Her smile lights up a room and brings an immediate smile to your face. You cannot help feeling the warmth when you meet the owner of LOL Cafe in Cookstown, Ontario. Tammy Fortin is a truly successful entrepreneur in her own right!

I had noticed this charming cafe located in one of Cooktown's historic buildings so I wandered in to see what was happening nosy yes but curious at the same time.

I proceeded to look around at the amazing decor with its good taste and well chosen color scheme that made one want to hire her right on the spot. Then low and behold there was the owner with that engaging smile and a personality that you knew comes from the heart and a love for what she is doing.

I asked "Are you the new owner" and she replied "yes, my name is Tammy!" So we chatted for quite a while and I could just tell she was going to be successful. She had a passion for her business and love for people, two winning modules for success in any business.

When I had to tell her "you are going to make it"; she smiled at me in her humble spirit and replied "I hope so!" Again I repeated "You are going to be successful! Your restaurant is stunning, clean and the atmosphere is inviting. When you enter you do not want to leave but only pull up a chair and eat. Not only that you are the magic in your business you bring light and most importantly love and laughter!"

However Tammy Fortin did not just walk into the restaurant business she is an entrepreneurial veteran of 24 years and has most recently run her own very successful event planning business for the past eight years. With a client list that included the CNE Bandshell, Canadian Music Week and Canadian Country Music Awards, Toronto Chief of Police Dinner et al.

Then another dream came to fruition which was to own her own restaurant. The "LOL Cafe" opened October 6^th, 2009. Now why "LOL" you ask? Well let me tell you it was important for Tammy to include her community within her company so she used the town's postal code which led to its unique name.

The menu at LOL Cafe is simple yet scrumptious. Breakfast, lunch and Friday night dinners capture the essence of taste, flair and class at the same time within an atmosphere as she simply says "I wanted to create a space that was warm and inviting… like going to your friend's house for dinner" And that she has achieved that to a T! Dear to my heart is gluten free menu options which are so rare with many restaurants today. Thank you Tammy for thinking about us

Balancing family, business and being President of the Cookstown Chamber of Commerce Tammy has been able to sustain and maintain a professional attitude as well humour within her life.

Her husband Jacques stands beside her as well as her two children who support her in many ways and sometimes are put to work in the restaurant.

Tammy is truly a role model for women entrepreneurs she not only talks it but walks it. She is proof that when you set your mind to something you CAN ACHEIVE IT!

I must say it is a pleasure to not only work with Tammy but to come to know her as a woman, successful entrepreneur and friend. 'You have taught me to keep focused on one's passion and not to allow the race of running your own business to exhaust your family life."

If you are in the Cookstown area take the time to visit the LOL Cafe! www.LOLcafe.ca

Cheers,

Joy Foster

Motivational Speaker, Singer & Recording Artist

www.kimberlite.ca