For 11 years I co-owned a full-service bridal salon in Seattle with my sister, Sandi Stewart. The store rated in the top 5 percent in the country based on retail sales. I enjoyed teaching the staff how to give excellent customer service and performed duties such as marketing, advertising and merchandising. I wrote radio spots, print ads, direct mail postcards, brochures and created in-store promotions and displays. I also acted as sales manager, HR manager, trainer, buyer, inventory controller, administrator, accountant, event planner and communications director. Ahhh…the beauty of owning a small business; you get to wear many, many hats!