Conversations with Stephanie Kliber

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Kliber.

Hi Stephanie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My career and passion in hospitality and travel are all over the place, with a wide variety of experiences. I started working in hospitality in high school. My first job was in catering, and then I started doing floral design for an upscale market in Milwaukee. My first internship was planning my university’s study abroad fair for the entire student body, which I loved doing after I studied in Florence, Italy for a semester and then again in Germany for a sustainability seminar.

This internship gave me the opportunity to combine what I was learning in my marketing classes with an interest in event planning and of course my passion for study abroad/travel. In my senior year, I interned with a construction company. While this was a deviation in industries, I learned a lot more about marketing as a whole and what pieces of marketing interested me (most importantly, the creative side: i.e. the very start of social media, photography, email newsletters, event planning, graphic design, etc.).

I started my career with a third-party study abroad provider called Global Academic Ventures, where I moved to Sydney, Australia, to manage our business internship programs in Asia-Pacific and guide faculty-led programs. I then helped open the Chicago office to focus on recruitment and program management for the US and Europe programs, adding a bit of marketing and sales to the role as time went on. While I loved this job and was passionate, I felt burnt out after nearly 5 years and chose to move to Denver for a change in pace and lifestyle. Other than my study abroad programs and working in Sydney, I spent my entire life in the Midwest and didn’t feel it was my home anymore.

I spent 6 months working in event planning and realized that marketing was where my heart was leading me. Most people don’t work in the same field where they earned their degrees, but I am very passionate about it! I transitioned as the Marketing & Social Media Manager for a restaurant startup called Nextbite, which created virtual restaurants for delivery only (AKA ghost kitchens). No one understood the business model until it exploded during the pandemic and the company received $120 million in Series C funding.

I loved this job and loved being part of a business that grew from 3 to 15 virtual brands within a year, including two celebrity brands: HotBox by Wiz and George Lopez Tacos. Sadly, my position was eliminated due to restructuring during the growth. This ended up being a major blessing in disguise, as I was going through some very difficult transitions in my personal life at the same time, so I took some time off to focus on myself and do some freelance work within the liquor, restaurant, wedding, and pet CBD industries.

After I took this time off, I began working in my current role as the Marketing Manager for Woodie Fisher Kitchen & Bar and the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station, managed by Davidson Hospitality Group. I wasn’t ready to leave hospitality anytime soon and was so excited to combine my passion for hospitality/travel with my marketing career again. This position is my very first ‘corporate’ job, as I have always worked for a startup/small business, and it certainly has taught me a lot.

As the Marketing Manager, I am part of the sales team, but I am a one-woman show that works on everything: social media, in-house photography, influencer management, email campaigns, graphic design, advertising, activations (event planning), public relations, marketing strategy, project management, etc. I love being part of a bigger brand like Hilton, but also enjoy the freedom of overseeing an independent/local restaurant that not only has a unique history behind it, but incredible food and reputation.

I have also always been a hustler and work several side gigs beyond my full-time jobs, and continue to do these, as I enjoy them. Additionally, most of the side jobs I work happen to overlap within the hospitality industry, making it a great opportunity to network, collaborate and learn.

A few things I love to do on the side include promotional model/brand ambassador in the alcohol industry (a few that I heavily represent include: Coors Distributing Company, Hooch Booch, Tito’s Vodka), day-of wedding coordinator for Anna Rae Events, and dog sitting for Rover. As far as hobbies go, I love photography and modeling, I am a huge foodie and traveler (been to 28 countries), skiing, hiking, thrift shopping, yoga and pilates, and spending time with my loved ones and my cat Millie. These all tie into my job in many ways as well!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most definitely not. I didn’t get my first job with Global Academic Ventures until about 5 months post-grad, and I beat myself up about it a lot. My goal was to graduate from UW-Oshkosh with a job lined up, but I didn’t want to stay in Wisconsin, or even the US. My parents were supportive of my goals but encouraged me to just get a job in Milwaukee to gain resume experience and then leave later.

I refused to do that, as I was single and didn’t want to end up putting anything on hold if I did end up getting into a relationship or something else ended up holding me back. My job applications were mostly out of the US and Austin, Texas. I had a long 3-month interview process with Global Academic Ventures and had high hopes for the job. I coincidentally went to Austin for a wedding to visit a friend and didn’t end up loving the city as much as I had hoped. Two days later I got the job and was moving to Australia two weeks later! Funny how things work out.

The biggest challenge in my career was when I got laid off in 2021 from Nextbite. The company was restructuring and hiring for several other marketing positions, however, mine was eliminated. I was pretty upset, as the new roles were all individual pieces of what I had already been doing by myself, but thankfully this all was a blessing down the road. This opened doors for freelance/consulting gigs, networking, and time to reset me mentally and emotionally and be fully ready for a new mindset.

My current role is the most challenging I have been, differently than the rest, but in a good way. Being my first corporate job, I am not used to all the training, guidelines, development opportunities, and budget that I hadn’t had in the past. I report to several layers of management and ownership as well, but it has given me the opportunity to highlight the successes and work collaboratively on the obstacles along the way. There is a lot in marketing that I learned in college, but haven’t had the opportunity to utilize until now, and the marketing landscape is constantly evolving, especially in social media.

I also faced challenges in the application and interview process for years. I wanted to expand my experience and many employers wanted me to have that experience for the role already, so I wasn’t a top candidate. I am thankful for the companies that have hired me, because I have mostly been the first person in that role, and they have also given me the opportunity to learn on the job and show that I am capable.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I currently work as the Marketing Manager for Woodie Fisher Kitchen & Bar and the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station, managed by Davidson Hospitality Group. I love working for Davidson Hospitality and the opportunities that they have for learning and growth. Unlike other hospitality management companies, they highly value marketing and recognize the importance of hotels/restaurants.

My role involves every aspect of marketing, but here are a few highlights of what I do:

*Social media- I create all of our content and manage both social accounts, give us a follow at @hgiunionstation and @woodiefisher!

*In-house photography- always have a camera in my hand or my phone to record videos! I am super proud of how much my food-photography skills have evolved since I started. Photography was always a hobby that I love tying into my career! (This also includes modeling- sometimes I have to model for both businesses and to be honest, I don’t mind it!)

*Influencer management- collaborating with local and national partners for the hotel and restaurant.

*Emails- curate Woodie Fisher’s lovely monthly newsletter

*Graphic design- anything and everything, such as flyers, coupons, event materials, sales items, etc.

*Website management- both the hotel and restaurant!

*Advertising- Hilton ads and social media ads.

*Event activations- a few events have included Pups on the Patio, Stretch & Sip Yoga, Hook & Ladder Comedy Shows, Sip & Script Calligraphy, Floral Workshop, Photos with Santa, involvement in local food festivals like The Big Eat, etc.

*Public relations- pitching to press, tagging press in social posts, setting up interviews, hosting press, etc. I am very proud of the several awards won by both the hotel and restaurant, especially Woodie Fisher being listed on Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants in the US in 2022!

Most hotels and restaurants have a PR agency or social media agency that oversees their PR, event activations, social media, and some advertising. However, I do all of this myself. This job has given me the opportunity to not only learn a lot but network a TON and build relationships within the local Denver community, especially with our Visit Denver and EatDenver partnerships.

I am a huge people person, and I’ve met so many people that have become great partners along the way! My dad taught me all about relationships and networking growing up, and it has certainly carried into my adult life successfully!

My drive and passion for the job and industry are a huge factor in my success, along with my attention to detail. I also owe it to the support system I have had in the past and present. I don’t tend to say no too often, which is a blessing and a curse, as I can find myself burnt out. But I am not one to let opportunities pass me by, and live by that mentality.

What matters most to you? Why?
The past two years have taught me a lot about what matters the most to me, and it has certainly shifted.

*Positive mindset, outlook, and manifesting. Sadly, I used to be a very negative person that felt like nothing good could happen to me and saw a lot of the worst in things. Approaching everything with a positive mindset and manifesting what you want, is so important. Life is too short to be bitter.

*Growth. I am a big believer that if you aren’t feeling challenged or something doesn’t scare you, then you aren’t growing. We can all learn something new each day, and that even includes learning from a past version of yourself.

*Time with family and friends, and work-life balance. Day-to-dayto-day life can certainly get in the way of seeing our loved ones, and it’s too easy to find excuses to reschedule or put it off until tomorrow. None of us have a definite amount of time on this earth, and no one is getting younger. My father was diagnosed with terminal cancer about a year ago, and it certainly shifted my perspective on priorities and what matters the most. We only have one life to live. While we spend the majority of our time at work, just remember there is a life to live with others outside the daily grind.

*My health – physical, mental, emotional, and mental. I am a victim of burnout, but I also do it to myself. I’m learning to listen to my body and find as many ways as possible to take care of it. Therapy may be taboo to some, but anyone and everyone can benefit! I force myself to take 2-3 workout classes a week-thank you ClassPass for introducing me to new classes and helping me discover new passions in Pilates, barre, and yoga. Self-care days- whether that’s sleeping in, getting a massage, going on a walk, a proper skin-care routine, or whatever, take care of yourself. When you take care of your overall health, you show up as the best version of yourself at work and with others.

*Advocate for yourself. No one can read your mind and more often than not, people are very open to hearing you. If something doesn’t feel right, or you have a strong opinion about something, share it and work through it! Silence will get you nowhere. It can be scary, but hey, did you know you can negotiate a severance? Neither did I, until I did when I was laid off in 2021. I advocated for myself and the worst they could have said was no, but at least I gave it a try, and they gave me everything I asked for!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.woodiefisher.com and www.denverunionstation.hgi.com
• Instagram: @woodiefisher and @hgiunionstation and my personal account @sakliber
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/hgiunionstation and www.facebook.com/WoodieFisherDenver
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniekliber/

Image Credits
Michelle Chait Photography and Breezy Ritter Photography