Lakeville Chamber of Commerce's Jeanne Hutter Awarded Exceptional Businesswomen 2013

If there was life before tourism, Jeanne Hutter does not remember it.

The 18-year Lakeville business woman discovered her passion for tourism while working on feasibility studies for hotels and attractions.

Her interest led to a position in a newly created position at a resort developing activities and scheduling entertainment for hotel guests.

“That job opened up a whole new career path for me and I’ve never looked back,” she said. “It was just a good fit.”

Hutter, director of tourism, marketing and communications for the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she enjoys the creativity, connections and energy the hospitality industry produces.

“I believe you should choose an occupation that you love since you spend so much time at work,” she said. “Do what you love, and love what you do.”

She has also served on numerous boards and commissions in the Lakeville community, including the Pan-O-Prog Board of Directors, 360 Communities Lewis House Charity Golf Fundraiser Board, the Citizens Bank Community Advisory Board and Lakeville’s Branding Study Committee.

Hutter’s responsibilities with the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau offer a daily demonstration of her strengths in communications and networking.

She is responsible for building partnerships, creating programs and advertising, including designing key promotional materials.

Hutter said being around people energizes her, and she enjoys connecting people and businesses.

“Developing and nurturing partnerships are key to doing business both in tourism and with the chamber,” she said.

The Lakeville Convention & Visitors Bureau, a nonprofit founded in 1996, is a division of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce and is charged with promoting the city as a tourism destination.

Funded by a 3 percent lodging tax on the gross receipts from hotel and motel guests, the bureau’s focus is on increasing hotel occupancy in Lakeville.

Hutter said the biggest challenge facing her field is keeping up with changes in technology and communications.

“We are always seeking to develop new and improved products and services and keep up with current trends that show a return on investment,” she said. “Technology is constantly changing and improving and the more ways invented to market and communicate, the more relevant the means need to be.”

To address the challenges, she works to establish partnerships with organizations that share common goals.

Hutter said these partnerships have provided skills and talents to the bureau while saving time and money.

“Developing both has been a large part of our strategy to stretch our limited resources,” she said.

Hutter anticipates the bureau becoming a virtual hub of important information by interfacing with other technologies and partners “so that information can and will be quickly at your fingertips.”

The organization has also taken steps to adjust to the challenging economy by using more internet, web and social media options.

She said the results are encouraging and noted another benefit is how quickly the information is passed on.

“Our long-term goals are to continue to stay relevant and up to date with our services and programs – no easy task with technologies changing so quickly,” Hutter said. “With the current economic landscape it is important to be prudent and financially accountable, yet continue to take risks and grow with a concrete and trackable return on marketing investments.”

She noted that “old” advertising and communication methods cannot be the bureau’s sole strategy, but they may not be obsolete either.

“It’s finding the balance for your business that is most important and spending your marketing dollars where you receive the best return on investment or impact,” she said. “There are so many more options in this day and age, and that part is exciting but time consuming to weed through determining which is a fad and which is here to stay — at least for a while.”

Her advice to other professional businesswomen is to develop and build upon partnerships with networks of people who share common goals.

She also suggests thanking people, recognizing them and showing appreciation for their efforts.

“Be genuine,” Hutter said. “Be interested in others and help them meet their goals, too. Be positive, and make work fun for others.”

Despite all her business success, Hutter said her greatest accomplishment is raising her son, an 18 year-old who graduates from high school this year.

“I am very proud of him and how he has grown up to a wonderful young man,” she said.

Reported by:  SunThisWeek