01/12/2022
One of the many upcoming transitions happening at Tastably! Ken has been instrumental in Tastably's vision from the start. His passion and creative mind will be greatly missed on-site. Read is farewell message below...
"Goodbye & Thank You" - A Word From Our CEO
I was 12 years old when my journey with Elizabeth’s Catering began. At the time, I was working for my parents in their little sandwich shop called Picky Eaters. We had no idea what that little sandwich shop would eventually become. Over the next few years, we had other family members come and go and Elizabeth’s Catering officially started in 1998. Since then it has grown and developed into what it is today, one of Utah’s top rated catering companies. We’ve had our ups and downs and learned a lot along the way, but the values that we had in the beginning stayed true through it all–honesty, dependability, and dedication to improvement–just to name a few.
In 2018, I became the primary owner and brought Wendy Banman into the ownership team. Since then she has become an amazing business partner and through her 20+ years of experience in this business, she has gained the tools and knowledge to take this business to the next level. I am excited to announce that Wendy will be the new primary owner and CEO of Elizabeth’s Catering. She has my full confidence in her ability to take the reins as I step away from this role. If you haven’t already interacted with her, you’ll soon experience that she’ll put you–the customer–first.
While Elizabeth’s Catering is no longer technically a “family-owned” business, many of those values make this place feel like a second family. I still consider this a family business for those reasons and believe that we have an amazing team that always pulls together and is there for each other when it is needed most, on or off the clock.
Amidst this ownership transition, Wendy and I have made some exciting adjustments to our business model that will benefit our hardworking employees as well as the overall direction of the company, which we look forward to announcing soon.
I feel that one of my biggest accomplishments within the company that I'm most proud of was helping to create a culture where people can feel safe and be inspired to be their best. Along with our loyal client’s continued support, this company culture is what helped us pull through the shutdowns of the pandemic. We had to pivot to survive, but like most businesses, if you don’t pivot, you go extinct.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who has worked for our organization in the past and for their contributions. A special thanks to my parents, mentors, and those who had a hand in helping me get to this point in my life. I couldn’t have done any of this without your help and guidance. I feel both lucky and grateful to have been a part of Elizabeth’s for the last 25 years and am excited to see what my future brings as I move to Florida with my family and start my next chapter in life. Simultaneously, I look forward to seeing the growth of Elizabeth’s Catering and the success that Tastably–our employee meal division–brings.
Our mission is simple: “good food, happy people.”
Ken Copeland