Why I Am Passionate About Small Business

I have over 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, primarily in resort towns. I began by catering parties for friends, which eventually led to catering special events and weddings for over 100 people, as well as private dinner parties for smaller groups. During this period, I lived in a ski town and started a gardening business to generate income during the off-season. The business initially involved just myself and a partner, but it later expanded into a landscaping company with employees and subcontractors. After relocating, I transitioned into banking and learned about the many ways a bank could have supported my previous businesses. This experience gave me a genuine understanding of what it means to start and grow a business — something that comes through every time I sit down with a business owner to talk about their goals.

My Experience

I have over 25 years in food service and five years in auto sales, where I managed finance and internet sales. I also have firsthand experience starting and growing two businesses — a catering operation that scaled to serve events of 100 or more guests, and a landscaping company that grew from a two-person partnership into a team of employees and subcontractors. For the past 15 years, I've worked in banking, specializing in financial tools and solutions for small businesses.

Fun Fact

I walked into the bank one day 15 years ago to grab a bank statement and walked out with a job offer. I had no idea what a banker did all day — but I said yes, and I've never looked back.