ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’ve experienced both the pleasure and headache of hiring, managing and seeing hundreds of people come and go. But those that stand out really do stick. They stick to their values and work ethics of producing good work consistently. They aren’t afraid to reveal their vulnerabilities, raise their hands when they don’t know something, or admit that they aren’t perfect. But most importantly, they are inherently good people who care more than just a simple transaction or a pay cheque. They care about giving back and building a community. There are dozens of people I’d like to thank for supporting me throughout this journey. My family, first and foremost, for literally investing the past 9 years into helping Grassroots grow while keeping me grounded. Through the thick and thin, the many mistakes I stumbled onto and the decisions I have made, they placed their trust in their daughter, wife, sister, cousin, niece, to always do the right thing. That may not always be the most economical thing, but I remained kind and fair in my intentions. I would also like to thank my mentors, Carryl Potter and Terrence. Carryl pretty much decided my fate for me while I was still a rambunctious teenager. I still don’t think he understands how the depth of his guidance has positively impacted me and how he was able to change the entire course of my life. Terrence, my first corporate boss and mentor, became my business partner and never failed to lend his (broad) shoulders to cry on. As he would say, “There rarely goes a meeting with me where Peggy doesn’t shed a tear.” This has been true since 2008. My family can vouch for me that when I decided to study hospitality, they thought I would never survive. I was (and to an extent, still am) soft-spoken, anti-social and terrible at communication skills. I was selective with what I wanted to say, so it only made sense that what I felt was my weakness, was what I needed more support with. 241