Reynolds Lake Oconee is pleased to announce the recipients of its Fourth Quarter Employee Awards for 2022. Silvia Schouest, Banquet Chef, has been named Leader of the Quarter, while Renee Hadley, Service Assistant, F&B, and Sami Stevens, Sr. System and Software Specialist, have been named Employees of the Quarter.
Chef Silvia Schouest came to Reynolds Lake Oconee with many years of culinary experience. Her huge impact can be felt through the positive ripples she creates as the Banquet Chef. She has been a breath of fresh air in the banquet kitchen, and since her arrival, has taken ownership of the planning, organization, and execution of all banquet events around the property. Her energy and passion in the kitchen are infectious, as anyone who has watched her work can attest. She gains respect through her charismatic nature and the spirit of nurturing and treating her staff as family, and she continues to push herself and her team to achieve great results.
“For me, it doesn’t get any better than working with my staff and having the freedom of creation,” says Schouest. “I was a banquet chef for the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans before joining Reynolds. I am self-made and have been blessed to learn from many talented chefs.”
In her spare time, Chef Silvia likes to watch the Food Network Channel and food documentaries, walk, swim, and read. She has one daughter, and a dog with a very funny name, Papas Fritos.
Renee Hadley has been with Reynolds since 2015. She began working as a banquet server, before quickly moving into the restaurant area as a service assistant for several years and then becoming a server at The Tavern.
“The best part of my job is being able to form great relationships, create memorable experiences, train, educate, and learn while joining forces to come up with best practices and improvements for the team to become assets in the present and future,” says Hadley. “I enjoy the people, the environment it fosters, the quality of life it gives, and the room for growth.”
“Before joining Reynolds I worked in Business Administration and Management,” says Hadley. “I would like to mention my parents, Michael and Doris Hadley, from whom I got my work ethic and principles, it has been a true blessing inside and outside of work.”
When not serving at The Tavern, she enjoys reading, writing, shopping, cooking, and going to live shows.
For 26 years, Sami Stevens has worked at Reynolds Lake Oconee, starting as a snack bar and beverage cart attendant while in college, then moving to IT after graduation.
“I’ve had the opportunity to experience work from both the guest services side and the support services side,” says Stevens. “It definitely helps to see both sides to have a better understanding of the company as a whole.” Stevens loves the challenge her position presents, “having to sometimes step back and troubleshoot from the beginning to the end through trial and error, and finding many rewards when finally resolving the issue.”
When not solving IT problems around Reynolds Lake Oconee, Stevens spends much of her time with her three children, Dylin, Sydnie, and Vincent, and two dogs, Drake and Bella. She also enjoys working in the yard/gardening and doing projects around the house.
