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By Michelle Morris - Entrepreneur of Southern Cadence Cuisine & WellDone Cooking
I hold a lot of titles in my life: loving wife, a nurturing mother, a superstar entrepreneur, and chef. How do I do it, you ask? With the love and support of my friends, family, and super awesome team.
Before entering the culinary world, I worked for eight years for Ferguson Enterprises as a plumbing and appliance showroom consultant. Pitching the idea of a need for a corporate chef to my management team quickly landed me in culinary school.
After receiving a degree in the Culinary Arts at the Art Institute of Houston, I became the first Corporate Chef for Ferguson Enterprises. My passion for entertaining small and intimate groups led me to start a boutique catering company serving a niche in the culinary industry.
My sass, confidence and thirst to grow have allowed me to create a vision to lead my team to success.
My husband and I own Well Done Cooking Classes, that we recently relocated to the Spring Branch Memorial area. If you’re looking for a unique, shared experience, come cook with us!
As the sun rises on another busy day in the life of Michelle, a dedicated mom of two sons – Justus, age 12, and Hendrix, age 9 – the familiar hustle and bustle begins. Michelle, along with her loving husband Darrell and business partner of 15 years, runs a successful cooking school named WellDone Cooking Classes. Their passion for food and hospitality shines through in every aspect of their business, from the carefully curated recipes to the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the school.
One might wonder how Michelle manages to juggle the demands of being a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and adventurer. The answer, she says, lies in what she calls the "cheat code" – the unwavering support of her family. With her husband by her side, they navigate the challenges and triumphs of running a business together while ensuring that their sons are nurtured and cared for every step of the way.
“Communication is so important to Darrell and I,” she says. “We have a monthly meeting couple check-in that allow us a safe space to discuss what we want to accomplish together and apart. Or if we just want to vent about the other person not washing dishes! This includes making sure we spend time together outside of work and outside of shuttling kids to and from soccer.”
One of the core values of Michelle’s family is the importance of travel and exposure to new cultures. Every summer, they embark on a journey to explore different parts of the world, providing a rich tapestry of experiences for Justus and Hendrix. This commitment to broadening their horizons outside the borders of the U.S. instills in them a sense of curiosity, empathy, and open-mindedness that will serve them well in the future.
Michelle credits her strong work ethic and dedication to her upbringing, influenced by her parents who hail from diverse backgrounds: Her father from Sierra Leone, West Africa; and her mother, a Southern belle from North Carolina, instilled in her the values of hard work, resilience, and perseverance. These lessons became her guiding light when she faced a setback – being laid off from a job she once thought was her dream.
But as life would have it, that downturn was just the beginning of a new chapter for Michelle. Armed with the support of her family and fueled by her entrepreneurial spirit, she embarked on a journey to create something of her own. Southern Cadence Cuisine was born out of her passion for food, education, and community, a testament to her unwavering determination to turn challenges into opportunities.
Today, as a mompreneur, Michelle thrives in her dual roles as a mother and an entrepreneur. She surrounds herself with a dedicated team who shares her vision and works tirelessly to bring it to life. The road may be challenging at times, but with the love and encouragement of her family and God, Michelle feels unstoppable.
In a world where balancing family and career can often feel like an uphill battle, Michelle’s story serves as a beacon of inspiration. She proves that with dedication, hard work, and the unwavering support of loved ones, anything is possible. As she continues to nurture her children, grow her business, and explore the world, Michelle embodies the true spirit of a modern-day mompreneur – a woman who defies the odds and thrives in the face of adversity.
Here are a few things Michelle does to keep her family moving in the right direction:
• Planning monthly check-ins with her spouse
• Spending time with each kid individually
• Kidless date nights are a must
• Outsource tasks you don’t like, aren’t strong at, or that take up too much time. (House keeper anyone?)
• Invest in an assistant (it can be a virtual one!)
You will find Michelle featured in the Women Making History section of the Women in Business Magazine, pages 21-23.
View the magazine in our flipbook version to read about more Women In Business here:
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