Danielle Rossow, director of sales at Hampton Inn and Suites, diverted from a career path that appeared headed for banking.
Danielle Rossow Director of sales, Hampton Inn and Suites For somebody who grew up with banking in her blood, Danielle Rossow is enjoying herself in a slightly different line of work. She’s director of sales at Hampton Inns and Suites in Billings. Rossow seemed to be following in her family’s footsteps when she went to work at a Billings bank even before graduating from Montana State University Billings with a double major in marketing and business management. “I worked as a teller and then moved up to personal banker, and then I went into auto loans,” Rossow said. “I thought I loved banking, because my dad is still president of banks in North Dakota. But I decided that I wanted to get into something different. I saw this job come up and I thought I should give it a try.” Three years later, she’s still having a great time as the person in charge of booking meeting rooms and putting heads in beds. “From the get-go, I was out meeting everybody, trying to get their business,” Rossow said. “From then on we got repeat clients. We have 2,400 square feet of meeting space that we use for meetings, conventions, weddings and other gatherings.” Rossow says sales suits her. “I’m totally in my element. Everything is about getting to talk
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to people every day, and providing excellent customer service. She works to make customers happy, even when people aren’t always nice. “I seem to thrive on that kind of stuff. I love helping people and make them happy. How did you get where you are in your business? My experience has been that the fundamental characteristic all salespeople share is an absolute belief and passion in the product or service they are selling. That passion infects customers and makes a major difference in the trust they place in the salesperson. What’s the toughest challenge you face in your job? Why should people switch to a new company if what they have now meets all their needs? That is the question that I hear quite often. That is when I have to step up and sell myself because I know I am selling the same service as everyone else, only adding a personal touch. Aside from profit and loss, how do you measure success in your job? A growing customer base is a sure sign that of effectively reaching your target market and reach-
Age: 30. Family: Married. First job: Dairy Queen in Beach, N.D. What I’m reading: “The Help.” Liked this movie: “The Shawshank Redemption.” Uses this website a lot: Facebook. Here’s how I relax: Walking with my husband and dog, Reese. ing your target market is what it is all about. Over 70 percent of our guests are repeat guests. Which living person do you most admire? My brother, Joel. After 9/11, he decided to join the military because of his frustrations toward what had happened. Joel served three tours of duty between Iraq and Afghanistan over five years and moved his way up to a sergeant in the 82nd Airborne. On his third tour, he was badly injured and is now technically “disabled,” according the military. What do you consider your greatest achievement? In the past three years the hotel has been open, we have won a Billings Reader’s Choice award each of the years: 2009 Best Hotel, 2010 Best Meeting/Reception Facilities, 2011 Best Meeting/Reception Facilities. I’m happiest when... I’m spending time with friends, family and our dog.
Peter Sanderson and his business partner, Devon Clayton purchased Cellular Connection last October.
Peter Sanderson Owner, operator, Cellular Connection Peter Sanderson and his business partner, Devon Clayton, have a combined 25 years experience in the cellular phone industry. When they got an opportunity to buy Cellular Connection last October, they didn’t hesitate about making the switch from employees to owners. In the hypercompetitive cellular industry, it’s a challenge for many consumers to keep up with a dizzying assortment of products and services. How does Cellular Connection compete in a highly competitive market? “Customer service, hands down,” Sanderson said. Sanderson has sold cellphones and other electronic gear for most of his career. “I was working selling electronics at Sears, and when Qwest Wireless opened in Montana 14 years ago, I sold them some home phone stuff for the business, and the manager hired me from there,” Sanderson said. Except for a oneyear break when he was involved in the mortgage industry, Sanderson has been in wireless ever since. In national advertising, cellular companies like to tout their lightning-quick speed. But much of Montana is still catching up in terms of improving infrastructure. “For technology, the biggest thing
for Montana is getting the speeds up. In Montana, the 4G network is still a year or a year and a half away,” he said. How did you get where you are in your business? I have always been a selfdirected and ambitious person. Sales was a perfect fit for me at a young age, because I like working with people so much. Through my dedication of serving the Billings community with quality customer service and a lot of patience, I was eventually given the opportunity to buy my business. What’s the toughest challenge you face in your job? My son is my number-one priority. I have to make sure that I make enough time to be a role model to him. The demands of being a business owner can be timeconsuming, so I am constantly striving for balance between work and family time. If you could make one positive change for Billings, what would it be? As I have said, being a father is my most important role. Thus, I value any activities in the community that can be child-oriented. Aside from profit and loss,
Age: 32 Family: Single, one child First job: Washing dishes at the Golden Phoenix Heights What I’m reading: “Little Nut Brown Hair” with my son, and “Entre International” by Dave Ramsey. Liked this movie: “A River Runs Through It” How I relax: Anything outdoors: boating, fishing, camping. how do you measure success in your business? In two words: customer service. I measure my success by the numerous long-standing customers I have. I pride myself in having created business relationships with them that go beyond a sales pitch. Which living person do you most admire? My mom. She raised three sons on her own after my dad passed away in 1993. My younger brother, Jake, has severe cerebral palsy. She is a very strong person and we have always had her support and encouragement. What do you consider your greatest achievement? I had concerns about being a single parent and a business owner. I have found that my positive attitude gets me through a lot and the love of my son was enough to keep me striving for my dreams. I’m happiest when I’m... Enjoying the outdoors 40UNDERFORTY