For nearly three decades, Kimberly Flear has dedicated her life to the food service and hospitality industry, a field she calls her passion. At just 14, she took her first job as a server at a local truck stop in her hometown. Over the years, Kimberly has worked in countless restaurants, building a career that not only sustained her, but allowed her to travel and connect with people from all walks of life. Yet, like so many in her field, Kimberly’s journey was intertwined with substance use, mental health challenges, and a search for stability.
On September 1, 2020, Kimberly took a life-altering step toward recovery, leaving behind years of addiction and destructive behaviors. Today she is a person in recovery and the founder of Last Call Coaching, a business dedicated to transforming workplaces in the food service industry. Her mission: to create recovery-ready workplaces that address mental health, addiction, and employee well-being head-on.
Finding Passion in the Industry
For Kimberly, the food service industry has always been more than a job. “It’s the people,” she says. “It allowed me to connect with individuals from all walks of life, making memorable experiences. There’s a freedom in this industry—a sense of flow during service that feels magical, where nothing else matters but the present moment.”
However, the same qualities that made the industry so enticing—its fast pace, late hours, and camaraderie—also fueled unhealthy coping mechanisms. Excessive drinking and substance use were normalized, creating an environment where seeking help often felt impossible.
The Turning Point
After years of struggling with cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine addiction—coupled with childhood trauma and PTSD—Kimberly began working with a recovery coach in 2018. “It took me a while to level up,” she admits, but by 2020, she was ready to fully commit to sobriety.
One year into her recovery, Kimberly made a bold move. Feeling overwhelmed by triggers in the city of Vancouver, she quit her job, sold her belongings, and moved to a refurbished 1971 Airstream trailer in the woods of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. There, she spent six months immersed in healing, self-reflection, and shedding the pain she had buried during her years of addiction.
“It was wild and life-changing,” Kimberly recalls. “The winter months in that trailer were the biggest test of my will and determination to let go of all the hurt I felt inside.”
By April 2022, Kimberly had manifested her dream home: a 400-square-foot oceanfront cabin tucked away in the trees. Surrounded by nature, she found the peace and clarity she needed to embrace her purpose.
Creating Last Call Coaching
In June 2022, Kimberly had a breakthrough during a meditation session: the idea for Last Call Coaching. By January 2023, she had officially launched her business, offering workplace assessments, addiction awareness training, mental health support, and recovery coaching to food service establishments.
“We address turnover, absenteeism, productivity, theft, liability, staff morale, and customer satisfaction,” she explains. “Our goal is to create recovery-ready workplaces that prioritize team well-being.”
Through partnerships with organizations like ICARE WorkForce Solutions, Kimberly delivers impactful solutions to an industry grappling with burnout, stigma, and a high prevalence of substance use.
Milestones in Recovery
Kimberly’s recovery journey is marked by a series of transformative milestones:
November 2022: Completed her first recovery coach training, a 40-hour intensive program.
January 2023: Became self-employed, registered Last Call Coaching, and joined On a Dime Transformations as a Navigator, Coach, and Facilitator.
March 2023: Facilitated her first online mental health and addiction awareness training for the hospitality industry.
January 2024: Published her eBook, The Recipe for Thriving Teams: How to Support Your Team’s Well-Being Without Burning Out.
Breaking Down Barriers
Kimberly’s lived experience has made her a powerful advocate for recovery in the food service industry. She knows firsthand the challenges workers face, from stigma and fear of judgment to the normalization of substance use.
“This industry attracts people seeking to escape,” she says. “I was one of them. But fun and connection can still exist without suffering or self-destruction.”
Through vulnerability, open communication, and relatability, Kimberly helps establishments shift their culture. She is unafraid to tackle uncomfortable conversations, disrupt societal norms, and provide actionable solutions that benefit both employees and employers.
Advice for Those in Recovery
For anyone considering or continuing their recovery journey, Kimberly offers these words of encouragement: “Ask for help. If you’re aware there’s a problem, you’ve already begun the stages of change, and that shows immense strength. Recovery is a process, so take small, consistent steps. Choosing sobriety is choosing yourself—it’s the bravest act of self-love you can make, and you’re worth it.”
A Vision for the Future
While Kimberly acknowledges that the food service industry has a long way to go in embracing recovery-ready workplaces, she remains optimistic. “The movement is happening,” she says. “With time, compassion, and impactful initiatives, we can create lasting change.”
From her humble beginnings in a small town on the North Shore of Lake Superior to her current home in Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia, Kimberly has come full circle. Surrounded by nature, she leads a life of purpose, helping others in the food service industry find hope, healing, and recovery. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative impact of choosing to live with intention.
