Name: YENI MONROY
Birthdate: DECEMBER 23 1981
Where were you born? BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
What are your community activities? (church or faith-based involvement, local, regional and national professional organizations, non-profits, etc) LIKES 4 TIKES, PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ (CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY), TASTE OF HOME, GIRLS PLACE, KICKOFF FOR A CURE (CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION), GAINESVILLE FISHER HOUSE, HIPPODROME, UF PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, STOP CHILDREN’S CANCER, TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, MORNING MILE, CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK.
List any awards you have won for community service: NONE
What is your definition of success? HAPPINESS. SUCCESS IS MEASURED IN SMILES.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment? OWNING MY OWN BUSINESS ALLOWING ME TO WORK DOING WHAT I ENJOY.
How do you exemplify the spirit of a Forty Under 40 professional? THE RECOGNITION IS BASED ON MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND ACHIEVING SUCCESS. I FEEL I HAVE DONE BOTH OF THESE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING: INSPIRING OTHERS THROUGH MY ACTIONS AS A LEGAL IMMIGRANT INCLUDING THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE NATURALIZATION PROCESS AND BECOMING A U.S. CITIZEN; AS AN ENTREPRENEUR ESTABLISHING AND RUNNING MY OWN BUSINESS; AS A CAKE ARTIST AND BAKER BRINGING JOY TO PEOPLE ON VERY IMPORTANT OCCASIONS IN THEIR LIVES; AND FINALLY THROUGH TIME, PRODUCT AND MONETARY DONATIONS TO A VARIETY OF DESERVING ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
Businessperson who has most inspired you: SIR RICHARD BRANSON
Best advise ever received: NEVER STOP DREAMING.
Greatest professional challenge: HAVING THE COURAGE TO LEAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN RESEARCH TO FOLLOW MY HEART AND OPEN MY OWN BAKERY.
First job: MICROBIOLOGIST
What color crayon would you be? Why? BLUE. I’M HAPPIEST WHEN I SEE BLUE.
Favorite after-work drink: WATER. SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED.
If I had a magic wand, I’d: SAVE THE POLAR BEARS
What is your favorite Gadget? MY IPHONE
How long have you been in Gainesville? I MOVED TO GAINESVILLE IN 2010.
What do you love most about Gainesville/Alachua County? THE TREES, THE SPANISH MOSS, AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
Three things people would be surprised to know about you: I’M A NERD, I EAT MORE THAN MY HUSBAND, AND I STILL CARRY A TEDDY BEAR.
Advice you would give a younger you: PAY ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS; FOLLOW YOUR HEART.