My company & title is…. Owner of Paint Nite. Paint Nite is a smidgen of creative art instruction, a splash of wine and a whole lot of fun! In just about two hours, while you’re sipping on a cocktail, our performing artists will guide you through each painting so that you come up with your own unique masterpiece at the end of the night. We provide everything you will need: canvas, paints, brushes and even a smock. Bring your fun loving friends and have a few cocktails and we’ll make sure your inner Picasso is unleashed!

A typical day in my life includes… distributing supplies to Paint Nite staff and searching for new venues to host our paint parties. I do a lot of driving and enjoy finding and exploring small towns around Phoenix, AZ.

My favorite thing about living/working in the Deer Valley area is… the small town feel. Deer Valley is a charming little town with all the amenities of the twenty-first-century. You end up running into someone you know sooner rather than later.

My family… lives in Baltimore, Maryland and visits Phoenix every December. Though I’ve lived in Phoenix going on 4 years, I finally got the opportunity to take my mom and sister on a small hike up Dreamy Draw Mountain this past month. They were in awe of the mountain skyline.

The business lesson I learned the hard way is… though you may find a great deal on supplies, only buy enough to get you through the next month. It’s easy to over buy supplies because you think you’re getting the ‘deal of a lifetime’ but then you’re stuck storing it till use. Cluttered work space makes a cluttered mind.

One thing I cannot live without… is music! My parents exposed my sister and me to music at an early age. We listened primarily to a variety of Christian, Motown and Elvis. Music was enjoyed at all occasions such as celebration, mourning, and motivation during Saturday morning chore time. I’d have to say music is my therapy in time of need and something I cannot live without.

When I was younger, I wanted to be… an artist. I enjoy all types of art and am fascinated with process sometimes more than the completed work. I am formally trained with BFAs in 2D & 3D Fine Arts and have a degree in Art Education.

The song I would sing at Karaoke night is… I’ve sang many Karaoke songs; the most resent was “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night.

The one person who motivates me is… I cannot choose just one person! There are motivating people all around us. I have to give props to my parents, Keith and Darlene. I learned to take pride in tasks and self-worth through achieving personal and professional goals.

The last thing that made me laugh out loud was… just last night, while walking our dog with my boyfriend! He was talking about getting his vehicle repaired, and I mentioned I needed to get mine inspected due to a leak. I was thinking oil but I said radiator leak. I guess I say the word differently than others. ‘RAD-iator’ instead of “RADE-iator”. We had a good laugh over that.

My first job was… babysitting, of course! I smile as I remember carrying a small tote with water colors, colored pencils, colored paper and floss string to every job. At the end of every babysitting evening everyone was adorned with their favorite colored bracelet or anklet.

I’m currently working on… a grant proposal for a veteran women’s healing through art program. The program will provide a safe, fun and drug/alcoholic-free environment where in-need women veterans, with no art experience, can confidently explore their creative-side while simultaneously explore their personal lives through thought-provoking artistry. My hopes are to get this approved and running by late Spring 2018.

The best gift I’ve ever received was… a Dremel tool with many bits. A gift from my parents as a teenager, upon receipt, I thought it was the most useless. I held onto the Dremel and used sparingly during senior year of high school; I didn’t realize its value till college. That tool was a great art assignment saver. I used it on wood, ceramic, plexiglass and metal sculptures. I hesitantly gave it to my teenaged nephew prior to moving to Phoenix.

My words of wisdom to aspiring business owners… You are not a failure if your business doesn’t succeed. Sure, there are struggles and growing pains. Not all ideas work out; don’t hang onto a drowning business. Take what you can from the experience and move on before you are in a financial hole you can’t rebound from.