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Author: Jen A. Miller

  • The Social Guru | An Interview with Rachael King, Head of Communications, DogVacay

    The Social Guru | An Interview with Rachael King, Head of Communications, DogVacay

    Rachael King is an entrepreneur of a different sort. She is the Head of Communications for the dog sitting startup DogVacay. Though the company is not her own, the journey that lead her there is uniquely hers.

    What started as an interest in blogging has turned into a full-blown career that many young women would dream of. She has competed to earn the title of MTV’s first Twitter Jockey, garned fame for her “Pinterest Resume”, been written about by today’s top media, and ultimately landed in her dream job. She is the perfect example of someone who found her passion and relentlessly pursued it.

    To learn how her journey unfolded, I met up with Rachael at one of my favorite healthy brunch spots, Gracias Madre in West Hollywood. This Mexican inspired joint with a vegan twist is the second child of the founders of Cafe Gratitude. Expect to find amazing fresh-pressed juices, glorious guacamole, and guilt-free indulgences like their superb lemon scones. The food is delicious and their outdoor patio is storybook. If you’re in the ‘hood this is definitely a must-see spot, even if you are a meat lover : )

    More About Rachael

    Rachael-KingRachael is the Head of Communications for DogVacay where she is responsible for leading the company’s PR efforts. A typical day might include brainstorming consumer events, booking executive speaking engagements, and building relationships with social media influencers. Before landing her gig at DogVacay, Rachael lead social media at Sidecar, Adobe, and ioStudio.

    Rachael’s first experience with content creation came soon after graduating from The University of North Carolina. While working in an entry-level admin position, she used her spare time to build her first blog. As she watched her audience size grow, she quickly realized she was pretty good at the game, and so did others. MTV invited her to be a participant in a contest to be their first Twitter Jockey. Though she didn’t land the gig, it gave her the confidence to pursue social media as a career.

    She added to her portfolio by volunteering her talents to local businesses. To keep track of the work she’d done and the accomplishments she’d earned along the way, Rachael decided to create a “Pinterest resume“. To her surprise her personal portfolio became a media sensation, gaining news coverage across popular outlets like Mashable, USA Today, and CNN. The rest as they say, is history.

    What is DogVacay?

    DogVacay is a website that connects pet owners with sitters willing to take care of their pets while they are away. When you register as a dog sitter you have the flexibility to name your services (in home boarding, walking, grooming, etc…) and your prices. I consider it Match.com but for dogs and people because owners have the opportunity to browse individuals’ profiles and select the dog owner they feel is the best match for them and their dog. Before agreeing to sit, you have the chance to do a meet-n-greet with the dog to make sure you’re a good fit. When you do accept a gig, DogVacay is on your side in case of any puppy emergencies by providing you with pet insurance and 24/7 customer support.

    Check out Rachael at:

    Web:

    Instagram: @rachaelgking

    Twitter: @rachaelgking

    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rachaelgking/

    A Toast to you and Rachael too,

    Jen

  • Up Next on Toast Meets Jam – Rachael King!

    Up Next on Toast Meets Jam – Rachael King!

    An Interview with Rachael King, Head of Communications for DogVacay

    Coming up next on Toast Meets Jam… Rachael King,  the Head of Communications for DogVacay.

    The goal of Toast Meets Jam is to inspire and empower you to pursue your passions. Often this means stepping out on your own and building your vision from the ground up rather than following a traditional career path. For this reason, most of the interview guest are female entrepreneurs.

    On this episode of Toast Meets Jam however, I interview a guest who’s entrepreneurial spirit has taken her a different route. Rachael King is the Head of Communications for DogVacay, one of today’s hottest startups. It’s a role that she enthusiastically refers to as her dream job, as would many young women who’s interests also lie in the industry. Though her journey did not lead her to building her own business, it is one of an entrepreneur none the less.

    From sitting behind a desk at a lackluster administrative job to competing to become MTV’s first Twitter Jockey to building the famous “Pinterest Resume”, Rachael’s pursuit of her passion is quite the unique tale. Check back in to catch our conversation over green juices and avocado toasts at Gracias Madre.

    For anyone who wants to find their way into a career in social media, this is an interview not to be missed!

    Cheers!

    Jen

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  • Behind the Scenes! Taste of Pace Interview

    Behind the Scenes! Taste of Pace Interview

    taste-of-pace

    Pace, founder of Taste of Pace, calls downtown LA home so when she agreed to come out to Venice for our interview, I knew I needed to make the trip worth her while. There was no question that our brunch needed to come from Gjusta. This bakery and cafe from the family behind Gjelina opened a few months ago and has had me drooling over every bit of their menu ever since.
    taste-of-pace

    Even before you walk through Gjusta’s doors you are greeted by their smell. Fresh baked breads and pastries are served up daily  and the smell of sugar and carbs is enough to lure you in off the street.
    taste-of-pace

    The bakery’s signature baklava croissants and scones were our pick from the window of delectable treats.

    taste-of-pace

    Besides breads and pastries, Gjusta serves up house cured fish and meets, homemade sauces and spreads, signature soups, salads, and sandwiches, and has a gourmet barista bar to boot.

    taste-of-pace

    Seating at Gjusta is limited to a few benches and over turned milk cartons in the cafe’s parking lot. Since the set-up was less than ideal for shooting, Pace and I held our interview at my house just a few blocks away from the cafe. We cozied up on the patio, soaked in the sunshine, and dug into our take-away.

    Catch my interview with Pace to get the scoop on making it as an entrepreneur in the food biz!

    Cheers!

    Jen

  • The Celeb Chef | An Interview with Pace Webb, Chef & Founder of Taste of Pace

    The Celeb Chef | An Interview with Pace Webb, Chef & Founder of Taste of Pace


    I was first introduced to Pace Webb just over one year ago. Since that time, I’ve known that she would make a rockstar interview guest. Lucky for me, when I tossed the idea her way, she was more than on board.

    Pace is the chef and founder of Taste of Pace, a Los Angeles based catering company that focuses its menus around fresh, seasonal ingredients. When she’s not in the kitchen, this natural entertainer finds her self in front of the camera and behind the mic. She shares her passion for food as a lifestyle expert for many well known brands and media outlets like Yahoo Shine and on her radio show TOP Talk.

    For our interview, I wanted to introduce Pace to my favorite spot on the block Gjusta. If you’re an Angeleno then chances are you’ve at least heard of, if not yet dined at, the acclaimed Gjelina restaurant located on Abbot Kinney in Venice. Gusta comes from the same owners and serves similar style fair in a more casual bakery/cafe environment. You can find everything your stomach desires here from fresh baked breads to house-made sauces to gourmet sandwiches and salads. Oh yeah, there’s a fancy barista bar inside too. Seating is limited to benches and overturned milk cartons in the rear of the building so we opted to take our food to go. Whether you dine in or take out you must find a reason to come try their baklava croissants – you won’t be disappointed!

    While we indulged our sugar cravings, Pace filled me in on the founding of her company, how she grew her career both inside and outside of the kitchen, and her advice for other aspiring chef-preneurs. Definitely an interview not to be missed!

    More About Pace

    taste-of-pacePace’s journey to start her own lifestyle food brand and catering company started at the age of 17 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She took this experience as an indication that she needed to reevaluate what she put in her body. Studying alternative nutrition gave her the foundation and love for the impact clean food has on the body. After studying abroad in Rome, she became classically trained in Western European cuisine. Now, cancer-free with a fresh lease on life and a passion for traveling, living in over seven cities around the globe, Pace created her company to focus on wellness, new creative food combinations and most importantly, rich joie de vivre!

    Pace’s sparkle, and performance-like art for feeding people comes naturally as a fourth-generation entertainer. Her unique view on food and general panache for incredible flavor pairings has caught the eye of major brands such as Yahoo, Jell-O and Acura, hiring her to create recipes and host web series. She pens her own blog, and contributes to various food and lifestyle magazines, including C Magazine, Angeleno, Utterly Engaged and Chalkboard Magazine. Hosting weekly cooking classes in her downtown loft/kitchen allows Pace to give back to her community and inspire a new generation with healthy, simple and fresh local ingredients. Pace currently lives the fabulous life in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District with her dog, Willie Nelson.  www.Pacewebb.com {Source Taste of Pace}

    What is Taste of Pace?

    Taste of Pace Catering is a full service catering company based in Los Angeles specializing in Western European Cuisine with international elements utilizing seasonal and local ingredients. The Taste of Pace team is suitable for private parties, corporate events and weddings. You can get a Taste of Pace by attending a Monthly Supper Club hosted in secret locations boasting courses of fresh seasonal food off the cuff. {Source Taste of Pace}

    Check out Taste of Pace at:

    Web: www.tasteofpace.com

    Instagram: @tasteofpace

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Taste.of.Pace

    A Toast to you and Pace too,

    Jen

  • Up Next on Toast Meets Jam – Pace Webb!

    Up Next on Toast Meets Jam – Pace Webb!

    An Interview with Pace Webb, chef & lifestyle expert behind Taste of Pace

    Coming up next on Toast Meets Jam… Pace Webb,  the chef and lifestyle expert behind Taste of Pace.

    I remember as clear as day the first time I met Pace. She was decked out in a fantastic yellow print dress and wearing the most “catch-me-if-you-can” color of pink lipstick. I knew I liked her before even getting introduced.

    If you’ve ever encountered Pace you know just how irresistible she can be. Her kick-ass outfit drew me in but as soon as we got to talking I could see that her personality was just as colorful. You can’t help but want to hang with this vivacious lady.

    Though she earns high marks for her sense of fashion, Pace’s real talents come to life in the kitchen. She is the founder of the catering company Taste of Pace, the host of an invite-only supper club, and a regular TV personality for various food and lifestyle media including Oprah’s OWN Network.

    This time around we mixed things up a bit and held our interview at my house in Venice. I wanted to introduce Pace to one of my favorite new brunch spots, Gjusta, but their set-up was less than ideal for filming. Instead, we grabbed a box of pastries to go and brunched take-away style.

    Over our baklava croissoints Pace and I talk about the founding of her company, her evolution from chef to TV personality, and why dessert just doesn’t get any better than chocolate cake. Make sure to check back next week to catch the full interview!

    Cheers!

    Jen

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