Built on Faith, Family, and a Refusal to Quit
My story starts with my grandparents. Henry and Pauline Demers built and operated two full-service nursing homes from the ground up in New Hampshire. My grandmother was a nurse and my grandfather, a Korean War veteran, had a heart for entrepreneurship. On the other side, David and Nancy Hawkbaker modeled selfless hospitality. My grandfather was a stonemason who put others before himself, and my grandmother's kitchen table was a palace of love where anyone who walked through the door became family.
My parents met at Faith School of Theology in Charleston, Maine, and eventually found themselves serving others in ministry in Toronto, Canada, where I was born. My father served in multiple capacities in ministry throughout my childhood, and that deeply shaped my heart to serve. My brother Levi and I were raised near downtown Toronto in one of the most diverse cities in the world, strongly influenced by my parents' selfless passion for loving people and serving others through the Salvation Army and the local church.
At 11, my family moved to Newport News, Virginia, where my father had been accepted into a competitive program to become an accredited CPE Chaplain. One of the first restaurants we visited was Chick-fil-A. I remember being served with selfless and genuine hospitality that I thought only existed in five-star restaurants. That moment made me a fan for life.
At 13, we moved to Cumberland, Maryland, where I found belonging and eventually launched my career. At 18, I started as a valet attendant at Rocky Gap Casino and Resort and spent over six years rising through the ranks. In 2021, I pursued Chick-fil-A, interviewed externally for LDP, received a no, and went all-in anyway. I restarted my career as a kitchen team member at Chick-fil-A Ridgeside Drive. I applied again, made it to the third round, and was told no a second time. I applied a third time and was finally accepted. That persistence is one of my proudest accomplishments because it proved my calling to this work was bigger than any setback.
Three-Time Applicant
Applied to LDP three times before acceptance. Each rejection refined my readiness and deepened my resolve.
Grandparents' Legacy
Henry and Pauline Demers built two nursing homes in New Hampshire. Their entrepreneurial spirit and care for people are the blueprint for how I want to operate.
Personal Vision
"Stirring dreams in others" is a commitment to helping every person I lead discover what they are capable of and equipping them to get there.