Meet 4-week Graduate: Frank Bower

Employer: Mission Point Resort
Title: Financial Controller
Date of HTIM course completion: January 2025
Location: Mackinac Island, MI
​
Why did you want to enroll in the HTIM financial course?
To learn financial best practices and strategies for improving the bottom line of our operation and to expand my knowledge of financial management in the lodging industry. ​​

How will this help you step up in your career?
Having the knowledge of hotel financial management and the formulas presented in the course such as occupancy, rev par and average daily rate helps us in forecasting, revenue management and controlling our expenses. 
 
What advice do you have for other folks in the hospitality industry who are looking for ways to grow their career?
I would encourage anyone in a management role, or aspiring to a management position, take the financial management course to increase their knowledge of the business operations side of the industry. 
 
What was your favorite part of the HTIM financial course?
The online course material was very easy to understand, and the information delivered was useful in my daily work at the resort. The instructor made the course interactive and more informative.
 
How long have you been working in the industry? 
I’ve been in and out of the industry throughout my 40-year career. I’ve been at Mission Point for three years and it’s something I have been training towards for my whole career where every experience has been called into play. 
 
Can you share more background on your current role? 
I oversee the accounting department for Mission Point Resort. I manage three accounting clerks and two of them completed the course with me. We handle the cash, reconcile the credit cards and all other transactions that flow through the resort daily. Accounts payable and receivables with direct billing and credit management for over 100 groups and associations that visit the Resort annually. We manage the payroll for more than 300 employees and utilize several software applications to manage the business. We teach employees how to handle cash, process purchase requests and invoices. We work closely with the reservations and front desk team to respond to guest inquiries and take payments for deposits and final invoice payments for groups and weddings. We are the hub of knowledge that insures every staff member is following a process that is easy to understand and contributes to overall business success.  
 
What was your first job in hospitality? How did you get into this industry?
I went to Ferris State University for Professional Golf Management (Marketing) in 1986. While going to school and working. I began as a food and beverage employee, manager in training and eventually became a GM for Domino's Pizza in Big Rapids. I then opened a retail bicycle store in Big Rapids in 1991. I closed the Bicycle store in 1998 and returned to hospitality industry. I found a position as a food service franchise consultant for Orion Food Systems where I would inspect restaurant operations and create business plans and financial forecasts for the franchisee. That position led to a new business opportunity, and I found myself back in an ownership role and back in the hospitality industry. From there, I returned to Ferris State University in 2009 for my accounting degree and then opened an accounting and tax practice. One of my clients was a private golf club in Northern Michigan. I started as their Accountant beginning in 2013 and then grew into the controller and eventually became the general manager in 2020. In 2022, I learned about an opportunity that led to my current role at Mission Point Resort which I began in the spring of 2022. 
 
Please share interesting/fun fact about yourself! Like your favorite food, or place to travel, or a quirky fact!
I love to ride my bicycle long distances up to 100 mile a day. I have backpacked more than 250 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Northern Georgia to just north of the Smokey Mountain National Park. 
 
Anything else you’d like to share?
It takes a servant's heart to enjoy what you do and be successful in hospitality!
 

Learn more about Financial Management courses

Apply now