Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa.
Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been a caretaker at heart, and that’s really been the common thread through everything I’ve done, even though the industries have changed over the years.
Before starting WGSD Marketing Solutions, I spent nearly 20 years as a personal chef and boutique caterer here in Jackson. I built that business in 2001 after moving to Michigan shortly after my second child was born, and it became a huge part of my life. I wasn’t just cooking – I was helping people create experiences, celebrate milestones, and bring people together. I genuinely cared about making things not just good, but memorable.
When Covid hit, that business came to a halt almost overnight. Like a lot of entrepreneurs, I had to pivot quickly and figure out what was next.
What many people don’t know is that my background actually started in graphic design and marketing. I have a BFA in Graphic Design, and earlier in my career I worked in design, real estate appraisal, and executive administration. So when I made the shift into marketing, I wasn’t starting from scratch – I was returning to something I already understood, but this time with 20 years of real business experience behind me.
That changed everything.
Today, through WGSD Marketing Solutions, I help businesses with digital marketing, graphic design, SEO, websites, automation, and AI tools. But at the core, it’s still that same caretaker mindset. I’m just not feeding people anymore – I’m helping take care of their businesses.
I want my clients to feel supported, not overwhelmed. I want their marketing to not only look good, but actually work. I want their systems to be efficient, their messaging to be clear, and their business to grow in a way that’s sustainable.
I’ve always wanted what’s best for the people I serve. That hasn’t changed – only the way I do it has.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, I’ve been pretty fortunate. It hasn’t been without learning curves, but it also hasn’t been the uphill battle that some people experience when they completely start from scratch.
A big part of that is because I didn’t really start from zero. I had already been running my own business for nearly 20 years, marketing myself, managing clients, and understanding what it actually takes to operate and grow something successfully. Even before that, I had experience in graphic design, real estate appraisal, and executive administration, so I was already very familiar with both the creative and business sides.
Even in my catering business, my creative and artistic background was always present. It showed up in how I designed menus, presented food, created experiences, and even in signage and displays. I’ve always had that blend of creativity and functionality.
When I transitioned after Covid, I actually started as a virtual assistant. But what I quickly realized was that almost everything I was doing overlapped with marketing. I wasn’t just helping with tasks, I was helping businesses show up better, communicate better, and operate more efficiently.
That’s when the shift happened from VA to a full marketing company.
I was also really fortunate to work alongside one of my best friends, who is a full WordPress website designer. Through that partnership, I was able to not only support her business on the back end and client-facing side, but also deepen my understanding of websites, SEO, and the technical side of the industry.
So for me, it’s really been a process of building on what I already knew, continuing to learn, and evolving as the industry evolves.
I still learn something new all the time, and I think that’s part of what keeps this exciting.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
WGSD Marketing Solutions is a full-service digital marketing and business support company that helps businesses show up, stand out, and actually generate results online.
At the core, I specialize in:
Website design and WordPress development support
Search engine optimization – SEO and local SEO
Social media strategy and content creation
Paid advertising and lead generation
Automation, CRM systems, and AI integration
But what really sets my business apart is that I don’t approach this as “just marketing.”
I approach it as a business owner who’s been in the trenches for over 20 years.
I understand what it feels like to invest in marketing and not see results. I understand the overwhelm of trying to manage everything at once. And I understand that most business owners don’t need more tools – they need better strategy and systems.
That’s where I come in.
I’m known for being very hands-on, very honest, and very focused on what actually works. Not what’s trendy, not what looks flashy, but what drives real visibility, real engagement, and real leads.
I also develop tools and platforms like Social Buddy Pro and Biz Buddy Pro, which are designed to simplify social media management and customer interaction using AI and automation, without losing the human touch.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that everything I build is rooted in experience and integrity. I’m not someone who jumped into marketing overnight. This is something I’ve lived, evolved into, and continue to grow in every day.
What I want people to know is this:
Good marketing isn’t just about looking good online. It’s about having a strategy that supports your business, systems that save you time, and messaging that actually connects with your audience.
And that’s exactly what I help my clients create.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that business and life don’t always follow a straight path, and that’s okay.
I never would’ve guessed that I’d go from being a personal chef and caterer for 20 years to running a marketing company, but when I look back, it all makes sense. Every step, every skill, every experience built on the next.
I also think there’s a lot of noise right now, especially in marketing and AI. It’s easy to feel like you have to keep up with everything or jump on every new trend. You really don’t. The foundation still matters. Clear messaging, consistency, and genuinely caring about the people you serve will always go further than the latest tool.
For me, that caretaker mindset has never gone away. It’s just shifted from feeding people to helping take care of their businesses.
And if I can leave people with anything, it’s this – you don’t have to do everything at once, and you don’t have to do it alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://WGSDMarketingSolutions.com
