My Story

I didn’t set out to become a bartender, at least, not at first.

I found my way behind the bar during one of the hardest chapters of my life. I was struggling with my mental health, unemployed, and burned out from chasing a career in the field I’d gotten my degree in. Out of necessity, I took a bartending job at The Viaduct in Tiffin, Ohio, just to make ends meet. I told myself it was temporary, just a way to stay afloat until I found my “real” career. But, instead of being a pit stop, it became a turning point.

I fell in love with bartending.

The fast pace and non-traditional hours just made sense for my ADHD brain. I got to connect with amazing people, many of whom became lasting friends. And I found something even better than a night out: I got to be part of the party, creating a vibe and making people feel welcome and celebrated, all while staying behind the bar.

The dream of owning a business has been with me since I was a kid. (Ask my mom; she’ll tell you I was always scheming up ways to earn money for the next video game or trip I wanted.) But for years, I second-guessed what that business could be. Then one day in early 2024, I saw an Instagram Reel of a woman who had started her own mobile bartending company. That was my lightbulb moment. After a lot of research, hustle, and caffeine-fueled planning sessions (often with a cat or two sitting on my keyboard), Gather & Garnish was born.

Cheddar (orange) and Meatball (brown) are my adorable personal assistants. Though they often fall asleep on the job, they're willing to work for catnip and scratches, so I think it's a fair tradeoff.

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