Thomas (Tom) Beben was born on a US Air Force base in Wiesbaden, Germany. His father’s military career as a US Air Force Captain moved Tom’s family all over the United States, but the Beben family eventually settled in Sumter, SC when Tom was 11. After graduating from Thomas Sumter Academy in 1998, he was awarded a scholarship to play basketball for Coker University. In 2003, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in History. This year Tom was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award by the university.

Tom and his wife, Monica (Mo), share an interest in how food and drink experiences of certain areas can define and strengthen the cultural experience, health and unity in those communities. Through Coker College’s travel abroad opportunities, the couple studied in Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Italy. Travel to other countries and throughout the United States deepened their love and respect for the connection they feel between food and culture. Motivated by that shared passion, in 2007, Tom and Mo opened a tiny bbq take out stand called Smoking Mo’s in Shelton, WA. They moved their operation to Alderbrook Golf Club in Union in 2010, then back to Shelton in 2012. Eventually, Smokin Mo’s LLC purchased the historic State Bank of Shelton building where they embarked on a three month long renovation project with a goal to preserve and protect the historical features of the space. Over time, they added an event venue space and grew their catering business. In 2019, Smoking Mo’s moved to another downtown historical building to add High Steel Beer Co. to their business portfolio. The microbrewery’s beer catalog celebrates the Pacific Northwest experience by using locally grown flavors, honoring local landmarks, and celebrating local folklore. Tom and Mo have always considered their restaurant to be a social gathering place with great potential to create positive change, using their unique opportunity there to host countless fundraisers and community driven events.

Smoking Mo’s was voted the number one barbecue restaurant in Western Washington by King 5 News voters. It was selected as the Business of the year by Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce in 2015. It was also honored by Pacific Mountain Workforce Development as the recipient of The Nancy Payne Award which recognizes companies that exemplify workplace excellence and customer service, meaningful employee engagement, and constructive, diverse, and progressive workforce culture.

Amongst the many organizations and programs that Tom has worked with or hosted events to benefit are: Mason County HOST Program, Shelton Youth Connection, Community Lifeline, Saint’s Pantry, Ales for ALS, Turning Pointe Advocacy Center, Mason County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, Central Mason Climbers, The Shelton School District and SHS Booster Clubs, Adopt-A-Pet of Shelton, The Shelton Timberland Library, The Martha Reed Foundation, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Shelton Family YMCA, and Mason General Hospital Foundation.

In addition to his restaurant work, Tom is a member of The Shelton Rotary Club where he was recognized for his work creating the concept for OysterFunk which serves as the club’s largest annual fundraiser. He has served on the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and in 2018, he was selected as their Mason County Citizen of the Year. He also coaches basketball at Oakland Bay Jr High.

Tom and Mo are the proud parents of their daughter Grace.

Together, the Bebens have worked tirelessly throughout their career to enrich the lives of their neighbors and community members in Mason County through the procurement and delivery of food to families in need and to the ever-growing broad range of needs for youth who otherwise go without. They know it is hard to live life to its fullest potential if you spend much of your time hungry. Their mission is to prove that full bellies can fuel compassionate minds, and to ensure that every young person in Mason County has the basic necessities and support they need to grow to their full potential.