LAUNCH Spotlight: Jennifer Panepinto, Painted Bread Marketing LLC

Get to know Jennifer Panepinto of Painted Bread Marketing LLC from our Summer 2021 LAUNCH Cohort!

What exactly is your business?                  

Painted Bread Marketing helps companies figure out what to say, who to say it to, and where to get the message across. We work primarily in B2B with a focus on private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

How did you come up with your business idea?

I had my own business years ago doing marketing consulting but was mostly focused on content writing. I left it to work for another company but always wanted to get back to consulting because I love the variety of the work and the people I get to meet and work with. The name is something I’ve had in mind for a while! My last name is Panepinto which means painted bread in Italian. I now use my collective experience as a marketer, business owner, and economic development professional as the basis of the insights and guidance I provide to our clients.

How did you find out about Aviatra?

I worked at Tri-Ed in 2018/2019 and met Nancy at a Flight Night during that time. I was inspired by it and thought “one day I’d like to do that.” And now, here I am!

What is your inspiration?

I want to grow this business to the point where I can sell/transition it to the people who have helped make it successful.  This is NOT a hobby, this is my life passion that will lead to a lucrative retirement.

What has been your biggest accomplishment with your business so far?

The faith and confidence clients have entrusted in me to help them grow their businesses. You never know how people really perceive you and your abilities until you put yourself out there like this. Every client so far is a result of personal connections and word of mouth which means more to me than anything. 

What was the most valuable thing you gained from your experience with Aviatra?

The support from Nancy and the whole Aviatra community is unmatched! Plus the opportunity to be part of a cohort of other amazing women. I am so happy and honored to be a part of it!

What was the biggest challenge you faced when starting your business?

I launched this business right before Covid-19 shut everything down, but that was not my challenge. For me, it was getting over my insecurities of “am I good enough?”  Will people pay money for my services and trust that I can help them? I am grateful and happy to say the answer is yes, but I still struggle with that feeling of ‘am I good enough?’  It gives me the motivation to keep learning and growing so that I can be the best for my clients and my colleagues.

Where do you hope to be in 5 years?

I hope to be leading a company of people who are happy and fulfilled in their work, who have the drive and desire to continue – and hopefully grow – what I’ve started.  I am not in this for me. I want to provide a future for others, too.

Any advice for future Aviatras?

Do it! You won’t regret it! But be prepared. It will take time and commitment and you have to make sure you have the resources to back you up through the process. Ask for help when needed. Put in the time and effort and it will pay off in the long run.