A hospitality journey worth recognizing.
I’ve spent more than 15 years building my career in hospitality, working across food and beverage, hotels, bars, concessions, large-scale events, and operations leadership. I’ve had the opportunity to work in many different areas of the industry, and that experience has shaped me into a hands-on leader who believes the best way to lead is to understand the work and never be afraid to jump in and do it. In 2017, I took another step in my hospitality journey by creating Taco Sweets. What began as a unique ice cream taco concept grew from a mobile operation into a brick and mortar location. That location became the foundation for something even bigger: it allowed me to develop, test, and perfect a catering program designed to bring our ice cream tacos to guests virtually anywhere. Today, my experience as both a hospitality leader and entrepreneur continues to shape how I approach this industry. I love building strong teams, improving operations, creating memorable experiences, and most importantly, taking care of people.
Making a meaningful difference.
One of my proudest accomplishments has been building Taco Sweets from an idea into a business capable of serving guests at nearly any scale. After starting as a mobile concept, I opened a brick and mortar location that gave me the opportunity to refine our operations and perfect a catering program built around our signature ice cream tacos. That program has allowed us to serve major corporations, universities, entertainment venues, private events, and large festivals, including events welcoming more than 50,000 guests per day. Throughout my hospitality career, I’ve also had the opportunity to lead food and beverage operations in hotels, arenas, convention and event centers, restaurants, bars, and high-volume entertainment environments. I’ve managed everything from day-to-day service and bar operations to inventory, training, staffing, large event execution, operational systems, and guest experience. Some of the accomplishments I value most, however, aren’t measured only by sales or guest counts. I’ve been recognized by my peers and leadership for my work ethic, teamwork, and willingness to step in wherever needed, but I’m most proud of the people I’ve helped train and develop throughout my career. Seeing someone gain confidence, grow into a stronger employee or leader, and eventually help develop someone else is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. I’ve built my career by never believing any job is beneath me and by trying to leave every operation, team, and guest experience better than I found it.
What hospitality means to DeShawn.
“To me, hospitality is taking care of people. It really is that simple. It’s making someone feel welcomed, valued, and important, whether that person is a guest walking through the door or an employee working beside you. I’ve always believed that people may forget what they ordered or how busy the room was, but they remember how you made them feel. Sometimes great hospitality is creating an unforgettable experience. Other times, it’s noticing the person who hasn’t been noticed, solving a problem before someone has to ask, or simply treating someone with kindness and respect. That same philosophy applies to leadership. I would never ask someone on my team to do something I wouldn’t be willing to do myself. Titles have never mattered as much to me as earning people’s trust, working alongside them, and helping them become better at what they do. Hospitality has given me a career, a business, and countless relationships, but what has kept me in this industry is the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s day. At the end of the day, hospitality is simple, take care of people, and people will take care of you.”