Cafe Baker Wins Praise

DAYTON - The 2012 Dayton Chamber of Com­merce honored employee of the year doesn't see herself as the best employee in the community, but a positive attitude and dedication to the Weinhard Café earned her community-wide recogni­tion.

Jennifer Smith-Villaro was born and raised in Day­ton where she still lives with her husband, 11-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter. After Smith-Villaro's 11 years working at the Wein­hard Café in Dayton, she was recognized at the 2012 Dayton Chamber banquet as the employee of the year.

"I don't consider myself an exemplary employee," Smith-Villaro said. "I guess I have good work ethic."

Smith-Villaro is currently the longest standing em­ployee at the café, despite its low turnover rate. She said she enjoys working at the café and interacting with the people who come in.

"It's a fun place to work," Smith-Villaro said. "I love my customers, my staff, my boss, it's just a great environ­ment."

At the café, Smith-Vil- laro bakes and helps with the catering business.

"I kind of just do whatever needs to be done (at the café)," Smith-Villaro said.

Smith-Villaro said she learned how to bake when she was young, taking cooking 4H when she was a child. Growing up, her mother always let her come into the kitchen and help out with whatever was be- ing made.

Smith-Villaro said she has always enjoyed baking and especially enjoys try- ing out new recipes. She said she enjoys making things like doughnuts and cinnamon rolls.

Broadening her horizons, Smith-Villaro even started learning how to can and preserve foods this year.

"(Canning) is a lost art," Smith-Villaro said. "My grandma always canned. They grew everything on their land and canned it so they could have it all year long to feed their kids."

Growing up, Smith-Vil- laro said her grandparents had a huge garden. When her grandma would start canning in the summer, she would spend days work- ing to preserve things to save for the winter, Smith- Villaro said.

In her new endeavors, Smith- Villaro said she made pickled jalapenos, huckleberry jam, peach marmalade, raspberry jam and pickles for the first time and she hopes to continue canning and preserv- ing.

Weinhard Café manager and Chamber of Commerce Director Brad McMasters said Smith-Villaro is not only an employee at the café, she is also a good friend to him.

" She received many nominations from the community and I couldn't have been happier when the selection committee chose her as this year's Employee of the Year," McMasters said. "I was even more pleased to be able to present the award to her."

McMasters said Smith- Villaro works hard and cares about her customers and the community.

Smith-Villaro said she doesn't think anything of her exemplary behavior.

"I always just try to be a good person, be nice and friendly, you never know what kind of day other people are having," Smith- Villaro said. "If there's a problem, I try to fix it. I like helping people who need it."