We share entrepreneurial stories to inspire great ideas...
Heather Fontez
Heather is an accomplished hospitality professional with global experience, including leading world-renowned restaurants like Planta Queen and Kelly’s Landing. With senior roles at a prestigious banquet center and as VP of a non-profit solutions company, she excels in event planning, project management, and client relations. Heather’s passion for creating meaningful experiences is backed by a Master’s in Mental Health Psychology. Outside work, she enjoys yoga, running, and exploring Ontario’s outdoors. Connect with Heather here…Â
Join us in Season #6 for an interview with Heather on our YouTube channel Business Mentorship Keepin It Real
and if you’re on the move here is the podcast on iTunes
 
The ‘Why’ that lead to Entrepreneurship, Heather Fontez
- Contributed By: Heather Fontez
Tell us a little something about your business...
My husband and I started On The Lake Entertainment a year ago based out of our desire to bring premium entertainment services to the Hamilton and Surrounding Areas.
Bryan has a passion for Music and has been a life long musician, performing in multiple projects and for the past 10 years has been a full time DJ, performing for exciting clients such as the Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays as well as high profile corporate events for Microsoft and KPMG. I have been a hospitality executive for many years, opening up flagship restaurants in Toronto as well as operating large banquet centres.
In October of 2023, with the encouragement of Bryan, I came to the realization that I had all of the skills and tools to operate my own business and we combined our passions of high quality performances and exceptional customer experience to service our clients looking to book DJs, Musicians and renting enteratinment equipment.
When was your lightbulb moment?
The story I would like to share is that how throughout my corporate professional journey, I was always asking the question ‘why’. As I grew in my roles, leading to my last ‘corporate’ position of Vice President, I experienced from my colleagues and superiors, that this curiousness and perserverance for information in order to perform optimally in my role and succeed for my peers, began to work against me.
By not feeling united with the team that I was often spending between 50-80 hours per week, I began to feel resentful for the time and skills that I was providing the company with. Ultimately, by starting my own venture and taking that leap of faith, I can truly stand behind the work I do and feel proud when now asking the question ‘Why’.
What are your three words of advice?
– Trust in your own abilities | Don’t let anyone feel like you can achieve anything you put your mind to.
– Reflect on if you are being your true self | Fitting a ‘role’ in the workplace may work for some, but acting with integrity will lead you on your true path
– Invest in your self | Whether this is making time for work-life balance, jumping at opportunities or making decisions which might make others uncomfortable, do not sacrifice your health and happiness for a workplace that will replace you tomorrow.
Three words of advice...
Passion, Integrity, Self-Worth
Heather is an accomplished hospitality professional with global experience, including leading world-renowned restaurants like Planta Queen and Kelly’s Landing. With senior roles at a prestigious banquet center and as VP of a non-profit solutions company, she excels in event planning, project management, and client relations. Heather’s passion for creating meaningful experiences is backed by a Master’s in Mental Health Psychology. Outside work, she enjoys yoga, running, and exploring Ontario’s outdoors. Connect with Heather here…Â
Join us in Season #6 for an interview with Heather on our YouTube channel Business Mentorship Keepin It Real
and if you’re on the move here is the podcast on iTunes
“May your legacy create a footprint of success for the next person who steps into your shoes”
