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Bright Spot – Bob Spizzo is proud of his business success and humble.
The CEO of Breezy Point Resort doesn’t have a designated parking spot at Pelican Lake Resort, which his family has owned for 41 years.
He drives an 11-year-old car.
He picks up trash at the resort and turns off the lights.
And he doesn’t care about formal titles. In fact, he is known to refer to workers from Jamaica and Mexico as “Uncle Bob.”
“I’m not proud of my success. I’d rather share it than show it,” Spizzo said. “But I’m proud of all the things we’ve done.”
Note that Spizo says “I,” not “we.” He attributes his achievements to others – a coalition that includes his family, his employees and the bankers who all believe in him.
In recognition of his long resort career, Spizzo will receive the Business Legacy Award at the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Nov. 17 at Cragun’s Resort Celebration of Excellence.
“Developer, visionary, and owner of Breezy Point Resort, Bob Spizzo began his journey in 2015.
It was his drive, dedication and commitment that gave him the opportunity to move from sales to ownership of the resort in 1981.
The award came as a complete surprise, Spizzo said.
“I didn’t expect it. I’m just so honored,” he said.
Asked to describe his legacy during an interview in a meeting room at Breezy Point Resort, Spizzo said, “My legacy is to see how many generations come back and say, ‘You’re still here.'”
His work is for Him alone.
“I own four golf courses; I don’t play golf. I own a boat marina; I don’t build or sail boats. So what do you do for fun? I come to Breezy Point. This is my joy. This is my hobby. This is my life. I like to see things grow.” ” said Spizzo. “I like to come up with a new idea and say ‘let’s try it.'”
He thanked his supportive family, including his wife of 55 years, Kay, and three children – Tom, Marissa and David.
“I have a wife who understands that I have to work. That’s what motivates me,” Spizzo said. “But for me it is no longer a job. For me, every time I come to the office is a new challenge.”
Thanks to the amazing team that has stood behind him through good times and bad, especially Dave Gravdahl and Joyce Bzoski, who have been with him for decades.
It’s something he’s very proud of.
“I’ve been able to attract loyal, loyal, loyal people who have been with me since Day 1,” Spizzo said. “We have no glass ceiling at Breezy, so women have most of the management jobs at Breezy Point.”
This includes Bzoskie, of Whitebirch Inc. President, the parent company of the resort established to market and develop land around the resort.
Like any business, the resort — which employs 200 people year-round and 700-800 in peak season — has had tough years with ups and downs. Spizzo said he has always been honest with the banks, through good times and bad.
“They believed in me, they still believe in me,” he said.
Nancy Vogt / Eco Journal
Likewise, good and bad decisions are made. The main thing is to do more good than bad.
Challenges include the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as years in which interest rates have risen to 18 percent. The remaining challenge is trying to find employees, especially motivated employees.
The Spizzo family – including Bob – cleaned beds and toilets at the resort due to staff shortages.
“If I didn’t have foreign workers now, I wouldn’t have a cook. I would not have a servant. We wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Speaking of regrets, Spizo says, “I regret not growing up faster; “Especially seeing as my biological clock is ticking and I still have a lot of things on my bucket list that I want to do at Breezy Point,” he said.
When told something can’t be done, Spizzo gets really fired up.
“Then I have to prove to other people and myself that yes, it can be done,” he said. “I’m lucky to have the vision to see what other people don’t.”
And he surrounds himself with supportive staff.
I don’t have anyone around me saying “yes” to different opinions. “I surround myself with people who are smarter than me.”
A visionary example is when Breezy Point Resort built a hockey rink on County Road 11 to attract year-round customers.
“And that’s changed the whole complex of the resort where we’re really going to be a year-round resort,” Spizzo said.
His bucket list includes installing a second ice sheet at the rink.
Spizo is proud to have more than 10,000 timeshare owners purchase at Breezy Point Resort. And it lists the active adult housing that has been filled and is still being built around the area’s lakes.
Spizzo is pleased with the evolution of Breezy Point Resort.
“As society changes, we have to change with it,” he said, adding that he never imagined the resort would employ more than 75 foreign workers today, mostly from Jamaica and Mexico.
“They’re certainly more expensive than the American workers I’ve never met,” Spizzo said.
The resort recently paid $1.5 million to build dormitories for foreign workers.
“We see the ability to bring in foreign students as a very important part of Breezy Point’s growth,” he said.
Although Spizzo has no plans to retire — he now takes a half-day off on Sundays — he also takes pride in working side-by-side with one of his sons.
“I’m very lucky. David Spizzo is taking on a lot of my responsibilities, and I couldn’t have found a better successor. He shares my dream. He grew up in the business,” said the elder Spizzo, who began picking up trash Sunday mornings with his father at the resort when he was 9 and 10 years old.
Now the third generation is joining. At the age of 11, David’s son went to the resort to earn money.
Spizzo sees the future of Breezy Point Resort as them doing more of what they are doing. In addition to a second ice rink and more active-adult housing, Spizzo cited goals to expand the Quinn Regional Medical Center clinic and add more rooms/accommodations to accommodate people who gravitate to the area.
What makes him happy is seeing a guest, employee or creditor enjoying other people.
“When you’re happy, I’m doing something right, and I’m paying the interest on time,” Spizzo said.
Seeing people on the resort beach, and in the parking lots, and at breakfast in the morning makes it feel good.
It always comes back to “we” and not “me”.
“We did it together,” he said. “That’s why I’m so honored and humbled. I am a very humble person, I am grateful.
He is grateful for good health, a great family and the community of Breezy Point that he loves.
Spizzo There are three things in life: doing something; What to Expect: And a loved one.
He has all three.
Business Legacy Award Winners
- Stewart C. Mills Jr. (2016)
- Arnie Johnson (2017)
- Paul and Lynn Hunt (2018)
- Dutch and Irma Kragen (2019)
- Ron and Al Lindner (2021)
- Bob Spizzo (2022)
Nancy Vogt, editor, can be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.
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