The St. James Tearoom

Employees of the Month - 2012

Employees of the Month - 2013

JUNE ~ This month we are pleased to introduce to you, as employee of the month, one of our dear kitchen staff members, Nichole Leahy. Nichole has proved herself to be a faithful and diligent member of the tearoom's team, by being one who is ever in the pursuit of excellence. She is a constant source of encouragement and inspiration to her co-workers because she herself is continually learning and growing. With her warm and uplifting personality she shares with the tearoom staff out of the abundance of her heart. Nichole is ever ready to do all that is asked of her and she always does it thoroughly and with consistency. Thank you Nichole for all of your hard work. You delight us all!

MAY ~ Many of our guests at the St James Tearoom have become familiar with our dear servers and market ladies; however, few have had the chance of meeting our amazing staff who work faithfully behind the scenes. Such a person is Austin Perez, one of our dishwashers, whom we are pleased to introduce as employee of the month. Austin is ever ready to serve and support his co-workers with a cheerful and gracious attitude. He also demonstrates an eagerness to add value to the Tearoom by voluntarily taking on extra tasks that fall outside of his regular assignments. For this reason, you may soon have the occasion of seeing Austin hard at work as he begins his new responsibility of watering and tending to the St James grounds. Thank you Austin, we appreciate you!

APRIL ~ Here at The St. James Tearoom, we strive to pursue excellence in all we do. This month we would like to recognize one of our dear servers, Hannah Hughes, for her faithful dedication to this pursuit. Hannah has been a longtime employee of the tearoom and over the years we have seen her grow into a strong and gentle leader who is ever ready to encourage her co-workers toward excellence. She has become an expert in all areas of service and is always willing to do whatever is asked of her with a joyful spirit and a gentle heart. Hannah's gracious attitude and her desire to serve with excellence is an exemplary portrait of the character traits we desire to foster here within the tearoom, while simultaneously promoting them throughout society. Thank you Hannah!

MARCH ~ Gentility is often a rare trait in today's busy society, but here at the St James Tearoom, we have the honor of being surrounded by many ladies and gentlemen who personify this unique characteristic. Manessa Medina is our employee of the month for this very reason. In the midst of the daily hustle and bustle, Manessa is ever kind and gentle, making her sincere consideration for the cares of others evident in the way she humbly serves everyone with the greatest sensitivity and attention to the smallest of details. Just this past month, Manessa heard a guest say in passing that she preferred cold beverages to hot, so Manessa took the initiative to request a specially prepared pot of iced tea for this guest rather than the traditional hot tea so she could fully enjoy her experience. Manessa is always surprising and delighting those around her with this sort of selfless attention to the needs of those around her and in this way her gentle kindness is showered upon our guests and employees alike.

FEBRUARY ~ This month the St. James honors Nicole White. Nicole is an encouragement to all of her co-workers. Ever the optimist, she always tries to look at every situation in the best possible light. She is always willing to help others and be supportive when someone's having a difficult time. Our regular guests love her cheerful demeanor and attentiveness. Nicole has stayed late to help out in a pinch many times, and covered difficult shifts for others even when she was not feeling well. She has grown into a very capable and integral part of the St. James team.

JULY ~ This month we are proud to present Sonya Raines as employee of the month. If you have had the pleasure of coming to tea and being served by Sonya, than you know that she is a delightful person who naturally demonstrates all of the qualities The St James Tearoom aspires to uphold: grace, civility, beauty, gentility, and excellence. Sonya serves with her whole heart, gently sharing with her co-workers and guests the joy and peace that she herself seems to continually abide in. Even in the midst of stressful situations, Sonya demonstrates courteous words and behavior as well as a calm demeanor, all of which anchor those around her in hope. She has become an invaluable member of the St James staff and we are delighted to have her with us.

AUGUST ~ Many of you have, undoubtedly, had the occasion to meet with our wonderful employee of the month during one of your visits to the tearoom. Perhaps you have seen her elegantly dressed while graciously managing any number of our special events, or was it in the St James Market that you last saw her welcoming smile as she was, most likely, eager to share some of her vast knowledge and enthusiasm about tea with you? She has even been spotted a time or two as the lovable Black Beard Bart at our children's etiquette teas! Laura Bartolucci is this month's recognized employee and she has spent many years with the St James Tearoom continually blessing us with her many talents. Laura is constantly innovating and creating for the St James, always with the intent that our guests' experiences be even more memorable. She adds a spark of new life into every project she undertakes and in doing so upholds our mission to climb ever higher and further in the pursuit of excellence. Laura has proved herself to be a diligent catalyst for change, not only in society at large, but here within the tearoom as well and we are all most honored to work with her.

You enchant us and all others around you Laura and we deeply appreciate you!

SEPTEMBER ~ This month we would like to give special recognition to one of our dear servers, Annette Gillespie. Anyone who has ever worked with Annette or been served by her, knows that she embodies Excellence, which is one of the St James' cherished aspirations. She simply will not settle for mediocrity and this has manifested itself in many wonderful and innovative ways that have helped to improve the Tearoom as a whole. Annette has an incredibly large heart, which allows her keen eyes to perceive and attend to even the smallest details, and by doing so she leaves a trail of blessings and encouragements wherever she goes. She has become a dynamic Team Player who is always flexible and willing to come in upon short notice or to work longer hours when others need time off. Annette has added tremendously to the overall value of the Tearoom through her honesty, diligence, and dedication and we gratefully invite you to honor her with us this month. Thank you Annette!

OCTOBER ~ This month at the St James Tearoom we are eager to introduce one of our wonderful chefs, Miss Lisa Gasper. Lisa has been working faithfully at the Tearoom for many years, and therefore has seen a great deal of change as the Tearoom has expanded. Through every season in the Tearoom's story Lisa has remained a steadfast and diligent member of our team. Lisa is a naturally gifted leader, which is constantly reflected in her clear and direct ability to communicate with others while always maintaining the highest levels of grace and courtesy in her speech. Lisa is a gentle and kind encourager who is always ready with a warm smile and no matter what challenges she is surrounded by. She is always a strong team player, willing to go the extra mile for the good of others though it may be of a cost to her. Please join us in celebrating Lisa as this month's recognized employee and continue to enjoy the exquisite menus she oversees with such continued excellence (we know you will!) Thank you Lisa!

NOVEMBER ~ Here at the St James Tearoom we would like to honor a very dear lady, Miss Valerie Hart. Valerie has been employed at the Tearoom for many years and has held several different positions over the course of time. She is currently the manager of the St James Market. When thinking of what it means to be a team player, one of the most likely pictures to enter our minds is Valerie. Over the years she has demonstrated her large heart by consistently putting those around her first, serving their needs before her own. Valerie has a natural aptitude for making others feel at ease with her calm demeanor and excellent sense of humor and we greatly hope you are given the opportunity to share a conversation with her at some point during your next visit. She has proved herself to be an exceptional leader who effectively encourages and motivates her team members to reach new heights of excellence and we are blessed by her faithful diligence to further the mission of the St James Tearoom. Thank you Valerie, we are so grateful for you!

DECEMBER ~ We are so privileged to honor This Employee of the Month - a woman who makes everyone a nicer person when working around and with her. She is a true example of putting others above herself, by far the most Gracious of Servants, and her kind, gentle and caring spirit is proven through actions time and time again. She always takes that extra step, and represents everything the Tearoom strives to be.

Nichole Goodman is a wonderful person to be around at work as well as outside of the tearoom. She embodies an elegance and grace that has not only welcomed guests for years, but has made her memorable to so many patrons as their ideal of a St. James Girl. Through her sweet demeanor and the cherished St. James aspirations that flow so naturally from her, she has served us all as a noble and humble manager, a beloved friend, a gracious guide to our new trainees, and she has the bedside manners of a true Saint. We are blessed to say, Nichole is a true friend and confidant, and we appreciate all that you do!