Professional photographer Melissa Berger shares her journey from film photography to digital portraiture, highlighting the importance of printed images over digital files. She demonstrates passion for capturing authentic family moments and creating lasting memories through portraits that celebrate life's milestones.

• Started photography in high school with a film camera, developing in a darkroom
• Specializes in portrait photography – families, couples, seniors, and pets
• Senior photography captures that crucial milestone before adolescents transition to adulthood
• Challenges the myth that "the market is saturated" with photographers
• Strongly advocates for printed photos over digital-only files
• Guarantees replacement of printed artwork if anything happens to it
• Balances professional work with nature photography while camping with family
• Transitioned from film to digital by returning to school for certification
• Recently attended MARS (Mid-Atlantic Regional School) photographic conference
• Exploring creative techniques like "light painting" for unique portrait effects

Contact Melissa at Treasured Memories by Melissa Anne Photography at 612-817-3065 or visit tmbymelissaannephotography.com

Nina Frazee from Pet Park Boulevard joins us to share her journey in the pet industry and her specialty pet bakery business. She creates custom dog treats focusing on birthdays and special occasions while maintaining a commitment to natural ingredients and pet health.

• Pet Park Boulevard is both an online boutique and bakery specializing in dog and cat toys, accessories, and custom treats
• Nina has been in the pet industry since 2015, starting at Nature's Variety before launching her own business in 2022
• Most products are sourced from small businesses and cannot be found in big box pet stores
• The bakery uses only natural ingredients with zero preservatives and plant-derived dyes
• Nina recommends single-ingredient dental chews like bully sticks over commercial products with preservatives
• Pet gut health is connected to issues like skin problems and dental concerns
• The business is a family affair with Nina's children helping to bake the treats
• Nina's background includes aspirations to be a marine biologist and work in real estate before finding her passion in the pet industry

Check out Pet Park Boulevard at petparkboulevard.com, on Etsy, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @petparkboulevard.

Monica Swanson of MonRoe Business Solutions joins us to discuss how fractional IT services can help businesses manage their technology needs at a fraction of the cost. We explore how business leaders can offload their IT responsibilities to focus on their core operations while ensuring their technology infrastructure supports their growth objectives.

• Fractional IT means hiring experienced leaders part-time (like 25% of their time) for 25% of the cost
• Technology should be a business enabler, not implemented for its own sake
• Most growing companies focus on their core business while technology needs get neglected
• MonRoe Business Solutions helps bridge the gap between current IT systems and future business projections
• Monica brings 30+ years of enterprise experience from global corporations like Thomson Reuters
• Solutions are right-sized for each business, not unnecessarily complex
• Monica approaches IT with a business mindset from her background in both IT and HR leadership
• The "IT party planner" approach: providing strategy while bringing in specialized experts for implementation
• Recently certified as both women-owned and minority-owned business
• Free IT Health Check tool available on the website for self-assessment

Visit MonroeBusinessSolutions.com or email MonicaRSwanson@gmail.com to learn how fractional IT services can help your business

MonRoe Business Solutions

Monica Swanson

Monicarswanson@gmail.com

https://monroebusinesssolutions.com/