Barb’s journey in hospitality began at a small, family-run restaurant called Majestic’s in Welland, where she first experienced the industry as a guest during family meals. When Barb was old enough, she started washing dishes and eventually worked her way up to bartending. It was a place filled with meaningful moments and laid the foundation for her passion for hospitality.

When the family retired around the time Barb had her daughter, her focus naturally shifted to motherhood. As her daughter grew, Barb continued building her career, taking on her first supervisory role at the Port Colborne Country Club. Barb spent several years there, balancing seasonal work that allowed he to be home with her daughter during the winters.

Throughout her daughter’s childhood, Barb stayed connected to hospitality, working seasonally for over 11 years with another family-run business that she had come to know through my time at the golf course.

With her daughter now more independent, Barb returned more fully to hospitality. She joined the Meridian Centre as a suite server, quickly advancing to supervising and eventually becoming the Suite and Catering Coordinator. In this role, she organized large-scale events, including concerts and major functions such as the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. One of the highlights of Barb’s career was being selected to work the final Tragically Hip concert in Kingston, where she had the honour of serving the Prime Minister’s suite.

Throughout this time, Barb remained deeply connected to her community—continuing seasonal serving roles, supporting a local environmental initiative focused on honeybee conservation, and assisting with a small vending machine business.

In 2019, Barb joined Lake House Restaurant, where she has worked as a server, supervisor, and briefly as Assistant General Manager. Barb also explored a role in the banking industry, gaining valuable perspective before returning to hospitality full-time. Today, Barb continues serving and supervising in a way that supports both her professional passion and her personal responsibilities.

Barb feels incredibly fortunate to have worked with multiple family-run businesses throughout her career. Each experience has shaped who she is—both professionally and personally—and has allowed her to grow, adapt, and remain grounded in what matters most: connection, service, and community.