By nature I am an explorer. Growing up in Minnesota I enjoyed playing soccer, socializing and spending time at my families cabin. These experiences gave me a strong work ethic, love of nature and many fond memories. I watched my mother who ran her own consulting business and was an entrepreneur in her own right. Her strength and inspiration gave me the motivation, confidence and desire to travel the world and eventually run my own company.
My first job in NYC was for a global technology startup doing business development with clients from around the world. I enjoyed the process of building relationships and negotiating with people from different cultures. I was working long hours and eating snacks that were convenient but not good for me. These experiences increased my desire to see the larger world and led to travels in South America, the Middle East and Asia. As I traveled I saw people enjoying different type of food and snacks. It occurred to me that snacks would be better if they were convenient, healthy and tasted good. When I returned to NYC I began developing KiiNOA! which I have bootstrapped from product innovation to distribution to over 100 locations.