Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Don Shier. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Don , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

One of the great joys in my work at Hennepin Theatre Trust is offering tours to clients looking for event space at The Hennepin, our event center. Several months ago, I did that for a client who was looking for a 3 day conference in June 0f 2023. I shared how Hennepin Theatre Trust impacts the community through our education and public art departments. We are home to the Best Buy Foundation Art Gallery and have window displays, exhibits and murals throughout downtown Minneapolis. Our education department works with 8000 high school kids each year to support them in all areas of the performing arts. Upon hearing that this is where the proceeds go from our event rentals, the client shared with me that the location of their conference was made. They shared this with me after the conference was over:

We were looking for a versatile and unique event space for approx. 200 people for a 3-day conference/retreat for a group of deserving social entrepreneurs from across the country. We try to avoid stuffy, conference centers, but are also aware that our large size limits options, so we were delighted when we found the Hennepin Theatre Trust. Not only was their mission aligned with ours, but it was a building full of personality, it was incredibly versatile, deeply professionally run and best of all felt very personal to the amazing staff. We went on a site visit and was given a tour by Don Shier who in addition to showing us the ins and out of the meeting spaces also gave us the history of the building and the community, which really let us know that this would be a perfect fit for our community. And it was. We had the best 3 days. Everyone from security, the historian, the event leads, made us feel so at home, so welcome. We whole heartedly recommend HTT to anyone needing a special event space + experience in Minneapolis.

Don , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started my career as a professional musician, singing, directing choirs and playing piano. I was successful in building choirs, launching concert series and performing in operas and musical theatre. I made the decision refocus my career slightly which led me to the hospitality industry. Since then I have held management and director positions for restaurants and event centers with a focus on sales and marketing.

The common thread in any career success I have had is through building relationships. Examples include growing a choir from 23 to 72 members, leading national tours for music, food and wine, doubling event sales in my first year and retaining loyal clients who have trusted me to build custom events for them. They know they will be treated with kindness, that I will lead with yes even when it means thinking outside the box and I will deliver a quality event.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As a professional musician with an established career, I was feeling that it was time to make a change but wanted to keep music in my back pocket. I was discerning my next step, but wasn’t quite sure where that would lead. I ran into a friend who I had worked with 20 years prior who invited me to lunch. Asking me if I was still doing music, I told him I wasi but was looking to reinvent myself a bit. He offered me a job managing McCormick & Schmick’s. I had never considered restaurant management had no experience in that field. When I asked him why he would offer this to me, he replied, “Because I know how you are with people.” I thought why not?, if it wasn’t right for me I could always keep searching. That position evolved into a promotion to Sales and Marketing Director and after several years I was recruited by The Capital Grille for the same position. Having transitioned from operations to sales and marketing, I realized that the same skill set I used to grow a choir was the same skill set I used to market and increase sales in the hospitality industry, building relationships with people. After several stops in the restaurant world, I began to feel as if I was outgrowing this and it was time to reinvent and fine tune my career once again. Since I am passionate about the performing arts and I had a long relationship with Hennepin Theatre Trust, I reached out. That led to a consulting position which led to the full time position I hold today. When something is no longer working for me or I need to fine tune my career, I do so. It is not easy when something is comfortable but for me, I can’t go through the motions, I have to be authentically invested. At is moment in my journey, I couldn’t be happier as my current position connects many of my passions and I love having a small role in the impact Hennepin Theatre Trust has on the community and the state of Minnesota.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building authentic relationships with people is first and foremost. Lead with yes, and think outside the box to exceed expectations. Respond to people in a timely manner and deliver a first rate experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thehennepin.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehennepin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHennepin
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-hennepin/