Celebrating the women shaping every stay at Hotel Alexander.
At Hotel Alexander and Arch + Cable, our story has always been rooted in people, our guests, our community, and the team members who bring our spaces to life every day. This March, in honor of Women’s History Month, we are proud to shine a light on something that makes our hotels especially meaningful to us: we are women-owned and largely women-operated. From leadership and management to operations, hospitality, and guest experience, women play a vital role in shaping the culture, creativity, and care that define our properties. Throughout the month, we will be highlighting the incredible women who help make our hotels what they are today. Each story reflects a different journey, perspective, and contribution, but they all share a common thread: a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and community.
Where Leadership, Creativity, and Hospitality Meet
Boutique hotels are often defined by their design, their atmosphere, or their location. But at Hotel Alexander and Arch + Cable, the story begins with something deeper: vision. These properties were brought to life through the leadership and partnership of Michelle Schooff and Dr. Julene Nolan, two women whose careers span very different fields yet share a common thread: an unwavering commitment to community, innovation, and people. Together, they helped create hospitality spaces that reflect the character of downtown Mankato while offering guests an experience that feels thoughtful, welcoming, and unique.
Different Journeys, Shared Purpose
Michelle Schooff built her career in global business and marketing strategy, leading initiatives at an international scale while maintaining deep roots in the Mankato community. Dr. Julene Nolan’s professional work focuses on psychology and education, supporting students, families, and schools through her expertise in child development and mental health. While their professional paths differ, both women share a similar philosophy: meaningful spaces and strong communities are built through intention, collaboration, and care for the people they serve. Through Hospitality Ventures, their partnership helped bring two boutique hotel concepts to downtown Mankato: Arch + Cable and Hotel Alexander. Rather than creating traditional lodging, the goal was to design spaces that felt distinctive and reflective of the city itself. Each property blends thoughtful design, modern comfort, and a sense of place that celebrates the history and character of the community. Today, the hotels welcome travelers, families, athletes, business guests, and visitors from around the country who come to experience Mankato.
Women Shaping the Future of Hospitality
The leadership of Schooff and Nolan sets the tone for the culture and values behind the properties. Their work demonstrates how entrepreneurship, community investment, and thoughtful leadership can come together to create businesses that contribute to both economic growth and community pride. The women leading and working within these hotels continue to build on that foundation every day, ensuring that guests are welcomed with the same spirit of care and attention that inspired the hotels in the first place. The stories of the women behind Hotel Alexander and Arch + Cable remind us that leadership takes many forms: Sometimes it looks like building companies, sometimes it looks like investing in communities. And sometimes it looks like creating spaces where people feel welcomed, valued, and inspired. Through their leadership and vision, Michelle Schooff and Dr. Julene Nolan have helped create places that bring people together, and that story continues with every guest who walks through the doors.
In every thriving community, there are individuals whose vision quietly shapes the future. In Mankato, one of those leaders is Michelle Schooff, a business executive, entrepreneur, and community advocate whose work has helped elevate both local industry and community life. Michelle’s professional journey spans more than two decades in the technology sector. As a Vice President of Industry Marketing Strategy at SAP, she has spent her career helping organizations around the world navigate innovation, growth, and digital transformation through strategic marketing leadership. Yet despite operating on a global stage, Michelle’s roots and her passion remain firmly grounded in southern Minnesota. Raised in the small farming community of Rose Creek and educated at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Michelle built her career with the same values that define many Midwestern communities: hard work, collaboration, and a deep belief in giving back. Those values are evident in the impact she has had across the Greater Mankato region.
Investing in the Community She Calls Home
Michelle is our co-founder and partner of Hospitality Ventures, LLC, a woman-owned hospitality company created with the goal of strengthening downtown Mankato’s visitor experience. Through this venture, she helped bring two boutique hotels to life: Arch + Cable Hotel and Hotel Alexander. The vision behind these projects was larger than simply creating places to stay. Michelle and her partners recognized a growing opportunity: as Mankato expanded its ability to host conferences, sporting events, and tourism, the community needed unique spaces that reflected its character and energy. These hotels now serve as more than accommodations; they have become gathering spaces that support local events, downtown vibrancy, and regional economic growth.
Leadership Beyond Business
Michelle’s influence in the region extends well beyond entrepreneurship. She has consistently dedicated her time and expertise to organizations that strengthen the community and create opportunities for others. She has served on boards and supported initiatives including: The Minnesota State University Foundation, Line Change Collective, The Greater Mankato YMCA, and The Mankato Area Foundation. Her commitment to philanthropy also includes establishing scholarship funds through the Mankato Area Foundation, with her husband, David, helping students pursue education and career opportunities they might not otherwise have. Michelle has also been deeply involved in major regional initiatives such as Hockey Day Minnesota in Mankato, where she served as co-chair of an effort that brought statewide attention, community pride, and philanthropic support to the area. Influence in a community does not always come from holding the loudest microphone. Often, it comes from the people who consistently invest their time, resources, and leadership into making a place better for everyone. Michelle Schooff is widely regarded as one of those people. She has played a role in bringing new business ventures to the region, supporting nonprofit organizations, and creating spaces that help Mankato grow as a destination city. Her leadership bridges multiple worlds: global corporate strategy, local entrepreneurship, and community service, demonstrating how professional success and civic responsibility can go hand in hand. During Women’s History Month, Michelle’s story is a reminder that leadership often looks like building something that benefits others: opportunities for students, gathering places for visitors, and economic vitality for the community. Her work reflects a powerful idea: success is not just measured by what you build professionally, but by how deeply you invest in the people and places around you. And in Mankato, Michelle Schooff’s impact continues to be felt every day.
