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, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I have been in management roles for the last ten years, most of which are well known corporations. The last corporate job I had, I ended up quitting because I was tired of myself and my coworkers not being treated fairly. They did try to get me to come back and work for them by giving me a promotion and a pay raise. I decided more money wouldn’t fix these issues. I stuck to my decision to leave my job. My husband (boyfriend at the time) was completely supportive. So no, I no longer wonder what it would be like to have a regular job. This is the first time in my life I have fully enjoyed what I do.

Alexis, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Alexis Phillips. I am a happy mama of two, a seven year old daughter and a one year old son. I got married in May 2023 to the most amazing man. My family loves to spend a lot of time outdoors- camping, hikes, concerts, many different playgrounds. We make it a point to travel to different cities to try something new- food, museums, art galleries, etc. My husband and I both work at StarkFresh, a non-profit in Canton, Ohio. I am the Food Incubation Center Coordinator at StarkFresh. I manage our shared-use commercial kitchen (which is the only one in Stark County). This kitchen is available to rent for people who are wanting to grow their food business. Some of them have food trucks, do catering events, make their product and sell it out of StarkFresh, etc. After I quit my last corporate job I took a business class (Business Development Bootcamp) and a Food Safety Class where I received my Servsafe certification. These are two courses we offer at StarkFresh. I was determined to start my own business where I could control my schedule, take my kids to work with me, and be happy with how I’m spending my time. I decided I would no longer work somewhere where myself and my coworkers are just not appreciated. StarkFresh allowed me to take courses and build out my microgreens farm in the basement of the store. Little Greens Mama wasn’t just a dream anymore, it became a reality. I grow ten different varieties of microgreens- Spicy salad mix (broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, arugula, red cabbage & mustard), cilantro, sunflower, yellow pea, fenugreek, amaranth, arugula, cantaloupe, broccoli & corn. I grow to order for local restaurants and also sell them in the StarkFresh Grocery store. Something that makes me and my business stand out is that I grow whatever microgreens my client wants (if I don’t already grow them) and deliver them to them personally. We build personal relationships. And I even take my kids with me! I am proud of myself for not giving up and building something I never thought was possible. We all spend a lot of time working, its worth it to make sure you are happy with how you are spending that time.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Before I started my business, I read a couple of books and did countless research online about microgreens. I also traveled to another city and got to see their microgreens farm. I did a lot of research on my competitors and went as far as going to stores that sold their product., to learn everything I could. Each step I took that brought me closer to my dream, the more terrified I became. I did not want to fail. I wanted to prove to myself, my husband and our kids that I could do this. Before I met my husband, I was a single mama that worked two jobs many times. I often had to take my daughter to work with me, even though she was not supposed to be there with me. This little lady has seen me stress about work while being right there with me. She has seen me exhausted, trying to juggle work and our life. I especially wanted my daughter to see that I could follow this dream of having my own business, no matter how scared I was, and that she could also do the same thing one day. When I first started growing my microgreens, I came across issues with the temperature and humidity in my growing area. I didn’t grow certain varieties correctly a few times. I got frustrated with finding customers at first. Instead of giving up, I put all of my energy into trying to fix these issues. I did more research, I dropped off more samples, and I just tried even harder. I’m still growing. I’m still learning. I still get frustrated. The most important thing is that my husband, my daughter, family members and friends have told me that they are proud of me, and I truly love what I do.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I have to talk about StarkFresh for this question. I first learned about StarkFresh when I met my husband in 2020. This non-profit has made it possible for me to start my own business. The Business Development Bootcamp really broke down all there is to know about starting your own business. They really did a wonderful job putting it all in plain language so it was easy to understand. Its an in-person class and you can really get one on one help if you need it. Its also at a fair price. I did not go to college and get a business degree and to be honest, I don’t know how that would have turned out for me. I also took a Food Safety Training course that was in-person and a fair price. StarkFresh’s believes that people who are given the opportunity to learn with dignity can develop the skills and confidence that they need to succeed. After taking these courses I was given the opportunity to rent a space underneath the store. My husband and I built out the space that was right for me by adding a sink, another wall, tables, a small cooler, etc. Little Greens Mama would have never become a reality for me without StarkFresh.

Contact Info:

• Website: little-greens-mama.square.site
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/little_greens_mama
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/littlegreensmamacantonohio
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com.com/in/alexis-phillips-62610422a