I come from a long line of small-business owners.

My great-grandfather’s business was renting jukeboxes. His eldest daughter, my Meme, worked changing out the records and then managed her own tenement houses. His granddaughter, my mother, has run specialty boutiques my whole life.

My father’s side is more of the same - ferry company operators, landlords, bakery owners - examples of determined, hard-working Americans building small businesses to help support their families, and communities.

I, on the other hand, earned my stripes at “big c” corporations.

I joined the hustle & bustle of the ever-changing world of media, marketing and advertising. I started my career in NYC at a traditional television network (TBS, TNT), which drew me into a (then) new streaming television service (Hulu). I was ecstatic. I made commercials and content for the advertising partners of the hit TV shows that filmed out in Hollywood who’s customers watched on tiny screens designed in Silicon Valley. I helped share stories, offered entertainment and added value to attract sales. I met show runners and actors, CMOs and advertising giants. It was challenging and fast-paced and then some, but I got to work alongside wildly creative people to make the next “best thing”, and I learned a lot.