🧁Guest Speaker Spotlight: Katrina Sluder🍪

Today, Jefferson County CEO students had the opportunity to hear from Katrina Sluder, owner and baker behind Magnolia Market, who shared an honest and inspiring look at her entrepreneurial journey.

Katrina shared that her business began out of necessity when she first started baking to support her family. Over the past nine years, that decision has grown into far more than she ever imagined—expanding into weddings, birthdays, and a farm stand. Today, it is a true family business, with her husband and children playing a key role in its day-to-day operations and success.

She shared several meaningful pieces of wisdom with students, including:

🍰 Navigating health department requirements and understanding what it truly takes to run a food-based business
📊 Knowing your profit margins and why numbers matter
⚖️ Finding balance between family life and business ownership
💬 Taking criticism, learning from it, and continuing to grow
🔥 Allowing fear to motivate you instead of holding you back
🤝 Supporting others and giving back once you find success
💡 Proving people wrong by staying committed to your vision

Katrina reminded students that it is not impossible to have a family and a dream—and that with perseverance, adaptability, and support, a business can grow beyond what you ever expected.

We are thankful for Katrina’s transparency, insight, and willingness to share her journey with our CEO students.