Introduce yourself to our readers. How did your passion for the Food and Beverage industry began?

My passion for the hospitality industry was instilled at an early age. My dad owned a Chinese restaurant in the Vietnamese area of Chicago and, although he closed the doors for good early in my childhood, his love for cooking and providing food and service to others rubbed off on me.

My own culinary journey began with cake pops when I was fifteen. My sister and I loved to bake and soon jumped in on that trend. What began as messing around in the kitchen soon became a small business, and each new batch I made was a chance to hone my approach, learn new skills, and create tasty little works of art.

Over the years, I have worked many types of food service/hospitality jobs, but working at mk The Restaurant in Chicago is what really “flipped the switch,” so to speak. This was my first experience working the line at a fine dining restaurant and Chef Erick Williams took me under his wing and showed me how tough, yet rewarding this industry can be. Though mk has since closed, Chef Williams now has a spot in Hyde Park called Virtue. I highly recommend anyone visiting Chicago to pay a visit and enjoy some great food and true hospitality. Chef Williams also recently received 2022’s Best Chef: Great Lakes James Beard award.

I wrapped up my BS at MSU Denver in Food & Beverage Event Administration — a degree I created through their Individualized Degree Program — in May 2021 and was originally on the hunt for a career in the events field. As luck would have it, Fiona Arnold, President and Owner of MAINSPRING, reached out to me via Instagram and expressed interest in meeting, and then worked with me to create a position in the company that encapsulates what I love to do. My current role is a bit of everything, everywhere, all at once, and I’m fortunate that I was raised to try anything and everything with the foresight that I may someday need those skills. 

Our team at MAINSPRING is much more than your typical developer. Everyone on our team wears many caps and has multiple skills and talents, making it the kind of environment where everyone can truly thrive.

While my role focuses primarily on social media, PR, special events and brand development for our new concepts, my days look completely different from one to the next. Personally, I love the fast pace and the day-to-day changes of scenery.

I’m fortunate to work on some really cool projects, and my approach is mostly the same for each: I want them to look and feel cute.