Kelly Chapin

My higher education focused on Environmental Science and Marine Resource Management. I spent about 6 years working in both terrestrial and marine habitats that most people never have the opportunity to visit. It was beautiful and rugged. While I don't have an environmental job now, I do utilize all the skills that I used to be a successful wildlife biologist. Mother Nature is the perfect teacher of preparedness, efficiency and thinking ahead. In the early 2000s, I met my husband and we spent time traveling around the United States and landed in Maryland. We opened a hair salon (he is the stylist) and focused on environmental sustainability, not just in the products we used but in our day-to-day business practices. Along that journey, we learned about business, but we also learned about the importance of supporting your employees. We worked hard to create a positive learning environment for them that also provided a clear career growth path. After COVID, we shut down the salon and decided it was time to take some time off. We sold our house, packed our van and traveled across the US and back 3 times! This is truly a land of wonder, especially when you go off the beaten path. Along the way, we were always drawn to the mountains, so we have settled in a small rural city in western Maryland. We bought a house and are currently renovating it. It has turned out to be an enormous undertaking. Luckily my husband is tackling most of it! I am working on starting up a new business. I have been an entrepreneur and freelance bookkeeper for the past 14 years. Now, I'd like to combine the two. I want to create a business with employees that supports small to mid size businesses and nonprofits. My mission is two-fold: One. Help businesses & nonprofits succeed and grow. Two. Create a safe, fun and educational space for local employees to succeed and grow. A place where business owners and employees thrive both personally and financially.