Meet Alexis Phillips

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexis Phillips. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexis below.

Alexis, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
In the last couple of years I have discovered what it truly means to be successful. To sum it up the education system, family, friends and society led me to think that success went something like this: Going to college, graduating, getting that job you wanted, getting married and having children, driving a well-maintained car, getting promoted and making enough money to pay off your college debt and then some. Instead my life went a little something like this: I went to a lot of different schools and moved around a lot as a child. I started doing drugs when I was a teenager. I barely graduated high school. Made my journey into my sober life as a young adult. A few years later I had my daughter. I have had a few jobs with larger corporations. Despite barriers I’ve had I’ve always had a strong work ethic. Many times I worked two jobs to ensure my daughter and I could live comfortably, even if that meant having to take her to work with me.

I was in an unhealthy relationship for a few years. At the very end of 2020 I met my now husband. This man brought a whole new world to me and my daughter I didn’t know could exist. He showed my daughter and I what love is. In this relationship, amongst many other positives, in 2022 I left my last corporate job as an assistant manager. I chose to take a business development bootcamp to start my own business. This same year I had my son. My business, Little Greens Mama, started to become an actual reality. I started doing research from books, online articles/profiles and traveling to where microgreens were being sold. The entire process from taking a business class to growing my first tray of microgreens, I needed to tell myself daily that it didn’t just need to be a dream, I could do this. In early 2023 I made the decision to work for StarkFresh, along with my husband. I have never believed in a mission so much.

I now know what it means to be successful: I am a recovering addict who realizes how lucky I am to still be here. I have two beautiful, happy and healthy children. My husband is truly a beautiful person who loves me and our family. I love my job at StarkFresh where we make a difference in our community. I have a small business that I absolutely love. Little Greens Mama, my husband, my children and StarkFresh have given me the drive and confidence to start my own business and find my purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Just like many people reading this, I juggle many different roles in life- being a parent (“Mama”), a wife, a small business owner (Little Greens Mama), and I also have a job (StarkFresh in Canton, Ohio).

I currently sell microgreens to local restaurants and to customers that shop at both StarkFresh Grocery Stores (one in Canton, Oh and one in Alliance, Oh). Microgreens are the young seedlings of vegetables and herbs. They are highly nutritious (40x more than the adult vegetable or herb) and easy to use. I grow many different microgreens- amaranth, arugula, broccoli, cilantro, cantaloupe, pea, corn, sorrel, beets, fenugreek, sunflower, and spicy salad mix (broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, arugula, cabbage, two different varieties of mustards). There are so many things that excite me about my business.

1. My kids (my daughter is 8 and my son is 2) have helped me plant, water and eat the microgreens. My daughter has actually told me “I’m proud of you” for starting my business and putting myself out there. THAT right there is what its about.

2. I have horrible anxiety. I have been told I hide this well. This is something I’ve battled since I before I was a teen. Going out and talking to potential customers and current costumers is something that has and continues to challenge me. I love going to see my normal customers that I deliver to. Some days are a challenge because of my anxiety, but I get to know them and love to hear about what they have going on in their lives.

3. Everyone should know what microgreens are and have them available to purchase somewhere near them. I provide them in StarkFresh grocery stores hoping that people will pick up my flyer, learn about them and try them. I get excited about how easy it is to use them. They’re also nutritious. My family eats them. You can add them to anything- soups, salads, tacos, rice, really an addition to anything.

So I have my small business, but I’m also just as passionate about where I work- StarkFresh in Canton, Ohio. There are many reasons why I love my job at StarkFresh. I am the Food Incubation Center Coordinator at StarkFresh.

1. StarkFresh’s mission is tackling the causes of hunger by creating realistic pathways out of poverty.

2. We have a grocery store as well as a shared-use commercial kitchen at this location.
– The grocery store is stocked with items that are directed to what our community deserves. We have fresh
fruits and veggies, to-go sandwiches, to-go sides, fresh cut meats, vegetarian meals, and many different kinds of meals. The two StarkFresh locations are in two different communities that were in need of a grocery store.
– The shared-use commercial kitchen we have is another part of our Food Justice Camp (its connected to the same building within the grocery store). This kitchen is the only shared-use commercial kitchen in Stark County. This kitchen allows new and existing businesses to grow by giving them space, time, and resources to start and/or grow their business at a fair price We also offer Manager Level Servsafe classes (food safety) and a Business Development Bootcamp (online- where I took my class).

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Push away those feelings of self doubt and fear. Let the excitement and passion drive you towards what you want.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My husband and kids are the people that continuously support me in what I do. Tom, my husband, helps me talk through my ideas and/or struggles.

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