Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Cunningham
Hi Amanda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My route to owning a small business (or three) is quite unconventional, but I believe in following whatever path excites you. I started as a Meteorologist. I got my degree from SCSU and moved to Duluth, MN where I became the first female lead forecaster. I was a Meteorologist for the National Weather Service for 15 years. During time I found a passion for fire-weather forecasting which lead to working with the US Forest Service to provide on-site specialized fire-weather support to large wildfires across the county and the world.
In 2016 I knew it was time for a change! I left my government job to work for myself and re-prioritize what was important to me. I decided to join the Hermantown Fire Department where I gained my medical training and Fire Fighter certification. In addition to being a fire fighter, I own and operate multiple small business that range from a Hot Cocoa wholesale company; Mike and Jen’s Cocoa, to a SNAP fitness franchise (2 Duluth locations). I also conduct Fire-weather training and wildland fire consulting through my other own small business; Eagle Fire Weather.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ohhh my yes! Well, the first challenge that comes to mind is the COVID pandemic. Being in Minnesota, my SNAP Fitness was mandated to abruptly close. No warning. No planning. No strategy. Just close your doors and try to survive while still paying rent, payroll and taking care of all your other responsibilities. The closure lasted 9 months. It was awful, but we made it. We are doing better than ever and in retrospect, being forced to make some changes and be creative did benefit us in many ways in the long run.
Although not as drastic and overwhelming, co-owning and building a start-up, Mike and Jen’s Cocoa, most definitely had its challenges. My best friend, Dean Packingham, started a little family hot cocoa company in his kitchen with his kids (Mike and Jen) back in 2012. By 2016, their hand blended and packaged coco mix was being sold in a handful of stores in our hometown of Duluth, MN. We decided to go into business together and see where we could take Mike and Jen’s Cocoa. We established an LLC in 2016 and started looking for a co-packer. That was eye-opening! An obstacle of growing a small business to say the least. Dean called nearly 60 co-packers before anyone would talk to this random guy with a little Cocoa mix company looking for a company to blend and package their product. Having a food company comes with a long list of challenges. Sourcing ingredients, projecting inventory needs, finding a food-grade warehouse (note: there are NONE in Duluth, MN). The list goes on an on.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I will quote my mother, “when people ask me what you do, I never know what to tell people”. My answer is just to pick whatever seems most relevant to the conversation and go with that.
My life is a daily collage of all of my “jobs”. I say “jobs”, but it never feels like work. I get to do what I find fun and fulfilling every day. My professional life ranges from responding to 911 calls as an EMT/firefighter for the Hermantown Fire Department, replying to emails and message from SNAP Fitness members, creating invoices and running payments for Mike and Jen’s Cocoa orders, during the spring & fall I pick up wildland fire fighter shifts for the local Department of Natural Resources. I also teach fire behavior classes around the state when requested. Oh and I am taking online graduate classes to get my Masters in Accounting at St Mary’s University.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Being a women in science, especially meteorology and firefighting which still today are less than 10% female, doesn’t produce a lot of opportunity for finding female mentors. We have all heard of the “Me Too” movement; which I got to live through before it was a REAL thing we discussed. I most definitely have people I respect and look up to, but I have never had a relationship I would consider as a mentor. With that said, I do make an effort to be a mentor myself. I have worked with several other small business owners in their start-up phase to attempt to guide and pass along what I have learned and what I can offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mikeandjens.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/mikeandjens
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/mikeandjens
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cunningham-07273a129/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/Amandafirewx
