My Life’s Purpose

Professional Background

Ever Evolving

Since I was little, I knew I wanted to own my own business one day. From lemonade stands, to backyard “carnivals” with my cousins, it seems it was always just a part of who I am. My career started as a part-time receptionist and in programming at a retirement community after being laid off from an interior design firm. I was going to NWTC for Business Management / Entrepreneurship, with a desire to open a bakery for dogs. My path took a sharp turn as my “stepping stone” job quickly taught me that I loved working with seniors.

After about a year and graduating, I was promoted (now full-time) to an administrative assistant role and at the front desk. I loved interacting with the residents and their families, and also found my love for Excel…yes, spreadsheet design. Process improvement and finding efficiencies also became fun “puzzles”.

Shifting from for-profit to non-profit, and from front-of-house to behind-the-scenes felt like a big jump. I worked in the office, helping with accounting tasks, creating business and marketing plans, and assisting customers. I fell in love with the creative and analytic side of business, process improvement committees – I was on many. Problem solving, like puzzles (see a theme yet?) brought me joy. After about 6 months, I went from Switchboard to an Office Assistant, with support to programming. I designed a monthly (from 28- 36 page) newsletter, assisted with creation of databases for registration, and helped start a business (cafe), from accounting, to marketing, inventory management tracking, and more.

With a heavy focus on marketing, I was promoted to a new position focusing on communication and design. I worked closely with the Director on grants, from assisting with researching, filing for, and tracking/progress reports, and organizing tasks among departments. This helped me develop another passion of mine, project management. Overseeing internal and external marketing efforts, and reporting on success and what to adapt, this tickled the puzzle lover in me again- allowing me to be both creative and analytical.

Entering a New Realm

A vacation in 2022 launched me on my life’s path (learn more) when I heard about the Deathwives and learned about what a Death Doula was. I completed their intensive 12-week Deathschool program and attained their version of a Death Doula Certificate. Upon learning more and feeling a calling to this realm, I chose to start a business with the intention to allow flexibility to start a deathcare practice down the road. With my marketing, design, and administrative background, I figured I’d take a stab at supporting other entrepreneurs and small businesses in helping their business pop…And so, Popbees was born (story behind the name).

What started as a quick side-conversation with a friend, rapidly grew into a feasible side hustle. The idea of starting Popbees came to fruition!

Over about 6 months I dedicated my “free time” to taking on some clients and testing the waters so to speak, but I fell in love with it. The change of pace, challenges, and being able to support small business owners that may not have the workload or financial means to hire someone on part-time or full-time, is what brings me joy. 

With the goal to build my deathcare practice, I dedicated time to learn more about death and  how/what to provide for non-clinical support and comfort. Knowledge is key, and death education, and advocacy, will be a large piece of this adventure. Death is a taboo subject for many, so finding ways to make other’s open and curious to it (through art, games, conversations, book clubs, etc) is a goal of mine. 

I believe it is important for everyone to learn about different options and ways to have a “good” death, to find the sacredness, and even beauty, in it. In between birth and death there is life. Popbees Collective is focusing on just that – creating “life” for your business and also supporting those during their last sacred transition in this life, through death.

Envisioning the Future

• Advocating for Death with Dignity in Wisconsin.
• Advocating for more environmentally friendly disposition options in Wisconsin.
• Building a network of local (Greater Green Bay/Fox Valley) Death Doula’s to be able to provide opportunities for around-the-clock care; as well as partnerships with local home care and hospice agencies. 
• My dream is to build a nonprofit organization that allows a dying person to live on-site at “The Ridge” until the end…learn more soon.