Meeting the Needs of a Discerning Clientele
The Aspen Housekeeper Academy was established in 2009 to help develop the talents of domestic service providers. Academy founders Scott Hale and Jill Smirl created AHA to address the shortage of well-qualified housekeepers in the mountain resort communities of Aspen-Snowmass, Beaver Creek, and Vail.
The Academy’s curriculum consists of classroom training and hands-on practice in an Aspen-Snowmass residence. AHA students are taught cleaning techniques, care and maintenance of fine furnishings and household items, equipment and agent safety, as well as how to develop and execute checklists and how to use household zoning. Students also learn about proper wardrobe care, laundry, ironing, and pressing. They learn how to execute exceptional household organization, etiquette, and vendor management. The are trained in the art of hospitality and how to be an effective communicator.
AHA training is held in Aspen, Colorado, several times each year. However, special arrangements can be made to host special off-site sessions of The Academy at worldwide locations to train existing or newly hired household or hotel staff.
Please contact us so we may discuss your needs.
About Jill Wilferth Smirl
As owner and operator of the Colorado franchise of Mom’s Best Friend, a national domestic staffing company, Jill has placed numerous highly qualified and trusted professionals in home throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. Prior to operating MBF, Jill spent five years as a regional Director for The Worth Collection, a bespoke designer and in-home wardrobe building service. In charge of the recruitment, management, and development of a sales force that spanned six states, Jill was consistently recognized for her top sales and managerial expertise. Jill’s experience working in luxury residences with an exclusive clientele has served her well and is the cornerstone of her ability to exceed the needs and expectations of her clients. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Jill lives in Vail and is a member of several local community and business organizations.
About Scott Hale
As a subsidiary of Scott’s Sybarite Lifestyle Management company, The Academy is part of an extremely well-respected, successful business that has been relied upon since 2003 to carefully select and thoroughly train dedicated service professionals for hundreds of clients worldwide. Prior to establishing Sybarite, Scott spent two years serving as the Managing Director of a national domestic staffing and training firm. His role involved the careful selection and meticulous training of estate managers, housekeepers, chefs, chauffeurs, and other private staff. Before transitioning to private service, Scott held managerial positions for more than fourteen years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, as well as Regent International Hotels. Scott’s passions for housekeeping is attributable to his three-year tenure as the Executive Housekeeper at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC. A graduate of the prestigious Cornell Hotel School, Scott resides in Beverly Hills but travels extensively to be available to his clients.