Influential Woman · Hospitality

Cindy Alvarez

Host, Olive Garden

Clermont, FL

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree High School Diploma Degree Art School (1.5-2 years Degree Incomplete) Cert Cake Decorating Certification

Her Story

About Cindy

I've been in hospitality for about 35-40 years, and I've seen lots of changes and different things, but I still love it. I love that when I'm cooking, I'm making somebody feel yummy good because they're eating something delicious. I've been a host at Olive Garden for 22 years, and I absolutely love greeting people like it's my home and seating them so they can sit down and enjoy a really good meal. It doesn't have to be expensive, just good. Before Olive Garden, I owned and operated my own catering business called To Top It Off - because I would serve the entree, an appetizer if they wanted it, and then topped it off with baked goods like a cake or whatever they asked for. If I couldn't do it, I would refer it to someone I knew who would do it better than me, because I always want to give a leg up to somebody else. I also did catering for New England Grocers. When I came to Florida, I fell right into Olive Garden because my dad lived right near Winter Park, so I was able to go see him a lot while he was alive, and that meant a lot. I only work a couple of nights a week now because at my age, I need to not be as exhausted. I prefer nights - I did days for almost all of my years until maybe 6 or 7 years ago when I decided I need to cut back just a little. But I don't want to stop working unless I really should for whatever reason. I just love being able to make people feel good when they walk in and tell me how good the food was when they leave. My main thing is making people feel welcome - I talk to everyone like we know each other, and I think I get that from my dad who talked to everybody because he said everybody deserves somebody to say hello.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Cindy

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would say my success comes from making people feel like they matter. These days, I don't think people feel that way, and it's sad. If I can make them smile just a little, or any one of the other hosts can, if we can just make them smile, that really is what would make their day. I think that's the base of it - when people feel like they don't have a say and they don't matter, they do. And if I can make them feel like they do matter, then we've succeeded. I also believe in putting yourself out there and speaking to the universe, I guess - I want to be there to be able to help somebody get what they need and then get to enjoy it. Whether I'm welcoming someone in the door at my restaurant where I work, or whether I'm home and somebody asks me to make them something, I've given myself to that idea.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would ask them not to go in with any expectations. Just go in and allow yourself to be trained, and then relax with that knowledge and enjoy. Just enjoy it, and then be open enough to think about what you want to do from there. If you're young enough to do something, think about that so you can look back in your life and not say 'gee, I wish I did that.' Don't ever want to look back and say I wish I did that. My advice to someone just starting in their life is to be open to suggestions. Sometimes it's something you would never think you would do for a job or for training, and then you do it only because you were open enough to listen.

03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Making people feel like they matter is the most important thing to me. Everybody deserves to have somebody greet them warm and welcoming and make them feel like they made the right choice. I think it's really important to keep your fellow workers in mind - even though you might not work with all these people that you refer, you know of their quality, and that's what you're referring, is the quality of the product that they make. I always want to give a leg up to somebody else, because that's how it works. It should work like that. It's so much better if you keep your fellow in mind, your co-workers. I believe people should stop picking and poking at people and start referring and giving people credit for where it's due. I also believe in bartering - somebody gets what they want, and you get to do something fun for them. I want to be there to be able to help somebody get what they need and then get to enjoy it.

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