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By Lisa Mackinder | M&C
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KALAMAZOO — If meeting places had theme songs, the Fetzer Center in Kalamazoo might best be characterized by that familiar tune from the 1980s sitcom “Cheers.”

As Connie Peruchietti, account executive at the Western Michigan University’s Fetzer Center told M&C, the center’s modest-sized staff makes it a place “where everybody knows your name.”

That’s a feature Peruchietti feels sets the Fetzer Center apart from other venues, saying its small numbers induce more of a team effort, with each player completely involved and wholly informed about each client and each event. The staff works hard at building friendships with clients and discovering their wants and needs for every meeting, event or conference.

Attendees notice.

“Because we’re smaller in nature, they don’t expect that commitment,” said Peruchietti. “But in many ways, it has intensified because we are a smaller facility.”

At an event, the welcome mat gets rolled out immediately, with a staff member greeting guests at the first entrance of the parking lot. Inside, the center always has someone at the front desk to welcome attendees and answer questions.

In 1982, the Fetzer Center opened on the campus of Western Michigan University and originally focused primarily on training. According to Peruchietti, many companies didn’t have in-house training at that time. As word of the center spread, it started diversifying its look and offerings. The social aspect spun off from there.

Peruchietti believes another facet sets the Fetzer Center apart from other venues. With no overnight accommodations, she said it strictly focuses on being a meeting, conference and banqueting facility. That factor keeps the focus zeroed in on its clients. She also sees the Kalamazoo location as a plus, which brings many repeat customers.

“That is a benefit for them,” she said. “We know what they like. We know their style.”

According to Peruchietti, Western Michigan University staff works hard at keeping the Fetzer Center current and updated — from little details to big. The center undergoes constant self-examination, with Peruchietti explaining that the staff always poses the question, “How do we look as compared to other facilities?”

Two years ago, WMU purchased 300-plus meeting room chairs. Other little touches include changing to touchless restroom faucets to avoid wasting water. Quite a few years back, the Fetzer Center underwent extensive renovation and incorporated green elements into the project.

“During renovation we started focusing on buying products to replace old ones that were environmentally friendly,” said Peruchietti, noting that designers at WMU are very focused on green efforts.

As part of WMU’s Auxiliary Enterprises (AE), the Fetzer Center concentrates on how it can positively impact energy usage. All rooms are climate and light controlled. She said green measures help the university with costs and by reducing the center’s carbon footprint.

The Fetzer Center has remained updated in other ways. According to Peruchietti, as Kalamazoo changed and broadened its industry mix, the center reflected that shift. The center has an extremely diversified calling card, hosting nonprofit banquets and lunches, conferences for faculty and staff, association meetings and videoconferences.

“It’s not a new buzzword for us for quite some time,” said Peruchietti of video conferencing, which the center has provided for 10 years.

She indicated many prospective employees use video-conferencing at the Fetzer Center during interviews for jobs across the world.

The center’s space includes Kirsch Auditorium, which seats 250 to 280; Putney Lecture Hall, which seats 90; a banquet hall that accommodates a group as large as 280 or as small as 30; and seven meeting rooms that offer a combination of sizes. Clients also use lobby space for what Peruchietti called “a multitude of events,” such as exhibits and conference check-in. A secluded, wooded patio and deck area are accessible from the lobby and banquet rooms. The Fetzer Center has full-service catering, with a menu that maintains flexibility for special requests.

Much of the center’s business comes from word of mouth. But it doesn’t rely on that ingredient alone. Peruchietti said the Fetzer Center builds on that factor and likened it to creating an ice cream sundae — which takes more than a single element to make it so good.

“We do find it necessary to facilitate that and keep that momentum going with advertising,” she said.

So far, the Fetzer Center has seen a small upswing in the pace of bookings, according to Peruchietti, who feels cautiously optimistic for the coming year. M&C

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• connie peruchietti
• fetzer center
• kalamazoo
• western michigan university