Welcome to The Newest Members of the Cloughjordan House Team
Covid has not dampened our spirits here in CJH in any way, in fact, we have taken this time to look to the future and we have some very exciting news to share with you all.
This November we officially welcomed two new members to the CJH team… Although you may already know one... she has CJH running through her blood, literally!
Julie enjoying a game of Jenga in the Asado
Sarah & Peter’s eldest daughter Julie Baker has returned to CJH in the role of Business Development and Event Coordinator. Julie is no stranger to the business having grown up onsite and been here from the beginning. Not afraid to get her hands dirty, over the years Julie has returned home to help out in the kitchen, the bar and front of house service to name but a few. Julie comes from a background in sales and marketing having worked for The Rolling Donut for a number of years at the beginning of her career, before moving to work for Airbnb in an account management role.
When asked how she feels about her new role Julie said:
“Having seen the business grow from the very beginning it’s so exciting to get involved with my family and the great team that we have to help bring the business to another strength. ”
Joining Julie is her other half and partner in crime Stephen Gondry (when we say this is a family business we mean it). Stephen has taken up the position of Financial Controller, a role that has become necessary as our business grows and goes from strength to strength. Stephen comes from a background in Accounting and Project Management, beginning his career working with Deloitte & Touche in Dublin and Melbourne and spending the last 4 years working with Critical Healthcare based in nearby Tullamore.
Stephen engaging in some essential quality control…
Not one to just dip his toe in, Stephen has not only taken on this new role in his professional life but he has also made a big personal move. He and Julie have moved into the Main House and are excited about putting their own stamp on their new home together.
We asked Stephen what he was most excited about as he settles into his new role and home:
“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge. It’s an industry I’ve always wanted to be a part of and Cloughjordan House is leading the way so this is a huge and very exciting opportunity. Moving to the country will be a big change but I purchased my first pair of wellys on my first week so there’s hope for this city boy yet!”
Both Julie & Stephen bring a fresh set of eyes to the business, something the rest of the team are very excited about. As a business, Cloughjordan House, prides itself on its openness to learn and grow from its team members. We openly encourage our team members to come up with new and interesting ways of making CJH the best it can be. So to have Julie & Stephen come on board during this time of growth and redevelopment is very exciting for us all.
We thought we’d help you all get to know Julie & Stephen a little better with this quick fire round of questions:
What would be your death row meal? Julies is Sushi and Stephens is just desserts..!
Favourite holiday destination? Anywhere outside our 5km!
What are you most looking forward to post Covid? Festivals and live music for Stephen and travelling for Julie.
Who’s the chef in your house? Julie! Stephen's on clean up! Stephen says since CJH is his new home he's banking on Chef Adrians left overs.
Who would you invite to a CJH dinner party (living or dead) and why? David Attenborough, Robin Williams for the lols
What are you hoping Santa will bring you? A golden retriever.
What’s your favourite thing about CJH? The ample space at the front garden for Julie to beat Stephen at Cornhole. And to practice pitching.
With the arrival of Julie & Stephen we had to ask the OG’s (Sarah & Peter) how they felt about the change:
“Sarah and I are delighted to welcome Julie, our eldest daughter and her partner, Stephen Gondry, into the business to join our amazing team. To those of you whom we have already had the pleasure of meeting and to those of you whom we look forward to welcoming into the future, we want to assure you that, for good or bad, we will still be very much here and involved in the business going forward albeit slightly more hands off than heretofore!
In that context we want to assure you that this is not the opportunity most people who know of us might construe as our opportunity to step back and reduce our golf handicaps! We have always prided ourselves in offering what has, and will always be, a family run ‘home away from home’ business supported by a wonderful team. Sarah’s continued passion for all things food and my occasional forays into slap dash joinery will continue along with the continued joy we get from meeting so many amazing and interesting guests who become friends with us at CJH!
We know that Julie and Stephen will seamlessly join the team and will bring energy and fresh ideas to the business. We couldn’t be more excited about this new development in the business.”
All imagery courtesy of Keith Henry
Don’t worry Monty & Louis are still living onsite and are patiently waiting for the return of our guests. They may even have a new four legged fur brother/sister if Julie gets her way…. sorry Stephen we’re 100% behind Julie on this one :)
The team here in CJH is looking forward to the future, to all the exciting things to come and we would like to take this opportunity to say to Julie & Stephen: Welcome Home!