Courtney Johns: When The Wind Blew In, She Stepped Up

Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders. In TV and the movies, these heroes most often have a weapon — usually a lightsaber, phaser, magical sword, a gun, or some superhero skill.

The hero I am discussing in this article doesn’t pack a weapon, or have superhero skills like Spider Man, but she still brings the heat.

Heat, as in a passion for helping others.

Courtney Johns is a Corporate Learning & Development Manager and Human Resources Manager for a Fort Myers-based upscale hotel. It’s a hospitality business with success and profitability contingent on having highly skilled employees who understand customers, their needs, and anticipate their requests.

The first person these day-one employees see and hear is Courtney Johns as she takes them through a rigorous training class that is one part masterclass on service, one part stand-up comedy routine, and one part motivational session.

“I don’t just teach class for new employees and never see them again,” says Courtney. “These employees can always rely on me to help them adjust to their new position, answer any questions, and mentor them.”

Courtney continues: “After all, training is a process, not an event. I’m there for them as long as they work here.”

Courtney believes that you train people well enough, so they can leave, and treat them well enough so that they don’t want to.