"Jennifer was hired during the re-opening of Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi after COVID. The entire team went through our full reopening training—but Jenn immediately stood out. She came prepared every day, asked thoughtful questions, and was always eager to learn more. From day one, it was clear she took the role seriously and wanted to grow.
Working alongside Jenn was always a pleasure. She brought such great energy to the floor and had a natural eye for detail. The way she cared for guests and took pride in her work never went unnoticed.
As her manager, I got to see firsthand how consistent and professional Jenn was. She showed up ready, no matter the shift, and she handled feedback with humility and grace. Her service was always genuine and centered around the guest experience—she just has that ability to anticipate needs and create a smooth, memorable interaction.
Later on, I was lucky enough to be involved in user research for Jenn’s UX capstone project, Byte Sized, a training tool designed specifically for restaurant teams. Watching her apply the same care and curiosity she brought to hospitality into her design work was incredible. She asked the right questions, truly listened, and used feedback in such a thoughtful, intentional way.
Jenn is one of those rare people who combines empathy, professionalism, and a deep understanding of how systems work—whether in a restaurant or a digital space. I can’t wait to see where she goes next in her design career. I know she’ll bring the same passion and excellence to everything she does."
-McKenna Brown
"Jennifer was hired during the re-opening of Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi after COVID. The entire team went through our full reopening training—but Jenn immediately stood out. She came prepared every day, asked thoughtful questions, and was always eager to learn more. From day one, it was clear she took the role seriously and wanted to grow.
Working alongside Jenn was always a pleasure. She brought such great energy to the floor and had a natural eye for detail. The way she cared for guests and took pride in her work never went unnoticed.
As her manager, I got to see firsthand how consistent and professional Jenn was. She showed up ready, no matter the shift, and she handled feedback with humility and grace. Her service was always genuine and centered around the guest experience—she just has that ability to anticipate needs and create a smooth, memorable interaction.
Later on, I was lucky enough to be involved in user research for Jenn’s UX capstone project, Byte Sized, a training tool designed specifically for restaurant teams. Watching her apply the same care and curiosity she brought to hospitality into her design work was incredible. She asked the right questions, truly listened, and used feedback in such a thoughtful, intentional way.
Jenn is one of those rare people who combines empathy, professionalism, and a deep understanding of how systems work—whether in a restaurant or a digital space. I can’t wait to see where she goes next in her design career. I know she’ll bring the same passion and excellence to everything she does."
-McKenna Brown
Former Manager
"I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer Armhold in a high-end, fast-paced restaurant where attention to detail and anticipation of guest needs were absolutely critical. Jennifer consistently went above and beyond, not just in her own role, but in improving the overall flow and experience for both our team and our guests.
She had a natural ability to think several steps ahead—whether it was optimizing how dishes were delivered or smoothing out communication across departments. Her sense of organization, empathy, and user-focused thinking stood out in an environment where every second mattered.
Those same strengths make her a perfect fit for UX design. Jennifer brings a systems mindset, strong problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of human behavior. I’m confident she applies the same level of care and insight to designing digital experiences as she did in our high-pressure kitchen. Any team would benefit from her presence."
-Jonathan Donaghue
"I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer Armhold in a high-end, fast-paced restaurant where attention to detail and anticipation of guest needs were absolutely critical. Jennifer consistently went above and beyond, not just in her own role, but in improving the overall flow and experience for both our team and our guests.
She had a natural ability to think several steps ahead—whether it was optimizing how dishes were delivered or smoothing out communication across departments. Her sense of organization, empathy, and user-focused thinking stood out in an environment where every second mattered.
Those same strengths make her a perfect fit for UX design. Jennifer brings a systems mindset, strong problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of human behavior. I’m confident she applies the same level of care and insight to designing digital experiences as she did in our high-pressure kitchen. Any team would benefit from her presence."
-Jonathan Donaghue
Former Manager
"I’ve had the privilege of managing Jennifer Armhold in the Honolulu Airport Food and Beverage department, and she’s one of the most dependable and forward-thinking professionals I’ve worked with. She approaches every shift with a strong sense of accountability, showing up on time (or early), picking up coverage when needed—often at the last minute—and consistently putting the needs of the operation first.
I was fortunate to participate in user research for one of Jennifer’s UX capstone projects, Byte Sized, a training tool she designed for restaurant teams. Despite my extremely demanding schedule, I made time because I truly believed in both the concept and Jennifer’s ability to bring it to life. The tool impressed me with its usability and relevance to the real challenges we face in restaurant operations. Her thoughtful design approach and understanding of our needs as managers really stood out.
Jennifer has a natural ability to balance genuine, people-centered service with a sharp awareness of business goals. She’s calm under pressure, solutions-oriented, and constantly observing how systems and workflows can be improved—whether it’s smoothing out operations behind the bar or ensuring guests have a seamless experience from start to finish. Her attention to both front-end experience and back-end logistics reminds me of the mindset that great user experience designers bring to digital products.
What also stands out is her collaborative spirit. She offers support to coworkers without being asked, takes initiative on small but meaningful improvements, and remains patient and professional no matter how busy or slow the day is. In an environment where it's easy to get stuck in routines, Jennifer consistently leads by example with adaptability and care.
I have no doubt that the empathy, strategic thinking, and service mindset she’s honed in hospitality will translate powerfully to her career in UX. Any team would be lucky to have her."
- Jerry Hudson
"I’ve had the privilege of managing Jennifer Armhold in the Honolulu Airport Food and Beverage department, and she’s one of the most dependable and forward-thinking professionals I’ve worked with. She approaches every shift with a strong sense of accountability, showing up on time (or early), picking up coverage when needed—often at the last minute—and consistently putting the needs of the operation first.
I was fortunate to participate in user research for one of Jennifer’s UX capstone projects, Byte Sized, a training tool she designed for restaurant teams. Despite my extremely demanding schedule, I made time because I truly believed in both the concept and Jennifer’s ability to bring it to life. The tool impressed me with its usability and relevance to the real challenges we face in restaurant operations. Her thoughtful design approach and understanding of our needs as managers really stood out.
Jennifer has a natural ability to balance genuine, people-centered service with a sharp awareness of business goals. She’s calm under pressure, solutions-oriented, and constantly observing how systems and workflows can be improved—whether it’s smoothing out operations behind the bar or ensuring guests have a seamless experience from start to finish. Her attention to both front-end experience and back-end logistics reminds me of the mindset that great user experience designers bring to digital products.
What also stands out is her collaborative spirit. She offers support to coworkers without being asked, takes initiative on small but meaningful improvements, and remains patient and professional no matter how busy or slow the day is. In an environment where it's easy to get stuck in routines, Jennifer consistently leads by example with adaptability and care.
I have no doubt that the empathy, strategic thinking, and service mindset she’s honed in hospitality will translate powerfully to her career in UX. Any team would be lucky to have her."
- Jerry Hudson
Current General Manager II, HMS Host, Honolulu Airport
Current General Manager II
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Through the years I've had the pleasure of working with some really amazing people. I've reached out to a few of them to request recommendations in support of my career change. This is what they had to say…
Through the years I've had the pleasure of working with some really amazing people. I've reached out to a few of them to request recommendations in support of my career change. This is what they had to say…
Words from those who know how I work.
Words from those who know how I work.
Want to Chat?
Armholdesign@gmail.com
Want to Chat?
Armholdesign@gmail.com
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Thanks for looking!