I arrive at the beautiful Heirloom Inn Hotel and ask at reception for Kate Armstrong.

KATE: Hi there. Come on through to my office. Tea?

AD: Yes thanks.

KATE: Michelle, could we have a pot delivered?

('Of course,' says Michelle from the reception front desk. I follow Kate to her office).

KATE: I understand you're interviewing residents new to Evergreen in the last twelve months?

AD: Yes, that's right. Why did you move to Evergreen?

KATE: Evergreen seemed like a good change of pace. A chance to get out of the city for a while... I mean, with my career, my daughter and I have lived in the heart of cities for most of Livia's life.

When the Regal hotel chain I work for offered me the transfer almost a year ago, I jumped at it. They wanted someone 'that thinks a little off center,' I believe was their choice of words (she smiles).

AD: What do you think of Evergreen?

KATE: I love it here. It's really beautiful and the people are very friendly.

AD: How do you find managing a hotel?

KATE: It can be very demanding, especially in peak season. And living on site means I never really leave work at work. You live and breathe it every day. But like any job, it has its pros and cons.

Regal's management is impressed with the speed of progress we've made to increase patronage and profit margins. I'm blessed to have a wonderful group of staff who are excited with the changes we've instigated to develop a strong clientele.

The hotel was pretty stale when I arrived. We've done a complete overhaul to systems and processes, become more digital savvy and introduced the organic restaurant. The produce is grown onsite or sourced from local Colorado organic farmers and wholesalers (her face lights up as she speaks about the organic influence).

KATE: You've figured me out (she laughs). Yes, it is a personal interest. We're slowly moving to many eco-friendly management processes. We're currently undergoing planning to move the hotel to wind and solar power. It's a long term project, but with the many blackouts we're having lately, it may have to be sooner. Oh how the universe works in mysterious ways (chuckles).

KATE: Well, we have a backup generator, though it can take up to fifteen minutes to set in. It often leaves many unhappy guests lately. We supply flashlights in all the rooms, however, these are often mislaid or taken home as souvenirs of late. The company's OH&S policy states candles are not to be used, for safety precautions. So handing out flashlights without alarming guests is all we can do at the moment.

KATE: For the moment, my daughter and I are quite at home here. The US is a wonderful change from living in Australia, but I do like to keep my options open.

KATE: No problem, nice to meet you.