PASSIONATE, alert and a leader are but a few of the words used by team members at Sandals Montego Bay to describe Paula Trowers, buffet supervisor and recent winner of the resort’s Phenomenal Woman Award.

And there is perhaps little wonder why they would describe her such; Trowers has had to overcome many challenges to get to where she is in her career.

Born in Cedar Grove District, Manchester, she was raised by an uneducated mother, after losing her father at age two. Despite this, she made it through to Bellfield Secondary where she graduated with six Jamaica School Certificate subjects. Regrettably, her attempt to secure higher education at Manchester Business College was thwarted by financial constraints.

Still, she persevered, gaining employment in the hospitality industry as a waitress. In 2003, she moved to Montego Bay and was soon working at the Gift Shop at Sandals Royal Caribbean. However, she resigned after becoming pregnant with her son Jhavon.

For the first three years of his life, she was employed to PetCom Service Centre and later at Tele-Services Direct, where she served two years before the business closed abruptly.

“We went to work one morning and the gate was in chains. I felt sad because I mean, it was an easy job and it was a money-paying job,” she said. “One day you think you have a secure job and the next day you are jobless.”

It was around this time that she was encouraged by a friend from Sandals Montego Bay to try her luck once more at the resort. According to Trowers, her friend’s advice was: “A job is a job, you can move up.”

She followed her friend’s advice and was successful in her employment bid, rejoining the Sandals as staff canteen attendant. But early into the job, Trowers said her pride threatened to get the better of her; she was convinced she would leave.

However, being a woman of faith, Trowers opted to hang on in hopes that through hard work, she would be promoted. Her resolve paid off. She was soon promoted to work at the buffet line and then again to her current position as buffet supervisor, serving resort guests for breakfast and lunch.

As supervisor, Trowers has the important task of ensuring that the buffet line is always in tip-top condition — properly labelled and impeccably presented.

“I have a passion for my job. I look forward to coming to work. By the time I get to work, I forget my problems because I enjoy working with my team members. I like meeting new people and talking to the guests on property,” she said.

Today, her colleagues have nothing but high praise for her.

“She is an individual you can talk to, a motivator, an educator, a great role model and friend,” said chief steward Bob Broomfield. “This is a woman who commands the buffet and nothing is out of place. She shows courtesy to our guests every day with a smile.”

“This is a woman with a purpose, a strong Jamaican woman, a woman of integrity,” he said further.