jorge t.

Jorge T. | Server

Carmen's Cafe

Years of Industry Service: 15

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Jorge has one of those deep, intriguing voices that make you bend your head a bit and just listen. But that wasn't always so. "When I was younger, they thought I was a girl on the phone, my voice changed in high school." Born in Mexico City, Jorge emigrated to the United State 20 years ago. He has always worked for independent restaurants and throughout, he has also put his distinctive voice to good use as a radio deejay. Jorge is the host of Breaking Thru Darkness, a Spanish broadcast, on local community station KKFI 90.1 FM (Tuesday nights from 9:30-midnight). "It's a great business," he says. "I love being on the radio, it's one of the best jobs I've ever had." It's a bi-lingual show; he chooses the music and the program and puts together a lineup showcasing a lot of different countries. Jorge is very involved in the Latin community.

  Make KC Better » Generally, KC is good. I would like to see more events for the Latino community, to get more involved. It's a big city. 

raymond c.

Raymond C. | Bartender

Carmen's Cafe

Years of Industry Service: 5

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Raymond, a transplant from Dallas, Texas, didn't start his service industry career until he came to Kansas City. He actually moved north for college, first arriving Atchison, Kansas to attend Benedictine College. But coming from big city Dallas to itty bitty city Atchison was a tough transition for Raymond, so he hightailed it to Kansas City. Now, a resident of Waldo and recent graduate of the University of Missouri, Kansas City, he is getting ready for grad school. "I'm not ready for a real job," he says. 

Raymond just started bartending a year ago. "I was serving for four years and drinking heavily in between and that's what got me into this." Now, he has a huge bar at home and he wants to enter this year's GKCBC. "I went last year and said, that's what I want to do." At Carmen's however, he doesn't have the luxury of making time-intensive cocktails. "I'm not in that industry. I gotta make them delicious and pump them out quick." Raymond's liquor of choice is bourbon, neat or on the rocks. 

School and eventually his "real job" will all be a means to an end for Raymond. One day, he'd like to own his own restaurant. "I'm a good cook and make even better cocktails," he says. Confidence and a clear goal for the future, that sounds like a good start to us.

  Make KC Better » I would like to see a light rail here.