How Kirby Lavallee ’09 Baked Business Success from a Dream and a Food Truck

Born and raised in Tampa, Kirby Lavallee ’09 grew up surrounded by the values of hard work, education and family. Both of his parents were educators — his mother in administration and his father as a longtime PE coach and department head — who instilled in him the importance of doing your best in everything you pursue.

By the time Lavallee was 12, he was already pushing a lawn mower around his neighborhood to earn extra money. That small business grew into a full roster of clients by high school, fueling an early passion for entrepreneurship. But he also found himself drawn to two very different callings — law enforcement and cooking.

“I was fascinated by police work and by the community side of it,” he says. “But I also loved working in restaurants. Those were always my two areas of interest.”

After excelling in his high school culinary program, Lavallee earned a presidential scholarship to Johnson & Wales University. Yet when he visited the school’s new Miami campus, he didn’t feel it was a right fit.

“I wanted more of a campus experience,” he says. “When I visited UCF, I just felt at home. The Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus was incredible, and I loved the people there. It was an easy decision.”

He enrolled at UCF with plans to study hospitality management, but a few criminal justice electives — and an inspiring instructor who was also a police sergeant — rekindled his interest in public service. Lavallee soon switched majors to criminal justice and added a minor in public administration.

At UCF, he also met his future wife, Kristina, while working part-time in Target’s security department. “She was a cashier supervisor, and we hit it off right away,” he says with a smile. “We just clicked.”

After graduation, Lavallee began his professional career in private security, quickly rising through the ranks. When one opportunity led him to Fort Myers to help turn around a struggling security contract, he embraced the challenge. His leadership and work ethic stood out, and before long, he was managing sites across the country.

Still, that early fascination with law enforcement never left him. Eventually, Lavallee returned home to the Tampa area, where he served in the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. At the same time, Kristina’s home-based cake business — The Cake Girl — was steadily gaining attention at local markets and festivals.

In 2016, the couple expanded into a dessert food truck, followed by their first brick-and-mortar bakery two years later. “It’s been step by step — from home baking to farmers markets to a commercial kitchen, and then to the food truck and now our storefront,” he says. “It’s been a fun ride.”

The Cake Girl quickly earned a loyal following for its stunning custom cakes and signature “Crave’n Cups” — layered cake jars that ship nationwide. When COVID-19 hit, Lavallee’s quick thinking and business savvy helped the company not just survive but thrive.

“Instead of slowing down, we pivoted,” he says. “We focused on takeout, delivery and shipping. We also found ways to give back — movie nights in the parking lot, community food drives, partnerships with local charities. We just kept showing up for people.”

The strategy worked. While many small businesses struggled, The Cake Girl’s sales grew by more than 100 percent during the pandemic.

Lavallee credits much of their success to resilience and community connection — values he says trace back to his UCF experience and his background in law enforcement. “When you’re used to making decisions under pressure, you learn how to stay calm, think strategically and find solutions,” he says. “That mindset has helped me in business every day.”

Today, The Cake Girl has outgrown its original location and doubled its footprint. Lavallee manages operations and brand development while Kristina leads their team of talented decorators. They continue to explore franchising opportunities and have even represented their brand on national stages, including the Co-Create 2025 competition in Las Vegas alongside global entrepreneurs and investors.

When Lavallee represented The Cake Girl at the latter event in Las Vegas, he found a creative way to stand out. Drawing on his law enforcement background and his knack for marketing, he designed a pink tactical vest embroidered with The Cake Girl logo — complete with a whisk and a pair of handcuffs. The unexpected blend of tough and sweet turned heads on and off the stage, earning him attention from media crews, fellow entrepreneurs and even Shark Tank investors. “It was fun and different,” he says. “People saw it and instantly wanted to know more about our brand — and that’s exactly what good marketing should do.”

Through it all, Lavallee remains grounded in his mission to build relationships and give back. “We love being part of our community,” he says. “Whether it’s donating to schools, supporting foster homes or mentoring young entrepreneurs, we try to make a difference wherever we can.”

Looking back, Lavallee says UCF helped set that foundation. “Everyone at UCF has always been supportive,” he says. “When people say, ‘If you ever need something, just ask,’ they really mean it. The network, the people, the energy — it’s special.”

His advice to fellow Knights and future entrepreneurs is simple. “Don’t let obstacles define you,” Lavallee says. “Use them as fuel. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, to pivot, to build something better. That’s what The Cake Girl was built on — grit, creativity and heart.”

Kirby Lavallee’s media savvy, along with Kristina Lavallee’s amazing baking prowess, has led them across the country letting people know about The Cake Girl. Here, Kirby and Kristina stand with Margarita Perez, Kristina’s mother, from whom Kristina learned about baking, cooking and how to make people happy through those avenues.