The post about me

In an effort to ‘practice what I preach’, this post is going to help you get to know more about me.

I grew up in Eastern Ontario and learned the ropes of selling from my dad, who founded a restaurant supply company the year I was born. That company is now the largest restaurant supplier in Canada, and sidenote, I’m so proud of my dad for this accomplishment. I was part of this business since birth and had jobs there my whole life. Selling was my favourite - as I was able to see my sales efforts reflect positively on the accounting books that I also worked with. My dad is a quietly charismatic leader who works hard and brings out the best in his team, to ensure success for all.

For University I went to University of Guelph because I was a horseback rider and that seemed like a good place to ride horses (it was) and left with a degree in Art History and minor in Social Psychology. After graduating I did a post-grad course called Museum Management and Curatorship at Fleming College in Peterborough, which turns out to be another good place to ride horses…and also my best friend lived there ;). (Do we see a pattern?) Following graduation I experimented with living in new exciting cities, and working at public art galleries and museums which was supposed to be my path. Right? It really wasn’t. 

Feeling lost at 24, I moved to Toronto and started applying for gallery jobs. I was worried I would also feel uninspired, but you know, had to pay rent. I had interviews at a few great galleries in Toronto, and nothing felt like a good fit. The old model of “gallery girl greets the customers, and then calls in the big boss to make the sale” was ever present. 

Although I was only 24, I felt like if I could use my sales experience (albeit restaurant equipment) and my art history/psychology schooling to my advantage, I thought I was fit to sell some fine art! At an interview at Bau-Xi Gallery for an internship, I asked the owner a very important question: “Will I be allowed to sell the art?” His response was an enthusiastic “Of course!” And I knew it was a match. I spent 12 years working at Bau-Xi Gallery and worked hard to connect art collectors with pieces they loved. All the while being a major part of the accounting and business as a whole…so I could watch that positive flow and help support all of the artists who call Bau-Xi home. I arrived at a time of paper filing and slide submissions, and left after establishing a healthy instagram account and e-commerce website. It was the most rewarding career, and I’m so thankful that I was gifted that opportunity.

At 36, our family moved from Toronto to Brockville (between Kingston and Ottawa, I always have to say), to live a slightly slower life on the St. Lawrence River surrounded by my large extended family. And I finally have my own horse, his name is Finn. I spend my days consulting with artists over the phone and email, and taking trips to artist studios for in-person assistance. My days feel short because I pack in a lot of things: exercise, riding, kid pick-ups and cooking alongside artist calls. Speaking to artists fuels me, and I learn something with every call. I love what I do every day. 

If you got to the end of this, thanks! I hope to get to know all of you a lot better in this vast friendly neighbourhood. Please say hi or share something about yourself below!