Shalare Martinez
Shalare Martinez
Lead Cook
Location: Columbia
I was born in Utah and raised in Iowa. I graduated in 2012 and moved to South Carolina shortly after. I have been with Southern Way since October.
Since my very first day with SWC, I have felt accepted and appreciated by my peers and managers. We all get along so well; it makes our job fun and entertaining. There’s never a dull moment with our group. We have slow seasons and we have busy seasons. When we are in our busy seasons, we see each other more than we see our own families so it’s a lot easier to love your job when you enjoy who you work with.
I thoroughly enjoy Weddings, repeat corporate events and themed events. But my most favorite event we do every year is the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament in Hilton Head Island for one week. The days are long and the nights are short but it is an unforgettable experience with great co-workers. I was stationed on the 18th green and was able to watch the winning putt my very first year I worked. It was an experience that I will never forget.
If there is one thing SWC has taught me, it is to be passionate about my job and to be a logical thinker. I don't only go to work because I have bills to pay, I go because I enjoy what I do. I love what I do because I get the opportunity to learn new recipes practically every day. There’s nothing better than watching guests enjoy the food I have cooked
When I am not working, I have an 8-year-old son and we absolutely love going to the trampoline park, movies and shopping.