Longtime Quinn's manager retires

She was the last of the original Quinn's Hot Springs Resort managers hired by the late Andre Melief when he reopened Quinn's under his ownership.  

Nearly 40 people attended the sendoff for Susan Curry, who retired last Monday evening after 24 years of service. "It was a bittersweet celebration. It was really nice but I'm sad to leave," said Curry. "I really appreciate what Denise (Moreth) and the family did for me. They've been a great family to me," added Curry, who was hired as the accounting manager in February 1999. She had several responsibilities at the resort, including payroll, payables, cash handling, banking,  insurance, taxes, income and property, workers comp, and all things compliance. As the company's accountant, she routinely interacted with the Harwood House Restaurant, the tavern, lodging, the gift shop, and front desk.

"She was an integral part of our growth over the last 24 years at Quinn's," said Pieter Melief, Andre's second son and a part owner of the resort with his brother Mark and sister Erica. "Always working carefully to keep the finances in order, she was a quiet power that kept the engine turning from one project to the next. We'll miss her steady hand in her office, but look forward to seeing her on, we hope, her frequent visits," Pieter added.

"I loved working at Quinn's and I'll miss it," said Curry, who added that at 70 years old, it was time to move on. The family put on a special dinner party for her. Jessica Palmer, Melief's widow, and Marktraveled from Bozeman for the event and Pieter traveled from New York City for the retirement. Moreth said that the two chefs, Micheal Garrison and Justin Pilkington, volunteered on their day off to cook the retirement dinner. Curry received a memorable custom made plaque, numerous gifts, and lifetime use of hot springs pools. The event included several speeches and toasts at the near four-hour long party held at the resort's Paradise Hall.

"What a journey it has been from the dump it was when I started to the beautiful resort it is now. What a great job to work in such a beautiful place whose job it is to make our guests happy," said Curry. She remembered what Andre Melief used to tell her - "We are a happy place for happy people."

Curry received a bachelor's degree from Portland State University in liberal arts in 1993, minoring in speech communication. She also took accounting classes and worked as an accounting temp on and off between going to school. "I really enjoyed that as I got to work in a lot of different places and had a lot of variety," she said. She was offered many permanent jobs, but decided to work in Montana at Quinn's. Andre Melief had just purchased the resort and planned to make it into a high class destination place.

"I had taken trips and had wonderful experiences and met people who I never would have otherwise. Lots of memories and never a dull moment," she said. Curry said it's the people she'll miss the most. "We have a great staff and I have enjoyed working with them. What's great is I can still come to Quinn's as a guest and still see them."

Curry has no immediate plans for retirement except to enjoy life, be her own boss, do what she wants to do, get together with friends, travel, do home improvement projects, and be open to new possibilities. "I might even take up golf. I am definitely going to soak at Quinn's more now that I have more free time."

Susan excelled as she served Quinn's and the Quinn's team for 24 years with such humble confidence and superb leadership and ethics," said Denise Moreth, the general manager. "She stuck with Quinn's from our humble beginnings, when we had a rough time making payroll, to the success Quinn's is now," she said. "Susan was a huge asset helping us make it through the tougher times, as she saw the vision of where we could be one day."