We were lucky to catch up with Kerry- Ann Melissa Tapper recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kerry- Ann Melissa, appreciate you joining us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

If I were to start over today the one thing I would do is believe in my passion more and fight for my dream. As a young girl growing up I always loved being in the kitchen cooking and baking up a storm but when it came time for me to decide what I want to do in life I choose the career path of becoming a teacher.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a 42 year old passionate woman who loves the Lord and seeks his guidance everyday. After graduating University of Technology with a bachelors in Education, were I studied family and consumer studies I began teaching at Frankfeild High School for four mouths. I enjoyed being a teacher and imparting knowledge on the younger generation especially because I was teaching a subject many frown upon in our society ( Home Economics). After leaving Frankfield it was hard for me to get a permanent job due to the fact that teachers rarely let my field, so I kept on doing several months at some of Jamaica’s prominent high schools after a few years I finally landed a job at Liberty Academy for three years and that’s when the magic happened. I began teaching a group of students who would challenge me and my expertise as for once I got students who loved the field of Food and nutrition. These students were considered special so they were slower when it came on to theory however when it came to the practical aspect of the subject they would thrive. I remember my parents were celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary and I was in charge of baking the anniversary cake my students decided they wanted to be apart of it so I turned it into a cake making and decorating class they were in awe and the satisfaction and joy I felt was unmatched. I made the decision there and then to go back to school and further my studies in the craft of cake making and decorating.
So I went back to the university and did a certificate course in the area where I was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the course.
I then started my business Sweet Treasures by Kerry. I would take sample of my cakes and give to my brother to give his customers at his restaurant in Clarendon and that gave me my first wedding client. I then started my Facebook page which allowed more persons to know about me and they would book me for their weddings. About one year after I started my business my cousin got engaged and she asked me to do everything for her, from the decor to her catering and her cake and that experience pushed me to invest in myself. I started creating different lines of products such as jams for wedding souvenirs to packed lunches and dinner for persons who were too busy to cook. I then realized that although I loved teaching and my students there was a creator calling on my life was I quit the last school I was employed to CAMPERDOWN high in Kingston and began working Juici patties as a chef Trainer where I get the opportunity to go deeper in my passion while growing my business.
My hope is to one day open a school where I can continue to encourage and impart the knowledge that I have while helping youngsters achieve their dreams of entrepreneurship and Cooking/ Baking.
As the owner of my business one of my aim is to ensure that all my clients get quality service at an affordable price. I try my best to not just cater for the man with deep pocket but also to the little man who wants something special and affordable.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2019 when COVID hit it was a difficult period for me and my family, so as my mother would say I had to use my hand and turn fashion. I turned my kitchen at home into a catering space where I started preparing soups and selling to persons in and around my home town. When I saw that this venture was a success I then moved into pack lunches I would create a menu of two main dishes and send it out to friends family my church and wider community for persons to place their orders and I would delivery their lunches to them where ever they were. I refused to give up after all feed people is my joy.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

My main career was teaching which I loved but being underpaid and wanting something more pushed me to improve on my skills as a baker. Also seeing the passion my students had when we would make and decorate a cake showed me that there was much more I needed to do. So I through caution to the wind went back to school and that’s how my side hustle started. When I realized that my side hustle brought me more joy, purpose and money I decided to quit my job and go full on one as a caterer/ baker

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Sweet Treasures by Kerry
• Facebook: Sweet Treasures by Kerry