New manager at Walden Inn Conference Center

By: Amelia Hill

Posted: 9/28/07

David Collier has taken over the general manager position at the Walden Inn Conference Center, since Scott Pasch stepped down after two and half years in the position.

Collier was hired by Sodexho, the leading food and facilities management at DePauw, and began working on Sept. 17. Collier said Sodexho was looking for a candidate with a background in working at colleges. Collier's 13 years of experience at institutions such as Colgate University and Hanover College encouraged him to apply. As general manager, Collier runs the entire operation.

The hotel is under extensive renovation, as the lobby and the coffee shop are being remodeled. Renovations began the summer before Collier stepped into the position. Collier said the construction work on the lobby is near completion.

A new restaurant, replacing The Different Drummer, is also being added on the first floor near the lobby. The restaurant is set to be open to the public Nov. 1. It is going to be a more upscale restaurant open to students and Greencastle community.

Collier said bringing in the Greencastle community was a primary focus of the new restaurant.

"We really want to encourage community involvement to come back to the restaurants here," Collier said.

Collier confirmed that both the restaurant and the coffee shop will take Tiger Cards for students.

Collier did not confirm a date for the return of the coffee shop. It will be located behind the new restaurant. In a press conference at the beginning of the year, Dick Speller, vice president for finance and administration, said the new coffee shop will cater to students during the day and of-age drinkers at night.

"There was a sense that the ... trustees needed something aside from a sports bar to end their day," Speller said. "The coffee shop will be a coffee shop by day and a quiet setting serving adult beverages at night as well."

Despite the construction on the majority of the hotel, the Fluttering Duck has remained open during renovations. Though The Duck will not be updating its look or feel, there have been some menu changes.

"We've added new things, but we have kept the items that were favorites of the students," Collier said.

In addition to the restaurant renovations, 54 guest rooms have recently been renovated and now feature flat screen televisions and pillow-top beds. The conference rooms have been updated to provide groups with a modern, technology savvy-place to hold meetings and discussions.

The renovating and sales teams working for the Walden Inn looked at the Den in Longden Hall as a model for their renovations. The Den has been successful, providing a place for students to eat, socialize and listen to live bands.

He also said he hopes the renovations, as well as the new restaurant, will attract the Greencastle community.

- Chris Daly contributed to this article.