Recognizing the women shaping each Arch + Cable stay.
At Arch + Cable, our story has always been rooted in people, our guests, our community, and the dedicated team members who bring our spaces to life each day. This March, in honor of Women’s History Month, we are proud to highlight something that makes Arch + Cable especially meaningful: 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 every stay with us. Throughout the month, we will spotlight the remarkable women who help make Arch + Cable what it is today. Each story represents a unique journey and perspective, yet all are united by a shared commitment to excellence, collaboration, and community.
Where Leadership, Creativity, and Hospitality Meet
Boutique hotels are often defined by design, atmosphere, or location. At Arch + Cable, the story begins with something deeper: vision. The hotel was brought to life through the leadership and partnership of Michelle Schooff and Dr. Julene Nolan, two women whose careers span very different fields but share a common foundation rooted in innovation, community, and people-first thinking. Together, they helped create a hospitality experience that reflects the character and energy of downtown Mankato while offering guests a stay that feels thoughtful, welcoming, and distinct. Arch + Cable was designed to be more than a place to stay; it is a space that connects modern comfort with local character.
Different Journeys, Shared Purpose
Michelle Schooff built her career in global business and marketing strategy, leading initiatives on an international scale while maintaining strong ties to the Mankato community. Dr. Julene Nolan’s professional work centers on psychology and education, where she supports students, families, and schools through her expertise in child development and mental health. While their professional paths differ, both leaders share a belief that meaningful spaces and strong communities are built with intention, collaboration, and genuine care for the people they serve. Through Hospitality Ventures, their partnership helped introduce two boutique hotels to downtown Mankato: Arch + Cable and Hotel Alexander. Rather than creating traditional lodging, their vision focused on crafting an experience, blending thoughtful design, modern amenities, and a strong sense of place that celebrates the city’s history and creative spirit. Today, Arch + Cable welcomes travelers, families, athletes, business professionals, and visitors from across the country who come to experience Mankato in a way that feels elevated, personal, and memorable.
Women Shaping the Future of Hospitality
The leadership of Schooff and Nolan sets the tone for the culture and values that guide Arch + Cable. Their work reflects how entrepreneurship, community investment, and intentional leadership can create hospitality spaces that foster both economic growth and local pride. The women leading and working within Arch + Cable continue building on that foundation every day, ensuring guests are welcomed with the same care, attention, and thoughtfulness that inspired the hotel from the very beginning. The stories of the women behind 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 vision and leadership, Michelle Schooff and Dr. Julene Nolan helped create a place that brings people together, and that story continues with every guest who walks through our 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 Vice President of Industry Marketing Strategy at SAP, she has guided organizations around the world through innovation, growth, and digital transformation with strategic marketing leadership. Yet even while working on a global stage, her 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 on values that define many Midwestern communities: hard work, collaboration, and a deep belief in giving back. Those values continue to shape the meaningful impact she has made across the Greater Mankato region.
Investing in the Community She Calls Home
Michelle is co-founder and partner of Hospitality Ventures, LLC, a woman-owned hospitality company created to strengthen downtown Mankato’s visitor experience. Through this venture, she helped bring two boutique hotels to life: Arch + Cable and Hotel Alexander. The vision behind these properties extended far beyond creating places to stay. Michelle and her partners recognized that as Mankato expanded its ability to host conferences, sporting events, and tourism, the community needed distinctive spaces that reflected its character and energy. Today, these hotels serve as more than accommodations. They are gathering places that support local events, enhance downtown vibrancy, and contribute to regional economic growth, welcoming visitors while creating spaces the community can take pride in.
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 those who consistently invest their time, resources, and leadership into making a place better for everyone. Michelle Schooff is widely regarded as one of those leaders. She has helped bring new business ventures to the region, supported nonprofit organizations, and created welcoming spaces that contribute to Mankato’s growth 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 reminds us that leadership often looks like building something that benefits others: opportunities for students, gathering places for visitors, and lasting economic vitality for the community. Her work reflects a powerful truth: success is measured not only by professional achievement, but by how deeply we invest in the people and places around us. And in Mankato, Michelle Schooff’s impact continues to be felt every day.
