People You Should Know: The Heart of Hospitality

If you’ve eaten at Inovasi more than once, chances are Mario Rodriguez remembers your name. And if he doesn’t, he has a trick. Before working at Inovasi, Mario’s career was in person-to-person sales, where meeting hundreds of people made remembering names a challenge. So he invented a game - one he still plays today. “I believe taking the time and effort to learn someone’s name is both important and cool,” he says. His favorite example? Sally and Linda, two regular lunch customers. “I just think ‘S & L’- Savings & Loan - for Sally and Linda. Now every time I see them, that’s what comes to mind.” It’s a small gesture, but one that has helped make countless customers feel like friends.

Growing up in Chicago, he says he never truly understood what a close-knit community looked like. “We had neighborhoods, but nothing like this,” he says. “In Lake Bluff, everyone knows - or has heard of - everyone else. The moms know each other, the dads hang out together, the kids become lifelong friends, and best of all, everyone is happy for each other.” Working at Inovasi has only deepened that appreciation. He says he’s learned about the restaurant business, great food and the dedicated people who make the restaurant successful. But his favorite part has been watching families grow over the years. “I’ve watched kids learn to walk and talk, enter high school and even leave for college,” he says. “They actually keep me young.”

One recent interaction perfectly captured what Mario loves most about his job. A pair of first-time customers noticed how many people stopped to wave or say hello as they passed by. They finally asked, “Do you know everyone in Lake Bluff?” His answer came without hesitation. “Not yet,” he laughed, “but I’m working on it.” If you ask him how he’d like to be remembered, the answer is simple. “I hope people would say I’m hardworking, straightforward, and someone who loves to talk about just about anything,” he says. “I try to make every interaction memorable. And if you ever need anything from me, just ask. I’m here for you.”