From serving in a coffee shop to bartending, through bar and restaurant management positions in high profile (and volume) venues to a senior F&B management position in a leading Canadian resort.
Managed hundreds of staff and consistently achieved the highest levels of sales success and employee engagement
Worked in a variety of growth-focused Hospitality roles in Eastern Canada, Western Canada and the Middle East, including roles in leading restaurants, 4 diamond hotels, and resorts; At JRoss Hospitality Recruiters, has filled dozens of positions with leading Hospitality brands in Canada
Extended tenure and a track record for growth in every role she has occupied
Fairmont Leader of the Year, set records for employee engagement while dramatically increasing top and bottom line growth; While wIth JRoss Hospitality Recruiters, has filled dozens of positions at all levels for leading Hospitality brands across western Canada
Enthusiasm, a focus on results, and a track record for success have been hallmarks of Janis’ hospitality career. Whether working with trend setting properties in a lounge/grill setting, or with world leaders in upscale hotel or remote resort environments, Janis has consistently risen to new challenges, meeting and exceeding targets every time.
Beginning in her teens baking doughnuts and serving lunch in her local coffee shop, Janis followed her passion for hospitality as it financed her university education and subsequent travel through Europe. Living in Ottawa’s Byward Market in the late 1990’s, Janis saw the “new casual dining” concept combine beautiful rooms with great food and a cocktail revival. Excited by what she saw, Janis became a bartender and was quickly promoted to Bar Manager and then General Manager at the Empire Grill, a trendsetting and award winning property that has hosted Jean Cretien, the “then new” Ottawa Sen’s team, and a Juno Awards party.
Moving into the hotel space, in 2004 Janis joined the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, North America’s leading ski resort, as Restaurant Manager of The Wildflower and Manager of The Mallard Lounge. Moving on to a role as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage (and acting Director of Banquets), she helped deliver significant increases in profitability, the highest departmental employee engagement scores within the property, and 4 diamond status for the flagship dining room. She also received Leader of the Year award in 2006 - all while working through a rebranding and renovation/refit of two hotel assets.
While with Fairmont Janis also became a member of the transitions and hotel opening team in Egypt, where she assisted with rebranding and opening the Fairmont Heliopolis and the Fairmont Cairo Towers.
Moving to the high end resort sector, in 2008 Janis became Food & Beverage Manager at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. While there she was responsible for five mountain venues and 100 staff. During her stay Janis was able to deliver significant increases in both the top and bottom lines, to implement new menus and service standards, to develop the concepts for and open two new stores, and once again achieve the highest employee engagement scores on the property.
Janis moved to Calgary in 2012, and in 2014 joined JRoss Hospitality Recruiters, where she combines her passion for the hospitality industry and for people in successfully matching talent with opportunity.