Husband-wife team Lisa & Tom Beam are co-owners of Pasta Piatti and Sesame Asian Kitchen in Ashland. Lisa grew up in the Rogue Valley in a food industry family; Tom comes from New York and credits his father, a trucker and volunteer fire fighter, for emphasizing the value of hard work and the importance of giving to others. He began his career working in the kitchens of East Coast destination resorts. A passion for skiing led him to Colorado, where he met Lisa. They married in 2000 and moved to Ashland to start their family. Continuing his career as a restaurateur was a natural for Tom – he enjoys hard work and the symbolism of breaking bread underscores his desire to be of service to others. When he hired Riley and Nick through Living Opportunities, he thought it would be a good experience for the heart and the soul, but in addition he has gained dependable, hard-working employees who have helped all of the crew treat each other with a bit more respect and dignity, improving morale and reducing turnover. Hiring someone with a disability turns out to make good business sense too! Ashland, the Beams, and Living Opportunities - a great fusion!
