AmaZing Training Experience

My uncle Dan Stebnitz and I, (for those who don’t know, Dan is also my partner in Stebnitz Builders) attended a three-day educational event in Ann Arbor, MI at the beginning of October, featuring the teachings of ZingTrain, the training arm of a unique corporation called the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. The conference was presented to members of Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, a peer organization we’ve belonged to for nearly 15 years. RAR is a great tool for us to continue offering a strong, profitable business to our clients.

ZingTRAIN is the brainchild of Ari Weinzweig, who opened Zingerman’s Delicatessen with a business partner 27 years ago. Today, the deli is still going strong—along with the six other enterprises that make up Zingerman's Community of Businesses (ZCoB). One ZCoB enterprise spawned another, thanks to sound management principles that Weinzweig developed in the trenches and adapted for each new line of business. These principles are the backbone of ZingTRAIN seminars offered by Zingerman’s Training Incorporated.

After Ari’s presentation, we talked to various Zingerman’s employees to see how Ari’s vision and mission permeate the company’s culture. We learned about the importance of developing a vision, which drives a mission statement and subsequently drives the core values that define a successful business. At Stebnitz Builders, quality drives everything we do, from the craftsmanship we put into our projects to the way we listen and communicate with clients. The ZingTRAIN seminar helped us realize that we are on the right path as we define the key elements that support our mission statement.

ZingTRAIN seminars have some interesting titles, but they’re all business in the best sense. The menu of choices includes topics such as Fun, Flavorful Finance, MerchandiZing, Leading with Zing, and Working with Zing: HR Systems that Support Zingerman’s Culture. Participants can also take part in Bottom-Line Training, The Art of Giving Great Service,
and Small Giants: Creating a Vision of Greatness. For more information about ZingTRAIN seminars, visit http://zingtrain.com/home.php.