Age: 26

Local restaurant marketing manager, Sticky Fingers Restaurant Group

• Develops and coordinates local restaurant marketing initiatives that support brand objectives and drive sales for all 22 Sticky Fingers restaurants.
• Participates in Sticky Fingers’ Helping Hands Program, which helps nonprofit organizations raise money with the support of the local community.

Community involvement

• Chamber of commerce in 12 cities.
• Charleston Young Professionals.
• Lowcountry Filipino American Association.
• Citadel MBA Association.
• Habitat for Humanity.

Professional goal: To carve a niche for myself while adding value to the organization and helping others at the same time.

Personal mission statement: “Pura Vida.” It’s a Costa Rican expression that can mean many things, from “Thank You” to “Everything is alright” to “Live life to the fullest.”

Best career advice you’ve ever been given: Find a job that you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.

People you would like to meet: Gandhi, Richard Branson and my inner self.

Favorite vacation spot: Any Central American beach town where the surf is amazing.

First job: My first job was at Sticky Fingers! At 16, I was a food runner and host at the North Charleston restaurant. My experience then with the original three owners left an indelible impression on me. Their guest obsession and business savvy are things you don’t learn in a classroom.