Steve Watson graduated from Southwest Texas State
University with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and a
double minor in Law Enforcement and 
Physical Education.
Following in
the hotel management tradition set forth by his great grandfather, grandfather
and father, Steve started in the hospitality industry in the early
1970s as a fourth generation hotelier.
From there he directed hotel and food operation as a General
Manager for fifteen years for the Kahler Hotel Corporation, Marriott
Hotel Corporation and Hilton Hotels.
Steve has
spent the past twenty-five years in private club management, most
recently as General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of Mendakota
Country Club, a private country club in Mendota Heights, MN. He has operated prestigious private
clubs in Houston, TX, Wichita KS, Fargo, ND, Rochester,
MN and Saint Paul, MN.
Steve attributes
his success in private club management to his operating philosophy
centered on member recognition, positive price/value perception and
member participation. He earned
his Certified Club Manager status in 2002.
Steve has been
affiliated with and served on many boards and foundations, including
Board Director of the National Restaurant Association, Treasurer of
Hospitality Minnesota Educational Foundation, President of Minnesota
Restaurant Association, Chairman of the Board of Hospitality Minnesota,
Board Director for Tee It Up for the Troops, Member of Club Managers
Association of America, Member on National Member Services Committee, Faculty
Status as Lecturer at North Dakota State University and Member of
Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association.
Extracurricular
activities have included football officiating on high school and
college levels for thirty-three years and baseball officiating on high
school, college and professional levels for thirty-four years.
In recognition
of Steve’s commitment to the community personally and professionally,
in 2009 the National Restaurant Association awarded him first place in
the state of MN for the Humanitarian Award and Mendakota Country Club
was awarded first place in the state of MN for the Good Neighbor Award.
Revised 12/15/2009
