’t convinced.

Council members denied the proposed TIF district. Just four months later, Oakwood Lodge was purchased by another party and demolished.

But the adjacent Greenway House remained standing — a final ray of hope.

Ultimately, a conditional use permit was granted, the building and adjacent lot were purchased through other funding, and full renovation began this year.

The interior was gutted and rebuilt. Now the house offers new walls, new windows, new plumbing, new wiring, new lights, new heat/air conditioning and fresh paint.

Among the original features that remain include hardwood floors (all refinished), doors, stained glass windows, converted fireplaces, porch lattice boards and other touches, such as the hallway banister.

“We tried to maintain as much history as possible,” Christina said.

The house is furnished with a subtle blend of antiques and new amenities — the fusion of an 1880s house with the modern standards of today. Each of the seven, two-person rooms has a TV and clock radio.

The house had been built in 1880, but Chaney and his team were convinced the house was structurally solid, even though the interior was crumbling.

“To say this project has been a labor of love would be an understatement,” co-owner Brian Fisher said. “ … We’re excited to have brought this house back to life as a relaxing and rejuvenating retreat for our guests that combines rich history with modern travel amenities.”

Now, one of Green Lake’s most historic buildings is the city’s newest attraction.

“The history is so important to this town,” Christina said. “We’ve met so many people who have seen this house up and down through the ages, and who have lived here through the years. There are families that are still in town that come back every year, and it’s a big part of their lives. We’ve had people stop by who say, ‘I’ve vacationed here for 40 to 50 years, and I’ve always watched this house. I’ve always wanted to see it.’

“And this is everybody’s dream house.”

Matt is the breakfast cook — a decision that provides both a cost-savings and personal touch for the guests.

“I just love to cook … And as I started taking that on as a responsibility just for [Christina and myself], I’ve really come to enjoy it,” he said.

“He makes delicious bread,” Christina said.

Opening night, so to speak, is Friday, Sept. 26 -— the day before Green Lake’s Harvest Fest gets underway. Between now and then, there’s still work to do, such as laundry, furniture details, and some landscaping, minor plumbing and cleaning.

Typically, rates will vary from $195 to $295 per night, but the Greenway House will be offering a specially reduced season rate through Dec. 30. In the future, the business hopes to expand to accommodate larger groups such as weddings or reunions.

“With the whole corner lot, we’ve got plenty of room to have weddings or family reunions,” Christina said.

For those who made this dream a reality, the Greenway House represents an important way to keep Green Lake’s rich history alive.

“While our work to preserve the house and open the Greenway House Bed & Breakfast will not bring back the gorgeous and historic Oakwood Lodge, the amount of positive feedback we’ve already received from the community has been overwhelming,” Fisher said. “We can’t wait to fill the Greenway House Bed & Breakfast with the same kind of lively souls who made the Oakwood such a vibrant and fun community gathering place for nearly 150 years.”

See a before-and-after photo of the Greenway House and check out a tour video. Go to http://www.RiponPress.com and click this story under “Area News.”