I'd revisit summer nights driving with my son, top off the jeep, wind in our hair... ordinary moments you only treasure once you know they won't last forever.
Stacey Lemasters · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Stacey
Stacey Lemasters is a Banquet Manager in the hospitality industry, currently working at a resort in Wheeling, West Virginia. She stepped into the role a little over three years ago as an assistant banquet manager before advancing to her present position, where she now oversees weddings, corporate functions, and other large-scale gatherings from initial planning through flawless execution. Her responsibilities span coordinating event logistics, managing staffing needs, communicating across teams and departments, and ensuring that every client's vision comes to life on the big day. Long before hospitality became her calling, Stacey's professional path wound through several other fields — she graduated from South Hills Beauty Academy Inc. in 2008 with a background in cosmetology, spent a year in nursing school, and even ran her best friend's restaurant, experiences that together shaped the versatility and people-first instincts she brings to her work today. What distinguishes Stacey as a leader is her ability to maintain perspective under pressure. She often credits a piece of advice from a former boss — that you can't put out a fire if you're standing inside it — as central to her leadership philosophy. Rather than becoming consumed by any single problem, she has learned to step back, offer direction, and trust her staff to work through certain issues independently, freeing her to keep sight of the larger operation. This approach has helped her navigate one of the industry's most persistent post-pandemic challenges: a shrinking and less experienced workforce, paired with rising costs that have made large events less accessible for some clients. Even amid these pressures, she remains committed to delivering the kind of seamless, memorable experience that clients expect when entrusting her team with life's biggest celebrations. Beyond her professional achievements, Stacey places equal importance on her role as a mother, working to stay present for her teenage son despite a demanding schedule that often claims her weekends. Her journey — from cosmetology school, to a brief stint in nursing, to running a restaurant, and ultimately into a thriving hospitality career — reflects a willingness to adapt and grow rather than follow a single predetermined path. In recognition of her professional achievements and leadership, Stacey was selected to be featured by Influential Women magazine representing Wheeling, West Virginia for 2026. She encourages young women entering hospitality and similarly demanding fields to embrace the sacrifices, push through the inevitable setbacks, and keep striving toward advancement, confident that dedication and hands-on effort will ultimately pay off.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stacey
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to genuinely caring about the job and being willing to get my hands dirty and learn from every experience. Persistence through challenges and a strong work ethic have carried me through the setbacks along the way, and showing that dedication has been what has allowed me to keep moving up.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A former boss once told me that you can't put out a fire if you're in the fire, and that advice has stayed with me. If I get too deep in the mix with my staff, I lose the ability to see other problems developing elsewhere. I've learned to step back, offer guidance, and let my team work through certain issues on their own so that I can stay aware of the bigger picture.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd tell young women that their social life won't look the way it used to, but that's a trade-off worth making. You'll get your hands dirty, you'll learn valuable things, and it will pay off in the end. You'll move up when you show how much you care and how much you genuinely enjoy the work. There will be speed bumps, but don't let them discourage you — grin and bear it, push through, and it's all worth it in the end. I absolutely love my job, and I encourage others to always keep striving to climb that corporate ladder.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Staffing is the biggest hurdle I face right now, especially in the years since COVID, since fewer people seem willing to work as much as before. Training younger staff who have a different work ethic is also a real challenge. On top of that, rising prices mean fewer clients can afford the kinds of events they used to book. That said, I do see opportunity in building reliable, long-term seasonal staffing solutions, such as well-managed international staff programs, that can integrate into the team and provide more dependable support.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
At work, I value making sure everything goes correctly for my clients, since they're trusting us with some of the most important events of their lives. At home, I try to be the best mom I can be to my teenage son, and I work hard to balance that role with a job that often demands my weekends for weddings and events.
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