Employee of the Week: A Manager Who Enjoys A Challenge

Each week, Tinley and Orland Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual employees who are holding it down at work.

We want to hear about local dedicated staff members and will highlight one them for our Employee of the Week. Submit your nominations in our comment box below or e-mail the information to  or  at. Be sure to include all of the information that's featured below.

Now, back to business.

Walking into , customers are immediately met at the door by staff, seated and then it's off to wing heaven.

But behind the staff that seats, greets, takes orders and cooks food is a team of managers who set the course for the restaurant. One of them is Liz Gardner, Patch's , as nominated by Cheryl Powers Rojek, director of training for the southwest Buffalo Wild Wings franchise.

• Employee's Name: Liz Gardner

• Workplace:

• Position: Manager

• Time spent working there: Two months in Tinley Park and four years in Bradley, Ill.

• Nominated by: Director of training for the southwest Buffalo Wild Wings franchise, Cheryl Powers Rojek.

• Why? Liz oversees more than 75 employees at Buffalo Wild Wings, and does so with a smile.

“Since coming to only a short time ago, Liz has become one of our most valuable employees,” Rojek said. “As one of the top 25 busiest Buffalo locations in the nation, coming into this restaurant can be an intimidating thing. However, Liz came in and transitioned into her role as a manager trainer and an excellent manager ..."

• Key to Awesomeness: For Gardner, it's all about the challenge, she said. With so many customers coming and going, and staff constantly on the move within the restaurant, she acknowledged that it was intimidating. But also, invigorating.

“I love the challenges here, every day is something new and exciting for me,” she said. “I can be dealing with guests one second, then staff and then running the kitchen all in the matter of an hour. It's great.”

As for the favorite part of her job? Gardner said nailing it down was hard, but “running the window” in the kitchen during a busy hour might top the list.

“That rush when you get all those tickets and every one is working together to get food out, get orders in and take care of guests ..." she said. "The feeling of accomplishment when the rush is over is just great."

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