About Mrs. Patrice Wilson-McHugh

IT WAS ALL A DREAM

Patrice McHugh's dreams have finally come to fruition -- just not the dreams she expected. While growing up, the now Managing Director of the Bars to Go Group of Companies had the intention of becoming an air-hostess.

So how does one make the transition from dreams of becoming an air-hostess to owning the premier catering company in the island? McHugh says, "To be truthful, I always knew I wanted to become an entrepreneur, but I wasn't sure of the field I wanted to be in. I dreamt of the success but I am pleasantly surprised of what I have achieved."

Patrice, who grew up in Spanish Town says after graduating from the Merl Grove High School she enrolled in an accounting school and thereafter started working at McDonalds. Then in no time, Patrice got a job as an accountant at the Kingston Hub.

However, even that wasn't meant to last long. Patrice felt a longing for something more -- but what? It came in the form of parties. Finding herself at more parties every week, those at Kingston Hub saw the obvious: why not re-assign her to the post of Co-ordinator of Party Services? As a 'newby' in the post, Patrice was trained by persons like Peter Wong, from whom she gained a wealth of knowledge about running a succesful party service, among other things. Then five years ago, Patrice decided it was time to move on. With the birth of her daughter, Makayla, Patrice found a new goal -- that of being one of the island's finest entrepeneurs. Thus, Bars to Go was formed.

The company which offers full bar services, catering services and operates a school to train bartenders has catered to many of the island's top companies and parties. Name it, they've done it.

With the obvious success of Bars to Go, Patrice alongside her husband and business partner, Robert McHugh started Gourmet to Go in 2006. They therefore expanded their business to include: providing lunch during the week for their corporate clients, providing catering services for weddings, parties, office gatherings and a host of other events.

It's a long way from home: a place where an inner-city girl only dreamt of being a successful airline hostess. Because of that, Patrice has every intention of giving back to those who now stand where she once did - empty pockets with rich minds fixed on a dream. In a few months the Bars to Go Group of Companies will launch their first bartending scholarship program for an inner-city male or female. However, for now, Patrice has gone on to establish the Bars to Go Training School which, after three months, certifies their students, who will be able to move on to practice mixology and bartending anywhere in the Caribbean, USA or England.

"It's not just about having a dream," Patrice explained, "It's about proper planning and turning that dream into a limitless reality."