Brian T. Blair, MBA, CFSP:
Brian was born in Warminster, PA and grew up in different towns in the suburbs just west of Philadelphia as his parents’ family grew. He also grew to love the outdoors as a result of that growing family, regularly sleeping on the back porch of their home outside West Chester, PA just to get some peace & quiet away from his brothers!
After graduating from Bishop Shanahan High School, Brian attended Saint Joseph’s University on the edge of Philadelphia, PA with a degree in Computer Science with minors in Business and Mathematics. He worked his way up in the corporate world at Shared Medicals Systems, SEI Corporation while living just outside Downingtown, PA for about 11 years until the opportunity came along to move to sunny southern California in 1997. Working in Newport Beach, CA for 14 years, Brian realized he was about done with the corporate world and up came the idea to buy an Inn. See below how he and Charlie together got that idea!
Started during his high school years, mostly to get back and forth to attend school activities, Brian began riding his bicycle to school. That would begin a series of charity rides starting in 1983 with a 1000-mile trek around the perimeter of Pennsylvania to raise money for the American Cancer Society and Dreams Come True (a local Make-A-Wish type of organization). Well, 30+ years later Brian is still doing them! Every odd year since 1983, he joins his cohorts up in Palmerton, PA to begin each 500 miles. The group of about 65 riders & support folks for the Penn. Perimeter Ride Against Cancer (PPRAC) have raised over $2M in the fight against cancer. Just this past year, Brian rode the 500 miles once again from Conway, NH in the White Mountains on his way back to PA.
Brian thoroughly enjoys his adopted career, deciding and then preparing breakfast for up to 25 guests each morning, assisting guests with their vacation day plans here on Cape Cod and setting out the wine & cheese reception for guests after their day out exploring everything the Cape has to offer. We meet guests from near and far – as close as Boston and as far as China and New Zealand – and what is better than making folks feel like they are home away from home? Not much! 🙂
Charles M. Heinz, MBA:
Charlie was born in Burbank, CA and lived in the southern California area for only 2 years with his older brother before moving. His parents owned a couple of Orange Julius stands in the San Fernando Valley before his parents received the opportunity to purchase a McDonald’s franchise in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Charlie attended Cherry Hill East High School and lived in the South Jersey area are for about 18 years, working at the McDonald’s stores as a teenager along with a variety of other jobs. He had an interest to work within the hospitality industry during his college years and finally graduated with a BA degree in Business from the University of San Diego. Charlie was hired by ADP and pursued a career in sales. After working there for about 5 years, Charlie received his MBA degree from the University of Phoenix and continued his career at ADP for a total of 17 years, holding various positions there.
Charlie continues to work in the corporate world for now at Ultimate Software as an Executive Relationship Manager, managing about 80 clients scattered throughout the Northeast. On the weekends, Charlie jumps in to help Brian run the Inn. We thoroughly enjoy hosting all of our guests from all over the world who come to experience all that the Old Manse Inn has to offer!
Together:
While living out in Laguna Niguel, California, Brian and Charlie loved to take weekend trips over to Catalina Island. They usually stayed at the Inn on Mount Ada. Early in 2013, when Brian was about finished with the corporate world, the idea dawned about owning an Inn while staying at Mount Ada. “We like having people over and I enjoy cooking” is how the conversation went. That weekend eventually led to Brian quitting his career, flying with Charlie to Kennebunkport, ME to attend a seminar about innkeeping and then spending the next 9 months searching the country for the right Inn. After traveling the States, considering many different inns, doing our homework, the decision came down to just 3 inns – one on the coast of Oregon, one in the Berkshires and the Old Manse! Guess which one won?!
During the moving trip across the USA from California to Massachusetts, Brian and Charlie got engaged and were married in October, 2016 up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It was a perfect Autumn Day on Lake Winnipesaukee with family & friends. Having owned the Old Manse now for a few years, they continue to make the renovations that will make the guest experience better each year, hoping to leave a legacy of happy memories for every guest that stays!