Two Ames-area women are on the Iowa Restaurant Association’s seventh annual list of “40 Women to Watch in Iowa’s Hospitality Industry.”
Cyndi Gryte, owner of Juniper & Olive Co. in Jewell, and Mary Schott, an associate director for Iowa State University Dining, are among the 40 Iowans honored on the list.
Launched in 2019, the “40 Women” list was created to celebrate the contributions of women to Iowa’s hospitality community. It has since become a showcase of the many career paths and opportunities available to women in the industry.
“This year’s honorees reflect that range. For some, the impact is statewide,” a news release from the association stated. “For others, it’s in the lives of their staff or the experiences of their customers. Together, they show the many ways women shape hospitality in Iowa.”
Peers and community members nominated the 2025 honorees, who were then selected for their contributions to the field. They will be recognized on Nov. 17 during the association’s Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony, which is part of the annual Iowa Hospitality Showcase at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines.
“From small towns to statewide programs, these honorees show what’s possible in hospitality,” said Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, in a news release. “Each has found her own way to make a difference for customers, staff, or community.”
Accolades continue to mount for Cyndi Gryte’s bistro
Cyndi Gryte is the owner of Juniper & Olive Co., “a cozy café and bistro that blends vintage charm with modern hospitality,” the Iowa Restaurant Association said.
Located at 632 Main St. in Jewell, the space offers gourmet coffee, hand-crafted cocktails, paninis and small plates with a focus on local flavors.
After years in New York City, including time at the iconic Coyote Ugly, Gryte returned to Iowa to create a welcoming gathering place where people can slow down and connect. She opened her bistro in 2021.
It quickly became such a popular destination, Gryte expanded the seating space in the historic building, located on the town’s Lot No. 1 dating back to 1881. The bistro offers a vintage vibe with a touch of quirkiness that is a combination of sophistication and fun.
In January of this year, Juniper & Olive was named “The Most Charming Small-Town Restaurant” in Iowa by the Food Network.
“Boasting a population of fewer than 1,300, Jewell, Iowa is one small town that’s worth talking about,” Food Network writer Ni’Kesia Pannell wrote. “One of the main reasons is the gorgeous cafe known as Juniper & Olive.”
Gryte offers an everchanging menu at Juniper & Olive, but much like the speakeasy the building housed in its historic past, people in the know can order items that are off-menu.
“It’s almost like our secret menu,” Gryte said. “If you know a drink like our Jolie Femme — which is French for Pretty Woman — we will make it for you even if it’s not on our current menu. Recently we developed a pumpkin spice espresso martini based on a customer’s request.”
The same goes with the bistro’s food menu. The turkey panini, which is back on the menu for fall, is a popular secret item when it’s not on the official menu. The sandwich features turkey with creamy brie, crisp apple slices, arugula, cranberry and honey butter on artisan white bread.
Upstairs from Juniper & Olive, Gryte has opened a speakeasy-style bridal boutique, Gigi Blanc Bridal, which is available by appointment only.
“Gigi is Juniper’s even more feminine sister,” Gryte said. “People say it’s a little Parisian or European spot hidden in the middle of the Midwest.”
Gryte and other Jewell business owners have a strong collaborative spirit to draw visitors to their destination shopping and dining location.
“We’re pulling people from so many different locations, including Colorado, Wisconsin and New York,” Gryte said. “Also from all over Iowa.”
Mary Schott serves the people who serve ISU students
As associate director of IT, Menu Management and Nutritional Services, Mary Schott has built her career with Iowa State University Dining.
Schott started working in ISU Dining as a student employee in 2003 and became a full-time employee after she graduated in 2006.
She oversees systems that manage more than 10,000 recipes across 23 dining locations while also leading nutritional services for students with special dietary needs.
In 2022, her team earned the national CBORD Visionary Award for innovation in dining technology. Schott also serves on ISU’s Sustainability Committee, helping integrate sustainable practices into dining.
She encourages women in hospitality to seek mentors, keep learning and lead with empathy.
“In my role for Dining, I consider my internal teammates as my customers,” Schott said. “I oversee the software system that keeps Dining running on the back end, the point of sale system, the development of meal plans and the system that makes that work.”
Getting nutritional information properly coded and available for the public, maintaining the website and the menus, and talking to students about allergens and dietary restrictions are also on Schott’s plate.
“Since we are a support services department, our first customer is our internal customer — working with residential departments and our retail department, meeting their needs so they can then meet the customers’ needs,” she said.
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Meet the two Ames-area women on the ’40 Women to Watch in Hospitality’ list
Reporting by Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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