CONCIERGE SPOTLIGHT
SUZY FOX
My name is Suzy Fox. Like 2/3 of the southern California population, I am a transplant.
I've spent most of my life in what sometimes feels like another land far, far away...maybe it was even "Over the Rainbow"! Actually, not only did I spend half a century near Minnesota's Lake Wobegon, but Mary Richards and I shared an alley! Really! Now that I think about it, I really have had quite a fabulous life - not, however, without its many bumps and unexpected detours...
Music is in my soul and in my bones. I have been a musician since I could crawl up onto a piano bench, spending most of my early years as a very serious and studious classical flutist. Only recently, over the last 12 years, have I retired my flute and begun the ongoing challenge of becoming a jazz vocalist! I love all genres of jazz although currently I seem to be focusing on electro-Brazilian jazz. As much of my repertoire these days is in Portuguese, I think it's a good idea that I try to understand what I am singing...so I've undertaken the very difficult challenge of learning Portuguese! It is very difficult as an adult to learn a new language, but I am trying.
During my life near 'Lake Wobegon', I lived in a beautiful home on a hill in the nicest part of my city, Minneapolis, where I raised and home-schooled my 3 wild and wonderful daughters! We spent our summers on a lovely lake at a family cottage in southern Minnesota, rode and showed Saddlebred horses, and helped create a theater troupe for home-schooled kids. As if that weren't enough, over the years we always managed to have our share of unique
houseguests. We also always seemed to have at one time or another at least three dogs, five cats, some cockatiels, and a few horses...and we did not live in the country, I might add! During those years I renovated my house four or five times and learned the skills of being a general contractor, interior designer, as well as becoming an artful and prudent shopper. In fact, my house can be seen in the New York Times best seller, the "Not So Big House." Fortunately or unfortunately, there was rarely a dull moment,
but my Wisteria Lane existence came to an abrupt end with my mother's death in 2002 and my father's death in 2003. Everything changed...and as I approached my mid-century mark many other things came to an abrupt and inevitable end, but with those endings came many wonderful new beginnings. Emotionally exhausted and tired of the biting cold, mounds of snow that needed shoveling, frigid cars that never wanted to start, and the constant
swatting of summertime mosquitoes, "Suzy's Great Adventure" began! With one daughter already on the West Coast, the California sunshine seemed to be beckoning, so I found a home for the birds, tried to sell the house, loaded up my truck with four cats, two angry daughters and the horse and moved to 'Beverly'...Hills that is....swimming' pools and movie stars!!!
Shortly after our arrival and after a grim and brief experience as a
personal assistant, I received a phone call from my sister-in-law, who happens to work in the hospitality industry. She told me that I should look for a concierge position...that it was 'soooo me'! Not knowing quite what it meant to be a concierge, it sounded good...getting paid to help people have fun! Who knew? I then 'googled' concierge and found a concierge job opening at Loews Beverly Hills Hotel, 6 blocks from my house. They were taking walk-in interviews the next day, so off I went. It had been 25 years since I had interviewed for a job! I walked into our lovely hotel, having no idea that this little oasis existed just up the street from me, and I was enchanted. Immediately I was taken to HR to be interviewed and then was led into an elevator that would take me "somewhere far, far away"....the elevator doors opened and there was Steve Leroy!!!!! The rest is history! This job was either made for me or I was made for this job! I will be forever grateful to 'Stevie' for hiring this Midwestern neophyte and giving
her this amazing new job opportunity. By the way, did I forget to mention
that the address of my new hotel is exactly the same as the address of the
home my parents lived in for 50 years and that I lived in for the first 20
years of my life - "1224"? It said to me, "Suzy, you are home!" I was
determined to learn everything I needed to learn at warp speed....and I
sorta did! Of course, I had my share of mistakes and mishaps, but my three
other co-concierge were patient and supportive and we always had loads of
fun! We always thought we had THE best concierge desk in the city!
Being a concierge has been unbelievably fun and rewarding. I love to say
that every week I have a new set of best friends. Some come back for
repeated stays, but most do not - that is the hardest thing about being a
concierge. I always hate saying good-bye to these fabulously wonderful
people with whom you share a brief moment in time, but you know you most
likely will never see again. My photo shoot with Elite Adventure Tours took place at my home away from
home, The LA Equestrian Center, where my beloved horse Misha resides. When
I am not riding him personally, Misha spends his time as an instruction
horse in Saddleseat riding at Jim Bennett Farms. If anyone is interested in
learning how to ride, please e-mail me directly and I will personally put
you in touch with Jim! |
