We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Campbell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.
Emily, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
From a young age, I was trained to be in a business setting….answering phones, filing documents, and putting things in numerical order more than I could possibly imagine. I watched my Grandpa turn a bankrupt farm equipment dealership into a successful conglomerate of dealerships across Northwest Kansas. My father and his siblings were all involved in the business, so from the beginning I felt as though I was meant to follow in their footsteps. Sitting still was not an option for me. Looking for the next thing to get involved in or learn about was of importance. Throughout college, I learned every aspect of business I could. I was never sure what I truly wanted to pursue, but accounting and finance seemed to make the most sense. What I always gravitated towards was helping people.
Fast forward years later, after working my way up the corporate ladder and experiencing some of the challenges a young, high-level manager encounters, I decided to take a leap of faith and do something completely different with my life. My husband was a project manager for a general construction company that built high-level military facilities. His job soon took us to the Seattle area where I courageously decided to attend culinary school at age 28. I had never worked in a restaurant a day in my life, but I started to have an irresistible vision to open a restaurant. I told myself the only way I could successfully do that was by obtaining the technical skills and experience necessary to create a successful business. After two years of attending Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute, and working my way through several esteemed restaurants, we made the decision to return to our hometown of Hoxie, Kansas to help with both of our family businesses.
My heart was still pulling me toward some sort of culinary adventure and ironically we had some very good friends who were willing to go down the same path. At age 34 I finally opened a restaurant that has now come to serve not only the community, but also the surrounding region, with unique and classy food – something previously unheard of for Northwest Kansas. It may not make national headlines, but it has become a destination location for locals and travelers alike. Little did I know the impact it would have on my life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My future vison is unending. I passionately want to see our community thrive….and the State of Kansas at that. I learned so much about the farm to table movement while working in Seattle that I couldn’t fathom why we were not doing such a thing in Kansas. My parents have always taught me to support local, feed off the land, and eat healthy. Never would I have imagined that this would become my passion. I am even more focused on developing the next generation. They have such potential….they just don’t know it. Food will never leave the central scene of our lives. It is our nutrients….it is how we share with one another. I want to see more local food initiatives pop up, support for small producers grow and local ecosystems thrive. Growing up in rural America I’ve come to understand the importance of maintaining your surroundings and respecting the earth. Your neighbors will care so much more about you than some commercial supplier ever will. They will make sure the products you are serving in your restaurant are of the highest quality. Not only is your name behind it…so is theirs.
My motivation goes way beyond food. Supporting people and helping them be their best version of themselves is what I am most passionate about. I want to see people succeed. I want to see them transpire into something they never thought imaginable. I want to see them make a difference as much as I want to make a difference.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I believe leadership, a genuine sense of caring, and a vision with a mission have been the three driving forces behind my journey. Leadership is not only important from an ownership level, but it is even more impactful from an employee level. When I create job descriptions for The Elephant, you will never see the word “manager”. I instill in our team the importance of mentoring through leadership. One of the most important characteristics of a good leader (in my opinion) is their ability to truly care. They must care about their role and responsibilities alongside caring about the people they are leading. Last but not least, the most important thing I have learned as a business owner is to have a vision with a true mission. Learn to understand your market, be willing to adapt, and never become stagnant.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for individuals who want to make a difference through new concepts and innovative ideas that will help create a thriving environment for the region and community around them. Rural America has just as much to offer as the big cities and I want to find a partner who is willing to help showcase that. I want to preserve our natural environment while also enhancing it. My dream is to create small pockets of tourism in rural areas featuring local markets, boutique hotels, and genuine restaurants. I want to show people how to maintain a simple way of living while also making it fulfilling. Most of all I want to see rural communities create something special by focusing on the natural beauty that surrounds them along with the talents of the native people. I would love to collaborate with locals, celebrate what they have to offer and strive to make the our region something glamorous.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theelephantbistrobar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theelephantbistrobar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theelephantbistrobar/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-elephant-bistro-and-bar
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-elephant-bistro-and-bar-hoxie
Image Credits
Bow Creek Photography
