Co-owner, Stark Reality Restaurants, 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa 95401, 707-576-9610, starkrestaurants.com
Age: 43
Residence: Santa Rosa
Professional background: Hyatt Hotels, Catering Manager, California Cafe Restaurant Group, Catering Manager, Restaurant LuLu, Catering Director, Vintner's Inn, Director of Sales
Education: Lesiure studies, University of Oregon
[caption id="attachment_94236" align="alignleft" width="210"] Terri Stark[/caption]
Tell us about yourself and your company: I am fourth-generation Santa Rosan, along with my husband we have opened five successful restaurants in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg over the past 12 years. Each restaurant offers a different dining experience. We employ 280 people between all the restaurants. My main focus is directing the front of the house operations along with managing the accounting, legal aspects and public relations for our company. Additionally, I take care of most of the interior design work in our restaurants.
Major accomplishment: James Beard Foundation, Semi-finalist, Outstanding Restauranteur 2013
What is the achievement you are most proud of? Creating five businesses in our community that attract and retain approximately 280 employees. Seeing our employees thrive, buy homes and raise families in Sonoma County is the achievement I am most proud of.
What is your biggest challenge today? The cost of doing business in California is our biggest challenge. The rising cost of food, labor and insurance challenges us to be creative in how we operate to protect a sustainable business.
Words that best describe you: Determined, compassionate, loyal
As a successful female professional, what were the biggest obstacles? I have never felt I was ever subjected to any obstacles because I am a woman. Any real obstacles I have faced have been from choosing a challenging business.
How do you think your profession will change over the next five years? I see a continual rise in the cost of doing business creating a challenge to protect the profitability in the restaurant business. We will need to continue to explore different and alternate food resources, as our current food resources become over harvested.
Who was your most important mentor? Anne Galle. Anne was my boss at Restaurant LuLu and showed me how to run multiple restaurants with different concepts. I was able to watch her work ethic and see the type of dedication it takes to be successful.
What advice would you give to a young woman entering your profession or the work world today? Consider yourself on par with anyone in your desired profession. Never use being a woman as a crutch or excuse for not reaching your goals.
Most admired businessperson outside your organization: Danny Meyer, restauranteur and author. Danny Meyer's book, “Setting the Table” is required reading for all our managers. His philosophy of putting the employee first is one we have adopted since day one of our first restaurant. He follows his gut, and does projects that he feels are just going to be cool!
Current reading: The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan.
Most want to meet: Joan Rivers
Stress-relievers: Workouts and the lovely fermented fruit of Sonoma County.
