After schooling at the University of Washington at Bellingham, and Portland State I became employed with the Thunderbird – Red Lion Hotels where I started in the lounge as bartender and server. Moving to the front office operations, where I became front office manager at the Red Lion Jantzen Beach Hotel. In 1972 I transferred to the Thunderbird Coliseum as General Manger. In 1975 became Vice Presi
dent of Rooms Division for Red Lion Hotels, where I opened 26 of the Red Lion Hotel operations throughout the west coast. In 1977 I left Red Lion Hotels to become Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Operations for another Northwest hotel chain known as Nendels. I constructed and renovated 11 of their locations during my tenure and organized a management company and purchasing company. In 1981 I opened my own business, offering interiors for the hotel and restaurant industry. Since its inception Herr & Associates grew to an operational level of a staff of 8 and a volume of business surpassing $4.2 million a year. In 1999 I downsized the company to 3 people to become more involved in the design part of my business. Today, I currently work alone except for when workload and project requires additional staff, where-by I have professional personnel to call on for assistance. I find it more rewarding, less stressful and more creative.
