…a positive impact at Beaches Negril Resort and Spa

Family for many is what you make it and kind of ideal support group sometimes extends beyond blood to a community of people who rely on each other. For Assistant Kids Camp Manager at Beaches Negril Resort and Spa, Yanike Brown; through shared experience and bonding on the job, her colleagues became the family she chose. 

She was first introduced to the Beaches brand as an intern on the Work Experience Programme at Beaches Boscobel (Now Beaches Ocho Rios) in 2006. There, Brown, who was assigned to the kitchen department, shared that her work ethic impressed the executive chef and she was offered the opportunity to work at the resort. Though she had the desire to further her studies, she was unable to finance the dream. So, the young, yet determined 18 year old girl from Cock Street, St. Mary, accepted the job offer. 

Brown recalls how her love for cooking paved the way for a career she could not have foretold. According to her, the love for cooking stemmed from having to learn at nine years of age to prepare meals for herself and her younger brother as their mother was rarely at home. Seeing the importance of a meal and the joy a plate prepared with gratitude and care could bring to others, she developed a relationship with food that saw her sharing the gift of her hands with many. 

“I enjoy making people happy, and in a healthy way food can do just that. I am big on food science, so it’s never just preparing a meal but also sharing with others how they can nourish their bodies. I brought this same energy to work and so while working in the kitchen my meals were centered around ensuring the guests had a taste of home,” Brown added.

Though she enjoyed making her guests happy by preparing meals, Brown shared that she had a strong desire to broaden her skillsets. It was almost as if  her thoughts could be heard aloud as she was offered a position a year later as an animator. In that role she assisted in bringing the Sesame Street characters and experience on resort to life. She quickly made a name for herself as she constantly brought new ideas that not only made the guests’ experiences better, but also pushed her team to grow and develop their craft. 

Brown shared that from a tender age, she learned to appreciate the simpler things in life and also to give to those in need. Her transition to the animations department provided her with the opportunity to become a dedicated Sandals Foundation ambassador and an avenue to share her creative skills though the various initiatives that were undertaken by the Foundation. 

“I didn’t know I could’ve been this creative, yes I was gifted with my hands when it came to cooking, but this was a whole different ball game. I understood the importance of philanthropy and extending the same love that we want, to those in our communities. Volunteering with the Sandals Foundation was an outlet for me and I was able to touch the lives of others in a way the younger me would have appreciated,” she shared.    

Honing and developing her craft, Brown was promoted to the Kids Camp in 2014, as the supervisor. With previous exposure in the animations department where she transformed the vacation experience for children on resort, Brown easily transferred her knowledge and skills to ensure that the children left with fond memories.  

While forming an unbreakable bond with her team members, Brown was also busy building a family of her own outside of work. However, little did she know there would come a time when her work family would be the support that kept her grounded as she grieved the loss of her husband. 

“I will never forget that day. I got the news when I was called from work and my world felt as though it came undone. The support from my team was very strong during this time, I did not come from a big family or have that great bond like most persons and so my team was the family I could turn to. I had to show up as a mom for my daughter and the Beaches family ensured I put my best foot forward,” she reflected.  

Brown shared that she faced challenging times after the loss of her husband and being supported at work. Despite the struggles, an opportunity to transfer to Beaches Negril Resort and Spa as the animations supervisor in 2017 was presented. Though it was a difficult decision to relocate, she shared that her work family encouraged her to bet on herself and take up the offer. 

“After my transition to Beaches Negril, I saw the opportunity to take the guest experience to another level and so we introduced concepts such as making the weekly Sesame Street parade a grand experience for our guests and launched the balloon art designs project. I was even tasked with sharing these initiatives with my previous team,” Brown shared proudly.

She brought her infectious personality to Beaches Negril. Many have confessed that she was quick on her feet, equally as quick to listen, and slow to respond. For them, those traits made her a terrific leader among her younger team members. As a result, she has earned respect from her older colleagues. 

In 2021, after four years with the animations department, Brown was offered another opportunity to grow in her career, this time as Assistant Kid’s Camp Manager at the resort. She noted that though she made countless memories with her animators, she was excited to take on this new role as she knew she would be able to bring her own flair to the operation. 

Away from work, Brown enjoys spending time with her daughter. Though love for cooking is not a shared appreciation, her daughter is a creative in her own right. Being a lover of adventure and indulging in hands-on activities; she has a passion for philanthropy just like her mother. 

“I have always encouraged her to make time for giving back and for volunteerism; she knows the challenges we faced growing up and it now warms my heart to see her taking initiative when it comes to donating and offering assistance. Although she may not be so fond of preparing certain meals, I can say when it comes to the arts I’m often blown away by the things she creates,” Brown shared. 

Now a woman who has lived many realities and has formed a community for herself, it is her desire to continue growing with her Beaches family with the hopes of becoming a Kid’s Camp Manager. Steadfast in her belief in showing up for her team, Brown noted that she has grown into the woman her younger self would have seen as a role model. She is dedicated to encouraging old and new colleagues to aim for the best, bet on themselves and push forward despite all challenges. The community they have created at work and at home will be oil to their engine when they need to traverse the tough times.