Kieran Gray, Food and Beverage Consultant, got his start in hospitality when he was just fourteen. From an early age he realized that he was passionate about making his role more efficient and the guest experience better. After he later joined the Cactus Club Café as manager, he felt connected to the company’s approach to continuous improvement, known as Kaizen, based on the idea that small, ongoing positive changes can reap significant improvements. Kieran takes these values out of the restaurant industry and into the broader community.
We connected with Kieran to learn more about his role as a Food and Beverage Consultant.
What is something you wish you knew when you first began?
One part about working in the hospitality industry that has always stood out to me was the personal growth an individual can have in such a short period of time. I was fortunate to work in a restaurant from the age of 14, but many others I have talked to wish they had also started earlier than 17 or 18. The opportunity to speak with adults and grow personal confidence has life-changing benefits. Growing a personal network with the regulars you interact with on a regular business can have lasting impacts, sometimes ones that aren't realized until much later. I value the time I have spent in hospitality as it has helped shape me to the person I am today.
What is something people might not know about your business?
How much creativity there is behind-the-scenes of the food and beverage industry. One thing that some people may not know about Cactus Club, for instance, is how family-friendly their creative menu is. The happiness I see in kids when they come into the restaurant with their parents is very obvious and with a food menu that is consistent in its quality, parents and children alike enjoy their food and overall experience.
What are you looking forward to/planning for the future?
From a young age, I loved planning out what I would do and who I would become, always thinking of those around me in the process. My goals have always included helping others reach their full potential. I was a coach for my peers in university, and a youth soccer and football coach. While I wasn’t the best athlete on my youth teams or the best student in school, I did have an ability to take difficult or confusing situations and make them make sense to those around me. Now that I am finished with university, I am wanting to find that next step and looking towards public service with the Kelowna Municipal government. I see the issues my fellow Kelowna citizens deal with daily and would like to help with positive outcomes.
Connect with Kieran Gray HERE.