Buffalo Boss Babe :Bridget Schaefer
This weeks Buffalo Boss Babe Feature is Bridget Schaefer. Bridget is a boss babe who has a hand in some VERY cool projects in Buffalo. The first being Rise Collaborative. Rise Collaborative produces a video and blog series that promotes local small businesses and non profits. They cover culture and lifestyle in Buffalo and Western New York. They also have a newspaper, clothing line, they throw killer events and i'm sure so much more! Bridget is also working at a buffalove staple ...Larkin Square. Larkinville is by far one of my favorite places in the city. It is trendy and welcoming and an overall amazing place. We sat down with Bridget and talked about life and all the amazing things happening in her life.
Photo by Beth Insalaco
What made you start or brought you to where you are today? Tell us your story and what makes you a Buffalo Boss Babe.
I've always been in Buffalo. I attended Canisius College and graduated with a degree in Communication Studies. From there I was fortunate to land a job at WIVB-TV (channel 4) producing the lifestyle morning show "Winging It! Buffalo Style." With little to no journalism experience, the job kicked my butt! It was the most amazing experience to produce live TV, I still miss it often. I went onto produce channel 4's morning newscast and was incredibly lucky to meet and grow with some amazing co-workers, who are still killing it on TV or behind the scenes today.
This experience, as well as my time working at local marketing agency 19 IDEAS, brought me to Rise Collaborative. Kevin Heffernan and Drew Brown started the project, they noticed that I was beginning to get into video work and they asked if I wanted to produce some videos for Rise. I was in. We started to gain momentum on projects like our newspaper No Boundaries which focuses on social justice issues as well as positive changes happening in all neighborhoods and communities in WNY.
Aside from Rise, I work full time as the Director of Hospitality at Larkin Square. Kind of a career side-step from PR and journalism, but I love it!! I've always worked at restaurants throughout college and my time at WIVB, so managing events at Larkin Square is right up my alley. The energy in Larkinville right now is contagious - the new businesses, collaborations in the neighborhood and projects coming up down the road are super exciting.
Who are your favorite people to follow?
Hmmm chefs and food bloggers. I want all the gorgeous food photos.
What are your favorite things to do in the area (Buffalo and greater WNY)?
All time favorite... eating at kunis. Or eating at any new restaurant in the city + drinking beer. I also (try) to do as much yoga as I can and Buffalo has a really solid boutique fitness community.
Tell me about your favorite collaborations or a dream collaboration?
Favorite collaboration....Working with Matt Urban Hope Center to release the second issue of No Boundaries. Being able to share and promote stories of the organization's struggles, milestones, clients and goals was awesome. Pretty much working with any nonprofit has been a great experience, so here's to more collabs like that to come!
Photo by Beth Insalaco
If you could have coffee with anyone in the world who would it be?
The National. I have just a mild obsession with them...
Larkinville
What are your hopes, dreams, goals? Big or Small.
long term goal, do all the photography and video I can while traveling all over the place.
Also continue to expand Larkin Square events. It's an amazing urban space, I can't say enough good things about it. AND continue kicking a** with Rise Collaborative on No Boundaries - next issue comes out in the spring!
Tell us about your family a bit ( 2 or 4 legged ) ?
I'm the oldest of five kids - 4 girls, 1 boy (2 legged). I also have a 4 legged friend, Whinnie! She's a St. Berdoodle (yes, it's a thing and you won't be disappointed when you google it).
I can't say enough good things about my family ... they're hilarious, obnoxious, loud, embarrassing and I love them more than anything.
Feel Good Five :)
Color: black
Food: ice cream
Super Power: the power to have ice cream on command
Animal: puppies
Season of the year: summer
I am lucky enough to call Bridget my friend and watching her life and career grow is truly amazing. I expect to see many amazing things from Bridget in the future! Be sure to stop down to Larkinville for their amazing events and follow them on social media. Also follow along with all the amazing projects with Rise Collaborative on their website http://www.risecollaborative.com and all of their social media outlets @risecollaborative
Until next time!
Buffalo Boss Babes is a woman run blog series featuring woman in and around the city of Buffalo N.Y.
If you know someone doing amazing things for our community, past and present, young and old..... send us a message at buffalobossbabes@gmail.com
Be kind to everyone you meet.
Here's to strong woman! May we know them. May we be them
