We’re holding all food & beverage workers close this holiday season. A few important reminders:

Southern Smoke’s offices will be closed from December 24, 2025, to January 4, 2026 to give our team a chance to reset before the new year. We look forward to connecting on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Emergency Relief Fund: Applications will be paused from December 17, 2025, to January 4, 2026. If you have an ongoing case, you can continue working with your case manager. If you are seeking financial assistance due to a crisis, please check back and apply when applications reopen on January 5.

Behind You Mental Health Program: Applications remain open, and services will be available in January. The earlier you apply, the quicker we can determine eligibility, and you can be ready for when services commence.

Texas Hill Country Floods: Applications closed on 12/16.

Leighann Bakunas

Secretary

LeighAnn Bakunas is the Director of Food, Beverage, and Music for YETI where she currently leads and manages the marketing efforts to drive awareness, affinity, and advocacy for the brand and products within these communities globally. She has over 15 years of professional experience in the marketing realm. Prior to YETI, LeighAnn was the Special Events Director of Texas Monthly where she oversaw the events division and marketing and promotional efforts for Texas Monthly’s TMBBQ brand and Texas Monthly advertisers. She graduated from Texas State University – San Marcos with a BBA in Marketing and is on the Leadership Council for the Andy Roddick Foundation and a member of the Les Dames d’Escoffier Austin Chapter.