Meet Bethany Mingione | Owner, Baker and SAHM

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bethany Mingione and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bethany, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
There are many habits that come to mind that have been beneficial to my success. Having effective time management has been vital for me since there are many “hats to wear” when running a business; however, the most important habit which I am glad to have has been my consistency and determination through all of the ups and downs of the business. It has been important for me to have a routine in place for the various tasks involved in running my small business, but also keeping in mind that businesses have seasons of good sales and seasons where sales decline a bit, so it is also helpful to know how to adapt and pivot when needed. Some seasons my habits may look a little different than others because I may need to focus more attention on one area or another, but each season is important for the business to continue growing and to keep the creativity alive.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I absolutely love the creative aspect of “scoring” a design on each loaf and making food look as good as it tastes. In the beginning of learning how to bake sourdough, my focus was about perfecting my craft. Now, it is more about taking my craft to the next level and then stepping it up another notch to make my business stand out from the next. I have a genuine passion for the craft of baking artisanal sourdough and that has been the foundation of my business. It never began to become a business and I never want it to feel like a job. To me, baking sourdough has been therapy and it brings me joy, and I believe that shows in my end product. While some days are harder than others, I’ve learned that business is not always about how good you are at your craft, but also about your mindset and the values you maintain when challenges come your way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We live near some of the most beautiful parks and lakes here in Monroe, MI! We love going to Sterling State Park to hike and look out at the water and play on the beach. St. Mary’s Park has wonderful concerts each week in the summer and the new bridge all lit up in the evening is such a cool spot to walk over if you want to check out downtown. We love our downtown area, there are many cute boutiques and shops to check out! Monroe has a lot to offer the community, there are always various events and gatherings to check out. The River Raisin Centre for the Arts is a great place to check out a local performance in a beautiful quaint historic theatre.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are two main people in my life who have had the largest influence in my story as a creative small business owner. My sweet sister, Grace, was the original person to influence me into beginning my sourdough journey. She was always available to answer questions and offer guidance and support as I learned the intricate process of baking sourdough bread. My amazing husband, Daniel, has been my biggest support and source of encouragement for turning my passion and love of baking sourdough into a business! He has done everything from create my dream website to getting his hands dirty…er, clean…and helping with the dishes. I would not be here today if it were not for either of them.

Website: https://www.risingjoysourdough.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingjoysourdough?igsh=MTQwcmw2azBmN2wxZw==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ACcfcvgMt/

Image Credits
Hannah Marie Photography