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

Jody , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?

One of the most meaningful ways I’ve shown appreciation to customers was through the free services to veterans at Joe’s Palette. As a veteran myself, I understand how important it is to have a safe space to decompress, connect, and simply feel seen. What started as a small gesture of gratitude turned into something much bigger than I expected.
For me, appreciation is not just about discounts or customer service — it’s about making people feel valued as human beings. Sometimes the greatest thing you can give someone is an experience where they feel welcomed, supported, and connected. That customer probably walked away feeling like someone genuinely cared about their wellbeing, not just their business.

I think that’s what makes any experience memorable: when people realize they are appreciated beyond the transaction.

Jody , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My background spans military service, federal project management, leadership, psychology, and entrepreneurship, all of which helped shape the vision behind Joe’s Palette. I created the studio to be more than just an art space — I wanted it to become a welcoming environment where people could relax, connect, express themselves creatively, and build confidence through art, regardless of skill level.

Today, Joe’s Palette offers splatter sessions, paint classes, private events, and community-centered experiences throughout the Tampa Bay area. What sets us apart is our focus on connection, wellness, and experience over perfection. We believe creativity should feel fun, freeing, and accessible to everyone.

Community outreach is also a major part of my mission. Through both Joe’s Palette and my platform as Ms. Clearwater 2026, I support veterans, women entrepreneurs, youth initiatives, and local outreach programs through free veteran art sessions, networking events, donation drives, and community partnerships.

What I’m most proud of is creating a space where people feel welcomed, inspired, and supported. At the core of my work is a commitment to leadership, service, empowerment, and using creativity to bring people together.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building my audience on social media honestly started with simply being authentic and showing up consistently. I didn’t try to create a perfect image — I focused on sharing my real journey as a veteran, entrepreneur, community advocate, artist, and leader. Over time, people connected more with the story and the purpose behind the brand than just the business itself.

For Joe’s Palette, social media became a way to showcase not only our art experiences, but also the community we were building. We shared customer experiences, behind-the-scenes moments, community outreach, veteran initiatives, networking events, and real interactions with people walking through our doors. I think audiences today appreciate transparency, personality, and purpose.

My advice for those just starting out is to stay consistent, engage with your community genuinely, and don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Focus on creating meaningful connections instead of chasing numbers. People support brands and businesses when they feel connected to the person behind them.

I also believe collaboration and community involvement helped grow my platform tremendously. Attending events, networking, supporting other businesses, and giving back to the community created real relationships that naturally translated onto social media as well.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to show who you are. Authenticity will always outlast trends.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I believe one of the most important parts of managing a team and maintaining high morale is making people feel valued, heard, and appreciated. No matter the industry, people perform their best when they know their work matters and that leadership genuinely cares about them as individuals, not just employees

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joespalette.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joespalette.fl/
• Other: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/joes-palette-32196207807

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