Lynne Maynor, Director of Leadership & Training
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

"The master in the ART of living makes little distinction between his work and hisplay, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he’s always doing both."--James A. Michener

Educating a handful of people on a certain topic is one thing. Educating nearly 4,000 on how to achieve flawless customer service, no matter which position they hold in a fast-paced, 24-hour-a-day operation is another thing. To accomplish this, many people are needed to teach STARS best practices, and at Gaylord Opryland® Resort & Convention Center, the largest non-gaming hotel in the continental United States and the 17th largest hotel in the world, this process has been simplified by the direction of Lynne Maynor.

Currently, Maynor leads a nine-member team that inspires, encourages and trains each STAR. As the director of Leadership & Training for Gaylord Opryland, she is directly responsible for achieving a consistent, streamlined process so that every guest receives flawless service. This begins with the foundation laid during orientation, when new STARS are taught the Gaylord culture--a culture found not just at Gaylord Opryland but at all Gaylord properties as well. Maynor has been described as the “architect” of the Gaylord culture because she has led teams that were instrumental in developing company values and service basics at Gaylord Opryland, Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Texan and Gaylord National.

Besides spearheading orientation, she leads training for all STARS--new or seasoned. Whether STARS desire training to become leaders, need certification from the Alcohol & Beverage Commission to do their job or want to obtain their GED, Maynor’s team provides all resources to meet these demands. Classes are offered on a weekly--and sometimes even a daily--basis, so there are always opportunities for STARS to learn more about the industry and to prepare themselves for the next step in their career.

Maynor joined Gaylord Entertainment Company in January 1986 as part of the Quality Assurance department, where proactive measures kept problems at bay. She has since served in Organization Development, Leadership Development and as the interim director of Gaylord University, the “school” where all Gaylord curriculum is taught. With her impact on education and her desire to share her passion with others, Maynor is making a difference in the lives of STARS who make Gaylord Opryland a stand-out company.

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