Elaine Bell
Content Manager at Together & Co.
This week marks our 28th anniversary of serving Columbus, Ohio doing what we do best – bringing people together through wholehearted hospitality! And as a catering business owned and operated by women leaders, it’s always a treat that we get to celebrate our anniversary during Women’s History Month.
To celebrate both, we sat down with several women at Together & Company who have made an impact on who we are today and asked them to share some of their words of wisdom.
Angela & Carly - Growing the next generation of women leaders
First up is our Founder, Angela Petro, and President, Carly Buzby. In 1997, when Together & Company (then Two Caterers) first started, Angela was snapping green beans for events in her apartment kitchen with a vision of offering opportunities to others who cared deeply about delivering wholehearted experiences. 28 years later, our company employs over 100 passionate team members, almost two dozen of which have been with the team for over 10 years!
Carly is one of these team members, joining us over 15 years ago as a Sales Partner. Since then, she has grown into a leading force behind Together & Company, supporting the business and team members alike in reaching new heights. Check out our conversation with them:
How have women in leadership supported you in your journey to where you are today?
AP: I left home at 17 and while I had loving female family members, I didn’t really feel empowered by women in leadership until later in life. The first aha moment for me was when a client, Jane Ely, the Executive Assistant to the CEO of OhioHealth, reached out to me directly and gave me hard feedback. While that sounds like the opposite of “empowerment”, it was such a gift. She told me that she knew I could do better and that she felt I deserved to hear hard things and have the opportunity to make it right. It was a pivotal moment in my life – putting me on a road to get my arms around the company, while also being foundational in forming my own leadership style moving forward.
So many women are not given hard feedback in their careers which directly contributes to why women may not progress as fast and as far as men. Feedback is a gift, both in the giving and the receiving. Jane was confident enough to say hard things to me with the intent to empower, not deflate. I’ll never forget that.
CB: Women in leadership have been a constant source of support and guidance throughout my journey. Our shared experiences and collaborations have been invaluable. Whenever I face challenges, I turn to other women as a resource, and their advice has always been empowering. I’ve admired how other women leaders approach their roles, and I surround myself with women who are not only supportive but also willing to challenge me, helping me grow and improve.
How have you influenced each other in the time you’ve worked together?
Our 2024 annual meeting, when Angela announced Carly’s new position as our President (and yes, we were all wearing superhero capes at our annual meeting)
CB: Angela has been an incredible mentor to me, offering guidance, challenging me to step outside my comfort zone, and allowing me to make mistakes along the way.
AP: When faced with a hard decision I ask myself, how is this young woman going to see me? Will the lesson be that she wants to handle difficult things BECAUSE of me or am I teaching her how NOT to act. From the first meeting with Carly, I saw potential and an open curious mind. That has led me to push her into situations where she isn’t comfortable because I KNOW she can come out stronger and more fully aware of her power.
CB: We’ve come to understand each other’s strengths and areas for improvement, and we know when to lean on one another. While we lead in different ways, it’s not about right or wrong; it’s about sharing our experiences and learning from them.
AP: [Carly] has been a grounding force for me. I can be impulsive, awkward, speak before filtering…Carly has never made me feel judged, but in her own calm way has reminded me that I can show up better for others without beating myself up for what I get wrong. I can’t imagine being the leader I am today without her in my life.
What legacy do you hope to leave for future women leaders and entreprenuers?
Goofing around at the Together & Company offices at High Line Car House!
AP: Carly is a better leader at her age than I was at mine in some ways because I invested in her journey. And she has developed younger women that understand at a high level what empowered leadership looks like at a younger age than she did . If I leave women better through experience sharing, connecting and having those direct honest sometimes uncomfortable conversations then I will feel that I lived in alignment with my values and purpose.
CB: I hope to show women that if you’re willing to take the journey, I’ll be right there with you! I want women to recognize their power and the impact they can make on their people. It’s important to figure out what kind of leader you want to be and how you want others to see you in your leadership role.
AP: Together we see those young leaders pushing on others to step into their power. It’s a righteous circle and the ripple effect of coaching, mentoring and empowering women to full fill their potential is what fills my bucket after 28 years of entrepreneurship.
CB: As a leader, you will make mistakes along the way, but as long as you lead with compassion, clarity, and directness you’ll stay on the right path. I want future women leaders to know they are supported and that they have a strong network ready to help them succeed, me being one of them!
Bri & Shayla – From back of house to department leaders
Next, we are featuring Bri Barnhart, our Director of Operations, and Shayla Ferguson, our Garde Manger (or “cold side” Sous Chef) – two long-time team members of Together & Company!
These two have been with us for over 10 years, and have grown into influential leaders in their time with Team TC. When we asked them to share their experience growing with the company, here’s what they shared with us:
Bri and Shayla, you both started as Back of House support, and now you lead teams —what advice would you give to women who want to follow in your footsteps?
Bri (left) and Shayla (right) take time out of their busy days to chat with us.
SF: First, find a company that’s aligned with your values. It’s much easier to thrive in an environment where you feel a sense of pride. Secondly, never stop learning. The industry and the world is ever-changing and those who refuse to grow get left behind. Lastly, empower and nurture your team. Know their strengths and weaknesses, trust them enough to delegate, and lead by example. You’re only as successful as your weakest link.
BB: Don’t be afraid—whatever that means for you! Don’t be afraid to speak up and throw out your ideas and thoughts; Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and take on a challenge; Don’t be afraid to step into a different role and try something new; Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and fight for what you deserve or what is right for you.
What did growing into a leader in this company mean to you?
SF: Growing as a leader in the company gave me a strong sense of accomplishment. There’s responsibility in leading a team and realizing that goal gave me the confidence to recognize my value and to work harder to continue to improve.
BB: I started at Two Caterers (our company’s original name) directly out of college, and it is the only place I have ever worked since – I grew up here! I have spent the last 11 years working with many strong female leaders and have had the opportunity to customize my leadership style by learning from them.
These women know a thing or two about our values “do what it takes” and “have fun doing it”!
SF: Leading a team now also speaks to the puzzle-lover inside of me. Figuring out how to juggle the workload and use the team efficiently is a challenge that never ends.
BB: I appreciate the opportunities Together & Company has given me to develop my leadership skills outside of this company. I’ve taken classes and had experiences that have made me a better leader and human. For all the opportunities I’ve been given to grow, I am eternally grateful.
What changes would you love to see for the next generation of women in hospitality?
SF: I would love to see more women in leadership and executive roles. Some ways to get there are through the empowerment of mentorship and fostering a more equitable playing field with better work-life initiatives.
BB: Yes – the culinary industry is a predominantly male-run field, and I would love to see more women especially in culinary leadership roles! Shayla is a great example of a strong female culinary leader. She is creating a path forward for other female leaders in the Food & Beverage world!
Tammy & Peggy – 10+ years of championing our values
Last but certainly not least, we are highlighting two of our all-star Events Team members: Tammy Bartholomew, one of our Front of House Supervisors, and Peggy Gargano, a member of our Event Staff!
Tammy (left; at The Fives Columbus) and Peggy (right; at High Line Car House) ready to impress at their event shifts.
It’s women like Tammy and Peggy on our team who make Team TC what it is; they are both leaders in our signature wholehearted hospitality as well as leaders in FUN! Since they have both been such champions of our values for over 10 years, we asked them to share more about their experience working with us and give some advice to women who are new to the field:
What is your favorite TC value and how do you bring it to life, even on the busiest event days?
PG: I love “Have Fun While Doing It”! I enjoy being part of the celebrating, wherever we are hired to work! I love my job.
TB: I really resonate with the value “Do What It Takes” – It gives us the ability to think on our feet, pivot and make something special happen. We get to do what it takes to have a successful event while knowing we are backed up by the company for our decisions to make it happen.
How has Together & Company evolved since you first started, and what has remained constant?
TB: When I first started with TC, I sat in an introduction of the company and was then asked to state “yes” or “no” if that sounded like something I would like to do. We now have a full training program with a detailed on-boarding system!
PG: We have grown, no doubt. Angela [Petro] helped me grow in what I do by working by my side and having fun! To this day, we enjoy “Leaving It Better Than We Found It”, another one of our values. I have always made amazing friendships with the people working for this company. May all our futures continue to grow!
TB: Staff has always put the client first – from selling to event designing; from food prep to the day of the event. What we do from start to finish has always been consistent with the goal of a happy client and guests.
What advice do you have for women who are new to the hospitality industry?
PG: In the hospitality business, I’d say: please enjoy what you do! It will show for the people you’re working for! They will observe and know.
TB: Wear comfortable shoes, bring plenty of yummy snacks stashed in your bag, and always have chapstick – ha! All joking aside, the hospitality industry offers many avenues for advancement for females. It is an industry that we have a significant majority in. Explore all the possibilities, and “Have Fun Doing It!” (See, I threw in another core value)
From all of us at Together & Company, thank you for reading our stories this Women’s History Month! Here’s to many more years uplifting women leaders in the hospitality industry.
Do you know someone who would love to work with us?
We’re always looking for passionate hospitality professionals to join the team! If what these women leaders spoke about resonated with you, you might be a good fit. Check out our open positions:
