I worked with Anna-Lisa at KACHKA for about three and a half years. Over that time I went from a seasoned server who was 'rough around the edges' to my first position in leadership as a lead, and then, eventually, KACHKA's service manager. I very much consider her a mentor and learned a lot from her in terms of interpersonal skills, team building, conflict resolution and overall organizational skills. She taught me the importance of SOP's (standard operating procedures) and the impact they have on building and running a successful business. Now, as a manager of a Portland institution, I think AL’s fingerprints can be found throughout not only my own management style but throughout the entire infrastructure of a business that’s celebrated over a decade of success!
Anna-Lisa really made me feel that it was OK to ask questions. That's what makes strong leaders -- Anna-Lisa created such a welcoming, professional atmosphere where I’ve been able to learn so much. I didn't come from a service background and thanks to her, I’ve gained solid skills and more importantly, confidence, in food service, customer relations, and building systems – all in a way that feels approachable and easy to pick up. She has a real knack for breaking things down clearly and making sure everyone feels supported and heard. She's talented at finding opportunities to improve and building systems that make sense. It’s been amazing to work alongside her, and I’ve learned more than I ever expected in hospitality, service, and leadership. I’m so grateful to have AL as my mentor and friend.
We are so grateful that Anna-Lisa closely consulted with us as we started our restaurant, Bao Toan Kitchen and Bar, in Memphis, TN. Her professionalism and enthusiasm have been critical to our extremely successful launch. We are a small family-owned business, and our team has varying degrees of hospitality experience, so her deep knowledge of the industry, restaurant operations, and long-term strategic planning have been invaluable. She has been responsible for our website design and social media strategy, menu engineering, development of standard operating procedures, and staff hiring protocols. Additionally, she has truly helped us uncover our own brand identity, based on our family's story and hopes for how our restaurant can impact our community, in a way that we could not have fully realized on our own. Anna-Lisa is fantastic to work with — responsive, flexible, meticulous, and just downright fun!
