Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published September 20, 2018.

Where are you originally from? How did you end up in Rochester at this time in your life?

I grew up in near Auburn on a dairy farm. I went to Nazareth for college, and fell in love with Rochester. There’s always something to do here. I met my husband and we settled in the area. We live in Clifton Springs now; he works at a startup called Real Eats in Geneva. I have an office in Rochester and one in Geneva, so I split my time between those two locations.

What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?

I have two toddlers, so I enjoy a lot of the kid-friendly things that are fun for adults too. Max is four and Penny is two, so we love the zoo and the Strong Museum. My husband and I are foodies, so we also love going out to eat at spots like Good Luck and Next Door.

What are some of your favorite/secret Rochester spots? 

There’s a ninja park at Cobbs Hill that my kids love to go to! I also like to go to Barnes and Noble in Pittsford and get lost in the stacks and the crowds.

Radio Social is incredible too. The Radio Social folks decided to create an absolutely delightful experience. Delight is not easy these days, but this food seriously delighted us. We did NOT expect food this delicious. I’d highly recommend the cauliflower falafel!

What is the most unique or interesting event you've attended in Rochester? 

I love all the little townie festivals. Every Finger Lakes town has one. The small festivals are the ones I love. I also enjoy the rotating exhibits at the Strong Museum. The Strong is a place I can consistently take my kids so we can get our sanity back. I also enjoy food events at various restaurants, like the Chef’s Table at Good Luck.

What are some of your favorite local nonprofits to support? 

Community is really important to me. Junior Achievement is my favorite to work with. I met the president and did their annual report ten years ago when I was just getting started as a freelancer. I helped with their Entrepreneurial Summit last year, an event that serves inner city students. I’m also a volunteer in the classroom. All my community efforts are centered around youth, entrepreneurship, and women.

Great Dames is another organization I’m involved with. Their goal is to elevate women. I’m part of the local Rochester chapter. I serve on boards as well, for the National PMD Foundation, and help entrepreneurship students at Hobart William Smith.

What's your favorite neighborhood in the city? 

I like Schoen Place in Pittsford—the canal is nice, plus all the walking trails. It’s the right balance of urban and rural. My in-laws still live in East Rochester, and that’s nice to walk around and explore. There’s a splash park nearby and we can walk to the high school.

What's the best place to get a garbage plate? 

I’m not brand loyal when it comes to garbage plates.

What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather? 

Really fun indoor activities. Climbing Vines in Victor is great—they have an indoor climbing zone and sell toys and have coffee. We also spend lots of time at the Strong Museum.

What is your favorite Rochester memory? 

Laying on the quad at Naz and studying. We once made our own slip-n-slide out on the quad. The Food Truck Rodeos are really fun, I used to go to those a lot with my husband. We got married at the Holiday Inn/Rochester Plaza Hotel in the Grand Ballroom and took photos all around Rochester, like the Ford Street Bridget and the Sunken Gardens.

When my friend turned 18 or 19, her mom through her a birthday party and rented out all of ArtisanWorks. We ate sushi at the sunken tables and it was such a cool, memorable experience.

What makes Rochester unique? 

The diversity—there’s a lot of different things going on that all have their own vibes. Working in High Falls and being surrounded by different types of businesses doing different things is energizing to me.

What do you think could be improved? 

People sometimes make an effort to see the bad. There are often lots of complaints with no solutions. Geneva received a $10M revitalization grant that really changed the vibe of the city. People are much more forward-thinking now. What people say about where they live and work has a big impact on culture. I’m not saying you should be naive—everyone would do better with some positivity, though.

If Rochester was a drink, what would it be?

It would be an old fashioned—something classic, but that has spirit in how it’s refreshed. A little alcohol goes a long way!

What advice would you give to someone who is new to Rochester and looking to get to know the area?

Ask anyone you meet for their favorite things. You’ll notice some trends, but you’ll discover great hidden gems too.