08/28/2026
It’s a long one, but today it needs to be said. ❤️
Today is Gateway’s Employee Appreciation Party. Our office is closed, and for once, we’re stepping away from the emails, work orders, phone calls, emergencies, deadlines, and craziness to simply enjoy being together.
And my heart is incredibly full.
Eight years ago, Gateway was just me—with my best friend Leanna occasionally jumping in to help during the summers. We didn’t have a big team, a fancy plan, or any idea just how far this little dream would go.
We just kept showing up.
And then we grew. And grew. And grew.
Today, Gateway has 9 full-time office team members, 1 part-time team member, and 4 full-time maintenance and field technicians.
But those numbers don't tell the story.
The story is the people.
In 2021, when Junior got sick, there were days when I genuinely wondered if I was going to lose everything we had built. I was scared, exhausted, and trying to figure out how to be a wife, a business owner, a leader, and a human being all at the same time.
And my community stepped in.
My brokerage. My family. My friends. My clients. My staff. Our residents. Even our vendors.
When I was too tired to do anything else, people cared for my dogs, ran errands, brought food, answered calls, handled problems, kept things moving, and sometimes simply reminded me that I wasn't carrying it all by myself.
Gateway kept going because people cared enough to keep it going.
That's why I've never believed we're just a company.
We are a family. We are a community. And every single day, the people who work here make decisions that affect someone's life—and, in many cases, one of the biggest and most important things they will ever own or care for: their home.
We don't take that responsibility lightly.
We won't always get everything perfect, and we know we can't make everyone happy. But I can say with my whole heart that this team shows up every day with the intention of doing the right thing, taking care of people, solving problems, and leaving things better than we found them.
So if you see one of my staff members today—or anyone who has been part of the Gateway community along the way—please remind them that they are appreciated.
Their work matters. Their effort matters. And Gateway would not be Gateway without them.
And today carries another meaning for me.
Today is also my little sister Jessica's birthday.
The same little sister who trusted us with her baby. The same sister who, while raising two kids and working full-time herself, still had a hand in keeping Gateway together during a time when I was terrified I might lose it all.
She's in Heaven now, and there isn't a day that I don't wish she were still here to see how far we've come.
Happy Birthday, Jessica. ❤️ You are so deeply missed. There will always be a piece of you in this story, too.
To every employee, friend, family member, client, resident, vendor, and person who has believed in this crazy little dream over the last eight years:
Thank you.
God and this community have given us an incredible opportunity to build something we're proud of, serve people, provide jobs, create relationships, and make an impact far bigger than I ever imagined when Gateway was just me trying to figure it all out.
Today, we're celebrating the people who made that possible.
My heart and soul are so incredibly full. ❤️
Happy Gateway Employee Appreciation Day to the absolute best crew I could ask for.
