Woman Breaks from Stable, Secure Job and Pursues Dream of Opening Her Own Food Truck

By Catie LoBianco

Stonehill News Blog Staff

When Denise Reardon decided to change careers at age 50, she attended an open house at a community college’s culinary program and was told that it would be “harder at her age to learn new things.” Reardon didn’t listen.

Meet Reardon of Coventry, CT. A 50-year old who doesn’t care about the number of candles on her birthday cake, she looks at aging as gaining more experience. After all, age is only a number.

According to Dawn Papandrea, a contributor to Monster, the truth is, launching a new career or going a vastly different job route in your later working years is more common than people think.

Reardon is part of the 50% of respondents between the ages of 45 to 65 who have switched careers at least twice. This data comes from a poll conducted by Monster.

“I am good enough and I can do this. I am not too old, I am not too weak, I can create my own business, I can dream big and follow through,” Reardon said.

Looking ahead, she plans to open a food truck, “Slice of Levain.” The truck will serve cannoli’s, sausage and meatballs, salads, and pizza from the wood fired oven. She’s never been happier.

This story is about a woman who stopped wishing and started doing which in her scenario, was embarking on a food truck business. She felt like she was living in Groundhog movie, the same carbon copied routine every day and she wasn’t happy.

She gave up things that she felt weren’t important anymore; what was important to her was pursuing a life balanced with happiness, health and food.

“Your 50s are the years you learn how to live; it’s not what people think it is! It’s not walkers and elderly housing! I’m out there jet skiing with the best of them,” Reardon said.

For 13 years, Reardon oversaw the accounting department in a manufacturing company. Then a turning point came in this woman’s life when she moved to Southborough, MA where she started searching for something new.

She applied for a job at an Italian deli / café called the Vin Bin and her entire life changed. Reardon fell in love with the whole scene. She discovered her passion for foods and gained tons of hands-on experience with chefs.

With regards to the food truck, Reardon saw them at her town’s local farmer’s market and immediately fell in love with the concept of bringing food to people where they are. She wants to feed great food to the masses. The food truck is a way to change scenery and incorporate diversity from different states and cultures into her cuisine. Her lifetime of experience helped her conquer any uncertainty.

“I’ve overcome the full meaning of fear in my entire life so I’m not afraid of anything anymore because I think it holds you back from enjoying life,” Reardon said.

She has plans – big and small and they are all coming to life. Social media marketing is going to be a big aspect of this business including a food truck blog, and a mascot, lights, music, and entertainment. The focus will be on locally grown food, sustainability and hospitality.

Reardon is excited to work with her two business partners and feels their tight friendship and complementary personalities are ingredients for success and constant learning. She is committed to her “second act” being fun.

 Right now, her main focus is finishing. Once graduated, Reardon will have the freedom to focus full-time on the food truck. She may be starting over, but she is starting better and with a vengeance.