Being your own boss can be difficult. Just take it from entrepreneurs Mari Jones (Colgate) and Abby Wempe (Kansas State). They both agree that it takes a support system to help you rise up and overcome the obstacles of entrepreneurship. Join our True and Constant Podcast hosts, Lex and Emma, as they explore the power of community within entrepreneurialism with Mari and Abby!
 
California native Mari Jones grew up playing, camping and learning to drive on her father’s sprawling Sonoma-Cutrer estate. By 12, she took her first trip to Burgundy with her father. It was there that Mari discovered pinot noir and became hooked. After earning a degree in philosophy at Colgate University, Mari lived in Colorado before returning to Sonoma in 2012 to work with her father. At Emeritus Vineyards, Mari has led the transition and transformation of the Emeritus team to the next generation of pinot noir icons. She oversees all aspects of Emeritus Vineyards, cultivating the highest standards of excellence. Under her leadership, both estate vineyards have become certified sustainable and carbon negative.
 
Raised in Lawrence, Kansas, Abby Wempe was inspired by her parents’ dedication to their professions. Drawing from her father's experience as a golf pro on event days and her mother's skills as a nurse, Abby became an event planner. Abby loves the excitement, stress and anticipation that comes with pulling off amazing events. After graduating from Kansas State University in 2011, she took a corporate job but quickly realized her true passion was the hospitality industry. Since 2013, she has fully embraced working weekends and diving into the entrepreneur lifestyle as an event planner.