12.05.22
You What?
Stephanie Taylor, CNPP Program Manager, The NIIC
Do you have a nickname? My family and friends call me Stephanie or Taylor-made. My coworkers and associates call me Steph.
In what city did you grow up? I grew up in several cities. I am a military brat, however Orlando, Florida is home to me.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I knew that I wanted to help individuals without stable shelter and I also wanted to be a backup dancer! By the time I was in high school, I wanted to become an athletic trainer for a major university or professional sports league.
What was your first job? I worked on games at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park in Rossville, Georgia — not too far from Chattanooga, Tennessee.
What is your greatest accomplishment? Becoming a mother and raising my children.
Who is your hero? The Lord.
What is your dream job? I am currently living one of my dream careers, which is being an entrepreneur and helping other entrepreneurs. My next dream career would be to become a mental health nurse practitioner or attorney.
What would you choose as your last meal? Since I am currently expecting, I have some strange food cravings. I would eat a sliced tomato with salt, sliced cucumbers, a large cup of soft ice, a cheese and meat tray, and peach cobbler, along with a Snapple Apple to wash it down. I know… weird.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party (living, dead, famous, real or fictional)? I would invite my grandmothers, Luther Vandross, my maternal and paternal family, my family and close friends.
Do you have a motto you live by? If so, what is it? Live by faith and not by sight!
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I would go back to Germany, where I was born.
What does your workout regimen consist of? A few stretches here and there, just until I deliver the baby.
If you could solve one major problem, what would it be? Free mental health care for everyone, no matter their socioeconomic status.
What’s one thing you can’t live without? I can’t live without my children. I need them just as much as they need me.
If you could give your 15-year-old self-advice, what would it be? Maintain your ambition, but let go of that tunnel vision! I definitely missed out on some opportunities because of tunnel vision.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Do what is best for me, even if it is displeasing to others.
Name one person who has inspired you in your life? People that overcome their fears, failures and faults with success and gratitude inspire me the most.
If you had to teach someone one thing, what would you teach? How to be the best version of themselves by trying the unthinkable.
What is your earliest memory? My earliest memory is going to a daycare in Germany that played a song that I loved. I also had German neighbors who had a daughter that was older than me. I can remember visiting her in their home. I also remember what the structure of the home looked like and, ironically, my current house reminds me of Germany. Very nostalgic.
When were you happiest? I am the happiest and emotionally the healthiest that I have ever been in my life.
Who would you like to see perform in concert? I would love to see Beyoncé. I’ve heard she knows how to entertain.
Do you have any guilty pleasures? What are they? Of course. Binge-watching reality shows and true crime stories.
Describe yourself in three words. Considerate, inquisitive and transparent.
What book has had the greatest impact on you? “Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul” by John and Stasi Eldredge.
What famous person would you most like to meet? Princess Diana or Michelle Obama.
What is your favorite part of your job? Helping bring a client’s vision to life.
What do you actually do at your job? I coach individuals that are starting a business or small businesses that are looking to scale. I also manage the Community Navigator Pilot Program, which is a grant-funded program powered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. I work with five organizations to create a seamless flow of resources that range from business technical assistance, capital, ideation cohort, technology assistants and online certifications. CNPP grants serve minorities, women and rural areas in 11 counties.
What do you love most about Fort Wayne? I love the cleanliness, affordability, safety and the supportive community.
What is your biggest pet peeve? People that talk with no action.
What three items would you want with you if you were stranded on a desert island (other than food and water)? My phone, a solar power generator and one of those glam camping tents.
If you had a time machine, where and to what time period would you travel? I would travel to the 70s for sure. There is something intriguing about the fashion, the music, the parties — just the whole vibe.
What profession would you never try? I could never try plumbing!
Where will you go on your next vacation? The plan is to go to Canada. I’m not sure what part, but I have seen some amazing botanical gardens that are breathtaking
What’s your biggest fear? Holding myself back from living the life that I was destined to live.
What is the best gift you have ever been given? Aside from my Care Bears and Cabbage Patch Kids, I would have to say my children.
If you hosted a talk show, who would be your first guest? My first guest would be my best friend. We always talk about having a show or podcast together because of the conversations we have. I think it would be great entertainment and a lot of mothers and wives would relate and tune in.
What is one important skill you think everyone should have? The ability to read.
What skill would you like to master? Some type of martial art.
What fad do you wish would come back or stay gone forever? I would love to see pagers make a comeback. I’m not really a phone person and I know we have text messaging, but something about pagers and beepers speaks to me.
What age do you wish you could permanently be and why? I would say 13 years old. I remember that being a great time in my life. I didn’t have to worry about adulting and lived carefree.
What gets you excited and driven to achieve? Clarity. Clarity in my life, clarity in a business situation, clarity in any capacity.
If you could go back in time, once, and change a single thing, what would it be? My college degree concentrations. I’m a Criminal Justice major. Knowing what I know now, I would have studied something else.
What do you collect? I collect bags, pictures that I never share, accessories I never wear and coats that will never make it out of the closet.
When was the last time you cried and why? I cry all the time for a multitude of reasons, whether it be healing from the past or someone doing something nice for me. I really am a crybaby.
What trait or habit in yourself do you deplore? Biting my nails. I can’t stand it! That’s why I keep them done.
What is something that never fails to make you laugh? People on the internet. The internet is truly undefeated. The jokes, the memes, the people. I get a good laugh a couple of times a day sharing videos and memes.
