“It took me a long time to figure out that you need to do what you love, stick to your path, then everything will kind of follow,” said Spicer, who is the owner of the Hamilton catering business Two Women in a Kitchen.
Spicer will be honored later this month as owner of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Small Business of the Year.
“It’s a huge honor,” she said. “A lot of times, you’re just plugging along and making it work — and there have been a lot of challenges, especially in the last several years — but it was wonderful to see that I was on anybody’s radar.”
Two Women in a Kitchen started as a joint effort with friend and former business partner Susan Bray, who left to help her brother start a catering business. Since starting in 1998, and incorporating in 2000, Spicer grew the business from six employees to more than 30 at her kitchen on Millville Avenue in Hamilton.
But Spicer is not just in it for making money, said Teri Miller, the office manager at Two Women in a Kitchen and Spicer’s sister.
“If a business or individual truly has a need, she does not hesitate in any way to offer her time, services or a donation,” she said, adding that her sister “has undeniable integrity in her commitment to friends, family and clients.”
Two Women in a Kitchen has catered many big events around the city and Spicer has given back to many organizations either financially or with her time — many times both.
“She is uncompromising in her ethical and moral beliefs in her business practices,” Miller said. “She stays true to her artistic flair ― many times bringing forth a vision that her client never envisioned.”
One of the biggest challenges Spicer, as well as businesses around the world, had to navigate was the COVID-19 pandemic, which decimated the catering industry as events of all sizes were canceled. But Miller said her sister’s drive, determination and resourcefulness kept the company growing.
Spicer said embracing change is one of many keys needed to succeed. Business owners should stick to their goal while being flexible and open to change, whether it’s consistently updating a business plan or implementing new business strategies, she said.
And while businesses will have setbacks, owners need to expect and accept it, because, she said, “You have to be aware that you’re going to fail 100,000 times for every success. You just got to keep going, and after time, you can really see your growth.”
In the future, Two Women in a Kitchen will continue to customize services, like a boutique caterer, she said.
“Hamilton’s been a phenomenal community, and I’ve been always welcome in the area and I have a lot of great rapport with a lot of my clients.”
HOW TO GO
Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner
When & Where: Jan. 31 at Spooky Nook Champion Mill Conference Center on North B Street. Cocktails and dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m.
Honorees: The 2024 Citizen of the Year Award will be presented to David Stark and the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year Award will be presented to Kirsten Spicer, owner of Two Women in a Kitchen.
Speaker: The keynote speaker will be Randy Young, president of Aglamesis Bros'. Inc.
Tickets: Admission is $89 per person or $840 for a table of 10. To register for tickets to this event, visit www.hamilton-ohio.com.
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