March 7, 2025 • 18 mins
Aimee Larson, SHRM-SCP is the President and Chief People Officer at Conway Restaurant Group, a Charlotte-based hospitality company founded in 2005. Since December 2021, Aimee has been instrumental in driving the company's strategic growth and operational excellence. She leads executive leadership alignment, optimizes revenue streams, and enhances guest experiences through innovative technologies. Conway Restaurant Group’s portfolio includes Napa on Providence in Charlotte’s Myers Park neighborhood, Napa at Kingsley in Fort Mill, SC, and the most recently opened Napa Bistro & Wine Bar | Stonecrest. Aimee also oversees HR strategy, talent pipeline development—including partnerships with local colleges—and initiatives that strengthen the company’s people-first culture.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the iHeartMedia Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women
in our community, presented by the Carolina Ascent and New
Hope Treatment Centers.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm so excited to have Amy Larson with me now,
who's been in some restaurants that I know you guys
have been into.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Amy, Welcome to the show. Thank you so much. I'm
thrilled to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Ye tell me a little bit about which restaurants you represent,
because I know you've got them all basically when it
comes to the list where.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I go to eat all the time. Yeah. So we
have the NAPA restaurants in the Charlotte area. We have
NAP on Providence in the Myers Park neighborhood, NAP at
Kingsley Over near the Baxter Village in Fort Mill. We
just opened in November at NAP at Stonecrest and the
Valentine area, and we'll be opening in Raleigh in the
Glenwood area at the end of April.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
That's so exciting. Yeah, expansion is an exciting time, especially Amy.
You and I have talked about this in the past
that during covid or as culture moves.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
To working at home, we want people in restaurants.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
We want you going out to lunch, going to dinner,
having these gatherings. How have you seen a shift and
kind of clientele over the years when it comes to
lunch dinner traffic.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Well, you know, dinner traffic has stayed relatively strong, but
we have seen the impact of work from home on
our lunch business. So we're always looking at creative ways
to get people into the restaurants, whether it be for
a quick social visit or a business lunch. We're trying
to make it fast to get in and out because
we are a you know, upscale, casual, you know, sit
(01:25):
down environment, so it's not a grab and go. So yeah,
we're trying to make it easier to get in and out,
which is my favorite.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Actually, my kids are like, let's go here, let's go there.
I'm like, no, no, no, I want someone to take
my order when I'm seated.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
That's what's worth it for me.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
But especially if you're eating out with kids, you need
it to be a little quick sometimes too.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
For that, that is absolutely true. I can appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
So we don't want you guys zooming for lunch. We
want you off Microsoft teams go to the restaurants. I
have a girlfriend, and we joke about it that it
is really the perfect girl lunch. Is the caesar salad
in French fries. Yes, And if you can have a
that's a wine with it on your lunch, brig, you're lucky.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I can kind of rated combination absolutely.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
All right, Now, tell us about your background and kind
of how you got into the NAPA restaurant Group.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Your business path. My path is very winding and if
you had asked me twenty years ago if I would
have anything to do with restaurants, I would have told
you you were crazy. So I'm originally from Southeast Detroit,
started out my career in the automotive industry, have a
long history of manufacturing, distribution automotive and in twenty twenty one,
(02:30):
through networking events and things, I was reached out to
by the owners of the restaurant group about joining. And
I remember being very kind of confused, like I'm a
I'm not a restaurant person, and I always joke that
my experience with restaurants is being a professional guest. Yeah.
(02:53):
So but it it worked out really well because they
really wanted a different perspective. And you know, when I
look at my organization, it's filled with professional hospitality, you know, individuals,
and to bring that other point of view of the guest.
(03:14):
I think has been really fantastic for the organization because
sometimes we get so wrapped up in thinking things are
important and I can come in and say, you know,
I can tell you as a professional guest, I'm not
even going to notice that. So not any sense in
spending time and energy on something that I don't think
(03:35):
that there's a return on investment on. So it's it's
definitely been interesting. I've learned a lot, and it's it's
been a great adventure and I can't it really began
also with who you knew. Absolutely absolutely. Networking is key,
and that's something that I can't stress enough that you know,
(03:55):
you need to to get out there and you need
to meet people, and you need to have a diverse network.
I think that's very important now.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I remember as a young kid, my first job, like
many of us, you know, babysitting and then lifeguarding, and
then a hostess at a restaurant, and I actually got
to move my way up.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
From apple Bee's and Stonecrest.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Thank you very much to the Providence Bistro in Balentine,
which was sister restaurants with the Providence Cafe, which I think.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Became natural Providence.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yes and so, and my parents lived around the corner
and we would do these like wine competitions and stuff.
I'd be like, mom and dad, you need to get
up here and order the good wine so I can win.
And I'm like, what do you win? I'm like, I
don't know a bottle opener. It's about winning, like it's absolute,
and so for me it was. It was a way
of working my way up from you know, hosting, sweeping
the floors, food running, food prep, to learning to take orders,
(04:47):
to then learning about wine and how to do a
nice wine poor. And I remember at Providence be Strore,
I always get compliments on my ties. We had to
wear like a dresser and I'd be like, oh, they're
my dad's and he'd be like, don't wear the good ones.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I love that look at that. You have more restaurant
experience than I do.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
But I think all kids should work in the restaurant
one hundred percent because you learn about like consolidating steps,
about multitasking, about yeah, if you don't refiel the drink
cups when you're slammed later, you know, you're going to
be out of luck, and it's kind of it taught
me to grow up a lot because people are counting
on you.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
If you don't show up for that shift, you have
left your whole team high and dry. Yeah. No, I
couldn't agree more. And my youngest daughter, it was a
hostess in the restaurants, and I saw her grow so
much because you're dealing with the public right and sometimes
you have to tell people that I can't see you
where you want to be seated, I can't get you
in for a specific period of time. And it's not
(05:40):
always an easy conversation. But that conflict management and that
learning to deal with people through those situations is invaluable
for especially young adults.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Amy, we need to do a separate show like restaurants
after Dark, or you tell the horror stories.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
We could do that, we could do that what they've
asked for, and you're like, what we're not doing that.
There's a lot of stories all right now.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
When you think about young people kind of coming up
with their dream idea of where they want to work,
what they want to do, and there they feel like
it's overwhelming. How do you kind of combat that and
tell people where to start and what to do? What's
your advice?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
You know, I think my best advice is when if
you're talking about a younger individual, is be adventurous. You know,
I can't stress that enough. You know, take the job
in a different city, take the job in a different state.
You know, get out there because it's so much easier
when you don't have those things like a mortgage. Later
(06:40):
you'll you know, possibly have kids. Maybe not, but then
you may have elderly parents that you need to live
by because you need to help care for them. So
the time to do the fun things and get out there,
and the risk versus reward is so in your favor
when you're just starting out. Right. We have a saying
(07:01):
in my house, one of many sayings, you have your
whole life to be a grown up. Yes, so you
know nothing, The world isn't going to shatter if you
take a chance on that, you know, adventurous gig and
it doesn't work out when you're you know, twenty four, sure, right,
and so you come back and you start again. But
(07:23):
it's the time to do it. And I really encourage
people to be adventurous, to think big, take the leap right. Absolutely,
I said that about in college too. I studied abroad.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
I got the opportunity to, And I always tell young
people that, I'm like, you don't have a mortgage, you
don't have pets, probably you don't have any reason to
stay at your campus.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Why not have a ticket to see the world.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
A lot of the times it's the same price you're
already paying, yep, So why not have that experience and
adventure and who knows it'll shape what you want to do,
where you want to live, You where you want to go,
what field? And yeah, be willing to just start somewhere
and take the leap.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
I love that. Yeah, you've got to see different things, right,
I mean different ways of living, different customs, different cultures.
So I think it's what you did going out of
the country phenomenal. I think that's that's fantastic. It makes
me want to keep traveling. I'm always like, I need
more stamps than my passport. Let's go.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Okay, now, Amy starting an automotive and kind of then
making the shift into restaurants and hospitality, like we talked about,
kind of explain what challenges you faced in making a change.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
So you know, I think that there's maybe two times
where where I felt comfortable making a big change. So
my husband and I are empty nesters and my parents
do not need care. So I was kind of at
this place where it's like it's just us. And so
(08:49):
when I was approached with this opportunity, and I was
kind of like, you know me restaurants, I don't know.
My husband's like, why not be adventurous? You always tell
other people be adventurous, take a chance on yourself and
do something new. And so I just jumped feet first
into it and it's been a wild ride ever since.
(09:09):
I just, yeah, held my breath and jumped.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
So you just kind of have to have faith. And
it sounds like you have that support system too, of
your husband believing in you and kind of saying we
got this. Yes, we're a team, right, And as a family,
I think, or anyone at any phase in life, you
have to have your support system and those people that
believe in you, because sometimes if we doubt ourselves, we'll
let that fear creep in.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
It's very easy to do, very easy to do. So,
oh yeah, that's important to have that support system.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Now, it's awesome to know that, you know, the young
women of Charlotte are going to be listening to this
kind of how do you explain to them what they're
going to be up against as they are growing in
their careers and kind of what they're going to take
on in the Charlotte job market.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
That's a really good question. You know, it's hard for
me to say in particular what they might encounter. But
I think my best advice of things that I saw
work for me in being successful and growing my career
in the Charlotte area and elsewhere, is, you know, one
(10:13):
build relationships that's in and outside of your organization. I
one of the things that I always did when I
joined a new organization is I learned out who the
subject matter experts were right and then find some common ground,
find build those relationships. And the big thing about that
is don't just reach out when you need something. So
(10:35):
you know, if you have that relationship and then you
need something, it's easier to reach out and say, hey,
I need this done a little bit faster, and you
know people will support you because you have that and
you have that foundation. I think the other thing is
I have a no surprises rule. Okay, and I talk
(10:56):
about this all the time, and it has helped me
out immensely in my career. So a lot of the
time you'll run into issues and you know you're solving them,
you're working on them, but you if you have a
sneaking suspicion that you're a leadership or your boss might
find out about this issue in a meeting or a hallway.
(11:19):
I always took the approach of going to them and saying, hey, listen,
we've got the situation. I'm working on it. I don't
need you to do anything. If I do, I will
reach out, But I didn't want you to be surprised, okay,
And that has helped me out. And I know now
as a leader, I don't like being surprised. Right. If
I know about an issue and I can trust my
(11:41):
team that it's being worked on, when I hear about it,
I know, yeah, you know, I'm aware, and you know
so and so I was working on it, and you're
not caught off guard exactly. You can never look bad either.
That's great. Amen. Yeah, Yeah, that's a that's a big
one for me.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
No surprises rule. I'm going to adopt that one at home.
Two kids listening.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
But the key is to say I don't need you
to do anything, This is just information because I don't
want you to be surprised. And then another big one
for me that's really worked for me in my career
is being responsive. You know, find a system that works
for you because you know, there's a lot of emails,
there's teams, messages, some slack messages, whatever, there's so many
(12:21):
different ways of communication and channels. It can be really
easy for things to fall through. But being responsive so
that people you don't ever want to get the reputation
of being the black hole, like yeah, oh god, you
know you emailed her, good luck, you'll never hear anything back.
So be responsive, even if it's I don't know or
(12:42):
I'm going to have to get back to you on that.
People when they reach out, they're trying to connect, right.
They have a need and they want to feel like
they've reached you. And so being responsive I think is
very very important.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
That one's hard for me sometimes with the odd hours.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Everyone can work.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I don't want to bug them now or I don't
want to make them think about this now, but I
think letting them know you got I received your message
and I'm on itor, I'm aware. That's another one. No
surprises or you're not the black.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Hole, right, Yeah? I like that all right.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Any hiccups that you really didn't see coming that you
had to overcome that can kind of be a wake
up call or foreshadowing for anyone else out.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
There, you know, Yes, I remember. So I have a
long history in HR. Okay, so that's my background HR
and Legal. And I had a new boss. I had
already been in place at this at this company and
in this role, and I had a new boss. And
(13:43):
my first meeting with the new boss, the boss looked
me in the eye and said, I don't like HR.
I don't trust HR. I think they're self serving. And
so you know, uh, this should be an interesting relationship. Wow.
And so I'm having this internal dialogue, right and my
internal dialogue is not me. I'm different. You're not gonna
(14:04):
you know, you're going to be able to trust me.
And I made the decision to keep that an internal dialogue.
So I listened. I empathized, Oh wow, that sounds tough.
I can't imagine how difficult that was. And I walked
away not selling myself through words, okay, because I sold
myself and the function through my actions okay, and ended
(14:28):
up turning that relationship around, giving them a whole new
outlook on the function because I could have you know,
sat there and argued, right, been hurt. But his experiences
were his experiences, and so I think actions made more
than words, and so it was a little bit of
a longer road, but to me it was challenge accepted.
(14:50):
Good for you.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I love that you just you didn't have to fight
for your point of view. You just proved it exactly
with your ability, your talent, your drive, your determination, your
determination over time.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Right, I love that. I mean that's great. All right.
As we wrap up today.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And there are young women listening that want to get
into restaurants or business leadership, kind of what path should
they get started on? How should they have confidence in
taking that first step?
Speaker 3 (15:16):
You know, I can't stress it enough. Build your network.
You know, it's so easy to not step out of
your comfort zone, and today with everything coming into the home,
it can be even more difficult to leave. And it's
important to find ways to connect with other people and
(15:37):
network and meet people and make sure that like I said,
your circle is is large, not a friend's circle that
you generally is smaller, but your network circle you should
be able to speak with and get to know and
network with people who are different than you. One that's
(15:59):
going to help you in your care because you're never
going to just work with people who are all like you.
That's right, So get used to it and put yourself
out there because so many times it's who you know.
And building that early is really important. And once you
build that network, make sure you have touch points and
you stay in touch, because again, you shouldn't just be
(16:21):
reaching out when you need something.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I hear it all the time, every time the big
artist comes around. Right, someone wants concert tickets and I'm like,
we have not talked since high school.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Right, you are not at the top of my list
if I had extra tickets. Yeah, but I get what
you're saying. Nobody likes that if it happens to them,
And it's the same thing, even if it's just a
non purpose plan of you know, once a month, just
reaching out, how you doing, how's the job, how are
the kids, how are the dogs? You know, that sort
of thing. I have a former boss of mine. He
(16:49):
was the president of one of the companies I work for.
It's been twenty plus years. Every year I reach out
to him on his birthday, oh, even though you know
I left the company. Then he retired, and he left
the company. He's living in a different country, but every
September he knows he's going to hear from me. Wow.
And you know one time I actually did need a
favor and I reached out to him and he said,
(17:11):
this is the easiest decision I could ever make in
my life. Of course I will help you. Oh wow.
So you know it's it's keeping those doors open.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
That's an awesome professional tip right there. And just stay
in touch with your people.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Yeah. And I know in the radio market. You know,
we have a.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Couple big businesses in this town and we can go
across the street, as we like to say. You know,
one year you have a contract with one side, the
next year you might have a contract with another side.
So you gotta you can never burn bridges, right, keep
those relationships open and healthy.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Yeah, for sure. Well awesome, Amy, Thank you so much.
Now we need to go to NAPA and have lunch. Absolutely,
and anytime you guys should too.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
We hope to see any of the NAPA restaurants. And
good luck and Raleigh and your expansion as well.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Thank you very excited about it. Thanks of Uch for
being here.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Absolutely, iHeartMedia. Charlotte Women of Impact celebrating women in our community,
presented by the Carolina Ascent and New Help Treatment Centers,
This is the iHeartMedia Charlotte Women of Impact, celebrating women
in our community, presented by the Carolina Ascent and New
Hope Treatment Centers.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm so excited to have Amy Larson with me now,
who's been in some restaurants that I know you guys
have been into.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Amy, Welcome to the show. Thank you so much. I'm
thrilled to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Ye tell me a little bit about which restaurants you represent,
because I know you've got them all basically when it
comes to the list where.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I go to eat all the time. Yeah. So we
have the NAPA restaurants in the Charlotte area. We have
NAP on Providence in the Myers Park neighborhood, NAP at
Kingsley Over near the Baxter Village in Fort Mill. We
just opened in November at NAP at Stonecrest and the
Valentine area, and we'll be opening in Raleigh in the
Glenwood area at the end of April.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
That's so exciting. Yeah, expansion is an exciting time, especially Amy.
You and I have talked about this in the past
that during covid or as culture moves.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
To working at home, we want people in restaurants.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
We want you going out to lunch, going to dinner,
having these gatherings. How have you seen a shift and
kind of clientele over the years when it comes to
lunch dinner traffic.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Well, you know, dinner traffic has stayed relatively strong, but
we have seen the impact of work from home on
our lunch business. So we're always looking at creative ways
to get people into the restaurants, whether it be for
a quick social visit or a business lunch. We're trying
to make it fast to get in and out because
we are a you know, upscale, casual, you know, sit
(01:25):
down environment, so it's not a grab and go. So yeah,
we're trying to make it easier to get in and out,
which is my favorite.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Actually, my kids are like, let's go here, let's go there.
I'm like, no, no, no, I want someone to take
my order when I'm seated.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
That's what's worth it for me.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
But especially if you're eating out with kids, you need
it to be a little quick sometimes too.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
For that, that is absolutely true. I can appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
So we don't want you guys zooming for lunch. We
want you off Microsoft teams go to the restaurants. I
have a girlfriend, and we joke about it that it
is really the perfect girl lunch. Is the caesar salad
in French fries. Yes, And if you can have a
that's a wine with it on your lunch, brig, you're lucky.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I can kind of rated combination absolutely.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
All right, Now, tell us about your background and kind
of how you got into the NAPA restaurant Group.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Your business path. My path is very winding and if
you had asked me twenty years ago if I would
have anything to do with restaurants, I would have told
you you were crazy. So I'm originally from Southeast Detroit,
started out my career in the automotive industry, have a
long history of manufacturing, distribution automotive and in twenty twenty one,
(02:30):
through networking events and things, I was reached out to
by the owners of the restaurant group about joining. And
I remember being very kind of confused, like I'm a
I'm not a restaurant person, and I always joke that
my experience with restaurants is being a professional guest. Yeah.
(02:53):
So but it it worked out really well because they
really wanted a different perspective. And you know, when I
look at my organization, it's filled with professional hospitality, you know, individuals,
and to bring that other point of view of the guest.
(03:14):
I think has been really fantastic for the organization because
sometimes we get so wrapped up in thinking things are
important and I can come in and say, you know,
I can tell you as a professional guest, I'm not
even going to notice that. So not any sense in
spending time and energy on something that I don't think
(03:35):
that there's a return on investment on. So it's it's
definitely been interesting. I've learned a lot, and it's it's
been a great adventure and I can't it really began
also with who you knew. Absolutely absolutely. Networking is key,
and that's something that I can't stress enough that you know,
(03:55):
you need to to get out there and you need
to meet people, and you need to have a diverse network.
I think that's very important now.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I remember as a young kid, my first job, like
many of us, you know, babysitting and then lifeguarding, and
then a hostess at a restaurant, and I actually got
to move my way up.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
From apple Bee's and Stonecrest.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Thank you very much to the Providence Bistro in Balentine,
which was sister restaurants with the Providence Cafe, which I think.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Became natural Providence.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yes and so, and my parents lived around the corner
and we would do these like wine competitions and stuff.
I'd be like, mom and dad, you need to get
up here and order the good wine so I can win.
And I'm like, what do you win? I'm like, I
don't know a bottle opener. It's about winning, like it's absolute,
and so for me it was. It was a way
of working my way up from you know, hosting, sweeping
the floors, food running, food prep, to learning to take orders,
(04:47):
to then learning about wine and how to do a
nice wine poor. And I remember at Providence be Strore,
I always get compliments on my ties. We had to
wear like a dresser and I'd be like, oh, they're
my dad's and he'd be like, don't wear the good ones.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I love that look at that. You have more restaurant
experience than I do.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
But I think all kids should work in the restaurant
one hundred percent because you learn about like consolidating steps,
about multitasking, about yeah, if you don't refiel the drink
cups when you're slammed later, you know, you're going to
be out of luck, and it's kind of it taught
me to grow up a lot because people are counting
on you.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
If you don't show up for that shift, you have
left your whole team high and dry. Yeah. No, I
couldn't agree more. And my youngest daughter, it was a
hostess in the restaurants, and I saw her grow so
much because you're dealing with the public right and sometimes
you have to tell people that I can't see you
where you want to be seated, I can't get you
in for a specific period of time. And it's not
(05:40):
always an easy conversation. But that conflict management and that
learning to deal with people through those situations is invaluable
for especially young adults.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Amy, we need to do a separate show like restaurants
after Dark, or you tell the horror stories.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
We could do that, we could do that what they've
asked for, and you're like, what we're not doing that.
There's a lot of stories all right now.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
When you think about young people kind of coming up
with their dream idea of where they want to work,
what they want to do, and there they feel like
it's overwhelming. How do you kind of combat that and
tell people where to start and what to do? What's
your advice?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
You know, I think my best advice is when if
you're talking about a younger individual, is be adventurous. You know,
I can't stress that enough. You know, take the job
in a different city, take the job in a different state.
You know, get out there because it's so much easier
when you don't have those things like a mortgage. Later
(06:40):
you'll you know, possibly have kids. Maybe not, but then
you may have elderly parents that you need to live
by because you need to help care for them. So
the time to do the fun things and get out there,
and the risk versus reward is so in your favor
when you're just starting out. Right. We have a saying
(07:01):
in my house, one of many sayings, you have your
whole life to be a grown up. Yes, so you
know nothing, The world isn't going to shatter if you
take a chance on that, you know, adventurous gig and
it doesn't work out when you're you know, twenty four, sure, right,
and so you come back and you start again. But
(07:23):
it's the time to do it. And I really encourage
people to be adventurous, to think big, take the leap right. Absolutely,
I said that about in college too. I studied abroad.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
I got the opportunity to, And I always tell young
people that, I'm like, you don't have a mortgage, you
don't have pets, probably you don't have any reason to
stay at your campus.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Why not have a ticket to see the world.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
A lot of the times it's the same price you're
already paying, yep, So why not have that experience and
adventure and who knows it'll shape what you want to do,
where you want to live, You where you want to go,
what field? And yeah, be willing to just start somewhere
and take the leap.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
I love that. Yeah, you've got to see different things, right,
I mean different ways of living, different customs, different cultures.
So I think it's what you did going out of
the country phenomenal. I think that's that's fantastic. It makes
me want to keep traveling. I'm always like, I need
more stamps than my passport. Let's go.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Okay, now, Amy starting an automotive and kind of then
making the shift into restaurants and hospitality, like we talked about,
kind of explain what challenges you faced in making a change.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
So you know, I think that there's maybe two times
where where I felt comfortable making a big change. So
my husband and I are empty nesters and my parents
do not need care. So I was kind of at
this place where it's like it's just us. And so
(08:49):
when I was approached with this opportunity, and I was
kind of like, you know me restaurants, I don't know.
My husband's like, why not be adventurous? You always tell
other people be adventurous, take a chance on yourself and
do something new. And so I just jumped feet first
into it and it's been a wild ride ever since.
(09:09):
I just, yeah, held my breath and jumped.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
So you just kind of have to have faith. And
it sounds like you have that support system too, of
your husband believing in you and kind of saying we
got this. Yes, we're a team, right, And as a family,
I think, or anyone at any phase in life, you
have to have your support system and those people that
believe in you, because sometimes if we doubt ourselves, we'll
let that fear creep in.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
It's very easy to do, very easy to do. So,
oh yeah, that's important to have that support system.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Now, it's awesome to know that, you know, the young
women of Charlotte are going to be listening to this
kind of how do you explain to them what they're
going to be up against as they are growing in
their careers and kind of what they're going to take
on in the Charlotte job market.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
That's a really good question. You know, it's hard for
me to say in particular what they might encounter. But
I think my best advice of things that I saw
work for me in being successful and growing my career
in the Charlotte area and elsewhere, is, you know, one
(10:13):
build relationships that's in and outside of your organization. I
one of the things that I always did when I
joined a new organization is I learned out who the
subject matter experts were right and then find some common ground,
find build those relationships. And the big thing about that
is don't just reach out when you need something. So
(10:35):
you know, if you have that relationship and then you
need something, it's easier to reach out and say, hey,
I need this done a little bit faster, and you
know people will support you because you have that and
you have that foundation. I think the other thing is
I have a no surprises rule. Okay, and I talk
(10:56):
about this all the time, and it has helped me
out immensely in my career. So a lot of the
time you'll run into issues and you know you're solving them,
you're working on them, but you if you have a
sneaking suspicion that you're a leadership or your boss might
find out about this issue in a meeting or a hallway.
(11:19):
I always took the approach of going to them and saying, hey, listen,
we've got the situation. I'm working on it. I don't
need you to do anything. If I do, I will
reach out, But I didn't want you to be surprised, okay,
And that has helped me out. And I know now
as a leader, I don't like being surprised. Right. If
I know about an issue and I can trust my
(11:41):
team that it's being worked on, when I hear about it,
I know, yeah, you know, I'm aware, and you know
so and so I was working on it, and you're
not caught off guard exactly. You can never look bad either.
That's great. Amen. Yeah, Yeah, that's a that's a big
one for me.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
No surprises rule. I'm going to adopt that one at home.
Two kids listening.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
But the key is to say I don't need you
to do anything, This is just information because I don't
want you to be surprised. And then another big one
for me that's really worked for me in my career
is being responsive. You know, find a system that works
for you because you know, there's a lot of emails,
there's teams, messages, some slack messages, whatever, there's so many
(12:21):
different ways of communication and channels. It can be really
easy for things to fall through. But being responsive so
that people you don't ever want to get the reputation
of being the black hole, like yeah, oh god, you
know you emailed her, good luck, you'll never hear anything back.
So be responsive, even if it's I don't know or
(12:42):
I'm going to have to get back to you on that.
People when they reach out, they're trying to connect, right.
They have a need and they want to feel like
they've reached you. And so being responsive I think is
very very important.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
That one's hard for me sometimes with the odd hours.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Everyone can work.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I don't want to bug them now or I don't
want to make them think about this now, but I
think letting them know you got I received your message
and I'm on itor, I'm aware. That's another one. No
surprises or you're not the black.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Hole, right, Yeah? I like that all right.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Any hiccups that you really didn't see coming that you
had to overcome that can kind of be a wake
up call or foreshadowing for anyone else out.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
There, you know, Yes, I remember. So I have a
long history in HR. Okay, so that's my background HR
and Legal. And I had a new boss. I had
already been in place at this at this company and
in this role, and I had a new boss. And
(13:43):
my first meeting with the new boss, the boss looked
me in the eye and said, I don't like HR.
I don't trust HR. I think they're self serving. And
so you know, uh, this should be an interesting relationship. Wow.
And so I'm having this internal dialogue, right and my
internal dialogue is not me. I'm different. You're not gonna
(14:04):
you know, you're going to be able to trust me.
And I made the decision to keep that an internal dialogue.
So I listened. I empathized, Oh wow, that sounds tough.
I can't imagine how difficult that was. And I walked
away not selling myself through words, okay, because I sold
myself and the function through my actions okay, and ended
(14:28):
up turning that relationship around, giving them a whole new
outlook on the function because I could have you know,
sat there and argued, right, been hurt. But his experiences
were his experiences, and so I think actions made more
than words, and so it was a little bit of
a longer road, but to me it was challenge accepted.
(14:50):
Good for you.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I love that you just you didn't have to fight
for your point of view. You just proved it exactly
with your ability, your talent, your drive, your determination, your
determination over time.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Right, I love that. I mean that's great. All right.
As we wrap up today.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And there are young women listening that want to get
into restaurants or business leadership, kind of what path should
they get started on? How should they have confidence in
taking that first step?
Speaker 3 (15:16):
You know, I can't stress it enough. Build your network.
You know, it's so easy to not step out of
your comfort zone, and today with everything coming into the home,
it can be even more difficult to leave. And it's
important to find ways to connect with other people and
(15:37):
network and meet people and make sure that like I said,
your circle is is large, not a friend's circle that
you generally is smaller, but your network circle you should
be able to speak with and get to know and
network with people who are different than you. One that's
(15:59):
going to help you in your care because you're never
going to just work with people who are all like you.
That's right, So get used to it and put yourself
out there because so many times it's who you know.
And building that early is really important. And once you
build that network, make sure you have touch points and
you stay in touch, because again, you shouldn't just be
(16:21):
reaching out when you need something.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I hear it all the time, every time the big
artist comes around. Right, someone wants concert tickets and I'm like,
we have not talked since high school.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Right, you are not at the top of my list
if I had extra tickets. Yeah, but I get what
you're saying. Nobody likes that if it happens to them,
And it's the same thing, even if it's just a
non purpose plan of you know, once a month, just
reaching out, how you doing, how's the job, how are
the kids, how are the dogs? You know, that sort
of thing. I have a former boss of mine. He
(16:49):
was the president of one of the companies I work for.
It's been twenty plus years. Every year I reach out
to him on his birthday, oh, even though you know
I left the company. Then he retired, and he left
the company. He's living in a different country, but every
September he knows he's going to hear from me. Wow.
And you know one time I actually did need a
favor and I reached out to him and he said,
(17:11):
this is the easiest decision I could ever make in
my life. Of course I will help you. Oh wow.
So you know it's it's keeping those doors open.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
That's an awesome professional tip right there. And just stay
in touch with your people.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Yeah. And I know in the radio market. You know,
we have a.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Couple big businesses in this town and we can go
across the street, as we like to say. You know,
one year you have a contract with one side, the
next year you might have a contract with another side.
So you gotta you can never burn bridges, right, keep
those relationships open and healthy.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Yeah, for sure. Well awesome, Amy, Thank you so much.
Now we need to go to NAPA and have lunch. Absolutely,
and anytime you guys should too.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
We hope to see any of the NAPA restaurants. And
good luck and Raleigh and your expansion as well.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Thank you very excited about it. Thanks of Uch for
being here.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Absolutely, iHeartMedia. Charlotte Women of Impact celebrating women in our community,
presented by the Carolina Ascent and New Help Treatment Centers,
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