Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the area?
I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Most of my adult life, however, was spent in New York City for graduate school, work and eventually raising a family! We moved to Chatham in July 2021.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
I have two children. Savannah is 11 and in 5th grade at Lafayette. Phifer is 7 and in 2nd grade at Southern Boulevard.
Are you involved in a business venture or corporate world? Please Share!
I am the owner and founder of Friendly Faces 4 Kids. Friendly Faces 4 Kids is a site where families can create and compare calendars between their own children and their children’s friends so that they can align schedules and provide more overlap for kids in activities outside of school, arrange for carpools and schedule play dates. Friendly Faces is also a good way to message other parents and to learn about local businesses and what they have to offer.
When did you decide you wanted to create a service to help kids connect with their friends?
I created Friendly Faces 4 Kids when my children were young because I realized that modern life, especially in a large city, offers endless options for kids, but not necessarily enough opportunities for parents to cross paths and compare schedules. Text and email chains used to share information for kids’ activities quickly become too long and full of too many details. This process can be overwhelming, hard to keep organized and inefficient. I created Friendly Faces to simplify this process and to helps our kids stay connected to their friends.
Has connecting people always been a part of your life?
I have always enjoyed working with people and helping them make connections and build relationships. Most of my professional career was spent in Student Affairs at colleges and universities and in each position, it was my responsibility to provide necessary resources, guidance and support structures to make sure students felt anchored and connected. Most recently, I have worked hard to share the same kindness we received when we were brand new to Chatham and help other new families connect and feel welcomed and part of the community. I also love hosting small and large gatherings in our home so that new friendships can be made. Friends know that they are always welcome!
If you could give one tip to fellow Mom Entrepreneurs what would it be?
One tip that I would share with anyone, and certainly an entrepreneur, is whatever you do, do it confidently. If you doubt yourself, those you are trying to get involved will doubt you too.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
People would be surprised to know that I am a total extrovert. Totally kidding! I am an incredibly superstitious person and would not let my son watch certain Yankees games because I was convinced that the Yankees played better when we were not watching. I was proven wrong during the ALCS against the Astros! Whoops!
Ok 10 Fun LOCAL favorites – ready, go!
1 – Favorite thing to do with your kids? Make s’mores and watch a movie outside.
2 – Favorite coffee spot? Sunday Motor Co. Café in Madison
3 – Favorite lunch place? Sorriso Kitchen in Chatham and Butter and Jam in Madison
4 – Favorite farm to go fruit picking? Wightman Farms
5 – Favorite date night restaurant? My husband and I have been REALLY bad about date nights since we moved to Chatham, but we have had a couple of nice kid free lunches at The Summit House.
6 – Favorite boutique? Quartet in Chatham
7 – Favorite spot to grab a drink? Providence Bar and Kitchen
8 – Who has the best bagels in town? Chatham Bagels
9 – Best slice of pizza in town? We make and grill our own pizzas on Friday nights, and I think they are pretty had to beat!
10 – Favorite spot for ice cream? Zitas in New Providence.
This interview was done in partnership with Friendly Faces 4 Kids. Be sure to follow them on social media below:
