I did not grow up with aspirations of being an entrepreneur. In fact, I had always envisioned that I would work my way up the corporate ladder somewhere. Little did I know, entrepreneurship was really my calling.
When I was just 27, I was working for a local media company. I had the opportunity to travel the country, work with advertising sales reps and attend tradeshows/events. Being a part of the tour & travel industry is special and I was hooked. Three years later, the idea of Serendipity Media was being crafted, and on August 5, 2002, the doors opened. With a small, but mighty staff of six, we launched our first publication in January of 2003!
It didn’t take long to know we had something special. We grew over time and built our portfolio to be something our entire team could be proud of.
It’s fun to reflect back over the 20 years, as our business and the industries we served have changed so much. We attended our first trade show in November of 2002, with no magazine, no website, only a mock-up of what the magazine would look like. There was no Facebook or Instagram. We really were just a magazine publisher.
Our business was created 11 months after 911, but we made it. Since then, we have gone through the 2008 recession, Anthrax, SARS, devastating hurricanes and have now survived the most significant world event of our time … COVID.
To say that I am grateful is an understatement. I am grateful for every employee who has ever made their mark working at Serendipity. I am grateful for the people and places who have opened themselves up to let us tell their stories. I am grateful for the businesses who have trusted us to do their marketing and those who use the pages of our magazines to advertise.
We have been through a lot in the last 20 years, and I look forward to the growth and opportunity that lies ahead!
Pictured above: One of my favorite career moments was including my son, Jackson, in the SYF luncheon program. Seeing him on stage, sharing his Space Camp experience, is truly a memory I won't forget! He was only nine years old at the time. :)