I’ve always wanted to start my own business. From a young age, I watched the women in my life face challenges head-on and emerge stronger, having made the courageous decision to start their own businesses. I admired their grit and the freedom they created for themselves. Deep down, I always thought: One day, that will be me.

When my fiancé Edwin and I moved to High Springs just over four months ago and bought our first home together, I didn’t realize we were setting into motion a chain of events that would change our lives. But it took 30 years of placing dominos before they finally fell in beautiful unison.

I was born and raised in South Florida, where I spent most of my time indoors reading books. At 16, I got my driver’s license and my first job at Tropical Smoothie (spoiler: this becomes relevant later). I attended the University of Florida and earned both my Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of International Business, becoming a proud Double Gator. Gainesville gave me more than degrees; I found a community and made lifelong friendships.

Still, after graduation, I felt ready for a change. A job offer from a large CPG company led me to trade my tank tops for winter coats and move up to the Northeast. Though I gained valuable experience in corporate sales, marketing, and strategy, my dream of starting a business never faded. After five winters up north, I felt a pull to return home and reconnect with family.

Back in South Florida, life had a funny way of coming full circle. Edwin, the same guy I had worked with at Tropical Smoothie a decade earlier, was also back in town. We met up for hot chocolate, played several games of chess, and never looked back.

As our relationship rekindled, so did our shared ambition. Edwin had been working for his family’s insurance agency and, like me, dreamed of building something of his own. When we toured a home in High Springs, we fell in love with the town. It felt like the right place to plant roots.

Soon after putting in an offer on the house, we noticed something surprising: Gainesville didn’t have a GreatFlorida Insurance office, the franchise Edwin’s family had been part of for 40 years. The opportunity we’d both dreamed of had dropped out of the sky and into our laps. Edwin brought the insurance expertise, I brought the marketing and operations background, and together we began laying the foundation for our future.

After months of searching for the right office, gutting and renovating the space, and navigating mountains of paperwork, GreatFlorida Insurance of Gainesville officially opened in August 2025. Turns out, opening was the easy part.

Running a local business means constantly learning. A chance introduction to GAWN (thank you, Jennifer) led me to a room full of brilliant, welcoming women. Joining was a no-brainer.

I’m proud to say I’ve achieved my dream, but now the real work begins. I look forward to growing alongside the incredible women of GAWN.