Get to know Brandy Schrantz

This month on “Getting to Know You…” I’d like to introduce Houston’s Inside Sales Manager- Brandy Schrantz!

March, 2010 – Brandy got her start at Houston’s in Accounts Payable and from there moving to Purchasing before taking her accumulated skills and putting them to great use in our Customer Service department. She then used those skills to train and develop the department in ways to apply this information to current situations. This allowed more responsibility to be taken on and by doing so growing the team into what we now call the Inside Sales Team.

Brandy, along with her team, work to make the impossible happen; they get deliveries to customers in time for big events, and introduce customers to new and amazing products. When asked what her favorite part about working for Houston’s is, Brandy said, “I love how close knit the company is; everyone treats each other like family.”

When not at work Brandy loves spending time with her husband, two children, two German Shepherds, and Tabby cat. The family is very active in their congregation and they also love to spend time at home relaxing, doing house projects, hiking, camping, and checking off travel locations on the family bucket list! Brandy was even able to check off a personal item on her own travel list last year when she enjoyed a vacation with family in Scotland and Paris! She also has a love for coffee and British TV (Doctor Who being a favorite).

Make sure to say hi to Brandy the next time you see her and enjoy getting to know your managers!

Brandy and her kids hiking Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park

Brandy at the top of the Arc de Triomphe soaking in the beautiful city of Paris

Brandy grew fond of this parrot during her visit to Mountainside Lavender Farm

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Brandy Schrantz, Inside Sales

For the second time since being hired by Houston’s in March, 2010, Brandy Schrantz is being recognized as Employee of the Quarter.  Brandy was chosen for the 2014 1^st quarter because she is efficient and detail oriented, is not afraid to ask questions, and will work on implementing changes to help the department run more smoothly.  Additionally—and equally as important—Brandy brings a lot of fun to the work day!

Brandy is a plethora of knowledge within Houston’s as she has worked in many departments.  Originally hired to fill an AP position, Brandy has also trained in the Returns Department, worked in Purchasing as a Purchasing Assistant and a Buyer, as well as in Inside Sales where she is currently the lead employee.  As a member of the Inside Sales team, Brandy takes orders and sources product for customers, gives quotes, sets up new items as requested, and works with the warehouse, accounting, and transportation department to ensure orders are timely.  The Inside Sales Lead position also requires Brandy to help train new employees, analyze reports, and work on any additional special projects as assigned.

Learning is enjoyable to Brandy, a self-proclaimed “nerd,” and she feels that wanting to absorb all she can about the restaurant industry, combined with a love of special projects, talking and exchanging pleasantries with customers on a daily basis, and taking a certain joy from the demands of multi-tasking—a huge requirement of her job—is what makes her so inherently good at what she does.  She is not afraid to ask “Why?” in order to gain a deeper understanding of the big picture, and this allows her to more easily answer customer questions and to help them to make decisions.

Brandy loves working in the Inside Sales Department, and she loves working at Houston’s in general.  The team dynamic within the company makes the entire day pleasant, rather than a chore.  While away from the office, though, Brandy likes to hike and camp, to take small weekend trips with her family and/or friends, to watch movies with her family while snuggling and eating popcorn.  She is currently training to run her first half marathon, and a recent new hobby is to see local areas where movies have been filmed.

Congratulations on being 2014’s 1^st quarter Employee of the Quarter, Brandy.  You are a valued employee and your hard work is appreciated!

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BEER SERVICE

Pint/Tapered/Mixing:  The simplicity of this glass makes it a good choice for most types of beer.

Mugs/Stein:  Heavy and thick with sturdy handles, these mugs are built to hold beer without breaking, and are often used when the beer is meant to be very cold.  A stein is similar to a mug with one exception:  it includes a thumb rest or a lid.

Pilsner:  Flared at the top to help maintain a stronger beer head that is not desired in darker beers, these glasses serve pilsner and lager beers well.  They are also perfect for holding water, soda, or ciders.

WINE SERVICE

Red Wine:  Generally a larger glass, although one should only be poured to about a third full to allow the wine to aerate.  Designed with a larger rim, this glass will allow the person to smell the aroma while sipping the wine.  Stemless red wine glasses also work well as there is not a concern with the heat transfer from a guest’s hands since the wine is already served at room temperature.

White Wine:   Typically a smaller glass than a red wine glass, the goal is to keep the chilled wine at temperature for the duration of the drink.  Although stemless white wine glasses are available, the wine will stay chilled longer if held by a stem.

Sherry:  Also called a “copita,” this glass resembles a red wine glass, though smaller.  Its narrow rim enhances the strong aroma of sherry or port wines.

Champagne Tulip/Coupe:  Part of the fun in serving or drinking champagne is to see the bubbles rise.  For this purpose, and to keep the sparkle from going flat, the tulip-shaped glass is a perfect choice.  The coupe is an elegant choice for a toast, but keep the serving size low—the short, round bowl of the glass is not optimal for bubble retention.

MISCELLANEOUS GLASSWARE

Beverage/Water/Iced Tea:  Similar in size and shape, these are generally considered a multi-purpose glass and are great for holding main beverages—from water to iced tea, sodas to milkshakes.

Highball:  Usually holds 8-12 fluid ounces.  This glass is typically taller than an Old Fashioned but shorter and wider than a Collins.  Use for mixed drinks that require large amounts of juice, soda, or ice, or as an all-purpose beverage glass.

Brandy:  Often referred to as a “snifter,” this glass is balloon-shaped with a short stem, which allows the glass to be cupped to transfer heat from the hand to the glass, naturally warming the beverage.  The balloon shape traps the aroma of the beverage in the glass.  Typically associated with brandy and Cognac service, the glass has evolved to present aged whiskeys as well.  The bowl of the glass should only be filled to a quarter or a third of capacity to allow the beverage to breathe.

Coffee:  Serves the same purpose as a coffee mug, but with a more elegant appeal.  This glass is perfect for adding a decorative touch to alcoholic coffee beverages.

Collins:  Originally designed to hold a Tom Collins, the glass is now used for serving many different types of mixed drinks.  This tumbler usually holds between 10-14 fluid ounces.  It is distinguished from a high ball by its narrow, cylindrical shape.

Cordial:  Small and dainty, this glass can be used to serve any sweet liqueur, and can also double as a beer sampler when an establishment wishes to maintain an elegant theme.

Margarita:  This glass has an exceptionally wide bowl, specifically designed for the salted or sugared rim often associated with a margarita.  The glass will often have a smaller bowl beneath the large bowl, although this is a purely aesthetic addition.

Martini/Cocktail:  For beverages that don’t call for carbonation or ice.  The drinker can hold the glass by the stem, thus maintaining the chilled temperature of the drink.  The shape of this glass also ensures the full effect of aromatic beverages as the drink is placed directly under the drinker’s nose.  Cosmopolitan glasses are stemless versions of a Martini/Cocktail glass.

Rocks/Old Fashioned:  Generally small enough to hold only ice and the liquor of choice.  Sometimes drinks served with “a splash” of water, soda, etc., or a mixed drink that is smaller (such as its namesake, the Old Fashioned) will be served in a Rocks or Old Fashioned Glass.  A Double Old Fashioned maintains the same shape as a Rocks or Old Fashioned, but holds about one and a half times as much, making it an ideal candidate for beverages served with fruit or other solid ingredients.

Shot/Shooter/Whiskey:   Typically designed to hold just 1-2 ounces of a single liquor or liquor mixed with another spirit or non-alcoholic ingredient.  In general the beverage is not sipped but rather “shot” quickly, although this is not always the case.  The shot glass is also often a bartender’s choice for measuring the alcoholic ingredient in a mixed drink.  Shooters are normally taller than a shot glass, and whiskey glasses are usually a bit wider to accommodate ice when requested.

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