There’s a few new faces at Poverty Bay Cafe, one being manager Timothy Marquand.

Marquand’s food service operation knowledge, paired with his belief in FUSION’s job skill training program, made him the ideal candidate, said David Harrison, FUSION executive board chair.

“If we just wanted to open a restaurant, we would’ve done that,” Harrison said. “It’s finding somebody that can run a restaurant, but also understand how this is something bigger with developing the mission.”

The cafe plans to implement the job skills training program in the fall.

Marquand, 35, moved to the area about eight years ago from Portland.

As a teen, he worked for Hollywood Video as a guest services representative, later becoming a store director for four years. Then, Netflix hit the market and sent video stores into their decline.

He enrolled in the Art Institute of Portland to study film and video, and spent some time in Alaska as assistant cameraman on reality TV shows such as “Bristol Palin: Life’s a Tripp.”

He dedicated over seven years to working at an Olive Garden Italian Restaurant and transferred to the Silverdale location upon moving to Washington.

Previously, Marquand worked for five years at the Bremerton Bar and Grill as general manager. The birth of his daughter, full-time school and caring for his father changed the pace of his life from serving to stay-at-home dad.

Jumping back into the restaurant industry allows Marquand to set new goals: To reach a consistent 15-minute ticket time, perfect an elevated menu, and eventually offer full table service and a dinner menu.

He wants to create a space for the former patrons to return to and for new customers to enjoy, he said.

“Everyday is a little easier,” he said, despite the hiccups familiar to any new business upon opening. “Everyone here loves the place, is onboard with the mission, and ready to work hard.”

To Marquand and his background of training roles, the incoming job skills program is familiar territory, but with a new sense of purpose.

“It was no longer just barking orders and flipping burgers,” Marquand said about why he took the role at Poverty Bay Cafe. “It was something larger than that.”

Poverty Bay Cafe, 1108 S. 322nd Place in Federal Way, is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Staffing wise, the cafe has about 10 employees and handfuls of volunteers, and is looking for more of each. If you’re interested in working or volunteering at Poverty Bay Cafe, visit fusionfederalway.org or email Rod Nuss, volunteer coordinator, at volunteers@fusionfederalway.org.