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

Hi Theresa, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

As Board Chair for Take Stock in Children Manatee, I have the privilege of working with students who are incredibly bright and full of potential, but who also face very real barriers. Many come from low-income households, have limited access to resources, and are often the first in their families even to consider college. Most work to help support their families, frequently covering at least one household bill, all while juggling school, jobs, extracurricular activities, and significant responsibilities at home.

Through our program, each student is matched with a dedicated mentor, a college success coach, and awarded a tuition scholarship. There are countless powerful stories, too many to name, but what they all have in common is the students’ dedication, perseverance, growth, leadership, and transformation. What impresses me most is how fully Take Stock students embrace and earn every opportunity they are given.

These students are talented, creative, and hardworking. What they often need is access to information, support, and encouragement to help them take the next step after high school with confidence. The Take Stock Manatee team steps in to provide guidance, resources, and encouragement to help students pursue their goals and create meaningful plans for their futures. Sometimes, the most important thing we can do is show up consistently so they know someone is in their corner.

The urgency I bring to this work is deeply personal. My father used to tell me, “Do the next right thing.” It was simple advice, but it has become the guiding principle of my life and leadership. It reminds me that progress is built one step at a time, and that even small acts of support can make a lasting impact. I carry that message into everything I do, and I hope to pass that same mindset on to the students we serve.

This work matters because we are not just helping students get into college. We are helping them change the trajectory of their lives, and often that of their family’s life as well. That is the heart of Take Stock in Children Manatee: meeting students where they are, guiding them through challenges, and celebrating every success along the way, one right step at a time.

Theresa, 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 Theresa Quin, and I have the privilege of serving as the Board Chair for Take Stock in Children Manatee, as well as the Director of College and Career Services at a public charter school. Our work is centered on helping students, many of whom come from low-income and under-resourced backgrounds, discover and pursue the path that is right for them after high school, whether that is college, a career, or a combination of both.

I did not begin my professional journey intending to work in education or nonprofit leadership, but I have always believed deeply in the power of potential, especially in young people. My career began as a donor and progressed to a reluctant mentor. I truly did not think I had the time to give a student what they needed and what they deserved. One day, the Take Stock School Coordinator came to my office and said, “I need a mentor for a student. Will you help?” At that moment, my father’s voice came to mind saying, “Do the next right thing.” So, I said yes. Five years later, my mentee and I still talk every Wednesday. It is literally the best thirty minutes of my week. I continue to mentor and currently have three mentees this year. Thank goodness for my father’s voice in my head. My life is certainly richer and more fulfilling because I chose to do the next right thing.
I am most proud of the long-term impact I have seen. Whether it is a student returning to share news of a college graduation, a job offer, or a parent expressing hope for their child’s future, these moments affirm the importance of this work.

If there is one thing I would want others to know about me and my work, it is that I believe every student deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated. I am committed to walking alongside them, connecting them to resources, and cheering them on through each step of their journey. Whether I am leading through a nonprofit, developing programming, or offering one-on-one guidance, my mission remains the same: to help students turn their potential into possibility by doing the next right thing.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn a ton of things along the way, like the belief that career success must start early, that personal challenges limit your ability to lead and make an impact in your community, self-doubt, and the nagging question of “Who will take me seriously?”

I did not fully begin my career until I was in my forties. This was not by chance, but out of necessity, as I became a divorced single mother of three. From my first days as a substitute teacher to now serving as the Board Chair of Take Stock in Children Manatee and the Director of College and Career Services at Manatee School for the Arts, it has been an incredible journey filled with growth, learning, and to my surprise, I was not only ready, I was built for this.

Throughout it all, my father’s words, “Do the next right thing,” have been a guiding principle reminding me that progress comes from consistently choosing the next best step, even when the path feels uncertain.

The students I work with continue to inspire me every day. Their strength, creativity, and resilience are nothing short of incredible. They remind me why doing the next right thing matters, not just for myself, but for every young person striving to create a better future.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What helped me build my reputation is a mix of genuine commitment, consistency, and a student-first mindset. I am deeply passionate about empowering students. I show up not just physically, but emotionally and intellectually, to understand the challenges each student and family faces. I will admit, I am not the best listener, but I am an excellent problem solver. If something is broken, confusing, or just plain stuck, I am already working toward a solution before most people have finished explaining the issue.

A guiding principle for me has always been my father’s advice to “Do the next right thing.” It is a simple but powerful reminder to focus on the immediate step that can make a difference, even when the bigger picture feels overwhelming. I try to live by the idea of doing the next right thing, whether that means following through on a promise, offering support in a difficult moment, or helping a student make sense of a complicated college or career situation. Over time, that approach has helped me build meaningful relationships and become someone others can count on.

I am very direct, and I will admit I am impatient when it comes to getting things done. I do not believe in dragging things out. I believe in moving forward. That urgency is always matched with care. I push students and families because I believe in them, and I think they know I will always have their backs. My expectations are high, but they come from a place of deep commitment and respect.
I lead with empathy, practical problem-solving, and a strong belief that progress is made one intentional step at a time. That mix of honesty, high standards, and unwavering support creates a space where people feel seen, challenged, and genuinely supported.

What helped me build my reputation is a mix of genuine commitment, consistency, and keeping students at the center of everything I do. I care deeply about helping young people find their path, especially when the odds feel stacked against them. People know I show up—not just in the room, but fully present. I try to understand what each student and family is navigating and figure out how I can help.

Now, I will be honest, I am not the best listener. I am a problem solver through and through. If something is broken, confusing, or just plain stuck, my brain is already working on a solution before the sentence is even finished. That can be a lot, I know. But I have learned that what I might lack in patience, I make up for in purpose.
My father always told me, “Do the next right thing.” It is simple advice, but it has shaped how I lead and how I live. I do not always know the whole path, but I know how to take the next meaningful step. Whether that means following through on a promise, showing up for someone in a tough moment, or helping a student navigate something that feels overwhelming, I try to stay grounded in that principle. That approach has helped me build strong relationships and become someone others can count on.

I am direct, no doubt about it. I move quickly, I expect a lot, and I like things to happen sooner rather than later. But my urgency comes from care. I push students and families because I believe in them with everything I have. And I think they know that. I am in their corner for the long haul.

At the end of the day, I lead with empathy, practical problem-solving, and a steady belief that big change comes from small, intentional steps. If there is one thing I hope people feel when they work with me, it is that they are seen, supported, and absolutely capable of reaching whatever is next.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://msfta.org/resources/college-and-career-center/
• Instagram: @msacollegeandcareer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quintheresa-lynn/