We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rolando Cantrell . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rolando below.

Rolando, 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 starting over I would definitely take advantage of business lending, grant opportunities and building business credit. Over the years I’ve spent a lot of funds both personal and business capital to fund the business which in some cases caused a strain on personal assets and business as a whole. I’m certain that if I had the knowledge and tools that I have now, I would have achieved much more at a faster pace than I have today.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I’m born and raised in Atlanta, GA. I’m a graduate of Fredrick Douglass High School. I later graduated from Savannah State University where I received my Bachelors degree in Mass communications. After graduating college, I began working in corporate America. Having not been sure of what I wanted to get my masters degree in, I decided to pursue something that I knew I was passionate about which was cooking. Several years later, I received my culinary degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta. Shortly after receiving my degree in culinary arts, I started my own personal chef/catering business called Cantrell Occasions. I’ve always dreamt of having my catering business so the journey of it has been more than I could’ve have imagined. Starting out in catering business was scary. There were so many uncertainties. Uncertain on how to price food, what to charge, will they like the food, or am I good enough. In the beginning, I’d work events alone because I couldn’t afford to pay staff. I’d charge extremely low prices just to gain clients. I was the “Cheap Chef” only making enough to break even. Over the years, I’ve been able to find what works and what doesn’t. After ten years of being a chef and entrepreneur, the business has grown tremendously! I’ve built a great team who has helped Cantrell Occasions become one of the best catering companies in Georgia. We strive to provide great food and service. As a black business owner, one of my biggest goals is to not be a part of the negative stereotypes that black businesses lack professionalism and service.I have been fortunate enough to gain great clientele throughout the state of GA. I’ve had the pleasure to provide services with so many amazing people who have continuously supported me throughout the years. I’m most proud of the empire that I’ve built with the help of my supportive team and clients who believes in me.

Any advice for managing a team?

When managing a team, one must first be approachable. I’ve strived to ensure that my teammates feel comfortable with approaching me as their leader. A team is only as strong as their leader. I ensure that I’m always leading by example. I always try to create an environment for my team where they can be themselves and voice ideas. I ensure that my team know that they are valued and appreciated.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building presence and/or audience on social media can be challenging. I’ve built an audience on social media by being consistent with posting presentable videos and pics of my work. For those just starting to building social media presence, I would advise that they study the algorithms, get advice from others before posting, study the latest trends, and be consistent professional.

Contact Info:

• Website: Cantrelloccasions.com
• Instagram: Iam_chefro
• Other: Na

Image Credits
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