PBN BUSINESS WOMEN AWARDS 2020 WOMAN TO WATCH, HOSPITALITY: Heather Singleton | Rhode Island Hospitality Association
THOSE IN THE HOSPITALITY industry are passionate about serving others. Rhode Island Hospitality Association Chief Operating Officer Heather Singleton’s passion lies in serving those who serve.
Singleton has been with the association for more than 20 years and has grown the organization exponentially, collecting numerous awards and accolades along the way. Association CEO and President Dale Venturini said she thinks Singleton’s holistic approach to her job contributes to her success.
“She is a great collaborator,” Venturini said. “She has to work with a very diverse group of people and she has an innate way of managing all that. She understands the needs of the industry, and adapts accordingly. She is never afraid to try something new or another direction.”
Singleton comes from a large, tight-knit family in upstate New York, and was drawn to hospitality because she felt like she was taken care of in that field, she said.
“Even though I didn’t have family around me [here in Rhode Island], this industry and these people pour their heart and soul into servicing others, and they became my family,” Singleton said.
Singleton has several educators in her family, and said they inspired her to focus on education within the association. So, Singleton helped the association grow from an education standpoint. When she began, there were only a couple of courses offered; now there are 21. She is most proud of developing the “Coaching for First-Time Managers” course.
“It was a huge accomplishment for our organization to be able to become more innovative in those training programs,” she said.
Singleton is also responsible for ramping up the capacity of the association’s education foundation volunteer board of directors.
Singleton feels that listening is her best leadership skill. What makes a good leader is the ability to “use your ears more than your mouth,” she said.
Singleton said what she enjoys most about her job is working with business owners, even if it’s simply taking a phone call to “listen to someone vent.
“If I hear from someone and I can refer them to a resource that’s going to make things better, then I’ve donea service that day,” she said.
