#ThankfulThursday - Edition #15: Jaclyn Jackel

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know!
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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #15: Jaclyn Jackel

Jaclyn is like a sister to me and we grew up together, along with my older Sister and her younger Sister. We've passed clothes back and forth amongst the 4 of us, filled with plenty of embarrassing photos and videos from the 80s and 90s as our "sharing is caring" attitude transcended our fashion styles. Jaclyn has always been by my side regardless of the miles between us and she has always encouraged me to follow my dreams. She has always supported my passion for Volite and years ago gave me the first notebook that I ever used to write down my ideas and first draft drawings of the original logo. She always knows how to make me and anyone else around her laugh, making every time we're together a good time. Jaclyn is an amazingly talented graphic designer, who is super creative and has an unfiltered passion that truly ignites a spark when we are brainstorming together. We have so many different visual design concepts that we can't wait to share with you and to launch with Volite! I am so grateful for Jaclyn and for the many years of friendship we have shared. I know that I can always depend on her and I can't wait to make our ideas a reality so that you can follow along and be inspired by our silliness.

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #14: [DOUBLE DOSE] Father John and Geoffrey Nelson

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know!
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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #14: Father John and Geoffrey Nelson

This week's #ThankfulThursday is a double dose, family edition in honor of Thanksgiving and the top two men in my life. My Father, John has supported me since before I was born and my boyfriend, Geoffrey Nelson is my #1 fan and partner in life.

My Dad has always been there cheering me on in life, from soccer games to graduations and everything in between. When I need help with something, I know that I can go to him for advice and support. He has a very logical and direct perspective that I appreciate. He's taught me the beauty of sarcasm and we've had many great conversations over the years about everything from politics and current news to the intricacies of how wireless internet works and why it is important to put oil in my car. He is my #1 go-to fix it for anything, personal computer guru and someone who has a work ethic that I truly admire. He supported our family by growing in his career based on the merits of his hard work, which allowed him to retire at 55 from a union based City job. I'm proud of my Dad and grateful for who is and what he has taught me.

My boyfriend and life partner, Geoff has been my #1 fan and is always supportive of who I am and what I set out to accomplish. When we originally met, we were really good friends and I have always valued this friendship. Our relationship has grown over the years and he has always been by my side. He is trustworthy, loyal, laid back, hard working and caring. He is always there to pick me up when I fall and the first person cheering me on in both my best and my worst moments. We've built a partnership together and a support system through thick and thin. He sees the best in me, truly loves me in a genuine and respectful way and has taught me the importance of slowing things down in life sometimes. I know that no matter what I do, as long as I am true to who I am, he will always believe in me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #13: Paige Koster

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know!
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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #13: Paige Koster

Paige was the first person to support Volite's Street Team efforts and rocked it in Canada! She would set up booths at live shows to support the bands that Volite sponsored and did an amazing job promoting the brand. She is creative, has great vision and always had really good ideas to share about how to grow the business with various promo/sales efforts. I could always count on her and really appreciated the trust that we built while working together from thousands of miles away on different sides of the continent. I consider Paige a true friend after all of these years of working together and I am so glad that we are still in touch. Thank you for always believing in me and my brand, Paige. Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy! Your Family is beautiful and I am so proud of you :)

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #12: Marissa Lopez

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know! 
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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #13: Marissa Lopez

Marissa Lopez is such a kind and creative person. We went to all of the same schools growing up in San Mateo, but I really got to know her when I met her through mutual friends in High School. Our Volite partnership started with making charm bracelets, necklaces and earrings, then we expanded to making keychains. I would bring a basic concept to Marissa and we'd sit together on the floor in her room as she helped make that idea come to life. She had her toolkit and would cut chains at different lengths to create different styles and patterns with the charms I had bought. I loved what we did to bring this together with the colorful picks and I had a lot of fun working with you, Marissa! Thank you for all of your support... Let's get back into making jewelry!

 

 

  

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #12: Alyssa Canfield

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know! 
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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #12: Alyssa Canfield

Alyssa has been one of Volite's biggest supporters since the minute I told her about this brand. Whenever I see her, she is always genuinely interested to hear updates on how I am doing and what's new with the company. She has always been one of the first to offer to help with promo efforts and has rocked Volite stickers on her laptop and cell phone over the years, spreading the love everywhere she goes. She is always thinking about and sharing new ideas of how to promote the company and has always talked highly of the brand to anyone and everyone she meets, making it a point to find a way to bring up Volite and share what I am doing to grow the company. I've always had a lot of respect for Alyssa and the work that she does to help the youth through various programs. One time, during an after school arts and crafts session, she made me a special Hama bead version of the Volite logo :) I still have it and it means a lot to me. Today is Alyssa's birthday, so I'd like to take a minute to wish her a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY and to sincerely thank her for always supporting Volite. Thank you, Alyssa!

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #11: Regan Jeric aka Volite's First Model!

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know!
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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #11: Regan Jeric

Regan is an ALL STAR and one of the sweetest girls I have met. This might embarass her, but she was officially Volite's first model! ;) She worked for my Mom as an Office Assistant and always did a stellar job. She would often help with various side projects for Volite, from organizing paperwork to prepping flyers and ultimately modeling when we needed some photos taken for marketing promos. Regan is someone who is always willing to learn and grow, to push herself and to go out of her way to care for others. She also has really great taste in music and we share a common love for a lot of the same bands. Thank you for all of your support, Regan! You've been there through the start-up phase of Volite's business operations and I really appreciate all that you've done to help :)

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #10: Joey Hernandez & Volite's First Tattoo!

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a  series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know! 

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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #10: Joey Hernandez

I met Joey in college through mutual friends back in 2004 when I first started Volite and he has always been a big fan and supporter ever since. He is one of the sweetest guys I have ever met and he has always made it a point to keep in touch to let me know how much he loves the brand and the different products I've released over the years. When I started making jewelry, he was one of the first to order a charm bracelet and when I was promoting the brand, he took it upon himself to send me a really cool picture of him rockin' his chucks with the promo picks scattered around.

I still vividly remember the day he called me to tell me he was getting the logo tattooed and I almost shit my pants. [NOTE: Not literally and yes, I swear. A lot. Probably more than I should. Oh well. It's a part of who I am and to me it is just a small part of expression in language...] ANYWAYS, I remember when he called me and I told him I HAVE TO BE THERE to support you! He wanted it done ASAP and was getting it within a week so I wasn't able to coordinate being there with him, but it turned out great and I am so amazed that he did that! 

It means so much to me to have friends like Joey supporting me and the brand. Loyalty and friendship are so important in life and I believe they are truly key elements to happiness. Thank you so much, Joey! Your support means the world to me and I am forever grateful to know that you believe in my brand and in me as much as I do :) You inspire me and I hope that Volite continues to inspire you.

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #9: Shannon Smoot

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a  series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know! 

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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #9: Shannon Smoot

Thankful Thursday this week is dedicated to Shannon Smoot, my ride or die best friend. We met back when we were super young at the beginning of our AYSO soccer days when her Dad was our coach. We've gone to elementary, middle and high school together experiencing the many ups and downs of life together. Shannon has always been by my side and we have often joked about "being in same boat" because we are so much alike and tend to face the same challenges and reality checks in life at the same time. She is a true inspiration to me and a friend who I genuinely trust and respect. Shannon is someone who I look up to as a role model and someone who has taught me so much about myself and about life through our endless conversations that contemplate the many complexities of life. She always strives to do more and be more so that she can walk her talk and truly be the change she wants to see in the world. I am so grateful to call her my friend and to have someone that I know I can always count on. 

Shannon -- Thank you for always being there for me, for truly listening, for giving honest feedback and for always understanding!

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #8: My Sister, Rachel

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a  series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know! 

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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #8: My Sister, Rachel

Thankful Thursday this week is dedicated to my older Sister, Rachel. She was my very first friend and has always been by my side. She looks out for me, supports me, laughs with me, cries with me and always has my back no matter what. We've had some epic battles as siblings and shared a room for the greater part of our childhood. I've borrowed her clothes many times without asking and hoped I could sneak them back into her dresser before she got home and noticed. Over the years she's taught me how to stand tall as an individual by letting me be who I am and she's introduced me to many different genres of music, including taking me to my first concert with Mom to see Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Ginuwine when I was 10 years old. I am so grateful to have a Sister and to have MY Sister as a friend and someone that I know I can always count on. 

A special throwback with Mom:

photo credit: Dad

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #7: Natalie Holbrook

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a  series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know! 

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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #7: Natalie Holbrook

This week for Thankful Thursday I'm taking it back to the origins of the guitar pick belt and dedicating to Natalie Holbrook. Natalie and I went to high school together and instantly bonded over music. She and I loved the same bands and went to shows together all the time at so many different venues in San Francisco (i.e. Slims, Bottom of the Hill, The Fillmore, etc. etc.) We always had so much fun and I loved hanging out with Natalie because she has so much energy and passion for life and music. She is not afraid to act silly, spark up a conversation with anyone and go out of her way to have a good time. 

One day when we were hanging out I came up with an idea to make a guitar pick belt, so we went to the local music store in San Mateo (B Street Music) and I picked up some guitar picks. We went back to Natalie's house in Foster City and I made the belt because we were heading to a show that night, but I was too afraid to wear the belt because I thought it might fall apart. I ended up wearing that belt for the first time at Warped Tour that summer. Out of a crowd of thousands, a bunch of people kept coming up to me to compliment me on my belt and ask me where I got it. I was impressed that people noticed and liked it so much, so when I got home I told my Mom about it and we started the process of patenting the belt and incorporating what became Volite, INC. That's how it all began...back in 2004! 

#ThankfulThursday - Edition #6: Heather Wallace

#ThankfulThursday: Giving thanks for the past, present and future in a  series of weekly shout outs to those who have and continue to support VoliteINC.

DISCLAIMER: These #ThankfulThursday posts are in no way, shape or form ranked or prioritized, so if you're not featured here right away, that doesn't mean that you're not important. I've got a lot of gratitude to give, so please stay patient and your time to shine will come :) If there's something special you'd like to say about VoliteINC and/or if you'd specifically like to be featured, please let me know! 

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#ThankfulThursday - Edition #6: Heather Wallace aka BIF

Heather Wallace is my Best International Friend aka my BIF! She and I made that up years ago as a special title for our friendship. Heather and I both love music, which is what originally brought our friendship together many moons ago. Our friendship spreads over the entire span of North America, uniting the United States and Canada between friends ;) She is one of my few true best friends, a friend that I love dearly and someone who can always make me laugh. We often have what we call HLAs, which are laugh attacks based on inside jokes and new jokes that we randomly make up on the fly. Heather is a sweet, caring, goofy, honest, giving, loving friend and I wish that we lived closer so that we could spend more time together. We have so many great memories from our various visits and adventures in Canada and the United States! Her family and friends have always welcomed me with open arms and I consider them a 2nd family to me. I am so grateful for all of the good times we have shared and can't wait to give Heather a BIG hug the next time I see her. I miss you, Heather! xoxo