#20 Katie Poppe: The Taste Of Happiness

Little Big Burger, Boxer Ramen & Blue Star Doughnuts cofounder, Katie Poppe, joins Jenelle to chat about the journey of founding multiple business, why she decided to sell Little Big Burger, and how she uses her science background to help her run Blue Star Doughnuts.

Other topics of conversation….

– How Blue Star began and what’s behind the name

– Hardships of owning a business during covid

– Providing moments of joy for customers

– Pressure of being positive all the time, not letting your team see you struggle

– How she refuels herself

– Why she decided to sell Little Big Burger after five years

– How having a BS in science has helped her Blue Star

– Building out a new  Blue Star at PDX airpot

– Dealing with hiring pandemic “kids” & employee turn over rates

– The importance of inviting HR to the table

– The people she choses to surround herself with as an introvert

– What she would go back and tell herself that was just starting out

– Advice for other female entrepreneurs

Find Blue Star here!

Leave a review here.

To listen to more episodes, head to our website joypunkpodcast.com.

#18: Michelle Cairo: It’s Fun To Do It The Right Way

Charcuterie queen & cofounder of Olympia Provisions, Michelle Cairo joins Jenelle and shares the story OP’s humble beginnings, her very prevalent greek roots, and how she’s had such success hiring second chance employees. As well she explains how she consciously leads her team by always trying to be “above the line”.

Topics of conversations…..

– Growing up in Utah & her Greek roots

– How the loss of her father changed her

– Where her “don’t care about rules” attitude comes from

– The best way to make her do something is to tell her that she can’t do it

– Her brother asking her to help start Olympia Provisions

– Practical applications for leading her team & the teams relationship

– How she use “Clearing” in her business

– Being below or above the line

– The how & why of being a Second Chance employer

– Continuing to adhere to the company’s values

– How she built Olympia Provisions farmer network & why OP wants to work with local farmers

– How they make their products & what makes them different

– What the future for Olympia Provisions holds

Books talked about in this episode:

15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer

Traction, Get a Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman

Find Michelle here!

A Woman’s Place Is In The Distillery

Did you know that only 1% of distilleries in the U.S. are owned by women?! Lucky us, Portland is home to Freeland Spirits – a woman-founded and run distillery nestled in an industrial space just off Northwest 23rd. Former agriculture educator and nonprofit leader Jill Kuehler teamed up with distiller Molly Troupe (who has a background in biochemistry, and a Masters in distilling, nbd!), and Freeland Spirits was born.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look for their gin and bourbon in unique teardrop-shaped bottles at the liquor store this holiday season, or swing through their HQ for a tour and a martini.

Cheers!

Header photo credit: Freeland Spirits