Meet Mikhala Febel

We were lucky to catch up with Mikhala Febel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Mikhala with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I get my work ethic from my mom. She spent her career in the hospitality and event planning industry, which involves a lot of long hours, patience, organization and customer service skills. I have taken much of what I learned from her when it comes to fostering relationships, building community, and hosting events!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m Mikhala, the Community Manager for Yelp in the Twin Cities. This is my third year in the role, and my journey started back when I was in graduate school at the University of Minnesota.

I was looking for ways to be involved in my community and had a passion for food, and I became a member of the Twin Cities Yelp Elite Squad. I loved meeting fellow like-minded community members, connecting with small business owners, and discovering local hidden gems.

Fast forward to five years later, and I had the opportunity to lead our community of Yelpers here in Minnesota! Now, as the Yelp Twin Cities Community Manager, I manage and grow our Twin Cities Yelp Elite Squad (a national program is metros across the US!) and connect local Yelpers with awesome local businesses through events and experiences.

In the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 100 local businesses, from small businesses without a brick-and-mortar to local icons like the Minnesota State Fair.

My mission is simple: to create impactful, lasting connection and community between locally owned businesses and the Twin Cities Yelpers, foodies, and adventurers that are looking for great local spots. The energy, interest, passion, and community at events where we get to share a business owner’s story is what makes me proud to go to work every day.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Hospitality: Without a hospitality mindset and welcoming nature, a community doesn’t grow. Welcoming Yelpers of all walks of life into our community is a huge part of what I do and what I pride myself on!

Problem Solving: In events, and in life, things are bound to happen. Learning to quickly pivot, adapt, and problem solve – sometimes just an hour before a large event – is a vital skill to host successfully.

Empathy: Understanding what local business owners experience and connecting with their challenges and triumphs is a special part of my role. Meeting folks where they are at and finding out how we can be a support and a resource is my greatest reward in my role.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

We’re always looking for local businesses to spotlight here in the Twin Cities! There is no cost to partner, and we aim to showcase local businesses, hidden gems, and Twin Cities favorites on our @yelpmsp Instagram handle and in our Yelp Events.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yelp.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/yelpmsp
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikhala-stutzman/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=s4aGMZjvDSzHJQm6Y16b4A

Image Credits

@danielabuvatphoto