Kim Heck's warm, hospitable and big smile has been famous with Innisfailians for more than a quarter of a century.
As a result she is today a queen of the small town diner, a beloved fixture at the Mountain View Family Restaurant.
Innisfail let her know that in a big way her popularity with locals is sincere at this year's Community & Business Awards Gala on Oct. 17 at the Innisfail legion.
Heck is the 2014 winner of the Customer Service Award. And she won against tough competition that included the staff at ATB Financial, the Gift Loft's Danna Melynk, Innisfail Esso's Alnashir Rahim and the Coffee Cottage.
“There definitely was,” said Heck of the formidable competition. “I am shocked. I am absolutely shocked when they called my name.”
But she really is a legend of the small town diner. When she started working at the Mountain View Restaurant at the age of 16 she quickly became one of the businesses' favourite employees. Three years later she did leave to pursue post-secondary school in Calgary, enrolling in college to study early childhood education and development, and also entering an office administration program.
But the pull from home was too strong and she ultimately returned to Innisfail in 2005. Two years later Heck, now 42-years-old, was back at the Mountain View Family Restaurant. Seven years later she is still there, and there is not a single regret. She says it's the people she meets and the staff she works with that makes every day at work a memorable experience.
“I know half the people that come in the restaurant. I know them by name. I often know their orders. I know what they drink. It is so nice to see familiar faces come in,” said Heck. “I also love the hours and fast pace.
“The hours work great for me as a single mother. I can go drop my kids off at school, go to work and then pick up the kids from school, and still make it home in time to cook supper and have dinner with my kids and put them to bed at night and all those important things.”
So what is the secret of her success? Heck said experience and learning how to multi-task might be one reason but she is quick to add she really does love to smile, and that it comes naturally and brings out the miracle of happiness for others as well.
“If you feel happy when you are around people it brings out the happiness in them too,” said Heck. “It is just nice talking to people and getting to know them.”
