I created Hudson Valley United Freelancers and Entrepreneurs to be a safe space and resource hub for freelancers, independent contractors, and small business owners to support each other as we navigate the sometimes treacherous road of entrepreneurism.Folks in this container are making real connections, gaining profitable leads, and sharing their insights, recommendations, and other valuable resources with each other. It's quite a sight to see!In less than two years, this Facebook group has organically grown to over 2200 members and counting, pointing to the real need that existed for true community amongst entrepreneurs and small business owners.

In the summer of 2012, I sparked an idea to put together an all-female music night at a local music venue in Nyack, NY. I knew I had plenty of talented friends who would possibly be interested in participating and it was something that had never been done before. Lady About Town Productions was born. I spent the next two months reaching out to everyone I knew who could contribute their talents and enthusiasm to the project and it took on a life of its own! On September 28, 2012, the "Hail to the V!" fundraiser featured local female musicians (including myself), spoken word performers, and visual artists. Together, we raised over $700 that night (not including the value of the raffle prizes I procured from local businesses) for Good Counsel Homes and Care Net, two local, women-oriented non-profits with sites in Rockland County, NY.Since then, I've helped produced other fundraisers, including the Hurricane Sandy relief benefit, "Stand Together," back on December 16, 2012, that generated over $3000 in donations.

I support local economies by partnering with Rockland County and beyond's best and brightest businesses to drive sales, build brand awareness, and foster community.

Art Cafe of Nyack is a high-volume, fast-paced restaurant in the heart of Nyack, NY. My role as Communications Director included:- Creating and enforcing organization-wide communications- Optimizing and creating operational processes and their supporting systems- Creating signage in both English and Spanish- Hiring staff and coordinating and executing training- Spearheading social media marketing, creative direction, and copywriting- Public relations- Musician, Artist, and Photographer Liaison- Art exhibit coordination- Event productionMy position afforded me a lot of room to manage new initiatives from conception to implementation and consult with the owner on operational strategies that increased profits and minimized costs. Strong communication and interpersonal skills were central to my role, as well as an ability to be self-initiating and extremely organized.