Crissy Adamson

I've always been told that if you put your mind to it, you can do it, but I don't just put my mind to it - I put my whole body, my soul. I invest the time, the knowledge, I read help books, and read articles, and try to improve in things that I know can be beneficial to others. In my Monday through Friday job, we're fueling our next generation for success, and that drives everything I do. I have the knowledge, I have the know-how, I have the go-get-it attitude, and I've always believed in investing in myself because that takes you further than you would ever believe.

I've always been told that if you put your mind to it, you can do it. That advice has stuck with me throughout my career, but I take it even further - I don't just put my mind to it, I put my whole body and soul into everything I do. I invest the time, read help books and articles, and constantly try to improve in areas that can be beneficial to others. Whether it's in my role fueling the next generation for success in schools or building my own businesses, I believe that when you fully commit yourself and invest in your own growth, it takes you further than you would ever believe.

It takes time. As long as you have the time and energy to invest in it, investing in yourself takes you further than you would ever believe. Don't be afraid to start from the bottom and work your way up - I started as a cafeteria manager and within months was promoted because I put everything into shining that program. You don't need formal culinary training if you have passion - I'm completely self-taught in food, even though I went to school for business. What matters is that you have the knowledge, the know-how, and the go-get-it attitude. Be willing to take risks, like when my husband and I took a second mortgage on our house to buy our food truck. If you truly invest in yourself and your passion, the opportunities will come.

In my professional role, I would say always being true to myself, whether it is giving great service or providing high-quality products. On a personal level, I'm a mom first of all - I have three daughters, and being a mother is extremely important to me. As I've gotten older with two of my kids now out of the house, I've learned not to blame yourself for something you didn't know, because you needed age to grow it. You need to grow and learn those experiences through age and time. I wish I could go back and hold on to those moments with my young kids a little bit longer, because in the blink of an eye, it's gone. I think young families need to remember not to dwell and get into their moments and forget what it really means. I also believe in nurturing relationships - my husband and I try to travel and reconnect a couple times a year, because if you don't feed and water your relationship like a plant, it dies as well. Family, authenticity, quality, and making time for what matters most are the values that guide everything I do.