mission statement

I was born in the Chicago area, but quickly learned that the cold wasn't for me, so at age 15, my family and I moved to Seminole, Florida. During high school was drawn to and excelled in marketing and entrepreneurship through the DECA program, and soon after I was introduced to flameworking. Having a unique opportunity to move to St. Croix, the US Virgin Islands, I opened and operated my first retail store at 19. While doing so, I began teaching myself early techniques behind the torch. I loved being able to create something with my hands, different and beautiful, that people enjoyed buying. Authenticity was for me! After 4 years of learning the ropes in the islands, I returned to Florida and got a job working in retail and as the onsite glassblower in Tarpon Springs, creating sculptures and jewlery for tourists and locals, while growing my business then named The Glass Menagerie. Between 2000 - 2015, I expanded the wholesale part of the company by offering and selling artwork to gift shops, galleries and museums, exhibited at many juried art shows, and grew my professional brand, Cech Glass, and website. Since moving to St. Petersburg in 2015, I enjoy networking and meeting other like-minded creative entrepreneurs and business owners that support the arts. In the near furture I hope to offer workshops in the downtown St. Pete area and find those that are interested in learning this specialized artform. Being an artist and business owner has taught me the importance of resourcefulness and perseverence and a love for my own personal journey and how it impacts others.