BBW MEMBER INTERVIEW: Katrina Eddy, Business Owner/Operator

What is your name?

Katrina Eddy.

What is your occupation?

I am a Business Owner/Operator.

What is your business name?

How long have you been a Boston Business Women’s Member?

Less than 1 year.

What is your instagram handle?

What is your linked in URL?

Were you born and raised in Boston? If not, what brought you here?

I was born in Salem, MA and have lived on the North Shore most of my life.

Tell us more about your job or company and what led you to your career?

Growing up I loved to be outside and play in the dirt, I had horses and rode dirtbikes. When it came time for highschool I attended Essex Agricultural and Technical High School and majored in Natural Resources. I was at the top of my class and loved extra curricular activities such as photography club, FFA and yearbook committee. After I graduated I attended North Shore Community College and majored in Horticulture. By 2008 I had every certification and license I was able to acquire. I never held a job outside of my field, my first job was working at Shaw's Super Market in the floral department. I made sure I stayed up to date on every bit of information I could find so I could stay ahead of the curve. I have dealt with everything for the first 10 years of my career from my resume being ripped up in front of me because I am a woman to rumors being spread about me to having men think I was in this field for the wrong reasons to sexual harassment! I pushed through everything and came out on top every time and I earned my stripes to now being one of the well known not only women in my area but one of the top landscapers in general. I have been in countless magazines and news paper articles and given talks at different tech schools. After 19 years of working for other companies, making other people money and giving publicity to company owners who didn't deserve it, it was time I took the leap and opened doors for myself and play by my own rules. I already had the outstanding reputation, I have the knowledge and drive to be successful, it was MY TIME!

What would your clients say about you and your company?

I am personable, friendly, very professional, understanding, fair, knowledgeable.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

I can think of a lot of good advice I have gotten over the years but my dad successfully ran a flooring company since 1986 and I watched how he did everything and how good he was with his customers and I soaked it all in. He always told me if you take care of your customers they will take care of you. My dad was always my hero growing up, I wanted to be just like him and make him proud.

What is your favorite book?

Anything by Nicholas Sparks

What is your secret weapon? An app, a tool, a organization method, anything?! (Can be a personal or professional life tool)

My personality... I have that switch that I know how to have fun with my company and still be successful. I love to meet new people and I love to talk but above all I love to make people smile! I remember about 6 or 7 years ago I was cutting a lawn at an HOA (Home Owners Association) and a little girl was having a lemonade stand, not only was it hot and I was dying for a drink but I will NEVER drive past a little one who is making money on their own! So anyway, I walked over and noticed the sign on the table said fundraiser, so I asked what she was raising money for, she told me epilepsy and I looked at her mom and then back at her. This girl was probably between 8 and 10 years old and was very well spoken and absolutely adorable! She proceeded to tell me how she is picked on at school and her ~gross~ medicine was very expensive. I knelt down next to the table and I said, 'sweetie do you want to know a secret?' and she said 'what?' I told her 'I have epilepsy too, I was picked on when I was your age too, but do you see what I am doing? I get to boss the boys around, drive cool machines and big trucks!' The girl lit up and smiled and her mom started to tear up, I let her sit on the mower and in the truck and her mom took pictures. I walked over to her mom and hugged her and told her she is doing an amazing job and raising a very smart little lady and to call me when she is old enough to work I would be happy to give her a job! I hope some day she looks me up because I was only a foreman then.

What is your most recent WIN? How are you slaying it in your career or business?

Completing my first large scale stone job. A 14x14 bluestone patio with a natural landscape stone wall and fire pit with a detached sod area with a PA fieldstone wall that was a total of 30' long.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

''Don't''....hahaha I would tell myself at a much younger age to stop making money for everyone else and make sure I have the self love and confidence I have now!

How do you enjoy your free time?

With my family, my kids, and my boyfriend. (They) are my life.

What is something that not many people know about you?

I have been an epilepsy patient since I was 4 years old, I am 4 years sober and I am a birth mom to my son (he was placed for adoption) with a VERY open adoption.

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