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Last Updated: September 2, 2024

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040: "Take every opportunity to build your skillset for your career." Women in the food and beverage service industry with Christie Lawler

Christie Lawler is the Founder and Owner of CJL CONSULTiNG LLC, a marketing consulting firm offering a full suite of marketing, branding, sales strategy and training services for local, national and global companies. Christie is soon to be a published author and speaks nationally on the topics of marketing, cultural development strategies and branding.

In 2018, Christie launched her philanthropic arm – The WITI Group. This allows Christie to dedicate her time to fulfilling her true purpose of building the next generation of female leaders, both through her company and charity. Her foundation is supported by the annual WITI Conference which she created to be the only non-profit, invitation-only and female-only empowerment conference in the hospitality industry.

Connect with Christie at https://cjlconsults.com/ Or connect with her on LinkedIn @christie-j-lawler, Instagram @cjl_consulting_llc, or Facebook @cjlconsulting

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Jen Amos 0:00

Welcome to holding down the fort, a podcast show dedicated to curating knowledge, resources and relevant stories. So military spouses can continue to make confident and informed decisions for their families. Because let's face it, we know who's really holding down the fort. I'm Jen amis, a Goldstar, daughter of veterans, spouse, and your host for today's show. Let's get started.

Speaker 1 5:57

Everyone, John Amos here with holding down the fort. And I just want to say welcome back. And I'm really excited because every time I get to do another interview, it means that I get to interview another incredible person. In our community. We have a spouse of a retired Air Force officer Christy Lawler, there's also so many other amazing things I've already mentioned to you about her in her bio. And she will be diving into a number of those things today. So Christy, welcome to the show.

Speaker 2 6:23

Thank you so much for having me. This is a fantastic opportunity for me, and I'm so grateful for your time.

Speaker 1 6:30

Yeah, for sure. And you know, prior to this recording, people don't know, but we actually mixed up the times to talk. So Christie, I just want to thank you for your flexibility. And why don't you tell our listeners where you are calling from right now? Because I think it's really interesting.

Speaker 2 6:46

Okay, so I live in Houston, Texas, which is known for our weather. Right now I am living in a park with a torrential downpour. And my plan was to go to the car and get home for a more quiet environment for this interview, but that did not happen. Because let's be honest, I wasn't gonna walk through a potential rental car.

J.A. 7:19

Right? Yeah, definitely. That just to start off, right. Yeah, no, definitely. And that's completely fine. And I love it. It reminds me of an interview I had where one of our past guests couldn't find his headset or you couldn't put it on. So he was just putting his phone on speaker while he was driving. And so you could hear like, Oh, my God, being on the road. So trust me, like I think the sound of rain, and I can hear it too. It's almost sounds there. So I don't mind. Thunder roll.

Speaker 2 7:50

Yes, I just I'm sorry. I luckily, it's come down. Because like 20 minutes ago, it was really insane. And I was like, do crack some thunder and lightning. Oh, my goodness. Really loud. And they made me jump. There's another one there. Yeah, so I have leather.

Speaker 1 8:17

Yeah, my husband and I live in Virginia Beach. And we live like on the beach, which sounds like nice in theory. But I think something about like being near the water. And just the crazy weather out here too. I remember when we first moved here about a year ago, it was just constant thunderstorms. And I first I thought it was going to be sort of boring to live on the beach, which I know I shouldn't be saying that. Because I thought the water would always be still because I'm originally from San Diego, California and the weather there. You know you're kind of like living in a bubble there. Right? So here I was like, oh, cool, like, oh, cool Oregon near the water. But it probably won't be that interesting. You'll probably remind me of San Diego along if you hold with the crazy weather and the thunderstorms and the bugs and rodents that come with it.

Speaker 2 8:58

Every day is interesting way more interesting. Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's Oh my god. Yeah. It's San Diego is known for their like normal weather patterns, right? Like they may have an earthquake, or a Pacific rainstorm. But they don't have anything that happens on the east or both coasts. Yeah, where we get life changing. That's a good way to put it. They don't get

J.A. 9:26

dogs. Yeah, that's absolutely true. And I know that firsthand. And I remember when we first moved out to the East Coast about two years ago, it was a complete culture shock for me to be like, wait, what we have four seasons out here. It's just, it's just bizarre. And I feel like I've learned to embrace it almost two years out now and I don't know I kind of just stay home a lot of times, honestly. But yeah, it's been quite an experience.

Unknown Speaker 9:50

Where did you move from?

Speaker 1 9:52

I was originally in San Diego, California. I lived there for about 20 years prior to that I was a military child. So I moved around every two to three years usually around like Japan to California. And then when we moved, we actually moved to Richmond, Virginia for the first seven months. And that was the first time in my adult life. I had experienced all four seasons. Like I experienced it when I was a kid, when I didn't have like much responsibilities, and I didn't have to go anywhere. So I remember the first time it snowed, I was like, how do people get to work? Like, how do people live? Out here? It was so interesting. And we lived in an apartment at the time. And I remember like, all night, the trucks would put, you know, they would solve the roads. And I couldn't sleep because I was like, Oh, I didn't know that they do that was like, oh, that's how people can get to work. It's like the government, I guess just has these people. Yeah, roads. But yeah, that was really interesting for me, and really just like the thunderstorms, and just, and now that we live in Virginia Beach, it's no different other than the fact that it doesn't really snow here as much, but it is still really interesting. Yeah, I'm actually glad because I learned what black ice is. Or I think that's what it's called. And when you drive like yeah, mindful of the road. And so I remember when it was snowing in Richmond, my husband's like, I'm driving. Because he's, he's originally from Ohio. So he is, you know, he's familiar with black ice and, you know, the four seasons. And he was like,

Oh, girl, I had no idea what black I was, because I was from Arizona. Oh, Germany. And I had to commute to be one of the other bases for work on blackout. Oh, my God, I know how to do that. I mean, I didn't know how to drive in rain, much less black ice. And I literally, I think I did make bold cars all the time. And every time I had another car, I would get out and do the thing where you're like, I'm so sorry. And they're like, Okay, not a problem. I, we do this. That's what bumpers are for. That's the difference between Germany and the US. Oh, my God, because that'll happen in the US is the thing right? Yet love insurance companies involved in everything. In Germany, you hit someone by sliding into them on black ice, and they're like

just normal. No big

deal. Ah, okay.

It's like, it's fine. It's no big deal. That's so funny. My husband lived in Germany for 11 years. And I don't think I ever talked to him about I met him like afterward. And it really asked him about what it was like when it snowed there. So I now I'm curious to bring up that conversation to him wine

is gorgeous. Oh my god, it's so beautiful. But to definitely ask him because I love being stationed in Germany. And like, that was our only DGX station. And it was amazing. And every time I would get really, really frustrated in my morning commute, because of the shell. I would just be like, Okay, you're Yeah, you're stuck in traffic, and it sucks. But oh my god, girl, you're stopping traffic in Germany. Stop thinking and just enjoy and look around. Look around. Yeah, I love this whole, like, self thing thing going on. And it made me so much fun. Because I learned one. While before like, math class, or smartphones, I learned my way around the city. Because I was stuck in traffic, and I was deviating from my route, just upon the path to arrive. So I didn't mind that. I've been a military spouse, almost my entire adult life. And you're right, you have to roll with it. Whatever it gives you you go. And it doesn't always necessarily make sense. But you have to just deal the and you're dealt, right. Yeah,

absolutely. Well, speaking of which, let's dive into where you're at today. Christy's in addition to your amazing bio, and our fun candid conversation today about the weather that everyone has the pleasure of listening to right now. Why don't you share a snapshot of your life today, particularly what keeps you excited and busy nowadays?

Okay, so every day I wake up really excited to figure out what I can do that day. And that has always been my mantra, but it's a natural and very organic thought process. Because I am always looking for what so with my company with you running the company that focuses on creating beverage and training programs for national restaurant and eager payments. Yeah, that's the word eager payments. Yes. All right. Either payment. Yeah. So I have a couple of things that are either National Golf ish. Things like things Top Golf, but not top golf. And what I know is they have liked better technology and it's a company called bribe shark. So you play golf while you drink and dine. And then Alamo Drafthouse was his my first client with my company as we know it today. And they are the first ever dime in drinkin National Theatre Company. And they're completely privately owned, and they are the genesis for enjoying a drink or food in your seat. That's not popcorn or a hot dog got from a sentence we stand in a theater. And it's a fantastic experience. So if you haven't been to an Alamo Drafthouse, you absolutely need to go to one because there are amazing, my favorite open Of course, right? Right. But I started this, and I just love it. And that is what we do. But the other side of my company, which is the most important side, to me, is our nonprofit arm, I started a 501 C three Foundation For Women in the food and beverage industry that find themselves in abusive or otherwise hostile work environment. Wow. And our organization is now more than 65 female volunteers nationally, that are like queens of the industry. I mean, everyone is a CEO of CEO, founder, VP, Director. I mean, these are women that are the top of the food chain. And we're all volunteering to help women that want to find a path forward in the food and beverage service industry, which, as we all know, is right now. Yeah. And that's my bread and butter. Right now is the perfect time for my foundation to really make a difference and make an impact. And that's honestly my driving cause.

That sounds so incredible, Christy, and you mentioned that, you know, you're really helping empowering women in the industry, especially if they had experience. Can you describe that again? Like if they are in like a hostile, dangerous environment? Is that how you described it?

Yeah, I mean, this whole thing comes to my own personal experiences in my teens, 20s and 30s, where I was either sexually assaulted or verbally assaulted in a sexual nature by a client or colleague, or a customer, and my employer doesn't have my back. So I wanted to create something that wasn't necessarily need to, but was focused on if you have this experience, you have a network to back you and help you. Because I didn't stand up for myself. And I'm okay with that. Now, it was definitely a mistake that I didn't stand up for myself when that happened. What if I would have stood up for myself, I don't know if I be where I am now. Yeah, creating this thing. And so now in my 40s, I feel like I can stand up for other women so that they don't have to worry about having a backing or a background or the courage because we will get that for you. We will help you. We're here.

Yeah, no, that is a completely amazing and I appreciate you sharing that and also sharing candidly you know, your past and what you went through. And in a way you turned your pain into your passion to make sure that other women don't go through the same circumstances.

Absolutely. Well, if you don't learn something from the bad things in your life, you're not going to grow. So take care Bad and build? Yeah,

I'm curious with your nonprofit Do you have I want to say like allies like that are not women, you know that volunteer and yeah, as well. Yeah, we

do have wedding men. And they say funds are nonprofit conference. They fund our fundraising events. And they are also known as our safe men and my safe men are. It's a that was air close, and you can't see me. But those are the men that will absolutely if you are in a situation that you can't get out of, and you feel like it's gonna be an issue, if he's trying to get out of that. If you find a safe man, he will get you out of that situation. And all these men are on board, they've agreed to it, they volunteered for it. Wow. And that is a beautiful thing. Because many of them didn't know this existed. In fact, I haven't actually approached any of them. They always approached me and they were like, Hey, I got daughter. I love what you're doing. How can I be a part of it? And I'm like, Well, this is how you just think I'm a safe man.

Wow. Well, kudos to the men, you know, the allies that are helping you in what you're doing with your nonprofit?

Well, thank you. Yeah, no, no, I'm surrounded with amazing people. Sounds like, it's important to talk about the men that are great with a woman foundation is really important, because not one sided, and we're not gendered. We just have a focus that brings people in, if they're up the right mindset. And I have plenty of men that I know that are not lining up that I thought should or would, and that's okay.

Yeah, for sure. It's not for everyone, and we can't help everyone, we can't save everyone. But at least at least you're able to help those that really need it. Now, for people that for women who are, you know, going through that situation where they are possibly, unfortunately, sexually or verbally harassed? What would be the initial steps, you know, to reach out to your nonprofit and seek out the help that they need?

Well, I would say per, though, to your leadership, and they won't help you come to us, because the best way to resolve an issue is to go internal. Always. And we know that from being military causes. You don't go to the commander, you go to the immediate person, right? You don't want to necessarily raise a red flag, because raising that massive red flag can reduce your credibility. So start with where the problem is. And then if it's not resolved, go higher. I like

that that's very smart is like start where it's like the closest in proximity in terms of like, who you can speak to directly and then just climb your way up, if that's not working. Exactly. Wow. Well, that is wonderful advice. And I appreciate you sharing all of that and for what you're doing with your nonprofits. So withholding on the for our listeners here are typically the active duty military spouse, or its people who are out on military already. But generally, I like to focus the show on military spouses and military families and be able to provide them and educational topic. So in addition to everything we already talked about, which is already an amazing conversation, I want to now get into what you wanted to share, which is always being able to take every opportunity to build your skill set for your career. And having being portable in both your knowledge and skills to help you find the right job, no matter where you get stationed. I'd like for you to elaborate more on this and if you have any personal experience with this as well.

Yeah, honestly, my parents is kind of short because we were only patients one point overseas. And we got married in a drive thru travel, even though our wedding was planned just for the paperwork, so that I could go with him overseas for his next duty station. I had no idea what I was signing up for as many military has no idea what they're signing up for. You are literally giving your trajectory over to an unknown deeding If the government determines your ability to be impactful, and her women that are career oriented, that is a nightmare situation. Yeah, that's just not okay. Like, not ever and I'm sure you've experienced this too. But our first duty station, we got married in the drive thru. We had the big wedding. And three days after the big wedding, we moved to Germany. And I thought that I was going to be a okay to find a job because I had a college degree. Yeah, I couldn't have been more wrong. Oh, no. Oh, my God. Yeah. Oh, my God, I so I had three internships. My junior and senior year, I worked. I managed gars. So I was working. And I was telling it financially. I was making I was clearing like, grand a month and 90. Wow, wow. Yeah, exactly. Love it. So I was making a really good income. And I was really excited to go to Germany and get the government to pay for me to like, have this European experience. And we get there. And people are all of a sudden calling me a dependent, which I hated because I made more money than my husband did. Because he was an e4 at the time. And so he was broke. I didn't know that until we got there. But I couldn't find a job that matter. Of course, like, where are you going to find a job making six grand a month? And where are you going to find a job like that? In the 90s. So I went to work at ACS and I went to work at the hotel locally for MWR. And I started volunteering to the local newspaper because I had a journalism degree. And I really wanted to be, I wanted to be a camera person, like, I want to shoot the videos that told the stories, I didn't want to be on camera. I wanted to be behind the camera and create the picture. Right? What I didn't realize is that was not an option. And I also stopped taking pictures. Didn't know that either. learned it learned by volunteering. But it took me six months of working for free for the local newspaper. And as a volunteer and doing night shifts at the hotels, the front desk clerk and dayshift at the commentaries are at in my little red vest to the name tag. That was completely debating for me at that time because I was 23 and felt like I deserved more. I was wrong. No one wants a three deserves more. But I felt like I get at that time. That's a beautiful thing about perspective. We all realize how much we didn't know when we thought we knew everything. Right, right. I knew every guy. Oh my god, I knew nothing. Like six months after volunteering, and the commands are mistaking me for an intern when I was actually a staff writer. Even though up he's like, go to school year and I'm like now now commander I work for you. You know me and just like sell pay. Don't pay. It's okay. You're the commander. I'm just a little reporter thing that looks about quit it. I loved it. I got the job. I got the job. That's the important thing it was. But I got the job. Yeah. And then I got promotion from that job. Wow. No, it was fun. It was amazing. I ended up getting promoted to start the marketing office, which hadn't existed. So I created my idea of a marketing office with no marketing experience whatsoever. And they turned it into the model for MWR marketing in Europe. To the army.

Wow, Christopher you sound like a trailblazer.

I really was that I didn't know it at the time. I think I would probably would have liked to have known it because I would have felt better about myself. But I just sat there every day suffering impostor syndrome. I think that's something most people can relate to.

It's true. Yeah, it's just imposter syndrome is such a real thing. I feel like I've already done a couple of conversations over podcasting, just about the imposter syndrome topic. So I'm glad that you're bringing light to it too. Because what how do I want to say this? Like, it's just reassuring to know that we all experienced that. And since we all do, like, yeah, it's like, since we all do anyway, why don't we just laugh about it? And just go on anyway. And just very out anyway.

Exactly. Exactly. I mean, impostor syndrome, is your internal compass, telling you to move forward? As far as I'm concerned? Because that is your weakness, sharing light with you. So just listen, move. Because if you're gonna let it hold you back, that's you holding yourself back. You're not? Yeah, everybody is better than that. Right? Preach Christie. I know, I know, I should have a pulpit, but I don't. I may build one in the backyard, whatever.

There you go. Love it. Well, I think that's really awesome. How at a young age, or at least in your young adult years, you took every opportunity, you could, you know, to set yourself up for some kind of career. And because you were open and you were willing to work, you were able to get a job, you're able to get a promotion. And so why. So I think that's absolutely awesome. And now, you know, fast forward to life today. Do you feel like you still have that same mindset about like, you know, taking advantage of every opportunity to, you know, continue to build your career?

Yeah, absolutely. My career doesn't end with me reaching goals. It just means I'm creating new goals, right, we're always moving forward. Because if you're not moving forward, you're dying. So my choice is to not die and to build. So I am very excited about the new things that we're creating, and doing in terms of our product line, which is going to be announced shortly, our new service lines, which are amazing. I am so excited to come out of COVID with more often than we went into this situation.

Yeah, absolutely. So Christy, I just want to thank you so much for just being so candid and open with me about your life and your success and where you're at today. And of course, at the time of this recording, we are all you know, worldwide experiencing this quarantine, you know, Coronavirus pandemic. And you know, with that it has affected so many people's lives, so many people's businesses, you know, so many people's futures that they thought that they had set already. And so I'm curious for you, Christie, how has that affected you and your business and everything you're doing today? And how are you rising up from it?

Oh, my God, that's like five questions. And they're all excellent.

So I totally like listening to many of them. But hopefully you'll have one one answer for that. Yeah.

I actually do. I have like, Have you have you talked to me? Yeah. I got like 15,000. And I love it. So we're weird. None of this makes sense. Right? Yeah. Like we're dealing with something that we've never ever seen in our lifetime. And no one that we know, had seen it unless they were alive. Which was because we didn't have the media during the flu, right, right. Television didn't exist. So there's that. No, our entire income base as we know it as a company dried up in a meet because all of our clients got down or furloughed or our when we modified service systems, which means they didn't have a use for our pool and mechanism. So but yeah, that that doesn't mean me give up. That means we figure out a way to help them and build new opportunities for the company. So that we actually can survive. Because eventually, when your clients dry up and you dry up, you don't survive. So I spend a lot of time really thinking about what we could do that would be different and helpful for our clients now and our clients in the future. So we build free webinar, a weekly series for our industry that is open to everybody. And to help them through this whole crisis, but we also created a new service line that didn't exist before, especially for I'm just praying, but I'm really excited because we created celebrity chef curated food and movie and do for our cities that are focused on healthcare. So that not only the patients, but the providers are getting solid nutrition. Instead of like going into the cafeteria and getting a burger, our price and the cost. That's not nutritious. We know that. But that's what's available. So we're aiming to help change that with a low financial barrier to entry. And we're building that, but we're also building an entirely different product line that's dope on drinkin Hall. Contracts are recently reformed to be used for commercial use, and seasons and bars and restaurants. And now it is our home thing. So we've completely pivoted even our original idea before this happened. we pivoted that it's not, it's all not. It's so exciting.

Yeah, no, it absolutely sounds like it. And I think that just goes back to my original compliment to you that you just sound like this amazing Trailblazer. And in what you do, and it also goes back to what you were saying at the beginning of this conversation that every day, you're always looking for what's next. And it sounds like you've been able to figure that out. And I'm just really excited for you, Christy and for your business and your nonprofit and everything you're doing today. And I think that all of us are going to come out of this pandemic, different, you know, it's going to be a different type of normal. And it sounds like you are already preparing for that, like you're already set for that. And really interesting to see what's going to happen when we're back out there again, and we can actually, I don't know, shake each other's hands or give each other high fives. Very curious as to what's gonna find out. Yeah. Well, Christy, we

had such an incredible conversation today. I'm just very captivated by everything that you said. And I'm sure that our listeners will feel the same way. If they're interested in reaching out to you or learning more about you. How can they do that? How can they find you online?

The best way is with our website, honestly, CJ ELLs, and so Cloud comm on Google mole on my day to day Lala, perfect. Wow,

any closing thoughts? I feel like we can like talk forever. But I want to see if you had any final closing thoughts.

I think the most important thing is empowering yourself. Now you yourself, know what you bring to the table and don't deviate from what you know.

Beautiful, beautiful, awesome, Christy. Well, thank you so much again for your time and to our listeners. We hope that today's episode give you one more piece of knowledge, resource or relevant story, so you can continue to make confident informed decisions for you and your family. We look forward to speaking with you in the next episode and tune in next time.