The Boss & Her Wonder Women
Karin Derly, the powerhouse and sole proprietress of the French Alpine Bistro (FAB) in Aspen, Colorado has assembled a compelling, predominantly female crew over the years; one that is highly capable of navigating anything the sea of life sends their way.
Meet three of her wonder women:
Eliza Martin del Campo - Maître ‘d
With a genuine smile that makes its way up to her eyes, you’ll find Eliza’s always alert and engaged, in order to make sure diners at the FAB are completely satisfied, and that the staff has the direction and support they need. Hailing originally from Mexico, with a degree in restaurant management, as well as a certification in teaching, Eliza moved to the U.S. with her family in 2015 and started to work with Karin soon thereafter.
How would she describe her boss? “Karin’s supportive. She knows I have young kids, so my work schedule is reflective of that. The restaurant is Karin’s baby. She puts all her creativity and energy into the business. Every season gets better and better. We have total faith in her. She’s got our backs, and we have hers.”
Cristal Aguirre Anchondo - Hospitality Manager
Chances are, if you have a tape measure, you don’t always carry it with you...not so for Cristal! Being a key linguistic (English/Spanish) bridge between the office, kitchen and wait staff, Cristal is informed of anything that needs to be replaced or reordered, from glasses to refrigerators, and she’s going to make sure that the measurements are exact. Having worked with Karin - who is also multilingual (French/Spanish/German/English) - in different capacities for over six years, Cristal recently started applying her intelligence and can-do attitude in supporting Karin at the FAB (in-person three days a week, and remotely two days a week).
Cristal says of her employer: “She keeps the whole team involved and pushes us to do better. She values teamwork, through meetings and a widely recognized communication app. She’s very open to other people’s ideas, and there’s always cross-training. She also takes into consideration that you need time for your family. There’s life outside of work!”
Chantal Henderson - Event & Public Relations Manager
The newest addition to the FAB team, Chantal, a transplant from South Africa, brings with her a wealth of background and experience in a variety of fields including publishing, real estate and personalized concierge services. She’ll be utilizing this expertise by partnering with Karin to expand an already lucrative events engine. This includes, but is not limited to, continuing to organize pre-wedding activities, such as the FAB’s popular rehearsal dinners, as well as offering the restaurant space for traveling branding options and high-end products that are looking for relevant venues. According to Chantal, “Given the incredibly romantic and French alpine feel of the interiors, we are excited to optimize the space itself.”
It’s apparent just how excited Chantal is to be working with Karin, “What struck me when we first started talking about me joining the team was her business acumen and leadership style; Karin’s very inclusive. Of course, she’s the one who makes the final decision, but she values teamwork. She empowers her employees to think for themselves, and then lets them be in the rhythm they need to get the job done.”
To find out more about how the FAB ship sails, to meet its female captain, or to apply to be one of its crew, contact Karin at info@lacreperieduvillage.com
