CHERISE'S JOURNEY

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Cherise discovered her love for baking when a family member gave her a baking cookbook at the age of 10. He told her to pick a recipe, he would purchase the ingredients, and they would bake it together. She chose a strawberry shortcake cake and had the most fun she ever had learning. That project sparked an interest that would be the beginning of her summer baking spree for family and neighborhood friends.

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Cherise worked at a local bank as a teller making minimum wage and was a single parent of two children on a very tight budget. One holiday season, she was unable to purchase gifts that year. Cherise has always been a giver by nature, so she decided to bake butter cookies and tarts and placed them in some Christmas tins. They were so well received by her co-workers and friends. Everyone told her that if she sold them, they would definitely buy them. Cherise’s desserts were that good and everyone looked forward to her baking every year!

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Many years later, while working two jobs to make ends meet, Cherise was given the opportunity to become the Accounting Manager of a then telephone wagering operation. The position required frequent travel and long hours. Cherise was leading a company with over 100 employees and many moving parts; to include the local live race days, a telephone betting operation that hailed customers from across the globe, and on-island betting parlors on both St. Croix and St. Thomas. The corporate demands put an immediate halt to her baking hustle. Later promoter to her dream job—Chief Operations Manager, Cherise absolutely loved what she did, and she worked for a company that took very good care of its employees. Unfortunately, a breakdown in negotiations caused the company to abruptly cease their operations. Those years instilled core management values that she would later be sure to practice in her own company. So much so, that one of In The Mix’s company benefits will be an onsite workout facility to help foster a healthy lifestyle for our staff members.

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The world of politics was Cherise’s next career stop. She worked as a liaison in a local senator's office and her hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed, as she quickly became the senator's chief of staff. Cherise was tasked to lead the  senator’s office; making sure that he attended senate and constituency meetings, addressed any community concerns, and served efficiently in his areas of jurisdiction. When he was not re-elected, Cherise garnered a position in the legislature's business office.

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Corporate life would come calling again, as she was sought out for a General Manager's position for TRAXCO, Inc. which was the new operator of the horse racetrack. While trying to make ends meet, Cherise received a call from a friend to ask if she was still baking. He said that he owned an ice cream shop and they were no longer able to keep up with the baking demand on their own. Although Cherise had temporarily shelved her baking passion in order to serve the needs of her growing family, she said she would be happy to assist him. That partnership was the catalyst to what would become In The Mix Cakery and Cafe. Her decorating skills were very basic, but a demand for custom birthday cakes made her and her daughter Cheraine start to practice and invest in tools to better their craft. At this point, Cherise was baking during the evening and maintaining a full-time job as General Manager of the Randall Doc James Racetrack. Three years into her tenure, the company's lease was not renewed, and Cherise was laid off. Devastated by the news  that she would be unemployed, she took her severance and pledged to build her business to the point that she would never have to punch anyone else's clock. She stayed true to the promise and God honored her many sacrifices. The business outgrew the humble beginnings of her home, and the search began for a storefront.

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In The Mix opened in 2016 and has been growing since inception. Many individuals learned a great deal under Cherise's tutelage and transitioned to their own baking endeavors, which is a testament to her teaching abilities. Cheraine has grown tremendously as a baker and decorator while working with her mom. Their business partnership officially began in 2020, but they have a long history of making desserts together.

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CHERAINE'S JOURNEY

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Cheraine's passion for baking was ignited at a young age when she attended a 4H Summer Program. She loved the baking sessions so much that she started recreating desserts for her family. Soon, her cakes became highly requested for family gatherings and special occasions. Growing up, Cheraine watched her mother create mouthwatering butter cookies, a recipe passed down from Grandma Ruthie on her father's side. Her mother, affectionately known as Mama Cakes, used to bake for an ice cream store in their hometown of St. Croix. Cheraine eagerly helped her mother with orders, finding joy in the process and the beautiful creations that emerged. This experience reignited Cheraine's love for baking, which she discovered as a child with her Easy Bake Oven.

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After receiving a message at church urging her to "work her little," Cheraine decided to pursue her baking passion. She established Mix It Up Cakery & Dessert Bar in Maryland, and it didn't take long for her to realize she was onto something special. Her goal was to create unprecedented desserts, infusing them with the unique flavors of her island upbringing - something she missed from home and believed others would appreciate as well. Mid-2020, Cheraine could no longer ignore the burning desire for more, followed her gut, and quit corporate America. At the end of the year, she made the decision to return to St. Croix and contribute to the expansion and growth of the family business.

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JOINT VISION

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Cherise and Cheraine united to create Spill The Mix with a vision of fostering creativity, innovation, and growth. They aim to maximize the talents of everyone in their organization to provide superior products and services. Their core values include creativity, relationship-building, flavor, innovation, and giving. In 2023, In The Mix and Spill The Mix acquired a new location for expansion, which exceeded their expectations. They are thrilled about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead.  

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MANAGEMENT STYLES

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Cherise brings extensive experience in managing and leading large corporations and teams. Her management journey began in banking and continued as she held positions such as accounting manager, Chief of Staff, and Operations Manager. She successfully led a company with over 100 employees, overseeing various functions including local race days, telephone betting operations, and on-island betting parlors. As the Chief Operations Manager, she had the opportunity to work for a company that prioritized the well-being of its employees, and this experience shaped her core management values. In fact, one of the benefits we plan to offer at In The Mix is an onsite workout facility to promote a

healthy lifestyle for our staff members. Cherise has a genuine passion for taking care of her employees and others, evident through her generosity and continuous acts of kindness. Together with Cheraine, they form a dynamic team, combining their talents and exceptional work ethic.

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Cheraine's creativity and love for design shines through in her meticulous attention to detail, her standard of excellence, and her determination to exceed expectations. In addition to her culinary expertise, Cheraine holds a physics degree from Lincoln University of PA and a master's degree in business from the University of Baltimore and Towson University. Her background also encompasses extensive experience in quality management and compliance. Furthermore, Cheraine is a skilled freelance graphic designer with a flair for marketing strategies.  When she's not in the cakery, you can usually find her serving on the media team at her church.

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Cherise and her family strongly believe in using their blessings to be a blessing to others, which extends to all aspects of their lives, including their delectable desserts. They are genuinely excited about the opportunity to continue sharing their gifts with the world.

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DREAM TEAM GOAL​

As In The Mix continues to grow, we anticipate the interesting challenge of finding the right individuals to join our fastpaced environment and blend with our family dynamic. However, we are ready and excited to tackle this challenge headon. We are fully committed to doing whatever it takes to cultivate a flourishing and well-rounded team in a positive work environment. In order to achieve our ambitious goals and plans, expanding our team is an absolute necessity.