Born and raised in small-town Massachusetts, I traded New England winters for the warm shores of Tampa Bay in 2004. Art was always a passion— a gift passed down from my father, a skilled woodworker and carver — but it was the ocean that truly awakened my creative spirit.

In March 2020, my husband Matt and I got married just as the world came to a standstill. A honeymoon wasn't an option at the time of social distancing. So we bought a jet ski and headed for the water. It was there, shell by shell, that I fell completely in awe with Florida's turquoise coastline, its marine life, and the treasures the sea leaves behind.

What started as creative gifts for friends and family grew into part-time vending at a local farmers market booth — and then... into something I never could have imagined. In 2021, after 16+ years in the corporate world, I walked away from the Zoom calls and endless inbox and never looked back. I'm outdoors. I'm creating. I'm happier and healthier than I've ever been.

Sol Salis is built on the belief that you get what you put in. Yes, I have talents, but to persevere it takes hard work, determination, and the unwavering support of the people who love and believe in YOU. Matt, who loads and unloads every market, encourages me on hard days pushing me forward when doubt creeps in, for bringing me out to the water and somehow tolerating the endless shells and strange finds I bring home. The encouragement of my Mom motivated me to utilize my inherited and God-given talents and who has always been an example of what a strong woman looks like. My mother-in-law, who helps collect shells in all kinds of crazy weather (winter shelling is the best). The incredible community at Tampa Bay Markets, Inc. and every customer old and new. You're the reason I get to do this every single day and made it possible for me to keep doing what I LOVE.

Thank you — truly — for being part of this journey.