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Article: Cooking up winning innovations; Ecumen, an operator of senior living centers, finds that the best ideas come from motivated employees - not hired hands.(BUSINESS INSIDER)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- March 20, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: H.J. Cummins; Staff Writer
When the cooks at the Mankato Lutheran Home wanted to set up a catering business on the side, it was just the far-fetched kind of idea their company was looking for.
Ecumen Inc., the Shoreview-based operator of 82 senior residences, has spent the past two years encouraging employees to think of bold ideas to make the centers as fine as they can be for the residents. The cooks formed Gourmet Apron, which catered enough business lunches and graduation parties to bring in an extra $34,000 for the home.
The brainchild of dining services director Shelly Sabatka won her a "wooden acorn" award. No money. No trip to ...