September is Council Oak Steaks and Seafood’s birthday month. In honor of Tampa Bay’s finest restaurant’s seventh birthday which takes place on September 28, we’ve decided to turn the entire month into one huge celebration. Each Wednesday in September we will highlight a friendly face from Council Oak Steaks and Seafood.

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Candace Quinones, newly appointed general manager of Council Oak Steaks & Seafood.

Candace is no rookie to the food and beverage industry. Her hospitality career started her senior year in high school, where she participated in a co-op program at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino. During her experience there she was educated on the many tiers that fall under hospitality. After her high school graduation, Trump Plaza referred her to the Trump Marina Hotel & Casino for a full-time position as a restaurant supervisor. Most recently, she spent eleven years managing at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey where she was the General Manager of Amphora Lounge and Society Club.

Candace, her husband and daughter decided to move to Tampa this year so that she could pursue a new career at the most successful casino in the United States, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.

You may wonder what a day is like for the new manager of Tampa’s fine dining crown jewel. Some of her tasks include: creating relationships with guests, coaching the Council Oak staff to ensure world class guest service and ongoing training about all aspects of the operation.

Candace demonstrates true leadership abilities when managing employees and managing a food and beverage menu. These reasons made her an easy choice for the high profile position of General Manager at Council Oak Steaks & Seafood.

Stay tuned for more friendly faces.