10 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 Hoaglands promote Sanders to president Hoagland Properties Inc., the parent company owner of Florence’s Old Town Inn and River House Inn, announced the appointment of Craig Sanders to company president. Sanders assumes his new role upon owners Gary and Loretta Hoagland’s retirement this month. “Gary and I are pleased to announce the promotion of Craig Sanders to president of Hoagland Properties Inc.,” said Loretta Hoagland. “The board’s unanimous vote elected Craig to this position as well as to the position of board mem- ber. Craig has a deep knowl- edge of the business and will take over the day-to-day opera- tions of the corporation.” Gary Hoagland will retain his title of chairman of the company’s board and will remain in touch on all aspects of the business. Loretta Hoagland will con- tinue as vice president and sec- retary of the board and retain her advisory roles. The Hoaglands are retiring to the Portland area. Among Sanders’ many goals is to continue the properties’ climb in TripAdvisor’s ranks. In 2013, The Old Town Inn ranked in the middle of more than 200 properties on the Oregon Coast. Today it is regu- larly in the top 10 and number one in Florence, and just received TripAdvisor’s recog- nition as one of the country’s top 25 bargain hotels for cus- tomer satisfaction. The River House Inn consis- tently ranks in the top three for Florence. Experienced hoteliers, the Hoaglands bought The River House Inn and the former Money Saver Motel (now The Old Town Inn) in 1999, at a time when the two properties were in need of improvement. Sanders was hired in 2000 as general contractor and the con- tinuous improvements in facili- COURTESY PHOTO Gary Hoagland, Craig Sanders and Loretta Hoagland ties and service were begun. In 2007, Sanders accompa- nied Gary Hoagland to Salina, Utah, to size-up a Super 8 Motel for eventual purchase. “During the trip, Gary men- tioned needing a general man- ager in a couple of years,” said Sanders. “I started reading-up on the hotel business by getting college textbooks on hotel management and operations, learning operational software such as payroll and business accounting, and learning about human resources, marketing, risk management and safety issues.” “I became Gary and Loretta’s general manager over dinner one night in 2008,” Sanders remembers. “Gary handed me his office keys and said,‘We’re going on vacation. You’re in charge.’” Sanders led a major renova- tion of The River House Inn’s street-side appearance in 2007, converting its old-style motel appearance to one of a contem- porary Craftsman-style inn complete with a new entryway and portico, a multi-gabled roofline, a stone chimney and pillars; and redesigning the office, lobby, conference rooms and adding a breakfast area. In 2013 Sanders was named vice president of the company and led the $750,000 renova- tion of The Old Town Inn and The River House Inn. More than 80 percent of the work was done by people from the Florence area. They used more than a dozen local con- tractors and sub-contractors, and purchased the majority of their materials locally. As a result of their ongoing investment in improvements and maintenance, as well as their attention to detail and very competitive pricing, Hoagland Properties’ two inns have won local recognition as clean, comfortable, affordable places to stay-and as one of the area’s favorite overnight acco- mmodations for local people to recommend to their out-of- town guests. “Every day it’s something different. I like that,” said Sanders. “Guest relations can be fun. I like talking with visi- tors about their trip and helping them find fun things to do.” “Gary and Loretta are very generous and employee-foc- used. I’ll continue that because that is the foundation to our success. We like giving merit- based raises and bonuses to our THANK YOU FLORENCE! T HE 5 TH A NNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR & 5K WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! Special thanks to… Exhibitors: Korando Dental Group Best For Hearing Osburn Veterinary Clinic The Florence Chapter of Oregon Right to Life Siuslaw Area Partnership to Prevent Substance Abuse 90by30 Studio Florence Pro-Fit Clinic New Horizons In-Home Care Us Too Florence Elderberry Square The Shorewood Retirement Residences McKenzie Willamette Medical Center CERT—Community Emergency Response Team Whiskey Creek Organics Dreamscape Massage Coastal Fitness TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Waves Spa Dynamic Hearing Solutions Peace Harbor Medical Center Peace Harbor Home Health and Hospice Lane Blood Center Sonshine Christian School Florence Seventh-day Adventist Church Fred Meyer EmiLy’s HerbaLs Spruce Point Assisted Living The National Alliance for Mental Illness The Lois Davidson Better Living Center HealthNet Seminar Presenters: Dr. Charles W. Korando Joan Taber Lucas Stang Dr. Gina Wilson Frank Nulty Karen Hazelwood Jim Archer Emmanuel Beaulieu Amy Tanikawa Emily Frazier Bob Horney Mechelle Hoselton Richard Koehler Jenny Velinty George Lydick Charlie York Jim Mitchell John Herbst Ann Waters Special Providers: Mayor Joe Henry The Bridgewater Restaurant Fresh Harvest Bakery Nature’s Corner Coastal Fitness Jim Archer The Siuslaw News KCST/KCFM On The Coast Printing Tree House Signs Florence Events Center staff & volunteers David Ross Photography Susy Lacer Tami Jenkins Wendy Korando Kim McKinnis Cathy Raymer Linda Sharpe Peggy Smitherman Ann Steward Siuslaw Valley Fire Department Tracy Markley Bonnie Coombs and the Tumble Bugs Western Lane Ambulance District …and all the other volunteers who gave of their time and talents! staff, and sharing from our financial successes.” Sanders will continue the ongoing customer service training which has resulted in the staff holding competitions for cleanest rooms and quickest turn-arounds. Housekeepers are rewarded every time the word “clean” appears on a guest comment card. Managers are rewarded for every TripAdvisor review that is scored a 4 or higher. Managers often do not release a room for use until they per- sonally inspect it thoroughly, even to the extent of getting down on their hands and knees to check under beds and chairs and behind dressers and armoires with a flashlight. “The staff is very helpful to guests in recommending places to eat, shop and find things to do while in Florence,” adds Sanders. “They often print maps, menus and tide charts; make restaurant reservations; coordinate dune buggy, horse- back or airplane rides and organize golf. They serve like hotel concierges and research everything, down to what each local restaurant has on special each evening.” Sanders became a licensed contractor in 1973. He has also worked as a scuba dive master, underwater photographer and had a dive business in Brookings, Ore., with wife Jeanni. Sanders is an avid golfer and active member of the Florence Rotary Club. He heads Rotary’s annual Cool At The Coast golf tourney as a fundraiser for several local non-profits. ‘Grow your own’ garden at May 2 Green Fair Learn to “grow your own” with Laurel Bay Gardens at the Florence Green Fair on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Florence Events Center. Laurel Bay Gardens will feature organic gardening soils and products to help gardeners put the green in their land- scape. Laurel Bay Gardens staff will also be helping kids plant their own bean seeds in a organic peat container. Learn what plants attract wildlife to your yard. Be sure to check out Laurel Bay Gardens’ shipment of wild bird and hummingbird feeders, along with mason bee homes and garden art. Spring has Sprung at Silver Sand Dollar Sterling Silver Jewelry at a fraction of the price that other stores charge • Collectible Hand Carved Eggs • Sterling Silver Jewelry • Candle Scarfs • Plates • Gallery Pieces • Turquoise Jewelry • Glass Art • Earrings • Pendants • Gift items and MORE ON SALE! On-Site Parking Silver Sand Dollar Gallery Jewelry and Gifts 1499 Bay Street (Old Port Building) 541-997-0111 Closed Tuesday and Wednesday Oregon Hunters Association sends a special THANK YOU to the Donors for helping make our 2015 OHA-SIUSLAW Banquet a success. Three Rivers Casino and Hotel Pro Lumber King Logging True Value Hardware Leupold Corporation Sandpines Golf Course Knecht’s Auto Parts – Florence Mo’s Restaurant J&J Automotive Brian’s Barber Shop Big Dog Donuts & Deli Alpine Optics Springfi eld Country Club Copeland Lumber Li’l Toe Truck Les Schwab Corporation Kozy Kitchen Florence Glass Service Cabela’s Oregon Rain Soap Diamond Woods Golf Course, Monroe International Seafood Market Kathleen & Nina’s Restaurant Coastal Fitness Brower’s Coin & Stamp Fiddler’s Green Golf Course, Eugene Country Roads RV Siuslaw News Steve’s Automotive Timothy Robins, Mystic Woods Sid & Betty Norwood BJ’s Ice Cream Rick Desantis Dunes Cafe Lucky & Willie Jenkins Dan & Linda Straight Onestringer Arrow Wraps Wac’em Broadheads HornHunter Packs Athens Archery Outlaws Custom Creations Sandland Adventures Larry & Sue Bouchet Grocery Outlet Florence Yahama Dick & Carol Johnson Harold & Lynn Johnson Wild Country Outfi tters Kathy Casey Lucy Lu Benchmark Outdoors Bowtech Archery Kneading Relief Massage Beauty By Delivery Day Spa Camofi re.com The Pink Parlor Benchmark Outdoors Skyline Roofi ng Siuslaw News Photo Gallery Coming Soon Now Showing Pow Wow Rotary Easter Egg Hunt Home & Garden Show SHS Baseball & Softball MHS Track Door Prize Sponsors: Rosa’s Family Restaurant Los Amigos Burritos Mon Ami Gourmet Deli Ichiban Restaurant …and our primary underwriter, the Korando Dental Group! The Community Health Fair is presented as a community service by the Florence Seventh-day Adventist Church. To reserve your exhibit space for next year’s Community Health Fair, call 541-999-2052 or e-mail fl orenceorhealthfair@gmail.com. View at www.thesiuslawnews.com Photos available for purchase* 5x7 – $5 00 • 8x11 – $7 00 Purchase at 148 Maple St. 541-997-3441 *Photos online are reduced quality – Actual photos purchased are high resolution, high quality.