The Story Behind Dakota Design Company
The Story Behind Dakota Design Company
(Formerly known as my very long About page)
When I first wrote this, it lived on my website’s About page. But after working with a talented and spot-on brand strategist and copywriter, I realized: it wasn’t really an “About” page, it was a whole story. One that was deeply personal, a little wordy, and maybe a bit too much about me. (Because you know, an about page is not actually supposed to be about you…).
So, I moved it here to the blog. Because while my new About page is focused on you( interior designers and creative business owners), I still wanted to share the full backstory.
The “why” behind what I do.
The winding path that led me here.
The lessons I learned watching my dad build his business from scratch, and the values I carry forward as I help others do the same.
If you’re curious about how Dakota Design Company came to be (and why it matters), keep reading.
It all started in the early morning hours of my dad’s catering kitchen.
Before the sun was up, I was already in the kitchen, side by side with my dad, watching him build something from nothing. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the sacrifices my parents made so he could pursue his dream of owning a restaurant and catering company. But I saw how much it took out of him every single day—and what it meant for my mom, who was at home raising five kids on her own while supporting his dream.
Growing up, my parents also took in foster children, and that shaped me in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time. It opened my eyes to different perspectives, different challenges, and different ways of moving through the world.
That experience gave me a deep appreciation for resilience, adaptability, and creating a life rooted in strong values and principles that now guide both my household and my business. I didn’t just watch my dad’s business; I became part of it.
I didn’t just watch my dad’s business. I became part of it.
Early mornings, late nights, weekend work, distracted holidays.
I didn’t sit on the sidelines. I jumped in, becoming his sidekick and doing whatever I could to work alongside him. I learned every aspect of his business, including working with vendors, managing a team, coordinating events, and ensuring guests had a seamless experience.
I was obsessed with seeing the joy on his clients’ faces when everything went perfectly, the smooth execution of a well-run event, and the pride in my dad’s eyes when he received glowing referrals and consistent repeat business.
But I also saw the less glamorous side.
Crunching numbers in his office late at night.
Negotiating with vendors to keep costs down.
Managing year-round employees and summer staff.
Handling the occasional (or not-so-occasional) crisis.
It was all necessary, but I could see how much it pulled him away from what he really loved doing.
But then, my dad got sick. And everything changed.
With my dad undergoing treatment, I stepped in to work alongside his second-in-line. At just 17 years old, I was helping to manage the daily operations while he and my mom focused on his health.
Even in the sadness and uncertainty, I found so much joy.
I loved seeing how his systems and processes made everything run smoothly, even when he wasn’t there.
I loved seeing how he built an experience so great that his clients kept coming back for more and shared about his business with their friends.
I loved making decisions, keeping things organized, and ensuring his clients were taken care of.
But as his health worsened, we had to shut it all down.
When we broke the news to his clients and refunded deposits for events booked out over the next year, I was heartbroken to see everything he had built come to an end.
But I was also proud.
Because even in the hardest moments, he handled it with honesty, integrity, and gratitude for the business he had built and the people who had helped him do it.
That experience shaped me in ways I didn’t realize at the time.
It showed me that business, at its core, is about people. About relationships. About the foundational systems that allow you to serve your clients well.
And I knew, deep down, that one day, I would have a business of my own.
I took what I learned, and built something of my own.
I went to ASU, earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and got a job in operations at a mortgage company.
True to my parents’ motto, "It’s not worth doing if it’s not worth doing well", I quickly became the go-to person for every major project at the mortgage company. Within just a few years at the company, I was representing the president in meetings and launching and running a subsidiary company that generated hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
But, despite my corporate success, I craved something more personal, more meaningful. More in line with what I knew.
I started my own business and, over the next six years, built a thriving wedding and event planning company that grew purely by word of mouth. I loved my clients and their families, the work, and the memories I was helping them create.
I stepped away from one business. And discovered my true calling.
Then, another big dream came into focus: starting a family.
After my second daughter was born, balancing my event business with motherhood became unsustainable. Leaving wasn’t easy, but I knew it was the right decision. While home with my girls, I channeled my entrepreneurial energy into nonprofit work and then into operations consulting for an interior design firm.
That’s when everything clicked.
I saw firsthand what so many talented business owners struggle with: they love their craft, but running a business? That’s another story.
Just because someone is an incredible designer doesn’t mean they have the time, expertise, or bandwidth to manage pricing, processes, systems, and operations while also delivering a high-end experience to their clients.
They needed structure—systems that allowed them to focus on creative, revenue-generating work while outsourcing the operational details without sacrificing their brand.
That’s why I started Dakota Design Company.
Named after my dad’s business, Dakota Design Company was born out of everything I had learned about business, about service, about building something that truly supports your life.
Today, I help interior designers build businesses that support them so they CAN focus on the work they love most. So they can have a business that runs efficiently, profitably, and in alignment with their lives.
What I believe, and how I help
TIME IS OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE.
I know this firsthand after losing my dad in high school and my mom just thirteen years later.
I don’t teach my clients to "charge what they’re worth".
NEVER.
Our time, energy, and attention are worth far more than we could ever bill someone for. And if you are working with someone who tells you to “charge what you’re worth”, RUN.
Instead, I help my clients build businesses that support their lives, not consume them. I do this for myself, for my family, and for my three little girls who watch everything I do. And I want other female business owners to feel the same confidence in their businesses and their lives.
Want to see what’s possible for your business?
If you’re ready to build a design business that works for you, rather than the other way around, I’d love to connect to help you make that happen.
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