Put a Fork In It!

Put a Fork In It!

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Put a Fork In It! episodes

  • 24: Sunny Gandara, vegan lifestyle consultant, blogger, entrepreneur
    About Sunny Gandara
    Sunny Gandara is a a vegan food and lifestyle consultant, certified wine educator and trained professional chef, with 25 years of experience in the food and wine industries, as well as in health & fitness, branding and international marketing. She works primarily with women, both on a personal level, or in a business setting.
    As a certified health coach specializing in plant based nutrition, Sunny helps women adopt a vegan lifestyle through creating delicious plant based meals and showing them that a healthy, rewarding life can even include a glass of wine (or two). Her clients experience a massive personal and professional transformation as a result of a new diet, breaking free from conformed thinking and embracing a new lifestyle.
    On the business side, Sunny works with female vegan entrepreneurs and businesses, who want to make a difference in the world utilizing their skills, interests and unique talents. Typically these are women in mid-life who have spent their whole life doing way they think others want them to do and now want support finding back to living a life that is 100% in alignment with their true values.
    Sunny is also a passionate food blogger and is the author of the Norwegian food blog, Arctic Grub, where she veganizes classic, Scandinavian dishes.
    She owns her multi-passionate personality and draws on her varied background through leading with food, fun, kindness and compassion.
    Get in Touch: email
    Sunny’s blog: Arctic Grub
    Sunny’s Website
    Our Conversation
     
    Sunny and I first met through HV Women in Business, and I was intrigued when she introduced herself and mentioned that she helps people go vegan. 
    I know what veganism is, but it had never occurred to me that someone could form a business around helping others go vegan.
    On the episode, we discuss the basics of what it means to be vegan, the degrees that it can be taken to, some basic tips for those who want to get started or have friends/family members that are vegan, and Sunny’s new business helping restaurants veganize their menus. Sunny also has a blog about Norwegian food, where she adapts classic recipes from her upbringing to be vegan friendly.
    I’m not a vegan, nor do I promote specific diets, but I wanted to hear more about her unique approach, and have a conversation about what it really means to be vegan – at least from one person’s perspective. And, eating more vegetables never hurt anyone (that I know of!).
     
    In our conversation, we discuss:
    the basics of veganism
    the extreme sides of veganism and where Sunny stands
    simple tips to add more veggies or eventually go vegan
    how to adapt recipes to be vegan
    Sunny’s decision to adapt her food blog to veganism, which focused on Norwegian food
    how she helps clients to make changes toward veganism, whether individuals or restaurants
    and so much more!
    Love the show?
    If you love our show, please support us by:
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    Contacting us for a feature/interview
    59 min
  • Episode 23: Jordan Koschei with HV Talentbase
    About Jordan Koschei
    Jordan Koschei is a designer, developer, and writer based in New Paltz, NY. He’s the builder of the Hudson Valley Talentbase, the online creative community for the Hudson Valley.
    At his day job, Jordan is currently the lead product designer at Agrilyst, a venture-backed startup that provides a data and management platform for indoor farms. He’s previously worked as a freelance designer as well as at an agency, and has worked with companies at every scale, from mom-and-pop shops to the Fortune 100.
    When not building software or writing, Jordan can usually be found exploring the Hudson Valley with his wife, enjoying the local food scene, or yelling “GOALLLLLL!!!” as stadium announcer for local soccer team Stockade FC.
     
    Our Conversation
    After hearing Jordan speak about his project at a recent HV Tech meetup in December 2017, I knew I wanted to learn more and speak with him on the show. We stray a bit away from food/health, but we have a great chat about what it means to be creative, how to monetize and how to build an online platform.
    During our conversation, we talked about everything from how and why Jordan got started on this project, what stage he’s at now, where he hopes to take it, and the considerations he has to make for features and how to approach making changes now that the platform is live with real users. We discuss how to turn it into a business, and Jordan’s unique perspective and philosophy on what creative really means.
    In our conversation, we discuss:
    Why the Hudson Valley is as great an area to develop a business career as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles (if not better)
    A new, “liberal” definition of what it means to be creative
    The idea behind HV Talentbase
    How HV talent base works
    Monetization without destroying the sense of community
    Future aspirations of HV Talentbase
    Economic development data of HV Talentbase
    How many people will ever be using the HV Talentbase?
    Broadening the Idea of Creativity between different types of people in the HV
    Scalability of the HV Talentbase
    Providing actual value to the users of HV Talentbase
    How to go about making changes systematically, once a new app has real users
    and so much more!
    Love the show?
    If you love our show, please support us by:
    Sharing it with your friends
    Leaving a comment on the show notes
    Writing a review on iTunes or Facebook
    Subscribing
    Donating on Patreon
    Contacting us to learn about sponsorship opportunities
    Contacting us for a feature/interview
    1 hr 1 min
  • Episode 22: March Gallagher, Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley and Feed HV
    About March Gallagher
    March Gallagher is the President and CEO of the Community foundations of the Hudson Valley. She is responsible for the overall leadership of the Foundations including donor services, grant-making, and care and custody of Foundation assets.
    A resident of Rosendale in Ulster County, March is also an attorney with degrees from Boston University, Bard College, Rockefeller College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She comes to the Community Foundations having served most recently as Chief Strategy Officer at Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, focusing on regional quality of life issues.
    She has served on the boards of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, Hudson Valley Regional Council, Ulster County Development Corporation, Ulster County Workforce Investment Board and Ulster County Industrial Development Agency, which she chaired during 2006 and 2007. She is a current board member with the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation and Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Middletown.
    Learn more about Community Foundations: Website
    Learn more about FeedHV: Website
     
    Our Conversation
    Our discussion focuses on the various food and agriculture related projects going on in the area, to help fight food insecurity and improve access to healthy food options and information for all. It’s a great episode detailing some of the problems we are facing in the region related to hunger, poverty, food storage, health and food waste. It provides a lot of entry points for those looking to get involved with these issues and help to be a positive force.
    In our conversation, we discuss:
    The grant-making process and how the Community Foundations of the HV is making positive change in the region
    The effects of tourism on the Hudson Valley economy
    How the Hudson Valley is embracing it’s roots as a home for agriculture as an industry, and the HV Agribusiness Development Corporation
    How the FeedHV app powered by the Chow Match is helping to connect volunteers, donors and agencies to help reduce food waste and fight hunger in the area
    Pattern for Progress Program
    What percentage of grants are driven by donors?
    Hudson Valley Farm Fresh Food Initiative – Learn More
    Free Food Bank Farm Stand Program – Learn More
    What is Applehoni and how is it helping to fight hunger? A unique approach. Learn More
    How the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley’s Backpack Program is helping feed hungry kids – Learn More
    How the Hudson Valley Seed & Poughkeepsie Farm Project are making a difference in building community around farming
    March’s journey from high-strung lawyer in Boston to non-profit president and ceo in the Hudson Valley
    How the Hudson Valley has changed over the last several decades
    and so much more!
    Resources
    Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley SPECIAL REPORT: Food Security
    Local Economies Project – Learn More
    Mid-Hudson Community Profiles – Learn More
     
    Love the show?
    If you love our show, please support us by:
    Sharing it with your friends
    Leaving a comment on the show notes
    Writing a review on iTunes or Facebook
    Subscribing
    Donating on Patreon
    Contacting us to learn about sponsorship opportunities
    Contacting us for a feature/interview
    58 min
  • Episode 21: Dorie Clark, Washington Post Bestselling Author, contributor to Forbes & HBR, and marketing consultant
    About Dorie Clark
    Courtesy Photo © 2014 Marilyn Humphries
    Dorie Clark is a marketing strategy consultant, professional speaker, and frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review. Recognized as a “branding expert” by the Associated Press, Fortune, and Inc. magazine, she is the author of Entrepreneurial You (Harvard Business Review Press,), Reinventing You, and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of 2015 by Inc. magazine and one of the Top 10 Business Books of the Year by Forbes. It was also a Washington Post bestseller. Her books have been translated into Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French, Polish, Korean, and Thai.
    Clark, whom the New York Times described as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives,” consults and speaks for a diverse range of clients, including Google, the World Bank, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, the Ford Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Yale University.
    A former presidential campaign spokeswoman, Clark is an adjunct professor of business administration at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Visiting Professor for IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. She has guest lectured at universities including Harvard Business School, the Harvard Kennedy School, Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, the University of California-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Georgetown, NYU, the MIT Sloan School of Management, and the University of Michigan.
    At age 14, Clark entered Mary Baldwin College’s Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. At 18, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College, and two years later received a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School.
    Get in touch with Dorie: Website
    Download the Entrepreneurial You self-assessment
    Our Conversation
    I first heard about Dorie’s work through a podcast interview on The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes, a few years ago. Then, through an interesting series of serendipitous events, I had the opportunity of meeting her.
    I found myself working on my laptop at a coffeehouse in Beacon, NY and started to chat with the person next to me. I found that he was a recent NYC transplant and worked in marketing. When we soon became connected on Linked In, I noticed that he was connected to Dorie on the site, and promptly inquired whether he knew her in person. He said yes and offered to connect us. Upon connecting us, Dorie invited me to a private networking lunch (with about 10-20 people around a table in a restaurant) in NYC that she was hosting. I attended, and thus began our relationship.
    Initially I was intrigued by her work and her incredible journey after hearing her on that podcast, which is 1 of more than 80 that she’s done and is featured on her website. Her work is all about creating the career that you want and one of her core concepts is how to become known as a thought leader, or recognized expert, in order to stand out and build a following or progress to the next level in your career. She also talks about how to reinvent yourself and your career midway through. And, her latest book is all about how to actually make money in, what she calls, a “portfolio career.”
    In our conversation, we discuss:
    Dorie’s experience reinventing her career post journalism and building a multi 6-figure business
    Bridging the gap from in-person business to online business
    What exactly is an entrepreneur?
    A roadmap for the early stage entrepreneur, or dreamer
    The day-to-day life of a beginning entrepreneur
    Dorie’s biggest challenge in the early days, and how she overcame it
    How to build a platform online
    How to build an email list
    What should you send in an email?
    When you should start to monetize your list
    How to build additional income streams online
    What book publishers want to see in order to approve your proposal
    Her new book, Entrepreneurial You
    and so much more!
    Love
    1 hr 8 min
  • PAFII Episode 20: Deb Belding, Program Coordinator for Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory
    About Deb Belding
    Photo by CC Photo & Media
     
    Deb Belding is the program coordinator of the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory, an anchor project and part of the Middle Main Initiative of Hudson River Housing. She has 37 years of experience in the retail industry, and is also an entreprenueur. After doing outreach for her local church for many years, she was introduced to Hudson River Housing. After retiring from her past career, and spending time volunteering with the Hyde Park community garden, an opportunity to become part of this project popped up, and she jumped at the chance.
     
     
    Get in touch with Deb: Email
    About Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory/Hudson River Housing
    Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory is a part of the middle main initiative from Hudson River Housing. Open since March 30th, 2017, it is an anchor project in the mission to revitalize the Middle Main Street Corridor. Middle main is a particular neighborhood in the city of Poughkeepsie, NY which saw major shifts in the economy and safety throughout the last several decades.
    Hudson River Housing is a 501c Nonprofit organization in Poughkeepsie that helps to provide affordable and transitional housing for those in need in the Poughkeepsie and Dutchess county, NY areas.
    Learn more about Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory: Website
    Learn more about Hudson River Housing: Website
    Photos from Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory (by Caylena Cahill, for Hudson Valley Magazine)
    Our Conversation
    In this episode, I speak with Deb Belding, Program Coordinator of Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory, an anchor project affiliated with human service nonprofit organization Hudson River Housing. I’ve been wanting to feature the Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory since they opened. From the name alone, it’s not necessarily obvious how it fits with our themes, but the project is exactly the thing I get excited about.
    In our conversation, we discuss:
    History of Main Street in Poughkeepsie, NY
    What Hudson River Housing is
    History of Hudson River Housing
    History of Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory
    How it’s never too late for career transition
    How this project is transforming (albeit, slowly) the neighborhood
    A model to follow for changing and revitalizing a neighborhood, and raising people up
    Evolution of Poughkeepsie over the last 25 years
    A model for reclaiming abandoned historical buildings
    What is the Middle Main Initiative
    Why the Underwear Factory is a haven for creatives and entrepreneurs
    And so much more!
    1 hr 7 min
  • PAFII Episode 19: Richard Romano, Restaurateur and owner of Screamin Onionz!
    About Richard Romano
    Photo by Caylena Cahill // CC Photo & Media
     
    Richard Romano is a restaurateur and founder of Aha American Health Appetite LLC, with years of experience opening and running restaurants in Manhattan NY. After losing his job when his wife was pregnant, he knew he needed to make a serious life change. Screamin’ Onionz! was born.
    Richard took the only money he had, a meager tax return, and rented a stove in the back of a restaurant. He began to work on Certifications, Licenses, Scheduled Processes, Food Lab Analysis and USDA Approvals.  Through the summer and fall of 2014, Richard produced over 2500 jars by hand, worked 5 farm markets, fairs and festivals plus 21 retail stores. Through much positive feedback from tens of thousands of people, he fine-tuned his onions, re-branded the labels and in May of 2015, set out beyond the Millbrook, NY area. In July of 2015 Richard and his wife launched their first Whole Foods Market location.
     
    Get in touch with Richard: Email | LinkedIn
    About Screamin’ Onionz!
    Photo by Caylena Cahill // CC Photo & Media
    Screaming’ Onions! is a condiment that’s consists of onions and peppers. Richard describes the condiment as “Kinda like onionz in hot sauce”. It is made from sliced onions slow cooked in their own sauces for hours, until the rawness goes away and they’re packed with flavor. Using simple ingredients like peppers, onions, vinegar and garlic (with no added sugar), Screamin’ Onionz comes in 3 different versions: Mild, Medium, and Spicy.
    Learn more about Screamin’ Onionz: Website
     
    Our Conversation
    In this episode, I speak with Richard Romano, founder of Aha! American Health Appetite LLC, which produces Screamin’ Onionz, a condiment that uses onions and peppers. Richard and I met through an incubator type program put on by the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation. HVEDC brought me on to work with the participants of their Bet on My Business Academy, to provide consulting and photography. Richard is a graduate of the program, and we recently did a product shoot together for Screamin’ Onionz. I wanted to have him on the show because he has a great story and a lot of passion for what he’s doing. He’s definitely an entrepreneur… but also used to run restaurants, turning them from underperforming to high performing. So, there ought to definitely be something in this show for everyone, regardless of your specific situation… as an entrepreneur, restaurateur, chef or aspiring business person.
    In our conversation, we discuss:
    How a pool party inspired a dream
    USDA safety Procedures to be aware of when starting a new packaged food business
    Process of Running a processed food business
    Food labs and co-packers… and why/when to use them
    Motivation and getting started as a entrepreneur
    Steps in becoming a food entrepreneur
    The food manufacturing process
    What Richard learned from winning a $1500 competition
    Food Regulations to be aware of when starting out
    The power of persistence and patience
    How he turned a slow Hudson Valley restaurant around to be busy in the winter months
    Why even small businesses need high quality photography
    The feeling of seeing your product in professional product photos
    And so much more!
    1 hr 32 min
  • PAFII Episode 18: Dr. Jennifer Vasquez-Bryan, Board Certified Family Physician
    About Jennifer Vasquez-Bryan
    Dr. Jennifer Vasquez-Bryan is a private practice family physician with a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College, MA. She has a Master’s of Public Health from Rutgers School of Public Health in New Jersey and a medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, NJ. Dr. Vazquez-Bryan completed her family medicine residency with Swedish First Hill Family Medicine at the Swish Medical Center in Seattle, WA.  
    Dr. Vasquez-Bryan has an extreme passion for making personal connections with her patients, taking joy in seeing them develop over time and accomplishing their goals for improved health and happiness. Due to changes in the medical system, Dr. Vasquez-Bryan wasn’t able to care for her patients the way she intended. So, in 2016 she decided to take matters into her own hands and run her own private practice.  
    Get in touch with Jennifer: Email
     
    About Altucare
    Dr. Vasquez-Bryan’s practice, Altucare, specializes in Direct Primary Care, which essentially offers her patients a membership that allows for much more time and attention per patient. The way she runs her practice in very unique and very unusual for most private practices. Because of her membership model, her practice completely cuts out insurance companies, and is therefore able to focus directly on the relationship with her patients. She charges a low-monthly fee, does not bill insurance for services, and patients have access to her without additional charges with extended office visits, visits by phone or online, email, or text.
    Learn more: Website
     
    Our Conversation
    Like some of my other guests, I first met Jennifer at a Hudson Valley Women in Business. I knew needed to learn more as soon as she said she was a physician… With all the networking events I attend, I rarely come across physicians or family doctors. Then, as we spoke one on one for a few minutes at the event, I was so intrigued by her business model and her philosophies around health. This conversation was very illuminating on what’s going on in the health care industry. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to become a doctor, check this out.
    In our conversation, we discuss:
    The difficulty facing many doctors with the current medical system
    What Direct Primary Care is and how it can help us all
    The impacts of nutrition on our bodies and therefore our lives
    What it really takes to be a doctor
    how medical schools and doctor training is failing our health care providers
    How doctors make money and why it’s not ideal
    Why the concept of time is so important for doctors treating patients
    Tips on picking the right foods, and staying away from foods that you may not know are bad
    Understanding what milk, diet soda, salad dressing, and juices really do to your body
    How the infamous “food pyramid” may not be so right, and may even be contributing to the growth of “lifestyle diseases”
    how our current healthcare system is focused more on illness and rather than wellness
    And so much more!
     
    Love the show?
    If you love our show, please support us by:
    Sharing it with your friends
    Leaving a comment on the show notes
    Writing a review on iTunes or Facebook
    Subscribing
    Donating on Patreon
    Contacting us to learn about sponsorship opportunities
    Contacting us for a feature/interview
     
    1 hr 29 min
  • PAFII Episode 17: Lindsey Seegers & Jenna Umbriac, Manna Food Center
    About Lindsey Seegers
    Lindsey Seegers is Manna Food Center’s Program Manager of Nutrition Education. At Manna, she recently co-designed a school bus turned mobile kitchen and pop-up pantry that provides culinary education to kids, and fresh produce to families with limited food access. For over four years, she has led multi-lingual Cooking Matters classes at the grocery store, teaching participants about shopping on a budget.
    In addition to these roles, Lindsey also facilitates workshops on diabetes prevention for mothers of young children and for seniors at low-income apartment complexes. She speaks publicly about domestic hunger issues, healthy eating, and using social media for social justice.
    Lindsey’s work has been featured by Share Our Strength, Voice of America, MyMCMedia, WDVM, and Green Door Gourmet. Currently, she is an active member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, where she served as a cookbook tester, children’s cookbook judge, and 2016 conference presenter on “Using Our Culinary Expertise for Good”.
    Lindsey is an Adoption Speaker, and Licensed Episcopal Preacher, with a B.A. in Social Work, and a Graduate Certificate in Nutrition. She shares the kitchen with her husband and Australian Shepherd in Springfield, Virginia.
    Get in touch with Lindsey: Email | LinkedIn
    About Jenna Umbriac
     Jenna Umbriac is a registered dietitian and Director of Programs and Policies at Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg, MD. At Manna, Jenna directs the weekend food assistance program, Smart Sacks, nutrition education programming, and designs policies to ensure Manna is providing a safe and healthful food supplement.  She also works to provide regionally produced and nutritious food to Manna’s participants through donor education and partnerships with local farms and farm markets.
    In addition to her work at Manna, Jenna serves as co-chair of the Montgomery County Food Council’s Food Recovery and Access working group.
    Jenna has an M.S. in nutrition from Bastyr University and a B.S. in biology from Loyola University Maryland.   
    Get in touch with Jenna: Email
    About Manna Food Center
    Manna Food Center strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County, Maryland, through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Manna shares fresh produce and shelf stable food with around 33,000 neighbors each year. Manna’s vision is that our community is a place where all people at all times have access to safe, sufficient, nutritious food in order to lead fulfilling lives and contribute to making Montgomery County, Maryland, a place where all live in dignity.
    Learn more about Manna Food Center: Website | Blog
    Follow the adventures of Manny the Mobile Kitchen by following Manna Food Center on social media: #mannythemobilekitchen
    Our Conversation
    Two years ago I joined the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and through that I have met some awesome people – one of whom is Lindsey Seegers, the program manager for nutrition education at Manna.
    The first time we met, she took me on a tour of the warehouse at Manna and showed me how they do things. I was so intrigued… This tour happened before I started this podcast, but as soon as I started the show, I immediately thought Lindsey would be a great person to have on. While I was there visiting, I also attended one of Lindsey’s “Eating Healthy on a Budget” classes in a Giant supermarket. So much of our conversation stuck with me and I knew she’d be great to have on.
    In our wide reaching conversation, we discuss:
    Nutrition: Manna’s point of view
    How Manna is making a difference
    How Manna stands out from other food bank operations
    Food Security/Insecurity
    Food Waste and Waste Prevention
    The differences between food banks and food pantries
    Cooking (especially with limited resources)
    Food Education
    Importance of Food-Based Nutrition on Personal Health
    Food Labeling and Branding
    Food Deserts
    1 hr 42 min
  • PAFII Episode 16: Danielle Schuka, American Heart Association
    About Danielle Schuka
    Danielle Schuka is a Corporate Development Director with the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association. The AHA/ASA is a national non-profit organization committed to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The two local campaigns she leads have raised over $249,000 annually and awareness for heart disease and stroke health right here in the Hudson Valley. When she is not talking heart health, she is trying, like the rest of us, to live it. Danielle spends her free time hiking with her family, improving her yoga practice and kicking butt at boxing. She is currently gearing up for the 2017 Go Red For Women Luncheon on November 9, 2017 – where local men and women will have the opportunity to hear from local experts about heart health and celebrate the 2017 BetterU participants.
    Get in touch with Danielle: Email
     
    Our Conversation
    I first met Danielle at a Hudson Valley Women in Business event where her and a colleague gave a presentation on heart health and hands-only CPR. They also mentioned an upcoming event from the American Heart Association, called Go Red for Women. Some of the information that they presented at that event was definitely new to me, such as certain signs/symptoms of a heart attack, and I knew it would be important to have one of them on the show to spread awareness of these topics.
    In our conversation, we discuss:
    a layman’s definition of terms relating to heart health, heart attack and more
    the steps in hands-only CPR and why it’s useful to know
    some startling statistics about people right in our own Hudson Valley region
    the structure of the American Heart Association as a national non-profit
    corporate development and what that means
    how the American Heart Association is working to make a healthier society
    the challenges involved in being a public person in health
    the impact of stress on our health
    the problem with “busy-ness” as a cultural value
    The Go Red for Women Campaign
    And so much more!
    Go Red for Women Information
    Love the show?
    If you love our show, please support us by:
    Sharing it with your friends
    Leaving a comment on the show notes
    Writing a review on iTunes or Facebook
    Subscribing
    Donating on Patreon
    Contacting us to learn about sponsorship opportunities
    Contacting us for a feature/interview
     
    1 hr 36 min
  • PAFII Episode 15: Karen Berelowitz, Karmabee
    About Karen Berelowitz and Karmabee
    Karen Berelowitz doodled through three decades of school and an international development career before launching Karmabee in 2007. She prints her hand-drawn black & white designs on notecards, baby clothes, kids and adult T-shirts, cork coasters, tote bags, buttons, and more. Karen sells her work online on Etsy and Amazon, at the weekly Kingston Farmers Market, at local holiday fairs, and in stores around the Hudson Valley and beyond. She also teaches art and business, licenses her drawings, and creates custom logos and designs. From 2011-2016 Karen ran her Karmabee studio and retail store in the historic Rondout waterfront district. She currently lives, works, and runs an Airbnb out of her home in Uptown Kingston, NY.
    Karen is also Producer & Studio Manager for Blauweiss Films, a small independent film company focusing on artist profiles and documentaries about the arts and community history. In 2015, she was a featured artist in one of Blauweiss Films’ artist profiles that aired on PBS. Karen has a masters degree in International Development, and was previously a manager at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck from 2007-2011, co-director of the DC-based Riecken Foundation building libraries in Central America from 2001-2006, a consultant at the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank from 1995-2001, and a volunteer English teacher in a small village in Costa Rica from 1994-1995.
    Get in Touch:
    Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
    Shops: Etsy, Amazon
     
    Our Conversation
    This time around we take a bit of a break from food/health to talk more about creativity and business.
    Karen and I have met several times at the Hudson Valley Women in Business mixers and each time she did her elevator pitch, I was interested in talking with her on the show. I was always intrigued by her description of what she does. If you’ve ever been a creative type, but you were lacking in the ego or sales side of things, this episode is for you.
    In the show, we discuss:
    the evolution of confidence all artists must go through in selling themselves
    Karen’s approach to selling visual art
    Brick and mortar stores – when to do it and when to close
    The online component to running an arts business
    Selling on Amazon vs selling on Etsy
    The mechanics of running a pop-up market business (farmers markets, craft fairs)
    How to get exposure to the right people
    Licensing your work… how to.
    The keys to monetizing your creativity
    and so much more!
    Love the show?
    If you love our show, please support us by:
    Sharing it with your friends
    Leaving a comment on the show notes
    Writing a review on iTunes or Facebook
    Subscribing
    Donating on Patreon
    Contacting us to learn about sponsorship opportunities
    Contacting us for a feature/interview
    1 hr 16 min

About Put a Fork In It!

From the publisher's feed

Conversations with entrepreneurs and game-changers at the intersection of food, health, business and creativity.