Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikhala Febel
Hi Mikhala, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi there! I’m Mikhala, the Community Manager for Yelp in the Twin Cities. This is my third year in the role, and my journey started back when I was in graduate school at the University of Minnesota.
I was looking for ways to be involved in my community and had a passion for food, and I became a member of the Twin Cities Yelp Elite Squad. I loved meeting fellow like-minded community members, connecting with small business owners, and discovering local hidden gems.
Fast forward to five years later, and I had the opportunity to lead our community of Yelpers here in Minnesota! Now, as the Yelp Twin Cities Community Manager, I manage and grow our Twin Cities Yelp Elite Squad (a national program is metros across the US!) and connect local Yelpers with awesome local businesses through events and experiences.
In the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 100 local businesses, from small businesses without a brick-and-mortar to local icons like the Minnesota State Fair.
My mission is simple: to create impactful, lasting connection and community between locally owned businesses and the Twin Cities Yelpers, foodies, and adventurers that are looking for great local spots. The energy, interest, passion, and community at events where we get to share a business owner’s story is what makes me proud to go to work every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any road worth traveling always has a few hills to climb! And mine is no different. As a Community Manager, my role is to support local business owners with free resources, but I have found that developing these relationships and building trust in the community takes time. As I continue to grow our community presence in the Twin Cities, organic word of mouth between business owners about how we’ve helped share their story has been my greatest honor.
In a world that is increasingly online, there comes some challenges with showing the value of in-person events can bring. But I find that with community events, the deeper connections and ability for owners to share their story – human to human – has a lasting impact. Getting people through the doors for the first time is the hardest part: Once they’ve heard the owner’s story and experienced the business, it’s easy to come back again and spread the word.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the Community Manager for Yelp in the Twin Cities. My role is to connect our community of local Yelpers, foodies, and adventurers with awesome local businesses. My mission is to curate opportunities for community and connection in Minnesota.
I’m known for being a small business advocate, throwing some dang good events, and sharing local owners’ stories! I’m most proud of our Yelp Events that bring folks together to learn about and support local businesses. What sets us apart? Free events with a focus on sharing the story behind the business and creating lasting connections between local consumers and business owners.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’m a big believer in timing and things happening for a reason. When I was ready for a career change, I got the email that this position was open. I was already part of the Yelp Elite community in the Twin Cities, and couldn’t believe this could be my full-time job. There’s only one Community Manager in Minnesota, so I felt very lucky to get this opportunity at a time when I was ready to receive it! I still pinch myself that I am lucky enough to work with awesome small businesses and amazing community members each day.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @yelpmsp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yelpmsp
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/yelpmsp
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=s4aGMZjvDSzHJQm6Y16b4A
- Other: Recent events: https://www.yelp.com/collection/XwbAoMFbxXJgIo_vUR_15w/2024-Yelp-Elite-Events-Experiences?sort_by=date
