Latham Thomas, Founder of Tender Shoots Wellness

Single Entrepreneur Spotlight

Latham Thomas

New York, NY

Founder of Tender Shoots Wellness

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1. My business and how I got started:

I founded Tender Shoots Wellness in 2006 to meet the lifestyle needs of busy women in the city that are on a path toward optimal wellness. Offering green culinary services, holistic nutrition counseling, and yoga, I am interested in helping women navigate pregnancy and offer them lifestyle solutions that would be sustainable. I have been in the wellness field for 10 years, but officially doing the work I do now for about 5 years.

2. Why my product/service is better than the competition:

My service is comprehensive, boutique, and result oriented. You can come to one place to learn what to eat, how to cook it, and how to incorporate yoga into your life.

3. A typical day for me:

My days alternate between kitchen/cooking days and yoga/counseling days. The first client of the day is usually a cooking client. I shop for groceries in the morning and prep meals for the week, store and clean up and head to the next client to do the same, until the day is over. Another typical day is a line up of group and private yoga classes that I teach at various locations throughout the city, including: vinyasa yoga, anti-gravity yoga, and prenatal yoga. Sprinkled in between I will see my nutrition clients, who come for counseling sessions.

4. What I love most about my business:

I love that I wake up every day and do work aligned with my principals and I get to help empower people to help themselves. I also love that I get to create a schedule that is conducive to my lifestyle and allows for “me” time.

5. I’m cool because:

I’m vegan

6. If my friends nominated me for an award, it would be “Most Likely to…”

Achieve her Dreams

7. A movie made about my life it would be named:

Hustle Mode or Blissed Out!

8. Strangest thing you’d find in my fridge, wallet or closet:

In my fridge…Lotus flower tea blossoms, in my wallet- a real 4 leaf clover, closet- an ’80s biker chick motorcycle vest.

9. Personal qualities I admire most in others:

Honesty, Follow through, compassion

10. Three things I hope to accomplish in the next five years:

1. Publish 2 books.
2. Expand my business to take on full-time employees
3. Get married

Want to connect with Latham? Find her on Twitter and Facebook!

Marcy Clark, Founder of the Women's Mafia

People like Marcy Clark make me want to move back to New York.  Originally from Northern California, Marcy now enjoys what I imagine to be a fabulous, Carrie Bradshaw existence, but with even more friends.

As Director of Publicity at Yellow Sky Agency, and Founder of the “Women’s Mafia”, Marcy has her finger on the pulse of all things social in NYC.  Started just four years ago, the “Women’s Mafia” social club has caught on quickly, and it is easy to understand why.  Social connections, ever important in New York, can be a hard acquisition, and even more so for newcomers to the city.  The Women’s Mafia offers the perfect solution, facilitating social connections between groups of successful women through the organization of fun, upscale events (Champagne, Shoes, and Chocolate, anyone?).

Thank you Marcy.  For showing me that the real Carrie Bradshaws of New York do exist.  You just have to join the mafia to find them.

1. The “Women’s Mafia” is such an intriguing concept.  What is it all about, and how can others become a part of it?

The Women’s Mafia is a social club that I started nearly four years ago based on the simple premise that gathering a large group of women could be a powerful thing in itself.  Fortunately, I have been right!  Restaurants, stores, clubs and other new venues all want us to be in their space.  We recently had a fashion show that was attended by over 600 people.  The select men that are invited to our events never want to leave – I had one guy friend recently tell me after a party “I want to be kidnapped by the Women’s Mafia every night!”

Most importantly, the women at our events are meeting lifelong friends.  I think the fact that they are social events, with a party atmosphere, rather than networking events, makes the connections our members make much more meaningful.  I have had members meet at one of my events and later be in each other’s weddings, start a business together or get a job through their connection.

We started in New York but we do have members in the UK, San Francisco, LA and other destination cities where we plan to grow.  Women, and men who are intrigued, can join the Women’s Mafia by visiting our website and online news and events site womensmafia.com.

2.  You describe yourself as a “very social person”.  Was this part of the reason you started the group, to help more women develop social ties in the city?

That is exactly the reason.  When I first moved to New York I knew two people, and those people already had a life and a network of friends.  It wasn’t especially difficult for me as I had moved to new cities by myself before, but I did have to make some effort to make new friends and that was a strange experience for me.  New Yorker’s are very friendly, but they can be insular once they have established a core group of friends.  To this day, when I meet someone new to New York I always invite them to join the Women’s Mafia and I make sure to introduce them to people in their field or with similar interests at our events.

3. To what degree do you feel being well connected in New York matters?

It makes a HUGE difference – both for your career and personal goals, but also for enriching your life with shared experiences.  And not just being connected to very powerful or successful people.  People at all levels of their careers can help you get a meeting with a television production company to pitch your idea, or get you a killer deal in a Hampton’s share, or even recommend you for a hair straightening commercial (thanks Elisha – that was strange, but fun).

4. What has helped to bring the WM from being just another great idea to becoming a successful business?

Two main things have set us apart.  The name, which was actually given to us by a bartender at Minetta Tavern in 2005, because it completely encapsulates what we are about – power and fun in numbers, and the fact that a lot of our events are more covert and only open to members.

The other key component is our members.  I am very fortunate to have amazing women in the Women’s Mafia who truly take on ownership with the club.  They let me know about new venues, they bring their friends in, they write articles for womensmafia.com and they recommend designers or individuals we should profile.  Our members are our best ambassadors of our brand and they know that I will always be receptive to their ideas.

5. As a PR professional, you must attend events many nights a week.  Do you ever just want to stay home?

Yes!  And I do make sure to stay home at least one or two nights a week.  It’s important to cook yourself a nice meal and catch up on LOST, right?

6.  Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

Someone who knows how to go at two speeds.  I love being out at several events, dressed-up and socializing one night and then staying in all day on Sunday with movies and brunch delivered.  I don’t need to be with someone as outgoing as me, but a gentleman who enjoys the odd social event could be quite nice.

Also, I love open-minded people.  I’m quite involved in non-profits that protect civil liberties.

7.  Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

It definitely can help.  I think that single people can sometimes seem more approachable, and we have freer schedules.  Being in a relationship can also be quite motivating.  I’ve put in a lot of hours when I had a boyfriend in the UK and I wanted to buy plane tickets!

8.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I can see the Women’s Mafia helping launch several designers’ careers, being a retail and branding force in the fashion and art worlds, having a presence in politics and, most importantly, staying true to our mission of connecting great women.

Personally, I’d love to have a beautiful home with an ocean view.  I’m also an actress and a television presenter on the side of everything else that I do, so I would love to have a lot more television and film experiences under my belt.

Oh, and balancing all of these things while spending time with my family – that would be a nice trick!

Soooo… anyone want to go in on a beach house?!

Marcy’s Bio:

In addition to running the Women’s Mafia, Marcy is also a partner in Yellow Sky Agency, a boutique PR and Branding firm run out of the West Village of Manhattan.  Her areas of expertise include publicizing fashion and jewelry designers, artists, interior designers and luxury products and services.  She has secured placements in top outlets such as The New York Times, Reuters, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC News, Business Talk Radio, Lucky, Glamour and more.  Marcy serves as a chair on various non-profit event councils and committees, including being the co-chair for GLAAD’s Annual Art Auction and the Young Professionals Council for Choice.

Want to connect with Marcy?  Follow her on Facebook!

original publish date Jun 25, 2009

Amanda Medders, Founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring

On Independence Day, I thought it was fitting to highlight the type of business success story we find only in the United States.  Amanda Medders, the 26 year-old Founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring, a DC area home tutoring business, epitomizes what is possible with the right combination of dedication, hard work, and in Amanda’s case, brains.

Originally a pre-med major, Amanda quickly realized her love for math, science and all things academic made her better suited for a career in education.  At age 23, and just out of a Masters program, Amanda founded Tri-Ed Tutoring using the experience as a private tutor she gained during her college years.  After six months of tutoring all the Tri-Ed students on her own, she had enough business to warrant hiring outside contractors and began turning a profit soon after.  The following year her older sister joined Amanda as the only other full-time employee, handling the marketing and networking aspects of the business, a partnership that has proved to be invaluable.

Founded just three years ago with only $3000 in startup capital, Tri-Ed Tutoring now boasts over $100K in yearly revenues after reaching profitability within one year.  At 26, Amanda is her own boss and works eight hours a day in a profession she is passionate about.  I call that Independence at its best.  Happy 4th.

1.  You say that education is your passion.  How does that translate into the success you have had so far, and so quickly, with Tri-ed?

Starting a business requires a huge time commitment at the onset. If I wasn’t passionate about what I do, I think I would have burnt out within the first year. It is really a privilege to be trusted enough by parents to be a part of their children’s education. I believe that our passion for education is apparent and the reason why parents put their trust in us.

2.  Competition is everywhere in the world of education.  What sets your tutoring services apart from other big names like Kaplan?

What people tend to like about us is that all of our services are customized to fit each student. We really believe that getting to know each family and their unique goals is the best way to help them work towards accomplishing those goals. Because each person has a different learning style, we do not have a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum. By developing a personal relationship, we are able to alter our instruction and study plans to fit each student more effectively.

3.  If you had to put a label on yourself, would you consider yourself more an educator or an entrepreneur?

My background is in education so I would typically consider myself more of an educator. I have never taken a business class in my life so starting a business has been a huge learning experience. However, I love the variety and challenge that comes with being an entrepreneur.
4.  You are a self-proclaimed foodie.  What is your favorite place to eat in DC?

Hmmmm…that is a really tough question! I really like trying all the fusion restaurants in DC. Mie n Yu in Georgetown is one of my favorites. It has great, unique food and makes you feel like you’re in Morocco. However, if I am in a classic steak and potatoes kind of mood, I would say Ruth’s Chris (sizzling butter…yum)!

5.  Your older sister is both your business partner and your roommate.  Does your close relationship ever get in the way of business?

If anything, our close relationship makes living and working together an ideal situation. There is no one that I would rather have as a partner or a roommate. We are able to say what we are really thinking without any worry of offending the other person. If she thinks an idea I have is ridiculous, she’ll let me know, we’ll laugh at ourselves, and move on to the next (hopefully better) idea!

6. Since you started your business so young, is it hard finding others your age with whom you can relate?

Not really. I feel like one of my strengths is the ability to relate to a wide variety of people.

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

It would have to be someone who is both supportive of and believes in me and the business. The ideal person would be positive and inspire me to continue to be better both personally and professionally. Most importantly, he has to be able to make me laugh and be able to laugh at himself.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

If you had asked me 5 years ago or even last year, I would have had my whole life planned out and been determined to stick to that plan. Now, I realize that I am not really sure and, although that idea used to terrify me, I now find that I am excited about the prospect of the unknown. I’ve learned that life rarely sticks to my plan but almost always ends up better than I could have dreamed up on my own.

Amanda’s Bio:

Amanda Medders is the founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring. Together with her sister and partner, Jamie Medders, she provides in-home tutoring services for students of all ages in the DC metropolitan area. She holds a Master’s in Teaching and is licensed to teach in the state of Virginia. With 7+ years of teaching and tutoring experience, Amanda has a passion for education.

Want to connect with Amanda?  Follow her on Twitter!

Steve Owens, Founder and CEO of Colorado Premier Training

I’m laughing as I write this introduction because, what can I say?  Steve’s first interview answer made me laugh.  On the phone, and even on Twitter, Steve Owens, Founder and CEO of Colorado Premier Training, comes across as having a gentle, joking manner.  I get the feeling, though, that there is a lot more to Steve than meets the Tweet.

To me, Steve is an enigma of sorts.  How do you describe a man who, by trade, must be part hard-ass (he trains elite level endurance athletes), part brainiac (he designed a new technology wind tunnel testing system), and…drumroll, please…part recreational club DJ?  I’m thinking if I ever meet Steve in person some day, he will either whip me into shape, throw me in a wind tunnel, or at least teach me how to throw down a few beats.  Luckily I can already hold my own in the beats department.  (yes that’s me circa 1992-OK, now we’re all laughing).

Back to business…

1. What types of programs do you offer through Colorado Premium Training, and is it only for performance athletes?

*First, it’s Colorado Premier Training, not Premium. But now that I’ve clarified that… We’re already a global organization that coaches endurance athletes. Our main focus is on cycling and triathlon, but also work with Xterra athletes (another multisport like triathlon), duathletes and runners. The programs that we offer are fully comprehensive coaching packages. We consult with each one of our clients to create goals and help them in achieving their goals. We design training programs, and help the athlete to monitor their stressors and recoveries.

2. What kind of competition exists for training endurance athletes, and how do you market yourself to potential clients?

As a business owner, I look up to what Chris Carmichael has been doing. After my business partner coached Lance Armstrong, he eventually met Chris. The two of them are marketing machines, and it doesn’t hurt that you’ve coached 7x Tour de France Champion. We work with a ton of athletes that are nearly at the same level as Lance and from there it’s just fact. Success breeds success. We write for all the major magazines within the sport, and I’m very thankful to have great B2B relationships that help market us and our company. I basically try to spend no money for advertising, and rely on the magazines and other publications writing about the things we’ve accomplished.

3. Has the advancement of technology significantly changed the way athletes train?

Definitely! I think that’s something that has differentiated us from others. We have a core business and coaching philosophy that is actually extremely basic (manage the athlete as a person and maximize the work they do while balancing stress), but the other part of our business is extremely sophisticated. Wind tunnel testing in sports helps us to develop new, more aerodynamic products in the industry and helps us to educate athletes on what the fastest positions are. Our test balance is the most accurate in the world, so we are the only people that can measure differences in clothing and materials, etc. etc. So quite literally, we can find that an athlete can be faster from point ‘a’ to point ‘b’ producing less power with a good aerodynamic position versus an athlete that produces more power (stronger) but has a less aerodynamically efficient position. It’s amazing what technology can do.

4. Who is your favorite for the Tour de France this year?

This is a tough year to guess, with Christian VandeVelde (4^th last year) having crashed a little while ago and he may or may not be in top form. Then there’s Lance. He’s not one of our clients, but I personally have him picked as my favorite because of the way he rode the Tour of Italy last month. I think he’s been sandbagging it and downplaying his chances. His teammate, Levi Liephiemer, would be another favorite, as would be Carlos Sastre (last year’s winner). Cadel Evans (Australia) has been knocking on the door every year and I believe is riding his best ever. It’s a tough one!

5. You attended college under a vocal performance scholarship and currently work part-time as a DJ.  Do you think your love of music would ever lead you to start another business?

Well I’d hardly call DJ’ing ‘work’, but I love music. It’s therapeutic for me, as has been cycling. I think it could lead to another business some day, but we’ll see how that unfolds. I’m going to record a regular podcast for some of the music that I make as a DJ and have it available on our website coloradopremiertraining.com to download. I love listening to it while I ride a bike, so I think some of our clients will too. Maybe it’ll push them harder in training…Then I can sell it as an ergogenic aide!

6. What do you enjoy most about owning your own business?

I create my own destiny. Like my father told me once, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” I enjoy what I do. Each day is different and entertaining. I get to work with some of the best athletes in the world and contribute to their successes. It’s quite a blast at times.

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

Someone who understands business, entrepreneurship and passion for what they love. Someone who also has had the opportunity to have a similar type of passion in their life as well.

8. Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

My work requires quite a bit of travel at times. Sometimes I just enjoy it because it allows me to be there in ‘the trenches’ where the actual work happens. I try hard to get out on my bike and ride with clients / network, etc as well. All of this takes time. Some days are long, but at the end of the day, right now in my life I’m only responsible for myself and the hard work I put into the business and the athletes.

Steve’s Bio:

Steve Owens is CEO and Founder of Colorado Premier Training, and is among the cycling world’s elite professional coaches. He holds a degree in Exercise and Sport Physiology with a concentration in Sports Medicine from Colorado State University (CSU). He has worked for the United States Olympic Committee and the Guatemalan Olympic Committee, both in a role as exercise physiologist. Steve served as director for the CPT-Colnago Pro Cycling Team in 2006 and was head coach for the Colorado State University Cycling Team for three years, during which time the CSU team was considered one of the nation’s best collegiate cycling teams in the United States.

More recently, Steve brought together one of the brightest arrangements in technological performance to CPT, wind tunnel testing in sport. In putting this together, Steve has had numerous opportunities to work with the worlds most talented athletes and coaches. His philosophy is to bring great minds together to achieve the best possible results for athletic performance. Steve has also been a contributor to Bicycling Magazine, Cyclingnews.com, ProCycling Magazine, VeloNews, Velonews.com, as well as other newspapers and publications. He enjoys mountainbiking and road cycling, skiing, snowshoeing, traveling, foreign languages, and music.

Want to Connect with Steve?  Follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Zachary Weiner, CEO of LuxuryReach

Zach Weiner says he is taking me out on the town in Chicago someday.  I believe him, not just because he said he would, but because partying is as much a part of his lifestyle as are his three businesses.  As the owner of MW Media, Luxury Reach, and GreedReviews.com, the 28 year-old CEO still found time this week to a attend a nightclub opening, street fest, art gallery, and last, but not least, a burlesque show.

In the past year he has also traveled, often backpacking along the way, through places like Morocco, Panama, and Portugal.  Managers back home handle the day-to-day operations and call Zach, traveling with an international cell phone and laptop, with any emergent situations that may arise.

Now, let me ask you.  Who wouldn’t fall in love with a young CEO running three companies who also finds the time to write his own (slightly edgy) relationship advice column?  Not me.  See you in Chicago.

1. We talked a little bit about your newest company GreedReviews.com, a peer-to-peer review site for investment information.  Can you explain it better than I just did?

In basics, Greedreviews.com helps investors conduct due diligence on a wide variety of investment information sources and software. It is our mission to help cut through the clutter of thousands of financial newsletters, websites, and investment software platforms so that investors at any level can find the sources that can help them profit during a rough economy. Our crucial feature is that we enable investors to receive unbiased advice that has come from direct consumer insight or provide their own advice to help others in the investment community.

2. Some entrepreneurs seem to enjoy the startup process more than the ending business result.  With three businesses already, are you addicted to the startup phase?

I lead my life in a constant pursuit to ban any potential boredom that could arise, I hate boredom.  I tend to keep a wide range of diversity in what I do and this carries over to my business life.  I love the inception phase of a company as it’s this point that really allows for potential to be at its peak and true creativity to flow. It’s a rush and it’s fun to brainstorm new ideas and new concepts.  That said, there is nothing more rewarding then watching a company grow and achieving and actualizing that initial potential.

3. What advice can you give other startups, especially those with little or no funding?

I think the best wisdom I could detail would be on finances. The only relevant spending a startup should pursue in the initial stages of forming a new company is on the integrity of the product, the sales (or revenue source) and building relationships. A lot of new companies see their downfall due to extraneous expenses that they engaged in before turning a solid profit.   Investing in large office space, useless personnel and flashy branding is a sure path to ruin if you are not ready for these items. Also, be passionate about anything you engage in- Always.

4. Which of your businesses do you have the most personal connection to and why?

I love Luxuryreach Inc – At its core the personality of that company is a lot like my own. We’re able to wear a lot of differing hats with Luxuryreach.  We work with some of the most affluent brands in the world, so have to be polished, intelligent and sophisticated when we deal with our clients, but at the same time we are still an Ad agency which allows us to be creative types with a young and vibrant edge.  One night I may attend a black tie Gala for a client and the next I might be at a small bar with a vendor wearing ripped jeans.

5. You obviously love to travel.  Where will your next adventure lead you?

I’m planning on doing a month or two backpacking around Brazil. I never go with a real plan when I’m traveling, I usually find a place I want to go and then wander around trains, planes and buses in a random and chaotic pursuit of culture, fun and good food.  Going with a plan keeps you stuck to a schedule and stuck to an “idea” of a place, rather than really getting to know its true vibe. Brazil has some great extreme sports, a wide range of geography and some cool little towns from what I hear, so I’m pretty excited to get myself lost.

6. Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

Being single tends to help business.  For one there is no constraint on your time or resources.  I have very little to tie me down and this can lead to productivity.  Truth told there is also a lot of flirtation that can occur in the business world, and there is no reason to not take advantage of that fact.  It depends on how you look at it and my perspectives can change.  Relationships to me are a bright spot in what can sometimes be a dark world, and having someone to go home to after a long day can be better than any of these advantages.

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

I’m a laid back person who is also ridiculously ambitious.  I look for somebody who is adventurous, honest and up for just about anything in life above all else.  There is a lot of fun to be had and so somebody that can embrace its diversity and enjoy a multitude of activities usually works best for me.  One day, I may be meeting with investors, the next I may be surfing and the one after that I might decide to go travel.  I look for individuals who are passionate about living, laid back enough to be spontaneous, but also have passions in life that they pursue.  Good looks never hurt either.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I’d love to say retired on some beach in the Caribbean, but I know with my personality that just wouldn’t work for too long.  Let’s say I hope to be living in a similar fashion as I am now as I  have no complaints in life.  I can see myself married some day, but in no way is it a necessity and it would have to be to the right person.  I learn from the past, live in the present and like to keep my future open.

Zach’s Bio:

Zachary Weiner is currently the CEO of  the boutique advertising agency Luxuryreach Inc. and Owner of the website Greedreviews.com. He is the founder of  MW Media Inc.- A Financial Marketing firm as well as an author of several fictional titles and a world travel writer.  Currently Zachary spends his time working, kickboxing, rockclimbing and pursuing fun (and usually trouble) in foreign countries.

Paige Davis, co-Founder of BlueAvocado

Thirty-four year-old Paige Davis’ entrepreneurial journey starts and ends with her roots in Austin, Texas.  Along the way to co-founding the earth friendly BlueAvocado brand, she gained a strong background in Social Media and website development, working with major startups in the Bay area at the height of the dot-com boom.

Back in Austin, a trip to the grocery store with her sister, also co-founder of the brand, led the one-time consultant turned Pilates instructor to co-develop a reusable shopping bag system.  Just launched in November of 2008, BlueAvocado brand products have already become regional best sellers at Whole Foods Markets and are gaining media presence through creative branding and innovative marketing strategies.

With one patent pending and brilliant marketing plans in the works, Paige is not just single and successful, she is sustainable.  Just like her brand.

1. Plastic bag replacements have been popping up everywhere the past few years.  Tell us a little about your products, how they work, and why they’re different.

BlueAvocado is a mission-driven lifestyle products company that makes it EASY to DO GOOD while GETTING IT DONE.   The BlueAvocado gro-pak(tm) is the country’s first reusable grocery shopping system that includes six pieces that meet all your shopping needs. All bags have their own function (insulation, ventilation, collapsibility) and fold together for easy sto-n-go.  They are responsibly manufactured with recycled material, machine washable, and include a carbon footprint label. By carrying this system, an average shopper can replace 15 plastic bags per trip and up to 1,000 plastic bags every year.   We also have a partnership with Kiva.org (which is an organization close to my heart) and reinvest 1% of income to fund micro—entrepreneurs around the globe. To date, we have invested in 28 female entrepreneurs from Guatemala to Cambodia.

2. I get the impression from you that BlueAvocado is not just riding the “green wave.”  Why was creating an earth-friendly brand so important to you on a personal level?

I think we each come to it from a different perspective. For me, it is really about raising awareness and inspiring change from a place of empowerment and fun.  We believe change is about being mindful – not militant.  We created BlueAvocado to help people to that first step on the green journey and just maybe find a little joy in the process.  Hearing our customers beginning to share their journeys is really what it is all about and inspires us each day.

3. Your press coverage is impressive.  To what do you attribute your media success so far?

Thanks – I would say it is definitely a magic blend of serendipity, intention, an amazing PR team, and a sprinkle of some hard core enthusiasm. When we were first approached by Real Simple and InStyle, much to the chagrin of our PR team, we played it far from professional and quickly turned into giddy school girls praising the magazines that we have loved for so many years. The amount of “We Heart You” that hit their in boxes could have been considered over expressive:-) We are nothing if not emotional, and for better or worse that comes through.

4. Who is “Schlumpy?”

It is kind of a running joke that Schlumpy is really the true love of my life:-) Schlumpy is a 7ft. x 8 ft ball of plastic bags that has been rolling around the country (LA, Austin, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville) demonstrating the impact plastic bags have on our environment and invites people to take the pledge to collectively get 1 billion bags off the streets by 2010. Here’s a demo. His next scheduled stops include Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and  San Francisco.

5. What is it like working with family, and do you ever find yourself struggling to maintain a line between work and family roles?

Beyond the overwhelming “yenta” factor, it is actually an unexpected dream come true.  With Amy and Missy being best friends and Missy and I being sisters, we went into this knowing that regardless, our relationships always come first.  Recognizing that challenges would definitely occur, we worked with a consultant very early on to help us identify and articulate our mission, vision, and values.  This has served as an amazing foundation that we can always turn to when emotions sometime run high and we are all reminded why we are in this.  Having said that, we definitely are in a constant state of self-growth and awareness as we quickly move through the various challenges that do arise – it can be exhausting and rewarding all at the same time:-)

6. Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

Well working with two moms who have four children between them all under the age of five, I definitely have sleep in my favor:-)  I also like to think I add a bit of some outside perspective/reality beyond the “mommy bubble” and on occasion some fashion insight.  However, there is no way I could ever imagine doing this on my own – it is the magic of the three of us that truly is the heart and spirit of BlueAvocado.

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

Luckily, I have amazing business partners who reflect every day what I am capable of, inspiring me, making me laugh, believing in me, challenging me, and empowering me to become the best version of myself. Ideally I’m looking to meet a man who is passionate about his life pursuits, secure in who he is and where he wants to go, can appreciate a good laugh (am fine if it is at my expense as I do it all the time:-), and building an inspiring and supportive partnership together.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Oh man, the future question is always hard for me:-). Having grown up in a constant stage of goal setting for most of my life, my real challenge is to stay grounded in the amazing and not so amazing moments as they arise.  Having said that, I hope that in 10 years, I am continuing to “stay in the moment”, embracing success, surrounded by amazing friends and family, in a loving and passionate relationship, inspiring and being inspired by others, and able to appreciate a good giggle on a daily basis!

Paige’s Bio

As Co-Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of BlueAvocado, Paige Davis brings her strategic perspective and background as an integrative wellness practitioner, sustainability consultant, and social media entrepreneur. With over 12 years of experience, Paige’s background is rooted in the Bay Area where she initially worked for Organic Inc. working with clients to develop first generation web commerce capabilities and social media applications.  Following her passion for integrative health and sustainable living, she founded a successful pilates studio in Austin, Texas – Pilates360.  Continuing to pursue her interests in sustainability, Paige launched Green Maven Strategies, a consultancy that provided strategic marketing and sustainable consulting services targeted to the LOHAS segment (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability). Paige received her BA from Indiana University in Journalism and Environmental Science and is thrilled to see all of her life experiences coming full circle as she realizes the dream and potential of BlueAvocado.  Keep up with her latest musings and BlueAvocado news @ http://www.blueavocado.com/blog/.

Want to connect with Paige?  Follow her on Twitter and Facebook!

Editors Note:  For a special 10% discount for Single Startups readers go to BlueAvocado and use the code billionbag10

Derek Johnson, CEO of Tatango

Derek Johnson was suspended in the third grade for selling candy at school.  But that was 9 businesses ago, and at only 24 Derek is now the Social Media-friendly, always accessible, CEO of text-messaging service Tatango. How accessible?  He posts his personal cell phone number online and has video cameras streaming live from his office.  And if you look like Derek, that’s a pretty decent marketing plan.

1. What is Tatango and how does it work?

Tatango is a company I started while in college that simply put, offers group text messaging.  Tatango allows any group to collect, manage and text message all of their group members from both a computer and mobile phone.  We have all types of groups using the service, like athletic teams, religious organizations and businesses.  Any type of group that would like to get a message out to their members in a fast, efficient manner can benefit from using Tatango.

2. You say you didn’t get good grades in school (I don’t believe you).  What about your personality makes you so such a successful business person?

Yea, I was a horrible student.  I wasn’t even able to get into the business school at the University I attended.  I think education plays a big part in being a successful entrepreneur, but what has always separated me from others is the “hustle”.  In the end, it really comes down to who wants it the most. I really want it.

3. At 24, you have already started a handful of businesses.   Do you think you would ever have the attention span to commit to someone for more than a few months?

Yea, I’ve been known to have a pretty short attention span, in both business and my dating life.  With how crazy my life is right now, I think someone would really have to impress me to even try and hold my attention.  I think it’s possible though.  If you’re up for the challenge, here’s my cell phone number 206.334.4012.

4. Do you ever feel like you’re better than other guys your age?

No, not at all.  I think everyone excels at his or her own things, mine happens to be business.

5. You took a rare day off recently to attend a friend’s bachelor party. Do you feel like you’re missing out on your youth by spending so much time working on your business?

Yes, there is no doubt about it that I’ve missed out on certain parts of my youth by focusing so much on my business ventures.  I feel though, if you really want something, there are going to be tradeoffs.

6. You’re looking to date women in their early twenties, but seem to feel they aren’t as motivated.  Why don’t you just date older women?  I’m motivated.

I would be down to date an older woman.  If you’re ever in the Seattle area, be sure to look me up.  In regards to the first part of the question, I wouldn’t say “motivated” is the right word.  Most of the girls that are in their early twenties are just finishing up college and their lifestyles, goals, availability, etc. are just different than mine, which makes it very hard to get on the same page with someone.

7. I get the feeling you are doing well financially.  Are you afraid of women who may look at you and see dollar signs?

A lot of people have the misconception that just because I started my own company, I am set financially.  This is very far from the truth, as the majority of what I have is tied up in the company.  I still get those types of girls approaching me though, but it’s very easy to see their intentions.

8. Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in your business and why?

The biggest benefit to being a single entrepreneur has been the ability for me to focus 100% on the business.

9. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Being the CEO of an internet startup, but things change so fast, and I really only plan a couple of weeks in advance.  10 years, who knows really?

Derek’s Bio

Derek Johnson is the 24 year old CEO of internet startup, Tatango.com. A dropout of the University of Houston Entrepreneurial program, Derek has raised half a million dollars in investments for the company from private investors and the Bellingham Angel Group. As any entrepreneur will tell you, launching a company is hard work. Derek, a self proclaimed workaholic puts in 100+ hour workweeks to fulfill his vision of Tatango. Derek and the Tatango.com team have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Seattle Times, Mashable, TechCrunch, PC World, LifeHacker and other national publications.

Want to connect with Derek?  Follow him on Twitter and Facebook!

Karl Miller, Owner of Hudson Goods

Karl Miller was good at math.  Originally majoring in architecture, he moved on to a 25 plus year career on Wall Street, in his own words, “working his ass off.”  Tired of looking for consulting work, and with the economy in a downturn, he became his own boss.  What was just an idea one year ago has now evolved into Hudson Goods, a profitable start-up, one he bills as the “Old Navy of Furniture, but with better quality.”

I like Karl’s furniture, but most of all, I like Karl.  He is upbeat, full of business knowledge, and as enthusiastic about my business as he is his own.  When asked if he had the same passion for his old line of work, he says, “Sort of.  But now at the end of the day, I never feel the urge to escape the fluorescent lights of an office.”

To Karl, may you never be a fluorescent, Wall Street lab rat again.

1. Tell us a little about your product line and how you got started.

I believe that homes are meant for living and not for looking.  So I designed my own line of home furnishings that are sold exclusively on-line at HudsonGoods.com.  The furniture is affordable, made of all solid wood and of course built “jack-tough” as inspired by my dog and company logo.

2. After so many years working on Wall Street, did you ever doubt your ability to succeed in a creative field?

I actually never doubted myself in changing career fields.  I felt I was equally good at both and just gave it the same drive and work ethic that I did working on Wall Street.  It is much more fulfilling to work hard when you reap all of the benefits!

3. How has your life changed since last November?

My life has totally changed.  First, I have never worked so hard, as running a small business is much more challenging than a 9 to 5 corporate job.  It is on your mind 24/7 but the good part is that I really enjoy what I am doing.  I can also be myself and not have to fit into a specific corporate image.  I also see more of my family which has improved the balance between work and my personal life.

4. We talked at length about your successful marketing strategies.  Give our readers some specifics about which of these has been the most useful in managing to stay competitive with places like Pottery Barn.

Although on a smaller scale, I advertise in some of the same places as Pottery Barn on BizRate, Shopzilla, etc. and undercut them on price.  I also utilize Google Ads but I have also put myself and my face out there to make my product more personal than the generic Pottery Barn by using youtube videos, facebook, and more importantly the bloggers world.  I started a blog at HudsonGoodsblog.com on home design which I love and run frequent giveaway contests on fellow blog sites which has proven to be very successful.

5. You mentioned to me you had a mentor who was invaluable to your start-up.  How has this relationship affected your business?

As with anything in life, you can’t be an expert at everything.  Having someone that has gone through a similar process and has experienced all of the ups and downs has proven to be invaluable.  Having a mentor that tells you what to expect and sometimes how to do things has enabled me to get up and running much faster than if I had stumbled along on my own learning through my mistakes.  But believe me, I still make mistakes!

6. Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

I am actually in a relationship, with my business!  Being single has helped me in that I am able to devote all of my energy to growing the business and driving sales.  Right now, I live and breathe HudsonGoods.com and just would not have the time to be in a healthy relationship.  My family has been a great support system and of course my trusty sidekick Buddy!

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

Right now, that would be Buddy as she supports me in both.  But seriously, that person would need to have a passion to follow their own dreams and the drive to do it.  I find it hard now to enjoy people that are stuck in dead end jobs with no ambition to make a change.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In ten years, I see Hudson Goods as a household name right up there with Pottery Barn.  But, this new life has opened up so many doors and I have met so many different types of people that I dare to predict what I will be doing.  For now, it’s just all about HudsonGoods.com.

Karl’s Bio:

Karl Miller is the owner of HudsonGoods.com, an on-line store that features his personal collection of home furnishings.  After spending many years working on Wall Street, he decided to follow his life long passion for home decorating and designed his own line of furniture.  Karl has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Rutgers University and an MBA from Monmouth University.  He has worked for JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, but now enjoys working for himself and spending more time with his favorite Jack Russell, Buddy.  Karl spends most of his time designing new pieces, traveling for unique decorating finds and writing for his design blog at HudsonGoodsblog.com

Want to connect with Karl?  Follow him on Twitter!

Annika Pfluger, Owner of Red Thread Confections

I chose Annika Pfluger, Owner of Red Thread Confections, to be my next guest because as a business owner, single adoptive parent, and world class musician, her story is interesting on many levels.  My close second reason, of course, is that I am addicted to chocolate and Annika happens to make it.

Not just chocolate, mind you.  Handmade, intricately hand-painted organic chocolates made from the finest ingredients and with nothing artificial added.  In the past year that I have known about Annika, I have secretly browsed her website, stalking her adorable little chocolates’ every move.  After all, a true chocolate lover knows that just because you can’t eat it every day, doesn’t mean you can’t spend the afternoon pretending you were.   (On a personal note, I have to say I’m not sure why men don’t show up for dates more often with chocolates.  THIS WORKS, trust me.)

In the spirit of giving back, and following along the lines of the “Red Thread” legend (which you will read about below), Annika donates a portion of all Red Thread Confections proceeds to orphanages in China, Guatemala, and Ethiopia.  So if you want to really impress someone, while also giving to a good cause, do the right thing.  Be a man.  Bring chocolate.

1. At what age did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I actually had no clue that I wanted to be an entrepreneur until just 5-6 years ago. But looking back, there were definitely signs pointing in that direction. I was always a bit of a risk taker and tended to pursue non-traditional paths throughout my life. I’m a classically trained professional cellist with a Master of Music degree. And I spent a year in Budapest, Hungary (before the iron curtain fell) studying at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music on a Fulbright Scholarship. I also traveled to Guatemala to adopt my son as a single parent – and what a fabulous adventure that was, and continues to be! So, while it may have taken me a while to traverse the various paths that led me to entrepreneurship, I’m now thrilled to be the sole owner of Red Thread Confections – a business I developed and have grown from the ground up.

2. What is your product or business and how did you get started?

Red Thread Confections is a unique artisan handcrafted chocolate business. I hand paint each chocolate with organic all naturally colored cocoa butter. I trained at Ecole Chocolat based in Vancouver, Canada and studied artisan chocolates and confections at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. I got the inspiration for my company from the ancient Chinese Legend of the Red Thread: “At birth, an invisible red thread connects us to everyone in our life who will become important to us. That thread may stretch and shrink over time, but it will never break.” As an adoptive parent, the red thread legend is very close to my heart. I believe that my son was connected to me by the invisible red thread at birth and that he will also be forever connected to his birth family and birth country by that same red thread. Red Thread Confections honors the red thread legend by donating a portion of the proceeds from each sale to orphanages in Guatemala, Ethiopia and China. Another part of our mission is to create red thread connections with each of our customers – once you try our chocolates, you’ll be forever connected as well!

3. What separates your business from the competition?  In other words, what makes it special?

All of my chocolates are lovingly made by hand using no automated equipment. I use premium fresh ingredients and don’t use any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives in any of my confections. Each piece is hand painted with organically colored all natural cocoa butter. We also donate a portion of the proceeds of each sale to orphanages in Guatemala, Ethiopia and China.

4. What separates you from other business leaders?  In other words, what makes YOU special?

I am currently running all aspects of the business – from sweeping the floor at night to developing all of our recipes to packing the boxes. I believe that by becoming an expert at each job within the company, it will enable me to be well positioned for future expansion.

5. What is a typical day like for you?  Not just work, but the good stuff, too.

Up early with my coffee, then I get my son up and ready for school. In the meantime I head down to my production space and start the chocolate tempering. While my son’s in school, it’s all about making chocolates, packing orders and marketing for sales. After my son gets home, we have a nice late afternoon and dinner together and then maybe off to soccer practice. After dinner I start working on my computer/administrative duties, bills, accounting, etc. Late nights after my son is in bed, it’s either back to the commercial kitchen space to work on more chocolate production or I’ll continue with the computer/administrative duties. Long days… but so worth it!

6. Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

I see it very similar to being a single parent, actually. There are pros and cons – the pros are that I get to make all the decisions and don’t have to be accountable to anyone except myself. The cons – well, those would be the same – I have to make all the decisions and there’s no one else who could be accountable for a nice change of pace once in a while.

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

The ideal person would be someone who loves sales and marketing. That would really complement my needs. That way I could focus more of my time on recipe development and production.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself freaking out because my son will be just about to get his driver’s license – LOL! No, really… I see myself in my future beach house on Block Island while my business is flourishing.

Annika’s Bio:

Annika Pfluger is the Owner/Chocolatier of Red Thread Confections, LLC. She’s also a professional cellist with an active teaching studio. When she’s not busy in her kitchen developing new recipes and making chocolates, or teaching cello students, she spends her time enjoying life with her 6 year old son, gardening and hunkering down with a great book.

Want to connect with Annika?  Follow her on Twitter and Facebook!