Her Story
About Kizzy
I'm currently the Experience Manager at Ulta Beauty in Okeechobee, Florida, working at a brand new boutique-style store without a salon, and we're doing very well. I've been in the retail world for 10 years, starting at Route 21 where I spent 7 years before they filed bankruptcy. After that, I worked briefly at Tractor Supply as a store sales manager, which was totally out of my field, but I took it because you have to work. At Route 21, I loved being able to be fashionable, dress up, do makeup, and help my customers get ready for any event, whether it was just a night out or an anniversary. I like helping people. What really drives me is my youth program, Forward Bound Youth Services, which I started in 2002. We focus on youth empowerment and create experiences for youth that they typically wouldn't get to experience. We do a big back-to-school drive, a huge toy giveaway called Toys for Joy, and we have an adopt-a-senior program for Okeechobee seniors where you can adopt a boy or a girl when they graduate. I'm an event planner and I do a lot of events, which is one of the main reasons I wanted to be with Ulta Beauty because they are very event-driven and it allows me to express myself. Prior to retail, I worked in the childcare field for over 20 years. I was a center director, an inclusion specialist, and I'm also a VPK-certified teacher. I keep my certifications current because you never know. I have fallback plans, and I keep my doors open. I'm a grandma with 8 grandkids, 7 boys and 1 girl. I have 3 boys who are all grown, and I have 2 Pomeranians.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kizzy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to the youth program and making an impact in youth development. If you were to ask anybody about me or to describe me, it's the passion that I have for kids. I'm real big on kids. It's something that God put on my heart to do, and I wanted to do it for the kids. I don't care if nobody tells me thank you. I put 100% passion into the events that I do. I personally take money out of my own pocket, I raise money on my own, and I get grant money to facilitate these activities and events for the kids. My thing is, it's 100% for the kids. It's their world, they pick what they want to pick. Whatever they want, whatever they want to do, whatever activity they want to participate in, that's their desire, not ours, not the parents. Everything is designed for them.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge and opportunity I see is that we don't have anything here for youth year-round. We have a thousand daycares, but kids can only go to them until age 12 or 13. After that age, they have nothing, nothing here to do. We're starting to see an increase in teen pregnancy again and them being troubled kids. A couple months ago, it was like 8 teenagers who robbed a pawn shop and stole guns out of there. It's a small town with a population of about 45,000 to 50,000 people, but there's nothing designed for the youth year-round. My goal is to build that youth program to address this gap.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is putting kids first and letting them make their own choices. I'm a strong believer that it's their world and they should pick what they want. When we set up events, it's whatever they want, whatever they want to do, whatever activity they want to participate in. That's their desire, not ours, not the parents. I even tell parents with a big sign and over the intercom that this is the children's world, let them engage in their world, and what they want, they get, period. It's not your decision. I have 100% passion for the events that I do. I don't collaborate with some people anymore because their intentions don't align with mine. Mine is 100% for the kids. Some people just want the spotlight, but I don't care if nobody tells me thank you. It's something that God put on my heart to do.
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