Only In America
Even with all the bad news out there today, sometimes you run into a good, inspiring story.
About 10 years ago, Kayla Viveiros was about to lose everything. She had no college degree, got married at 18, and had her first kid at 21. Later, her husband, who was an art director for the New England Patriots, got sick and couldn’t work. They couldn’t keep up with the bills and the mortgage, not to mention putting food on the table for three kids.
So Kayla became a substitute teacher. Then she moved on to real estate. Next she joined Polaris MEP, a nonprofit that partners with Rhode Island manufacturers. They said, “She has a strong personal touch and is an active listener. She is not at all superficial. She always sees the big picture and has a positive attitude.”
During her time at Polaris, she helped Munroe Dairy, a 145-year-old family-owned dairy and grocery delivery company best known for its milkmen and cow-spotted trucks seen all over Rhode Island. They liked her so much they hired her as VP.
The dairy was familiar to her. She always had Munroe’s chocolate milk when she got home from school. Even now, if the going gets tough, and it’s been tough over the years, she still pours herself a glass. “It makes everything better,” she says. And now this scrapper is the CEO of Munroe’s Dairy. “I’m really proud. I came from literally almost being homeless a decade ago to now being a CEO. I think you just have to be willing to put your mind to it and work hard.”
Just goes to show what grit and no-quit can do. Keep your dukes up.
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