Growing a Thriving Business with Systems, Core Values & Leadership with Carlyanne Pruger of White Table Catering

Speaker A: Welcome, Carlyanne, to the Bloom Collective podcast. I'm so honored and thrilled to have you here today. So welcome.

Speaker B: Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here.

Speaker A: Can you introduce yourself, share who you are and a little bit about your business?

Speaker B: My name is Carly. I own White Table Catering and Events with my husband Mark. We started as a catering company, have now grown to more of a hospitality group. We have two venues, the Hangar venue and the Fairway venue and event space. And we also have a restaurant at, uh, Ledgeview Golf Course called the Fairway Room. Kind of our first time dabbling in the restaurant scene. And then we also have a white labeling company called White Table Kitchen. And that just provides different food items required for different businesses where they can market it and sell it as their own. And we help produce all of that with a completely different department on our team. And then obviously White Table catering events, we do, uh, full service catering events from everything to weddings, corporate events, galas, private events, all of it. And it has led us on a really cool and exciting ride. Lots of fun and different experiences and obviously lots and lots of lessons along the way too.

Speaker A: Thank you so much for sharing that. And it's so cool how you have all these different facets of your business and I love it because I think a lot of people who listen to this too are very multi passionate. How do you navigate that when there's so many, uh, different aspects to what you do? Two things.

Speaker B: The first thing, we have the most incredible team and we could not do what we do without them. And honestly, we've just grown really naturally and organically partly because of having the right people on our team in the right seats and just those opportunities coming to us and then having the right people to help roll that out and implement what needs to be done to make that happen. I think also we are visionaries. Mark is through and through an entrepreneur. And I can talk a little bit about where I fit in with that in a little bit. But he is always looking to grow and dream and look for the next thing even maybe before it even comes to us. So I think we also want it. We want to grow, want to evolve, see, see where things are going to take us naturally, what doors are opening. Is that the right thing to walk through to not. Is that a door that's closed? I think the other thing that has been very, very transformative in our business is our systems. We run on such strict and detailed systems and a framework that really aligns our team and allows us to track everything so that we can stay on top of, uh, it not just for accountability within our team, but also for problem solving and keeping track of what issues are coming up and how do we solve that and how do we get on it right away and what do we need to do? We're very solution oriented. And so I think having a team that is on your side that thinks the same way that you do, that has. That's our culture in our company is that. Yes, how can we do that? And if it is a roadblock, then maybe that's for a reason and that's leading down a different path. And so what is that? That is leading us down. And so that's the philosophy of how we look at things. And I think when you look at things in that light and you have a team that is looking at things way, that's also looking for opportunity for you, which is. Then you just grow naturally and it's really exciting.

Speaker A: That's awesome. So I would love to ask you that then. What do you feel like? How do you feel like you complement each other? Because I think it's really cool that you are a husband and wife team and that you get to dream together. And I would love to just see behind the curtain of what does that look like practically and how do you guys complement each other? What's. What do you feel like your role is in the business as opposed to your husband?

Speaker B: Uh, in the business. My role officially is creative director and co owner of White Table Catering and events and all of our different businesses. But I would definitely say that originally I was not necessarily ever thinking I would have a business or that I was an entrepreneur. I knew Mary Mark, that he was an entrepreneur. He always had something happening. He was just such a visionary, full of ideas, always having something that he was starting. So I guess I became an entrepreneur by default with him. But I think what's cool is we have such different giftings.

Speaker A: Um, um.

Speaker B: I've always been able to see someone's vision in my mind and how I could make that come to be and how it would feel and how someone would experience that brand or their business idea. I didn't come from a business background, so I never thought I would ever go into business per se, but I've always been a little bit of that visionary. Helping people build things and yeah, just being uh, like a natural creator. And so with Mark having all those ideas, he would be describing his ideas to me and I could instantly picture what that would look like or what the branding would look like or how we'd market that or how people would experience that if they were a part of that business and a part of that service that he wanted to offer. So, obviously, he brought to me a catering company that he already had at the time, and he was like, hey, I really think we should do this together.

Speaker A: I.

Speaker B: He's been running it. It was great. It's just that it was, like missing a piece that he saw, and he thought that I could bring that, but because I'd never done anything, and I was actually a teacher at the time, I was like, oh, I don't know. And he's gonna be so fun. We can see how we can compliment each other and build this together. And so White Table really came out of Mark and I coming together. We rebranded his other catering company. We brought a whole new experiential aspect to it. It was all about also the branding and the feel. And because I brought that side of it, which I was passionate about, it grew into something that I think was really special because it represented both of us. Working together. When you're married is really interesting. Do you want me to.

Speaker A: I would love. I'm so curious about that because I, uh, personally. So husband and I were both entrepreneurs, but we both do different things. And now. Now we have an Airbnb together. So I guess that's a business that we have together. But I've always dreamed of doing something from scratch together, too. And I'm just so curious, like, how you work together and has it. I don't know. Huh. Do you guys, uh, fight at all? I'm just so curious.

Speaker B: Of course we do.

Speaker A: I feel like my husband and I, if we work together, we, like, we would get in so many fights because we. We're both really strong personalities. So I'm just curious how that works for you, too.

Speaker B: We actually just had a friend tell us that the reason we fight so much sometimes is because we are like that. We are both such strong personalities. We have such strong. And we have such. Yeah. Clear of ideas of what we want. And we're also builders, and we're both, like, stronger personalities and perfectionists in a way that sometimes I think that does butt heads. But I would say we have really figured out how to run a business together. And I think the best way to do that is to find what your giftings are. So my giftings are one thing, and Mark things are another thing. And so I'm obviously, you know, me a little bit. I just talked a little bit. I'm gifted in brand development and creative and design and marketing and Just knowing what people want. And Mark is very gifted and creative in vision and building systems and operations and finance, management and all that kind of stuff. Together we really complement each other. Because without those things that Mark has, which are administrative and solution minded. Without those things, my, my things would either cost us way too much money or you would just be like. I would be floundering around not having systems and not being able to organize my thoughts or how things work or where. For Mark, he has all these ideas and this vision and he also has all these systems. But like, how do we make that tangible for people? How do we make that beautiful? Or uh, or yeah, all those things. So I think finding your own lanes for sure, staying in your lanes, but I think the other side of it is complimenting each other in those lanes because otherwise you are just really working side by side. And I think it's really special when you see each other's giftings and you call out and I think that's one thing that we do well. We do encourage each other to flourish in our giftings. Mark tells me all the time that he's proud of me and that uh, I'm so good at what I'm doing or whatever and vice versa. I'm amazed by the things that he does and puts together. I don't think that way. So I, uh, also encourage like it is a marriage, so you aren't just business partners. And I think that's important to have that marriage aspect and relational aspect. It is going to be there. And so you can actually use that to help almost boost each other forward by being each other's biggest fans.

Speaker A: I love that so much. And do you find that it is challenging to, to turn the work side of it off? Because obviously you have your marriage and then you're also parents. So I would actually love to hear more of that journey too with your kids. And do you involve your kids in the business at all? And what does that look like to. I don't know. I don't know whether it is that separation or whether it's just intertwined and how you kind of create that healthy balance or. I don't know what the better word for it is, but I think you know what I'm saying.

Speaker B: So here's the thing. Uh, Mark and I have tried so many times to go on a date or a trip and not talk about business and we just can't. We honestly can't. And I think it's because we're doing what we love and we do it together. And ultimately the people that know it the best or who we can talk the most openly with. We talk very openly with our team too, but is each other. And so because of that, we don't.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Not talk about it. And it's been so funny because when we've tried, we honestly sometimes even sit there silently. Something else to talk about. But we either want to talk about our kids or we want to talk about White Table, which is our, in some ways, first or other baby. And so much of what we do, it just. We like to do a lot of the same things. So if we're traveling or wherever we are, like even we go to the coffee shop downtown or something, like both thinking that way. And so it actually does fuel us together to be, uh, these experiences together, but then to talk about what that's making us feel or inspired by. And I think that's actually really cool to uh, have that together because we have a lot in common now. We have our business, we have our kids. And then because our business is so much a part of our life, so much of what we do is to help grow that or to help get inspired by that. So the things that we're doing a lot of the time are related to that as well. For our kids, this is all they know. We've always done this. And so we don't necessarily involve them in the business too much yet for a few reasons. One, it's just that they're busy doing their own things. And most, uh, of our business takes place on site, either at an event or at facilities which are pretty far from, from my kids world because they're at school and doing their own thing. However, they know a lot because we talk about it a lot. And yeah, yeah, they're already kind of naturally, I think, just growing up with it. They are naturally built that way. They're natural hosts and love having people over. They're always thinking of different parties to have and events and they love going to the restaurant and being there. I, uh, also have boys, so they're really into golf, so being at the golf course is a big pro for them. And then we do bring them by and they know our team and know them by name. And our team is just so incredible with our kids, just being sweet to them and kind to them. So I think, yes, they know what we do. Yes, they're not unfamiliar with it, but they're all kids and they are in their own world with their own things that they're interested in. However, we just had a birthday party yesterday.

Speaker A: Amazing.

Speaker B: M as uh, all he wanted for his birthday was for our head chef, our executive chef, Rafe, to teach him how to make this certain pasta that's on our menu.

Speaker A: That's so cool.

Speaker B: After school, and Rafe taught them how to make this pasta and gave them some pasta cooking lessons. And then they hung out in the venue and ate, and it was a really good time. But I thought it was just so cool because not only was, obviously, my son's really interested in what we're doing, that he wants that for his birthday, but also just like, our team just jumping in there and being like, I would love to do that with them. Um, it was just really. It was really cool.

Speaker A: That's awesome. That's so cool. And I love that your kids are kind of growing up with that inspiration of their parents, not only building a business, but also doing it together and being able to create that. And I also loved what you said, because I think that sometimes we think that, oh, if you're always thinking or talking about work, it's not healthy, but as you said, it is something that you both are passionate about. It's, like, part of your purpose. I know as well that you are very involved with different organizations and charities, and you guys have such a purpose of what you're doing, and there's purpose beyond just the, uh, business. But it's so cool that you get to, I don't know, have that passion that you're both excited to talk about you, and you can talk about your dreams, and that ultimately involves your business in that. So, yeah, I think it's great.

Speaker B: And I think it's cool to teach your kids even doing things like this or the conference. Like, I was just talking to Rylan the other day, who's my oldest, and I was like, it's so important that even when you get older, like, you have to push yourself. You have to do things that maybe put you out of your comfort zone. And I'm 40, because I'm always need to try. Like, just try it once I'm 40, and, uh, I'm still having opportunities like that come to me where I have to decide, like, am I to do this? Even though it might make me nervous, it even those types of things, it's cool. You get to teach your kids lessons that you're learning along the way. However, I will say you do have to be able to turn it off, because. And that is really hard sometimes if you have a really bad day, this, like, any job, if you day or you're going through something stressful in the business, Or Mark and I didn't agree on something in the business or whatever it is. Like, at the end of the day, though, like, I have to be a mom when I come home. That's like, I'm not carrying that. I am carrying that in, but I have to learn to turn that off when they're around. Yes, we dream and stuff in front of the kids, but also, there's a lot of things about what we do that can be stressful. It's always a challenging piece to be able to separate that when you're on with them.

Speaker A: Yeah. And also not making it your whole identity either. Right. And that's. That. That is the challenge, I think, for entrepreneurs in general, it's like, you can be like, okay, if I. If the business is going well, I'm happy and I'm excited and whatever. And then if the business isn't going well, all of a sudden I feel, like, depressed and, like, just down. And I've been there too, where I. It's like, you. You know, you have to check yourself in. Am I putting, like, a. All of my identity in my work? Because it's so easy to do. Because it is something. If you are doing something that you're so passionate about and that you're. You feel called to do, then sometimes there is that blurry line. Right. So, yeah, it. It is hard. So what would you say? What helps you stay resilient through challenges and through obstacles that you have in your business? What are some of the things that. That you do or maybe you and Mark do together when you're going through that? How do you stay grounded?

Speaker B: I think resilience is a thing you. We have gone through a lot of different challenges along the way, and you do get more resilient to challenges and to looking at them differently, looking at them as obstacles that you can overcome and that it's not a blip in the road? Because a lot of the time it's more than a blip in the road, but just maybe a change of direction. Obviously, we have a really strong faith, and so for us, we're always asking, hey, God, what does this mean? Where do you want us to go? Because ultimately, we actually don't want to go anywhere that you don't want us to go, because we know that's actually not good for us. So where. Where is it that you're leading us? Is this door closing or is the store opening?

Speaker A: And.

Speaker B: And if it's opening and there's these roadblocks to together, we know that we'll be able to do that and you'll help us through that. And if it's a clear door closed, then we don't want that for us, even if it's really attractive or something that, that seems shiny or whatever. So I think that's honestly been a huge piece of it. If we did not have that in our life, I think we would have given up, uh, on what we do. Uh, I think it's also just been like it's our guiding light in everything we do in our family and in our marriage too. If we didn't have that, like all the challenges that we did go through because you're married and in business, that could have broken us. It was. Yeah, it's not easy being an entrepreneur and having your own business and being responsible for that. And that can be really weighty. And so having like God at the center of how we live our life has been where that can be taken off, that weight is taken off of us so that we know that, yeah, we have that to help us. Yeah. I think our team also, if I'm talking about like how we have also gone through challenges and obstacles, it really is having a like minded team and an incredible team culture where everybody wants to is solution oriented and it's just so important to have clear vision of where everyone's going that everyone agrees on it and everyone wants to drive towards that. We started running on this system, um, as a team a few years ago and it gave our team such clarity and as soon as we had that clarity and, and it wasn't just Mark and I anymore guiding everybody. It was like our leadership team as a whole was guiding and having that support was so freeing in a lot of ways because we weren't bringing everything on our own completely. At the end of the day we're still responsible. But it was like so amazing to have an entire team that, that wanted to reach the same goals, that had the same vision and wanted to push forward in the same way and overcome the challenges together. And that is honestly such a cool feeling. It can be lonely being uh, so having that was, has been a big game changer for us too.

Speaker A: That's amazing. How do you make sure that you are having the right people on your team? And even with. Because I know you collaborate with lots of different brands and businesses. Do you have a system or even a checklist or something where it's like, okay, here's what we're looking for when either we're hiring or maybe we're looking to work with another company or brand because I know that can be really awesome, and I'm so passionate about community, but it also can get messy if you're not working with the right people or you're not collaborating with the right people.

Speaker B: Totally. Yes, definitely. We have core values within our team that we look towards to guide us every time we're doing a hire for any position and a partnership as well. And we have another thing that we always talk about, which is right people, right seeds. And so we really believe in having the right people in the right places. Not just the right people, not just the right places. That has to work together. Yeah. Our values are do the right thing. You're passionate about food and drink, you're uplifting and inspiring, and you have a high standard of excellence. And so whenever we are looking for people to join our team, we're like, do they do that or are they passionate about what we're doing? Do they uplift and inspire other people on the team or other vendors that we work with or our partners, like our planners and our venue coordinators? Uh, do they have a high standard of excellence? They see something on the ground and just walk by it. What is it?

Speaker A: It can.

Speaker B: It really helps us see whether people are the right fit for what we do and if they'll really fit into the vision of, um, where we're going and really what weight table is. And then the right people, right seeds. It's been interesting because sometimes we'll hire somebody and we know they. All of these core values they instill like, Like a. Put the perfect person to have on our team, but something's not clicking. So maybe the position that we put them in, we're like, ah, I feel like they'd actually be like, better over here. They're really good at that or they're really gifted in this. In some instances, we've actually moved people to different seats within the company and. Or they've evolved and grown into addition or whatever. And that is so cool to see because it really just all of a sudden they were already amazing and then they're just really flourishing because it's the perfect seat for them. So it's another way that we. It's another thing we say that we're always looking for. Is it the right seat for this person? If we really believe that person is the right fit for the team, that's awesome.

Speaker A: I love that so much. And I think it really. Because at the end of the day, who you hire is going to reflect your brand as well. And so I think it's so important. I Think people get excited about growth, about growing your team and having more people and all of that. And I think sometimes people maybe grow too fast and they're excited of getting someone on their team being able to have that support. But then, unfortunately, it's either not the right fit with values or like you said, maybe people are not in the right role for what you need. So, yeah, I would love to know what has. What does it look like? And it doesn't even have to be with hiring or letting people go or moving people, but even just hard conversations. And maybe it's with the team, maybe it's with other vendors or, I don't know, even with your husband. I think sometimes we have to have maybe awkward or harder conversations. Is that something that is easy for you? Is that something that you're challenged by? Like, okay, I know that no, I

Speaker B: am the worst of this. Salute. Worst. However, our new system that we run on makes us do this.

Speaker A: Hey, tell us about this. Because this is, like, something I feel like I struggle with. And I feel like so many, especially women, struggle with this a lot. Hard.

Speaker B: I know. Because we're sensitive. We're sensitive. And we're also, like, we don't want to offend anybody. And, oh, my goodness. I am not. I'm still not good at it. Honestly, it's probably the worst thing that I am at my job. But I. We do quarterly reviews with our team, and so we. In the quarterly review, we have an opportunity to just talk about, like, what is going awesome and then what we're going to work on in this next quarter. And so that's within the team. There is accountability that way. And I think it does come down to doing the right thing. And doing the right thing is being honest, and it is. Having integrity in your business and your relationships is so important. And so we do not believe in talking behind closed doors about people or that's our own staff or vendors that we work with or whoever. And also, if there ever is a relationship that we're working with that, uh, isn't really working, maybe it's not. It's. They're being, like, super disrespectful to our team or something like that, then, yeah, that often looks like having a conversation, and then sometimes maybe just deciding that we're just not the best fit to work together, whether that's an outside relationship or an internal relationship. But, yes, we do believe in chatting it out and having those hard conversations. We do have our leadership meeting as well every single week with our core leaders on our team who lead each department and we have these hard conversations pretty much every meeting because so much of our meeting is solving issues. But what is cool is it doesn't make it personal, it just makes it uh. These are the obstacles we're facing this week. Let's all solve them together. And so I think that is also helpful because a lot of that stuff gets solved before we even have to go to talk to anybody. Because we're constantly having these solution oriented meetings. A lot of stuff from the top in leadership and then each department also has these meetings and then they're solving these issues within their own department. So a lot of the time because the underlying frustrations or problems are getting solved constantly. There's actually not that many problems to have to solve outside of that personally because we're taking care of those things where I think it was in the past when we weren't necessarily doing that every week and staying on top of all the little things that are there. And that thing's too small to bring to the issues list whether it's in your department or then it gets brought to leadership if it can't be solved there because we're like always solving things. People don't get that built up. Frustration, frustration. I love that I do find massive piece and it happens across every department. So when that's happening across your whole company everyone's feeling heard their problems are being solved or at least worked on. Maybe they're not solved in that meeting but we're actively working towards fixing that. I think having that place where everyone feels like they have a place to bring things up and that level of control and ability to speak about what maybe is going on for them I think is really important. But it also is in a really structured environment that it keeps it really directive and also non emotional or personal

Speaker A: solution oriented versus just venting about.

Speaker B: So Mark and I started running our own meeting like that personally for our marriage and our life that I love system and it literally changed our marriage because instead of things coming bothering us like festering inside like stupid things like, like yeah whatever it is the recycling not going up on time or I don't know that because they just get put on the issues list between Mark and I and then we both solve it in the meaning um on the Google cal like we'll always have it in there as a reminder like done, solved. It's oh my gosh, that could have turned into a fight. Yeah like a frustration and it just got solved. So I think it actually it seems, I don't Know, maybe not everyone would love to have a business meeting like that, but in their marriage. But I think it really works for us because it takes that. That personal side out of it. Everyone feels heard, everyone's working towards the same solutions. And. Good.

Speaker A: That's so funny that you said that, because I was literally just gonna say, I feel like this would be really helpful in personal relationships. Um, because I. The thing that I really love about what you said is that it's a structured thing that happens every single week, so there's no opportunity for things to get shoved under the rug. And that's normally why things become these big issues, is because. Is there's maybe frustrations or there's things that aren't working, but because it's been so long, it's kind of. It's awkward to bring it up. Right. And I think about all the things that my husband and I bicker about, and it's not the thing that's happening. It's the underlying feeling. And it's funny because sometimes Brent will be like, I feel like this isn't about the thing that's happening right now. I think there's something else going on. I'm like, yes, okay, we're gonna table this conversation for tonight after the kids go to bed. But I think business and personal, the systems that you run in your business can be supportive for the systems you can run in your home, especially if you have kids and you're married. Because you are a team at the end of the day, right? And you're working towards a goal of everyone being thriving together. And I love that you brought that up. So thank you. I feel like we need a PDF or something so that friend can have access to this marriage. Marriage advice.

Speaker B: Mark, what we loved about this system that we're working on is that. But it is very team oriented. And so if you bring up something that you're struggling with not getting done or that's not working within your department, like, everybody there on the team is there to help you solve it. So you're not even bringing. It's not necessarily being brought up to call you out or you even put it on your. On the issues list yourself of something that, like, you can't get done. Everybody there is like, okay, how can we help you get this done? It's a very team. Which. Relating that to your marriage. That's awesome too, because instead of it being like, you're not getting this done, you're not getting this done, it's okay, I can't get this done or this is, like, really in the way or bothered me or we have to talk about this thing that's been on the back of my mind. You put it on there, and then you're both there talking about it together. It's changed our team and it's totally changed our marriage, too. So I believe in running on operating systems. Actually, Mark's making his own. His own and launching it.

Speaker A: Okay, we need to know all the

Speaker B: details because we believe in it so much. It's literally, uh, our whole everything.

Speaker A: That's amazing. I love that so much, and thank you for sharing that. And I really do believe that communication and just sharing what's going on can solve so many different issues. And especially having a system for it so that, again, it doesn't become this very emotional thing is so key. We could talk forever. But I'm so excited to have you at the conference because we're gonna get to talk more. But before we end off, I would love to know, is there any dreams or things that you're currently working towards, maybe as a family or even in your business?

Speaker B: I think in the business, like, we're just. We're so passionate about continuing to just elevate hospitality and experiences for people and just bringing people together through. Through catering and what we do and beverage experiences and just doing, like, the best job that we can at that in all the facets that we do it in for our family. We are going to Italy this, and we're going with, uh, 21 of us. They're based. All of our best friends. We are all going together. And I think I'm just really excited to share that experience with my friends and our kids and have those memories together. It's been something we've been talking about for a very long time. So for it to come true, it feels like we can't even believe that it's real. So that's been really fun, uh, getting to plan that this year. And then obviously, the launch of Mark's operating system, which I wasn't even really planning on talking about. But that is a huge piece that now Mark and I are working on because we really believe in giving back. We've learned so many lessons, and I'm sure we'll talk about that at the conference. All the challenges and lessons that we've learned after all these years, really hard ones, and I think we just really want to help other entrepreneurs and especially, honestly, married business partners, like, just how do we make this easier for you? How do we help you figure out those systems so that you can Have a life and you can spend time with your kids and you can have a healthy team and a healthy business and because you're tracking everything and you feel like you know what's going on and. Yeah, yeah. So that's, uh, we're excited about.

Speaker A: I love that so much. Thank you so much for sharing that. And I would love to know for people who want to connect with you and see all the things you have going on, can you just share where people can find you? And we'll make sure we'll link everything below as well.

Speaker B: Okay, sure. If you're looking for catering or you're interested in hospitality, you can find us@whitetablecatering.com if you want to come check out our restaurant. It's called the Fairway Room at Ledgeview Golf Course. And there's a website for that, too. And then we have the hangar venue as well if you're looking for an event space. And, uh, lastly, my personal account is carlyannpruger. I don't really post very much, but I do post stories.

Speaker A: Yeah, you're pretty. I feel like, uh, you're pretty active on stories, and I always love to see behind the scenes of you at events. It's really fun.

Speaker B: I gave up on posting. I'm like, I can't do this. It's too hard.

Speaker A: I love that. Thank you so much for being on. I am so honored that we had you on the podcast. I made super excited for you to come to and be a speaker at the Bloom Conference. It's going to be such an incredible day. And also, I just can't wait for the women in the room just to. Yeah. Just hear more about what it's like building a business and being married and having kids and things that a lot of the women are either in those seasons or dreaming about those seasons coming up. So I just want to say a huge thank you for not only being on the podcast, but also being a part of our event.

Speaker B: I am so excited. I'm so honored. Thank you for asking me. Huh?

Speaker A: Thank you so much, everyone, for listening. And I can't wait to see you on the next episode.