West Virginia meets South Carolina - Chef Paul is a Guest Speaker at SCRLA Marketing and Operations Conference
I was honored to be invited to the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association's Marketing and Operations Conference. I had the opportunity to share my story and explain why I believe in returning home to make a positive impact.
I spoke about my journey from West Virginia to various prominent places, discussing how I gained valuable knowledge and experience from The Ritz Carlton, Wine Spectator, and Disney, and then brought that back to share with my hometown.
I become quite enthusiastic when talking about West Virginia, and I wanted our friends in South Carolina to be aware of the growing culinary force and the new travel and tourism opportunities in my state, including our newest national park.
I also shared my journey of sobriety and mental health, which was a first for me, and I was incredibly grateful for the support. I discussed my commitment to maintaining a substance-free work environment and how I believe it makes a noticeable difference in our kitchens. Given the high-stress nature of this industry, the environment can sometimes lead to coping mechanisms that are not healthy for individuals or align with our goals for achieving a high level of food and hospitality. I am excited to share more about this in the future, but I had a fantastic time meeting everyone and promoting the Mountain State.
I even had the opportunity to teach an appetizer course to some students and they nailed it. Thank you so much for having me!
- Chef Paul
