David Crabill

The Forrager Podcast

Forrager is an online community for the cottage food industry.

Jenn Nienaber

Words At Work

Jenn Jones Nienaber is a graphic designer and art director with over 25 years of experience. She has been creating brand experiences for a wide range of companies, from international enterprises to local non-profit start-ups. With both agency and freelance experience, she specializes in logos, branding, collateral, packaging, presentations, tradeshow/event graphics, as well as Canva and social media graphics.

Jessica Cowley

My Custom Bakes

Jessica is the Customer Experience Specialist at My Custom Bakes, where she supports bakers by troubleshooting issues and helping them streamline their business through the platform. She’s also the owner of Toadily Baked Desserts in San Ramon, CA, the West Coast distribution partner for Borderlands Bakery, and runs a bounce house rental company, Bouncy Bounce. As a wife and mom to two young daughters, Jessica understands the juggle of business and family life—and is passionate about helping makers build confidence in both their craft and their business.

Jody Carey

Jody Carey Marketing

Jody Carey is a content writer and marketing consultant who celebrates small-batch creations and the artisans behind them. After eight years living and working in Australia, where homegrown businesses and shopping local are a way of life, she helps makers cut through the digital marketing chaos. Having worn all the hats herself, Jody breaks marketing down into bite-sized, doable projects so business owners can show up, stand out, and grow in a way that fits.

Kirsten Barott

Eden Prairie Chamber Of Commerce

Kirsten Barott is a connector at heart, with 8 years of experience in the chamber world helping hundreds of businesses grow, connect, and succeed. As the Relationship & Events Manager at the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, she’s passionate about creating high-quality programming, building meaningful partnerships, and driving local change. Whether she’s planning major community events, leading professional development sessions, or helping a small business find its next big opportunity, Kirsten loves turning ideas into action and making the business community stronger.

Lisa He

My Custom Bakes

Lisa He is the founder and CEO of Borderlands Bakery and My Custom Bakes, and is a first-generation immigrant who found purpose and fulfillment through her biotech career and baking. What began as a creative outlet grew into a thriving global community, empowering cottage bakers through digital education, mentorship, and purpose-built tools. With appearances on Netflix and Food Network, the launch of her self-funded platform MCB, and her debut cookbook Matcha Meets Macaron, Lisa champions passion, inclusivity, and small business success. Beyond baking, she’s deeply committed to serving others through mentorship, advocacy, and creating spaces where creativity, connection, and kindness thrive.

Lydia Venjohn

Venlo Studio

Lydia Venjohn is the founder and lead designer of Venlo Studio, a Twin Cities-based branding agency that helps small businesses create strategic, professional visuals that tell their story and grow their impact. With a background in graphic design and marketing, she specializes in branding, photography, and design support for product-based businesses—especially those in the food space. She loves partnering with passionate makers to help their products look as good as they taste.

Matt Rosen

CottageFoodieCon Organizer

Matt Rosen, brings a wealth of experience to the table. After serving 23 years in the military and retiring in 2015, Matt ventured into the cottage food industry in 2018. As his own cottage food business grew, so did his passion for the entire industry. Matt is an active member of the MN Cottage Food Producers Association (MNCFPA) and has even testified before the MN Legislature to advocate for his fellow cottage food producers.

Michelle Sharp

Meet The Minnesota Makers

Michelle M. Sharp is the founder and content creator of Meet the Minnesota Makers, a platform celebrating the stories of Minnesota’s small businesses, artists, and independent makers. A former college Spanish professor and researcher of Spanish women’s food writing, Michelle combines her academic skills with a passion for supporting local entrepreneurs. Since launching the project in 2021, Michelle's work shortens the gap between small businesses and their customers through maker features, gift guides, as well as coaching and content creation for small business owners in digital marketing to strengthen messaging and visibility. Explore the directory of artists, artisans, farmers, and food producers at meettheminnesotamakers.com

Michelle Chesser

Home Sweet Home Baker

Founder, Home Sweet Home Bakery & From Scratch Blog With more than 16 years in the home bakery business, Michelle Chesser is a seasoned cottage food entrepreneur and educator. She has built a thriving online community of over 200,000 followers across social media, where she shares practical insights, tips, and encouragement for fellow home bakers. Through her blog, From Scratch, Michelle has authored dozens of articles designed to guide and inspire new cottage food business owners as they launch and grow their own ventures. "It's fun to share the good, the bad, and the ugly using humor and real-life stories!"

Nicole Bendig-Lamb

Cake Business School LLC

Nicole Bendig-Lamb, Founder of Cake Business School LLC, is an Accountant/Cake Business Coach and an award-winning Cottage Foods Cake Designer. After leaving Public Accounting to pursue her baking career full-time, she now dedicates herself to educating and inspiring other Cottage Foods Professionals on the business side of baking, with an emphasis on cash flow and profitability.