Hi! My name is Rachel! I am a serial entrepreneur here in the greater Cincinnati region! I am an Aries, Enneagram 7 and my love languages are..  haha. Oh, I am so happy to be here, a Face of Cincinnati! 

I am the founder of Grateful Grahams, an artisanal graham cracker company; the Incubator Kitchen Collective, a non-profit providing kitchen space, business support, and mentorship to food entrepreneurs.  My most recent project is Power to Pursue a one day women’s empowerment summit. I’ve been humbly recognized for this work, a semi-finalist for Martha Stewart’s American Made Award, awarded the Local Luminary from Slow Foods Cincinnati, 2020 40 Under 40 from the Cincinnati Business Courier and in 2021 the Emerging Leaders for Outstanding Women of NKY. I am a passionate believer in the power of gratitude and the role of food in creating  community. My mission goes beyond making a great cookie: I also want to impact my community with positivity and action. 

Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am a Cincinnati gal, I’ve grown up here my whole life. I come from a family of entrepreneurs. I live in Cincinnati with my husband James, and two of my 3 kids Rosie (13) & Ellis (11). Camden goes to UC and lives near campus. 

Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I LOVE MY WORK. Perhaps that is the same for every entrepreneur, but I am truly grateful to get to do the work I do every day. For the last nearly 13 years I’ve been building a couple companies. Grateful Grahams which I started in 2010, Incubator Kitchen Collective which I started in 2013. And this other body of work which I’ve been building since 2020. Currently this year my focus for the IKC is building Good n’ Local- the region’s first wholesale food show. It’s a way to continue to strengthen our food region and support more makers and stores to carry locally. My other big focus is Power to Pursue, a women’s empowerment summit I launched last year. It’s May 5th at Music Hall, we are bringing in 3 national speakers and a ton of incredible women from around the region for a full day of seminars, keynotes, community and connection. We do monthly programming with the Ascending Women Event Series. And lastly being an advisor for the Queen City Game Changers program, a unique leadership program for women in our region, P&G is building this with incredible corporate partners and I support the entrepreneur part of the program. It is incredible to be on the ground floor building some many connections for women here in our region. This all makes up The Gratitude Collective!

What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Oh tough one for me! I love our incredible region and so here are a few tops… (I’m also plant based so some of my fav spots to eat around town) Glass of wine or tea- Symposium. Date Night- Nolia  Some that make my top 10 list- Green Papaya, Mochiko & Harmony Plant Fare. Cupcakes- Happy Chicks Bakery Cruffins – North South Baking. Sandwiches & snacks for later- Daylily Deli or Spoon Market. 

How long have you lived or worked in our community?
Been here my whole life but have been an entrepreneur since 2010!

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Bali – let’s blame it on the Ticket to Paradise movie I just watched this weekend, but that seems like a place I could relax at for a few weeks.

What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Just because- Greys Anatomy. Watching with my husband – Succession, Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer and all the rom coms! My youngest and I are watching Young Sheldon, that’s super cute!

What advice would you give to people?
Start a gratitude practice. Today. Want to feel more fulfilled? Want to feel your heart expand? The simplicity of – what am I grateful for. List it. Every day.

Whether a journal or a note app. Give it 30 days. See how much happier you feel after 90 days. It’s a game changer. 

What is something on your bucket list?
I am living my bucket list. Sure- there’s big vacations and larger traveling
I’d like to do, but as far as the other stuff- I do it every day. 

I am meeting incredible people. I am building my dream life. I am making a difference in people’s lives & in our community. I feel like I am a good mom. My husband and I are in a healthy space. I am happy. I don’t take one day for granted. I am often struck in awe that we are here, right now, ALIVE, like isn’t that unbelievable?

What is your go to music when you can’t decide what to listen to?
My husband is the music man, he can pick a song out for any occasion and it’s always perfect. For me, on repeat are happy songs, I can sing along too. Valerie June, Tyler Childers, Trevor Hall, Tom Petty & The Local Honeys are all on shuffle right now.

If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
Oh, goodness. I honestly can’t wait as we are growing Power to Pursue and bringing in even more talent to this region and being able to take them around showing off some of the best.. Like tostones & guac at Mita’s or a bowl of Pho at Pho Lang Thang. Grabbing a Sway at MadTree. I mean. How can you even try to name one place? I’m looking at you Reese Witherspoon, Michelle Obama, Sara Blakely (I mean, I am a big dreamer) 

What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I think we can try things here. We support dreamers. We can afford to launch and fail and grow ideas here. We really care. I’ve found, people really care. We show up. That’s special.

Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?.
I hope here, still creating and building businesses I believe in. A bigger team. Maybe, probably an author by then. Power to Pursue becoming a national event for this region and for women across the country. Still spreading gratitude. Still building community. In 10 years I am liable to have all my kids out of my house, what in the world!!! 

What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
At this moment my answer is Honeybee Ky, it’s where my mom grew up. Down in the holler. My mom passed in 2020 and I am hoping to make it down there this year. It’s a beautiful countryside, with beautiful people who care and love deeply.

What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A Gratitude Practice. The exhale after a long day. Birkenstocks. Hugs. 

Who inspires you to be better?
My kids. They love big. They keep me on my toes. They accept all of me, grumpy mom, scattered mom, late mom, happy mom, tired mom, let’s order in mom, I made it on time mom.  They inspire me to be my best, it’s an honor being their mom.

What is one or two of your favorite smells?
I love the kitchen smell, the sizzle of onions and garlic, the beginnings of something delicious. Something about the smell, as seasons change, the first spring rain, that start of fall. Captivating.

Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Exhale, Community, Comfort.