Why did you choose WOW 1 DAY PAINTING?
I was really impressed with the people, the culture and the WOW 1 DAY PAINTING brand. Additionally, I was attracted to the customer experience emphasis on the business model. There is a tremendous opportunity to bring WOW 1 DAY PAINTING to the Palm Desert area.
What was your background prior to joining WOW 1 DAY PAINTING?
I worked for a California start-up company for the last four years. Prior to that, most of my experience has been in corporate marketing and public relations. In 2002, I co-founded an online sales company in Switzerland where we partnered with a large sporting goods company and sold their products to over 35 countries.
What are you looking forward to most about being a WOW 1 DAY PAINTING business owner?
The most exciting thing will be building my business from the ground up and establishing brand recognition in my region. I'm also excited about being able to provide job opportunities, training, and development.
What are your passions outside of work?
Spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, hiking, international film festivals, the performing arts.
How are you involved with your community?
I serve on the board of a non-profit called Community One Foundation which is a public-private city revitalization project in the Palm Springs area. It focuses on economic development and job creation and was founded by Los Angeles-based architects Cara Lee and Stephan Mundwiler.
Do you have any role models or key motivators in your life?
My parents. Their work ethic, the passion they both had for their work and the foundation they gave my siblings and I. I admire conservationists like Jane Goodall and Robert Bateman and I've read every book by Maya Angelou.
What makes Palm Desert unique?
Palm Desert is a city in the Coachella Valley, about eight miles east of the Palm Springs International Airport. We have a tropical desert climate with over 348 days of sunshine a year. Palm Desert is unique in that it's a resort town where many people have second homes, especially people from Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. We also have a lot of Snowbirds. From October through April, you will see many license plates from Western Canada and Western U.S. People love the warm, dry climate and the tranquility of the desert. A couple of my favorite events are the Palm Springs International Film Festival held every January and the BNP Paribas Tennis Open in Indian Wells in March. We are also known for the hugely popular Coachella Music Festival in April.
Fun facts about you, or anything else you'd like to share?
I hold both American and Canadian citizenships. I've lived in California since 1990. First moving to San Francisco then to Los Angeles and now Palm Desert, but I was born and raised in Canada. I have been fortunate to live in several provinces including Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Growing up, I spent many summers in Manitoba visiting my grandparents. One day, I'd love to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and get tickets to the US Open! My favorite movies are Dinner at Eight (1933), Laura (1944) and anything with David Niven or Jimmy Stewart.
Help us in welcoming Tamara to the WOW 1 DAY PAINTING family.