Longtime employee and CVB Partner Andy Rohrer is the VP of Sales and Marketing for Blue Gate Hospitality, so it’s a pretty good bet that if you have a question about an event in Shipshewana, Andy can probably answer it. Get to know a little more about him with this quick interview, below:
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your life here in Shipshewana?
A: I started working for Mel Riegsecker and Riegsecker Marketplace in 2000, straight out of college. My first role was Advertising Manager, but my responsibilities quickly expanded to include website management and ecommerce and in the early days I even managed the Box Office for the Theatre, then called the Meeting House. I have enjoyed working with the other merchants in town as part of the SRMA, serving on the marketing committee. I have loved seeing the growth of Shipshewana, not only in the Blue Gate family of businesses but also in many new shops and events that we now enjoy throughout town.
Q: What do you love about living and/or working here?
A: Shipshewana is a wonderful place to work, the people, place, food, and events give every day a chance to be a special one. The entrepreneurial attitude of the Riegseckers and other merchants in town keeps pushing the boundaries of what we can accomplish, and the creativity required to achieve those new goals is exciting and fun. One of the best day-to-day parts of my job is sampling the many incredible creations that come from the Blue Gate Bakery, it’s a wonderful perk! Plus attending many of the Blue Gate’s Concerts, and being part of the energy and excitement of a crowd, all while hearing some of the best artists in the world perform.
Q: What is the most interesting thing you get to see or do in your position with Blue Gate?
A: It’s hard to pick, there is so much that goes into what we do in Shipshewana. But, one of the fun parts of my role is getting to see a lot of the pieces and how they fit together. A lot of hard work, creativity, and people just working together as a team! Seeing those interactions and pieces on a day-to-day basis and then what that means on the “data” side of what those pieces create is by far my favorite thing.
Q: Is there anything coming up in 2024 that you’re particularly excited about?
A: When I look ahead, I’m usually most excited about seeing the results of whatever we’re currently working on. There is a very satisfying feeling to knowing that when you work hard in helping create an event or product you can see the results! But in addition to that, there are a couple concerts coming up next year that I get to share with family and friends who are BIG fans, I really enjoy giving those experiences when I can.
