TARA A. FOXWELL, Catering Coordinator

Tara first joined the Gourmet by the Bay team in 2003 as a part-time bartender and server for off-site events. She quickly became one of the most respected and reliable members of the part-time staff.

A self-proclaimed ‘people person’, Tara has had over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, hospitality, and sales. After serving in the United States Army as a communication specialist until 1995, Tara worked for a year as a sales person for a major communications network in Phoenix, Arizona. During this brief venture she received honors for consistently being in the top 10% of sales in the country.

Following her years of traveling the country, Tara returned home to the Eastern Shore in 1997 to be closer to her family. She began working at a popular restaurant in the area, Snapper’s Waterfront Café, best known for its Jamaican cuisine and fresh local seafood. There, Tara worked as a bartender, server, and hostess, and was eventually promoted to General Manager, a position she held for four years.

In 2003, Tara moved to Talbot County where she helped establish a new restaurant at the Easton Club Golf and Conference Center. There, she served as Bar Manager for several years. It was during this time that Tara was introduced to the Tronds and Gourmet by the Bay. She began working part-time for GBTB’s catering division, and eventually joined the staff in 2006 at their award-winning restaurant in St. Michaels, Shore Restaurant and Lounge. Tara quickly became part of the management team there as well, and when the position of Catering Coordinator for Gourmet by the Bay became available, she jumped at the opportunity.

Tara feels a deep sense of commitment and loyalty to the Tronds because, according to her, “this is the only place that I’ve worked my entire life, where I haven’t had to apologize for anything. Gourmet by the Bay is quality food, with quality service, by quality people. The strong sense of family and values that this company represents are what drives me. I absolutely love the feeling I get when I look at a Client and can see the joy that is written on their faces. To know that I helped to create that feeling… it means that all the hard work that went into the event really did pay off.”

In addition to her career in the hospitality business, Tara also holds an Associates Degree in Fine Arts and Sciences from Chesapeake College and is a strong advocate of Breast Cancer Awareness.