Amy Gotfredson (Cross Country, Missouri State University) grew up in Olathe. HelloNation asks student athletes one question about the place that raised them and records the answer on camera. This is Amy Gotfredson’s, in full.
The question
Name three small business owners in your community who have had a meaningful impact on others or inspired you personally. Who are they, and why do they stand out as a pillar of your community?
The answer, as recorded
Transcript. What follows is a transcript of the video above, in Amy Gotfredson’s own words. It has not been rewritten, and no part of it was drafted for them.
The first business owner in my community is Evan Boxberger who owns the Olathe Pet Shop. He opened this business in 2011 to support his daughter. This business has been important to my family and I personally for several years. My parents bought a snake for my older sister from there when she turned 14 and would go in almost every week to buy a mouse for him. I have fond memories of walking around the store when I was younger and looking at all the fish. My sister later got hired at the Olathe Pet Shop when she was 16 for her first job and worked there for several years. The owner worked with many high school students and was very helpful with creating flexible schedules and creating a family-like work environment. We adopted two cats in 2020 and have purchased many cat toys, trees, and scratching towers from them. Evan is great about creating personal relationships with customers by keeping up with them and how their pets are doing. He also has a plaque in the store with the names of every employee who's worked there for the first 10 years. He stands out as a pillar in Olathe as someone who cares about animals and providing the best quality service for customers and their pets. The next business owner is Skyler Hull who owns the Yellow Brick Bakery in Olathe. My family personally knows the owners of this bakery as they attend our church. What sets them apart from other bakeries is the quality and variety of goods they offer like cream cheese danishes, chicken pot pies, and gluten-free and vegan options for those with dietary restrictions. They also offer pies and cakes for events and allow takeout and in-store pickup. This bakery stands out in the Olathe community as a center for quality and convenience for both daily treats and special occasions. Another spot of business in my community is Carmen's Cocina which is a family-owned restaurant serving authentic Mexican food. The food is made fresh daily and the restaurant provides a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for guests. They'll speak Spanish there as well and sometimes the local schools will take field trips there to help students practice speaking Spanish. This restaurant stands out in the community as somewhere to experience the family-friendly culture and authentically made Mexican food where you will be treated to amazing service that feels like family.
Recorded by HelloNation as part of its athlete voices program and published by Hello Newswire, HelloNation’s good news newswire. The words are the speaker’s own.
Reported by Hello Newswire.