Ep 20 - The ability to build again with Liz Mendez

Ep 20 The ability to build again with Liz MendezLiz shares honestly about creativity, how she continues to tap into, and reminds us to have no shame as an entrepreneur that it’s ok to join a corporate position for stability. Nothing comes out of the world fully baked and we can take a page out of this book to give ourselves some grace while creating and building. Liz announces about her newest business - Aldea Hospitality and Productions based on community. About Liz: Liz Mendez is a veteran of the restaurant and wine industry, who resides in Chicago, IL. Growing up in the Midwest, as the granddaughter of two farming families, Mendez learned the art of hospitality on meager means, through large family get-togethers and a strong community connection. While financing her education and eventual degree in Communications, with a minor in Organizational Psychology, at DePaul University, Mendez began working at some of Chicago’s most well known restaurants of the 90s and early aughts, where a previous study in music came together with food and wine, leading to a twenty plus year journey of working in hospitality. Over the span of almost three decades, Mendez has gained a reputation for an unwavering commitment to hospitality which led to operating large scale restaurants and consulting in wine education, beverage conferences and travel. Most notably, Mendez is known for a focus of study and writing around the wine and food of the Iberian Peninsula, combined with a passion for supporting local Midwest farmers, which was showcased at the Spanish inspired restaurant and wine bar she owned in the now buzzing west loop neighborhood of Chicago. In 2016 her dedication to wine and service was recognized by the Jean Banchet Awards for culinary excellence. After spending the last six years working in Restaurant Partnerships with Resy and American Express, Mendez is taking on her third entrepreneurial endeavor, as the founder of Aldea Hospitality and Productions. As a mentor, coach and writer, Mendez aims to apply her extensive experience in support of today’s ever changing hospitality and artistic industries in her most recent venture. For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within  Get full access to Hospitality From Within at kimlerner.substack.com/subscribe