City BBQ is set to make a flavorful debut in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with its new location opening soon in Jefferson Pointe at 1727 Apple Glen Blvd, 46804. This exciting addition to the local dining scene that is being constructed in the building that formerly housed Hardee's and Subway, bringing a fresh and savory option to the area. City BBQ is known for its authentic, slow-smoked barbecue, which is sure to heat up the competition with nearby Smokey Bones. While Smokey Bones has been a local favorite for its variety of smoked meats and vibrant atmosphere, City BBQ brings its own unique edge with a focus on traditional barbecue methods and recipes. On the menu, patrons can look forward to signature dishes like slow-smoked pulled pork, hand-rubbed and smoked brisket, and perfectly smoked sausages. The St. Louis-cut ribs and smoked turkey breast are also standout options. In addition to its meat-centric offerings, City BBQ also provides a variety of sides such as mac and cheese, baked beans, and coleslaw, ensuring there's something for everyone. The arrival of City BBQ in Jefferson Pointe is sure to please barbecue enthusiasts and food lovers. Its authentic, slow-smoked flavors and diverse menu options add a fresh choice to Fort Wayne's dining scene. As it competes with local favorites like Smokey Bones, City BBQ promises to offer a distinctive and delicious experience that will surely become a new favorite for many. Whether you're a barbecue aficionado or just looking to enjoy some delicious comfort food, City BBQ is a must-try destination.

Get ready for an exciting weekend in Fort Wayne! Including the Allen County Fair, Greek Fest, Home and Garden Tours, Kate’s Kart Ice Cream Social, and ending the weekend at Painting with a Purpose at Promenade Park. Enjoy a weekend full of fun, support great causes, and make lasting memories with your loved ones. Allen County Fair: 2726 Carroll Road Fort Wayne, IN 46818 2024 Greek Fest: 333 S Clinton St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Historic Home and Garden Tour: 3000 South Wayne Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Kate’s Kart 16th Annual Ice Cream Social: List of Participating Ice Cream Shops - kateskart.org Paint with a Purpose: Family and Sensory Expo: 202 W Superior St Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Looking for weekend plans in Fort Wayne? Look no further! From June 13-16, enjoy Rib Fest at Headwaters Park, Electric Eclectic vintage pop-up market, and Donuts on the Range with Dad at Midwest Shooting Range on Father's Day! Indulge in delicious ribs, shop unique vendors, and treat Dad to donuts, coffee, and range time. Don't miss out on this jam-packed weekend of fun! 2024 Fort Wayne RibFest at Headwaters Park: 333 Clinton St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Electric Eclectic: Two Day Vintage Pop Up: 1620 Broadway Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Donuts On The Range With Dad at MSC: 4140 Coldwater Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Looking for weekend plans in Fort Wayne? Look no further! This weekend, June 7-9, there are some amazing events happening in the city. First up, GermanFest is back and better than ever! Enjoy delicious German food, beer, and live music all weekend long at Headwaters Park. Prost! Next, don't miss the 2nd Annual Small Business Expo at the Health Hut Wellness Center. Support local businesses and discover some hidden gems in our community. And for all you interior design lovers out there, Studio K is having a 50% off sale on all their beautiful home decor items. Spruce up your space for less! GermanFest: 333 S Clinton St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 2nd Annual Small Business Expo: 3304 Fairfield Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46807 Studio K Sale - 50% Off Everything: 1116 E State Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Transitioning to a new career can be intimidating, especially when leaving behind a secure job in education. Despite the uncertainties, Madison Anderson's dedication to assisting students with reading intervention led her to take a bold step and establish her own tutoring business. Starting as a teacher passionate about helping children learn to read, Madison's business venture has evolved into a successful tutoring career, enabling her to impact students' lives. Today, we will delve into Madison's journey from educator to entrepreneur, the obstacles she encountered, and the positive influence she continues to have in the realm of reading intervention. Madison Anderson was born in Escondido, California, but spent the majority of her childhood in Carlsbad with her mother and brother after her parents divorced when she was five. When she was seven, her mom remarried, and Madison gained a loving stepfather whom she considers her dad. At age nine, her mother gave birth to her little sister. As Madison grew up, she discovered a passion for singing and performing in plays, dreaming of becoming an actress or an artist. However, a close call with failing a math class in high school due to poor guidance from her teacher changed her path. Determined to help herself and two friends pass the class, Madison took it upon herself to teach them the curriculum. This experience sparked a love for teaching in Madison, leading her to pursue it as a career. Despite her passion for teaching, the recession in 2007 made jobs hard to come by for those with teaching credentials. As a result, Madison decided to shift her focus and enrolled in classes to pursue a journalism and public relations degree. When asked about her decision to change career paths, she explained, "I've always loved reading and writing. My uncle was a journalist for Transworld Snowboarding and a New York Times best-selling author, so I grew up with him as a role model. My aunt is also an editor, so when I was a kid, they always had books around. They introduced me to Stephen King when I was a kid because I loved reading horror novels. Growing up with them really influenced my love for reading and writing." After graduating in 2011, Madison secured positions in sales, marketing, blog creation, and social media. While she enjoyed the marketing and writing aspects of her roles, she did not share the same enthusiasm for sales. Unfortunately, many of the positions she qualified for required sales responsibilities, so it was an area she couldn't avoid. After spending six years in the journalism and sales industry, Madison felt the urge for a career change and decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a teacher. When discussing her preferred grade level to teach, Madison said, "I chose elementary education. I had a great third-grade teacher who I loved, so I wanted to teach third-grade. I went into the program to get my general elementary education credential, but taking a special education class was also part of our credential requirements, and I just fell in love with it. I fell in love with learning about reading disabilities and other disabilities, so I added a special education credential to my degree. Once I graduated with both credentials, my first job offer was for a special education and reading intervention teacher combined. I took that job, and that was how I got into reading. I didn't really learn about reading intervention in college; it wasn't a specialty you could pick. So when I started that job, it kind of fell into my lap, and that was when I realized reading intervention was what I was good at and wanted to do." Madison spent four years teaching in San Diego, California, before she and her husband decided to move to Fort Wayne for a better quality of life and more opportunities for their daughter. Reflecting on her teaching experience, Madison said, "I learned how to teach reading by teaching on the job. I don't think my teaching credential program really prepared me to teach reading. Instead, I learned from the curriculum I was given. I was hired, and they said, here we have this curriculum backed by science and based on the Orton-Gillingham method. I started teaching reading this way and was like, wow, my students are actually learning. I had 5th graders reading at a kindergarten level when I started, and they were finally starting to read. So, I really learned how to teach reading on the job. I learned what worked and what didn't. I learned more about behavior management, how to work with students in the classroom and all the things they don't teach you in school, so those first couple years were a learning experience." Upon moving to Fort Wayne in June 2022, Madison initially planned to stay home with her daughter until she could begin preschool in the fall of 2024 and work on completing her master's degree. However, a mother from the school Madison previously taught at reached out to her for reading intervention tutoring for her son via Zoom. Madison agreed, and shortly after settling into their new home, she started tutoring the child and later began working with his two siblings as well. After realizing her enjoyment of tutoring, Madison wanted to expand her impact by helping more students struggling with reading in the Fort Wayne area. So she established her business, Read with Mrs. A, created a business Facebook account, developed a website, and began publishing blogs. Parents soon asked for her help, and she started tutoring more students. While tutoring, Madison continued working towards completing her master's degree. For her final thesis, she wanted to research the Orton-Gillingham method, renowned as the gold standard for teaching reading and found herself deeply passionate about it. This led her to enroll in a training course to further her knowledge and become an Orton-Gillingham certified instructor. Today, Madison is in the final stages of the certification process. Once she completes her program, she plans to apply for certification as a dyslexia interventionist through CERI (Center For Effective Reading Instruction) to become the first dyslexia interventionist in the Fort Wayne area. In addition to her Orton-Gillingham certification, Madison is enrolled in the Mount St Joseph University Reading Science Certificate Program to gain insights into how the brain learns to read. She aims to eventually obtain her doctorate in reading science. When asked about her motivation to continue her educational journey, Madison explained, "I want to know everything I can about how to be the best reading teacher to teach our students effectively. It's been a lot of money, so I tutor to pay for my education right now. I'm just really investing in myself, and I think people see that when they are looking for a tutor. When searching for a tutor, you want somebody who knows what they're doing. Someone who has the education and research backed by science and can be effective. I love it, and I think it is so fascinating. It's an area a lot of people don't understand. Reading is not a natural process; there is a specific way to teach children how to read. If you don't teach them that way, they will most likely struggle, and I just want to share that knowledge with as many people as possible." We asked Madison if she had ever thought about going back to the classroom before Read with Mrs. A took off, and she expressed that, at one point, it was something she was considering. She said, "I thought when my daughter went to school, I would go back to teaching, but then I thought about if we had another kid. If we had to pay for childcare, that wouldn't really work, and I realized tutoring is something I can do while still having a family and being there for my kid or future children. So I've decided that I don't think I will go back to the classroom. I liked teaching in the classroom, but I didn't like being told that I needed to have twelve students in an intervention group and I needed to do this and that when I knew it wasn't research-based or effective. It's been nice not having to listen to that, and I know that sounds terrible, but I'm able to be my own boss and make my own decisions about what's most effective for my students. I'm able to make a difference and see what I'm doing is helping kids, and at a school, it's hard for that to happen." When asked about challenges she has faced since starting Read with Mrs. A, Madison said time management is a significant personal obstacle. She described her early mornings, beginning at 5 am, are dedicated to her reading science program, certifications, and preparation before tutoring students. During the summer, her tutoring schedule on Mondays and Tuesdays spans from 9 am to 9 pm with few breaks in between. To work through her busy schedule, she has hired babysitters to help with her daughter during the day, and she tutors in the evenings when her husband returns from work. Madison acknowledged the struggle of establishing a work-life balance but plans to adjust her tutoring hours in the fall once her daughter settles into a school routine, aiming to work more during school hours to free up evenings for family time. On the business side, a key challenge has been managing late cancellations. While many tutoring companies enforce strict cancellation policies, Madison wants to start offering a make-up day instead of charging for missed sessions. She believes this approach addresses financial implications and ensures students receive the necessary academic support, emphasizing the importance of overcoming these obstacles for both her business and the student's success. Today, Madison has 21 students she is currently tutoring, but once her daughter starts preschool, she intends to take on five to ten more kids. She offers her services to anyone who needs help with reading, but her average student is in kindergarten through third grade. We asked what the process looks like once she starts tutoring a new student, and she said, "I do an initial assessment, and then I look through that to see where their deficits are. My program is very phonics-based, so I look at what phonics skills they are lacking and see where I need to start in my scope and sequence. I have three levels, which are technically called kindergarten, first, and second. Kindergarten through second grade is when you learn to read, and by third grade, you are expected to read and read for comprehension, so those early grades are where you learn the skills to read. So, after the assessment, they will technically fall into kindergarten first- or second-grade concepts. It's not grade-level but concept-based, so they'll be placed in the concepts, and we will go through each concept. It takes about a week to go through each concept. There are a lot of phonics rules, and there is a lot to teach. I have 83 concepts that are typically taught between kindergarten and second grade for my Orton-Gillingham scope and sequence. For example, if a student is landing in concept 40, they will need at least a year of tutoring if they're tutoring once a week to get through everything they need to know to understand those concepts to be able to read more fluently. In one hour a week, they can get a lot done, and I send home readers, fluency pages, and high-frequency words for them to practice at home. I can definitely tell the students who practice and those who don't so that also makes it more effective if they do it at home. What I'm doing in one lesson is pretty much what students are expected to do in a week's worth of lessons at school, so it's very condensed." While the typical rate for an Orton-Gillingham instructor's session falls between $75 and $200 per hour, Madison offers her services for $60 per hour. She believes this fee remains accessible to those in need of her assistance while also recognizing the expertise she has acquired through her education. We asked Madison if she would ever consider hiring someone to help her, and she shared that although it is something she would love to do, it would have to be a person already Orton-Gillingham certified, and there is no other person in the Fort Wayne area currently holding that certification. With that said, she hopes to one day be able to pay for someone to get their certification to join her team with a big goal of having a business location. Today, Madison teaches students out of her home or via Zoom, so the idea of having a physical location is a dream of hers. As we were discussing long-term goals, Madison shared her hopes for the future. She said, "I want to continue expanding my business. I would love to start working more with homeschooled students, and I think it will be easier when my daughter goes to school because I will have my whole day. I have recently started offering an assessment and report where I assess the student and write up a report for the parents or school, and it goes over what they know, where the gaps are, and my recommendations for where I would start instruction. I want to do more reporting and consulting outside of my general tutoring. I really want to start doing online courses, offering paid and free courses on reading instruction for parents and people to purchase or watch to teach them what I know and how to teach their kids at home. I would also like to teach at the college level once I get my doctorate. I want to do it all while continuing to tutor my students. I have a lot of goals." Madison's transition from elementary school special education teacher to the owner of Read with Mrs. A is a testament to her unwavering passion for teaching children to read. Having discovered her love for educating children through the Orton-Gillingham method during her teaching career, Madison boldly decided to start her own tutoring business upon moving to Fort Wayne. As she nears completion of her Orton-Gillingham instructor certification, embarks on a reading science certification, and sets her sights on pursuing her doctorate, Madison's dedication to her craft and commitment to lifelong learning shines through. Her unparalleled love for teaching children underscores her business's promising future, paving the way for continued growth and success in her mission to empower young learners through literacy. With her passion and drive, the future looks exceedingly bright for both Madison Anderson and Read with Mrs. A. To finish our conversation we asked Madison what she would say to other entrepreneurs or educators hoping to leap into business ownership. She said, "Go for it. Decide you want to do it and do it. As a teacher, looking into other opportunities for teachers, like tutoring, is a big one right now.  Many teachers are leaving the classroom, getting their Orton-Gillingham certifications, and starting their own businesses. Tutoring is a great opportunity to get out of the classroom and start your own business. I think you have to decide what you're going to do, and you have to decide how you're going to make it work financially because, in the beginning, you're going to lose that money. It was hard not having a steady paycheck, losing the benefits, and having paid summers off. I don't have that anymore, and you have to be realistic and understand that it takes time to build a business. I was fortunate that it happened to me within a year. I did not expect to be where I am now, making close to what I made as a teacher, but realistically, it takes time. You have to decide if this is possible for you and how you can make this work financially and for your family, and definitely have a plan in place for it." We want to thank Madison for taking the time to speak with us today and sharing her journey. Her commitment to helping people read is incredible, and we are so happy to have her as a part of our community and team. We also want to thank Nike with Creative Roots Media for capturing the pictures you see throughout the article. If you enjoy reading the stories of those helping shape Fort Wayne, one business at a time, subscribe to our free newsletter so you're always in the loop about what's happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

Exciting weekend events in Fort Wayne! Calling all motorcycle enthusiasts! Make sure to be at Electric Works for a thrilling motorcycle event this weekend. All are welcome to attend and enjoy the excitement! Then Kick off your summer with FWCS as they gear up to start their summer distribution program. On Saturday the 2024 Allen County Open Show for Llamas begins so head to the open show to see these majestic animals in action. Lastly enjoy a meet and greet with Princess Ariel at Icing for Izaac . You don’t want to miss this enchanting opportunity to make some unforgettable memories. Bikes on the Bricks: 1020 Swinney Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46802 A Taste of Adventure- Summer Feeding Kickoff: 900 Library Plz Fort Wayne, IN 46802 2024 Allen County Open Show: 2709 Bearberry Ct Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Ariel at Icing for Izaac: 243 Airport North Office Park Fort Wayne, IN 46825

We’ve all seen the meme that jokes, “You have the same amount of hours in a day as Beyonce.” While this is technically true, most of us do not have the luxury of having a team to help with our day-to-day life demands. Finding the time to get everything done in 24 hours is a difficult feat for anyone. Add in owning a business and there is a high chance you have days where you feel like you can barely keep your head above water. Even though it may be difficult, finding a work-life balance is crucial for not only a successful business, but also for your overall well-being. Here are some strategies to help you achieve work-life balance as an entrepreneur. 1. Know Your Limits to Avoid Burnout Everyone has a limit on what they can accomplish. This includes physical and mental limits. Know these limits and let your team and clients know if you are not able to do something. Be honest with yourself and others. Overworking can cause stress and burnout, which can lead to a decrease in productivity. 2. Create a Routine Studies have shown that predictable, repetitive routines can reduce anxiety and help you make better decisions. Having a routine is key to creating a work-life balance and can help you become more efficient in completing tasks. A calendar or schedule is a helpful tool for creating a routine. Make sure to add taking breaks into your work day. Set a specific work schedule and try to disconnect at the end of the day. 3. Practice time management Manage your time effectively by using productivity tools. I love using both the calendar on my phone as well as a physical calendar. You can even utilize a shareable calendar. Create and keep up with to-do lists and prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. 4. Just say no Saying no is probably my biggest challenge. If your plate is already full, adding something else to it is a sure recipe for burnout (pun intended). Focus on tasks that are most essential for your business. It is ok to say no! 5. Prioritize yourself It is so important to stay on top of your mental and physical health. Don’t let things like dentist appointments or doctor checkups slide because you own a business. These things are crucial for staying healthy. Also, make sure you have a hobby or hobbies outside of work. Try to pick a hobby that is different from your job. Don’t forget about eating right, getting enough sleep, and finding time to exercise. Creating time for yourself to do things that are both necessary and fun helps with work-life balance. 6. Ask for Help Do you have a team? Ask for help and delegate tasks to others. It may be difficult to let go of the reins, but it is better to ask for help than to let something fall through the cracks. Don’t have a team? Ask family to lend a helping hand. If you don't have family in town, it sometimes is necessary to hire help. I couldn’t do what I do without the support of a few great babysitters to help me with my daughter during the week. Virtual assistants can also help with tasks such as scheduling appointments or responding to emails. 7. Make Time for Friends and Family Humans need socialization in order to thrive. Make sure you spend time with family and friends. This is especially important if you work from home. Get involved with your community, get to know your neighbors, and enjoy spending time with people outside of your organization. 8. Prioritize Happiness Do what brings you joy. Take that vacation, say yes to going out to dinner with friends, go get that much needed massage. Make sure you take time to disconnect from work during the week by doing what makes you happy! Achieving work-life balance as an entrepreneur requires ongoing effort and a true commitment to prioritizing your well-being. By implementing these strategies, you can create a healthy, sustainable, and fulfilling work-life balance that supports both your business and personal life. Sources: Fisher, J. (2024, April 25). 10 strategies for achieving work-life balance. Entrepreneur. https://www.entrepreneur.com/living/10-strategies-for-achieving-work-life-balance/472302 Hall, J. (2023, April 24). How entrepreneurs can really achieve work-life balance. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2023/04/23/how-entrepreneurs-can-really-achieve-work-life-balance/?sh=7b019c636e4f Why Routines Are Really Good for Your Health | Piedmont Healthcare. (n.d.). https://www.piedmont.org/living-real-change/why-routines-are-good-for-your-health

Exciting news for Fort Wayne residents! This weekend, splash pads and public pools are opening for the season, perfect for cooling off in the summer heat. Plus, don't forget to check out the Southside farmers market for fresh produce and local goods. It's shaping up to be a fun-filled weekend in our city! Splash Pads & Public Pools Opening for the Season: Splash Pads- Buckner- 6114 Bass Road Franklin Park- 1903 St Mary’s Ave Kreager Park- 7225 N River Rd McCormick- 2300 Raymond St Memorial- 2301 Maumee Ave Promenade- 202 W Superior St Shoaff- 6401 St Joe Rd Pools- McMillen- 3900 Hessen Cassel Northside Pool- 2400 Parnell Ave Memorial Pool- 2401 Maumee Ave Southside Farmers Market: 3300 Warsaw St Fort Wayne, IN 46806

Meet Rachel Lomasi Smith, the resilient owner of Sassy Vegan, whose journey from a tough upbringing to a thriving business is nothing short of inspirational. Growing up amidst adversity, Rachel's path to healing and success has been a testament to her strength and resilience. Through sharing her story and experiences, Rachel has not only found solace but has also used her past as a driving force to create a successful vegan-based business. In this article, we will delve into Rachel's remarkable journey of overcoming her childhood trauma, finding healing through her ability to share her experiences, and building a rapidly growing business that reflects her unwavering determination and passion. Join us as we explore how Rachel's story serves as a beacon of hope and empowerment for others navigating similar challenges on their entrepreneurial journey. Rachel Lomasi Smith was born and raised in a small town near Wilmont, Indiana. When describing what it was like growing up there, she said, "I grew up in a very closed-minded community, and this does tie into Sassy Vegan because it's a big part of who I am. The community I grew up in was very, I guess I could say, the wrong way to be Christian—just a very bigoted, evangelical kind of community. I grew up constantly around an environment of noninclusion and very judgemental. There was always a part of me that thought it didn't feel right. It didn't feel like this was how the world should be, but I grew up around that, so it very much shaped my worldview, but I was at odds with it at the same time." She continued by sharing that she was homeschooled and was the oldest of ten children. When we asked what life is like with so many younger siblings, she said, "It's kind of weird for me because there's a big age gap. I am actually no contact with my parents and have been for a while now, and that's because they are not good people for me to be around. They don't have any sense of boundaries, but growing up, I wasn't around all ten kids. Six of my siblings were adopted, and the last three children were adopted when I already left the house, so it wasn't like we had all ten kids at the house. At most, we had eight people in the house, which was still a lot of people, but it was interesting. I had to be a mom to some of the kids at a very young age, probably sooner than I should have, but I also enjoyed it at the same time. I love my younger siblings; it's weird because, being an adult myself, I have a group of adult siblings I don't get along with because they're still in that judgemental mindset, and I have removed myself from that so much that it's foreign for me. I am in contact with my little brother, who just moved out. He just turned 19, and he actually works for me part-time, so that's cool because we both have a love for baking. It's cool having him in the kitchen helping out with things." We asked Rachel if she enjoyed baking as a child, and she shared that although she was homeschooled, she was also a part of the 4H program. Through 4H, she had the opportunity to do multiple cooking and baking projects. Ironically, she wasn't the best at the baking portion of the assignments, but as she got older, she's been able to master those skills. Rachel graduated in 2007 at 17 years old, and through the pressure of her parents, she went to Grace College to pursue a degree in multicultural studies and seminary. Throughout the next three years, Rachel learned more about different cultures and beliefs, and through that education, she began to realize that she didn't agree with many of the things she was raised to believe. From that realization, she decided it was time for her to take control of her own life and follow a path guided by her own beliefs and decisions, so she dropped out of Grace College at the end of her junior year.  After leaving college, Rachel applied for multiple jobs and landed a hostess position at Bob Evans in Columbia City. Throughout the next ten years, she worked as a hostess, a server, and in management, but ultimately, she decided she liked serving the best. She shared that working at Bob Evans also helped her journey towards self-discovery. In October 2014, Rachel married her husband Kusko, and a month later, they both decided to go vegan. Rachel had already been a vegetarian for several years but wanted to try a vegan diet because she noticed she didn't feel well after eating dairy, and Kusko wanted to support and join her. After spending six years cooking and baking vegan goods and having the itch to start her own business, Rachel launched Sassy Vegan on February 2, 2020. When we asked how she came up with her name, she said, "The 'Sassy' in Sassy Vegan comes from being made fun of growing up for being too 'spunky.' My parents also told me I needed to tone down my personality and be more submissive; otherwise, I'd never be able to hold down a job because my boss would fire me. Ironically,  I'm the boss now, so maintaining my sassy self and not compromising who I am to appease others is very much part of my brand." She added that the kitty in her logo is her cat Ginger, who she's had since 2013. A month after launching her business and selling a few vegan baked goods at farmer's markets, the pandemic started. On March 13, 2020, Rachel was forced to quit her job at Bob Evans due to her having asthma and the risks COVID-19 would have on her health. With the support and encouragement of her husband, Rachel decided to put all her time and energy into focusing on Sassy Vegan full-time. We asked her how she felt about this transition into going full-time for her business. She said, "Honestly, I think it was always in the back of my mind that I didn't want to work for anyone else. I wanted to do something differently, but growing up how I grew up, there was always this doubt that I couldn't achieve something. I grew up having so much negativity thrown my way that I have C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) because of it, so starting Sassy Vegan was me getting my toes in the water. Then, with the pandemic, I was thrown into it, and I think that is the best thing that could have ever happened to me because I don't think I would have taken that risk otherwise. Now that I have the business, I have completely changed who I am as a person. I think a big part of it was that it helped a lot with my healing; this was something I was good at; people told me I was good at it, and people told me I could make money doing it, so I wanted to see if I could." Rachel and Kusko were living in Whitley County during the pandemic, and they noticed a lot of people from their community struggling to get by. With this knowledge, Rachel decided to start making meals and delivering them to people for free to help ease some of the stress. Throughout the week, she would take orders from people in her community, and over the weekend, her husband would deliver them all over town. Over time, people started to give her donations, and with that new budget, she was able to make meals for over one hundred people every week. Although she was doing this primarily out of the kindness of her heart, it also helped get Sassy Vegan out into the community. As the shutdowns and restrictions started to lift, Rachel noticed that Eco Fest was planning its first event in Fort Wayne on August 9, 2020, which was her 31st birthday. She felt this would be an excellent opportunity for Sassy Vegan to be a vendor at, so she started looking into what she needed to do to get in. When we asked her about this time, she said, "I got a hold of the board of health in Allen County, and they said if I wanted to do this, I had to be a commercial place because the laws at the time stated that you couldn't sell home-baked goods at an event. The laws have changed since then, but that's what it was then, so I was like, okay, how can I make this happen? There was a commercial kitchen in Whitley County at the 4H fairgrounds that you could rent. So I started crunching the numbers because I didn't know anything then, and I was like, you know what, for $500, I can make this happen; let's see what happens. We got moved into that kitchen at the end of July, which was right before the Eco Fest deadline, and it was also perfect timing because I was starting to branch out more into Allen County, and I had a lot of places that wanted to sell my products. The bad part about that location was that you had to rent out the space for the entire day, so I was baking 16 hours a day from start to finish. Then I went to Eco Fest, and it was amazing. I had a blast. I sold out of everything. It was very eye-opening to me that I could make money doing this and be a legitimate business, not just a local farmers' market vendor. I had made more money in that one day than I ever had in my entire life doing anything, and I was like, wow, this is cool. So I kept plugging away, and then the universe just throws me into things because I think that's just what I need sometimes, but the kitchen I was using decided they wanted to redo the floors, and they would be shut down for an entire month in December. They told me at the last minute that they would be doing this, so I was like, I can't just not have a business. I had already been looking into Cook Spring, but the smallest amount I would need was $600 a month, and I didn't know if I could sell that much. I  wasn't sure it would work, so I talked to my husband, and he said, 'You know what, go for it. What do you have to lose?' The government was getting ready to shut down in November around Thanksgiving, so I had 72 hours to make this happen, or I would be shut down. I got a hold of people at the board of health, and they walked me through everything I needed to do, and literally down to the last minute, I got the final signature I needed. I was freaking out, but we got it done, and we got moved in, and we've been there ever since." After moving into Cook Spring at the end of November 2020, Rachel was able to continue working on perfecting her vegan and gluten-sensitive baked goods and growing her company. In the summer of 2021, Rachel decided it was time to get back into cooking meals and ventured out into catering and meal prep targeted towards those with food allergies and/or strict diets. After going into that sector of the food industry, Sassy Vegan began to grow significantly because Rachel was able to serve a market of people that only a few other catering services specialized in. Today, Rachel has a team that helps her sell products at events and cook in the kitchen; they call themselves 'The Sass Squad.' Her husband, Kusko, and little brother are part of the team that helps in the kitchen, and her husband works on the fudge and Kusko Krunch. If you want to purchase any of Rachel's delicious vegan and gluten-sensitive baked goods, Sassy Vegan has a pop-up at Union Street Market Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm and they are at the YLNI Farmers Market every Saturday. Rachel also plans to be a part of many events every year, but this year, she has taken a step back from booking events because she has big news coming for all Sassy Vegan lovers. Rachel is moving into her first storefront by the end of the summer, and she can't wait to share all the details when everything is finalized. Although she is cutting back on events, she still plans to host Sassy Sundays every other month, which are currently held at the Botanical Conservatory. When we asked Rachel what Sassy Sundays are, she said, "We have local vendors, and it's a maker's market, so we have a lot of small businesses that otherwise wouldn't be given the opportunity because a lot of events are starting to get picky about who they let in. I'm more like if you make your product and you're not a bigot, you can come. I don't care if you're a small or large business. Then we also pick an organization that we sponsor for the month and donate part of our sales from that event to that organization." As we discussed all the incredible things Rachel has accomplished up through today we asked her what her hopes are for the future. She said, "I think most importantly, I want to raise awareness for creating a more inclusive world, just in general. Whether it's with food or world views, that's why I offer vegan and gluten-free and cater to people with very obscure allergies. Being a nero divergent person and my husband is autistic, along with many of my staff, I'm just trying to show that being inclusive isn't a burden. It doesn't have to be a big deal if we shape our minds to view inclusivity as the norm instead of the exception, and that's what's really important to me. It's tied to my healing journey, it's tied to my business, it's tied to everything. On the business side, I want to get moved into the storefront and potentially have more than one location; we'll see. I want to have fun with it and don't want to lose sight of who I am. I say I hate capitalism, but I'm also a participant in it, so I'm just trying to see what that looks like for me, doing it ethically and being there for my community. We have free food bins at the markets where people can purchase items for it or take from it. It's like the Forward Indiana Pantries, but it's a bin at our booth. I want to continue doing community work like that and running the Sassy Sunday community markets. I want to continue doing what I'm doing and, hopefully, one day on a larger scale. I want to get to the point where I can tell my husband he can quit his job." She continued by sharing how vital her husband has been throughout her healing and business journey. He has been there since the beginning of Sassy Vegan and has believed in her even when she didn't believe in herself. She also mentioned that her grandparents have been significant supporters along her journey; in fact, Sassy Vegan was created on her grandfather's birthday, so that day holds a very special place in her heart. Rachel's journey from a challenging upbringing to a successful business owner is a testament to her resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in herself. Through it all, she never lost sight of her dreams and worked tirelessly to turn them into reality, with the support and encouragement from those who want to see her succeed. Through her hard work and perseverance, Rachel has transformed Sassy Vegan into a thriving company that is now poised to take the next step in its growth by opening their first storefront. Rachel's story inspires all who may be facing obstacles in their own lives, showing that anything is possible with courage, perseverance, and a steadfast commitment to one's dreams. To finish our conversation, we asked Rachel what she would say to other entrepreneurs hoping to start a business one day. She said, "I think of what I would say to younger me, and that is that it's okay to be scared and not to know what you're doing. You don't have to have everything figured out to get started because it's either day one or one day. I'm really glad that I had people who believed in me and pushed me to take risks because I would consider myself someone who takes risks now, but back then, I did not, so be willing to bet on yourself and trust your gut. Definitely trust your gut because my gut has told me things were not meant for me, and I didn't understand at the time, but then I figured out why later. I would also like to share that it is possible to have a life after trauma and abuse. That's not to say that everything horrible in your life is going to be erased. It's always going to be there, but things can get better. You get better at things and can find purpose and meaning even if things didn't turn out how you thought they would." When we want to send a huge thank you to Rachel for sharing her journey with us and being so open about the highs and lows she's had to overcome. Thank you to Nike with Creative Roots Media for capturing the photos you see throughout the article and thank you to Sarah Grace Photography for the product photos If you enjoy reading the stories of those shaping Fort Wayne, one business at a time, subscribe to our free newsletter so you're always in the loop about what's happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

Looking for weekend plans in Fort Wayne? Look no further! Prepare for a fun-filled weekend with Eco Fest featuring eco-friendly vendors, BuskerFest with amazing street performances, the Cherry Blossom Festival celebrating Japanese culture, and the Fort Wayne FC home opener. Don't miss out on all the excitement happening in our city this weekend! BuskerFest 2024: 3817 S Calhoun St Fort Wayne IN 46807 Fort Wayne FC 2024 Home Opener: 1598 Lindenwood Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46808 Cherry Blossom Festival: 2101 E Coliseum Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Eco Fest: 333 S Clinton St Fort Wayne, IN 46802