My career in the Can.

Ai image generated after giving prompt. Now we need to Paint- find me @Big Cedars Farm in Blacksburg, VA.

Stories of a marketing/branding professional building a dream. Part 1

It's been a while since I posted. Life shifted. Dad Died. We cared for my Mother-in-Law until her death last fall, and long the way, I started mapping a new journey. 

January I started as a "semi-retired," self-employed farm girl at Big Cedars Farm. We are building a dream here... grooming an already established AirBnb with over 400 5-star reviews into a resort level experience. The project has evolved over the past 7 years to something others call "magical" but I still see work. This "new" place will embrace the entire property and offer options for group retreats, family reunions and micro events. I am excited. I am terrified...

Daily I find myself reaching back through the cobwebs in my "Rolodex" of my brain to consider early hospitality skills I gained from Hyatt as a corporate trainee in 1989 under norman dillard, event planning and wild ideas executed for Nokia with Quyen Nguyen and Megan Matthews. That was Boom Time with endless budgets. This is not.

Today I build with reclaimed materials. Keep it out of the landfill. Make it new again. Embrace the rust as it adds character. Farm life with chickens, goats, donkeys and poop. BUT I ALSO have to Market and build a Brand. Heads in Beds. Yes, it's true... one night people will PAY to sleep with me... Go Hokies! VT HRIM '89 Virginia Tech Marketing Department

Leaving the business world has been a weirdly hard transition. I miss being in front of my computer... or do I ?? Starting something new is scary. Yet, in some ways it's the full circle of my life. Checks the box for regrets... "i want to be a vet when I grow up" -- now I give shots to animals and have even delivered a baby goat. I wanted to be in Interior Designer. Now I get to do that all the time to fill my soul. I garden, or rather I try, but realize without rain this summer that's almost impossible. Mostly, I look at the land and dream. I want to consider the entire guest experience as we are setting the hospitality stage and building our dream. 

Gratitude. Life is hard. Making a decision to shift was hard but necessary for my mental health. I am forever grateful to the entire NCSP team. My bosses from NCSP Supply Chain Experts were incredibly kind men who really supported me with the transition from professional to the farm. They taught me so much from their business perspective, professionally too, about the world and technology. Today, as I was generating this project I could almost hear the endearing warm-hearted giggles from Anuj Rajendran and Manjunath Manjunath as I asked CHAT Gpt and Ai to create a toilet design. 

Meet "Loo" the Tiki man. He is just one of our themed Porta Johns as we launch a micro resort with magical inspirations in the mountains. The Website is under way, so don't go there too soon. Find us on other platforms for now. https://www.facebook.com/BigCedarsFarm

Note- This post was long overdue and inspired by remembering all those who taught and groomed me for this new role. I have had tremendous mentors in my career. Thank you Universe. #gratitude #lovewhereyoulive #microresort #retreat #Blacksburg VA