Today we’d like to introduce you to Krissie Summerhays.
Hi Krissie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I did not have intentions of starting a business, let alone two! I started working with individuals with disabilities in 1996 while I was attending the University of Utah. As I was navigating through college and graduation, the only career path that interested me was in the social service field. I started working for the state of Utah in 1999 and that led me to start my first business, EnVision Quality Supports, in which we provide case management services to individuals with disabilities throughout the state of Utah.
I fell into entrepreneurship after 10 years of working for the Division of Services for People with Disabilities and was asked by a group of parents to start my business, contracting with the agency I had worked for. I started my journey on my own in 2008, as a single staff working with 10 individuals, which has now grown to 20 case managers and supporting over 700 individuals. We work diligently to maintain the level of service upon which we were created, and strive to meet our mission of building partnerships; providing support that is individualized for each person and that is focused on assisting people to achieve their goals.
In 2021, I partnered with my husband to bring a new franchise to Utah, Crisp, and Green, which is a healthy, fast-casual restaurant. The menu is chef-created and scratch-made. We will be opening five restaurants throughout the state; our first store opened in October 2022.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road! As I fell into business ownership, I had quite the learning curve. Luckily, I surrounded myself with great mentors and learned as I went along. I am always open to learning and growing and challenging myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about EnVision Quality Supports and Crisp & Green?
EnVision Quality Supports has been in business since 2008, and contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services to provide case management to individuals with disabilities on a Medicaid waiver program to live in the community and prevent institutionalization. We are known to provide individualized care and focus on each person’s unique needs to assist them to find the services to help people achieve their goals. I am very proud of developing a team of compassionate professionals that are proud of the work we do.
Crisp & Green is a new fast-casual restaurant that my husband and I brought to Utah. We believe nourishing your healthy lifestyle goes beyond the kitchen. We are devoted to delivering an exceptionally crisp experience to our guests, not just with our chef-crafted & scratch-made menu, but also through our high standard of service, our belief in being 100% authentic, & our passionate commitment to our community. Our first location opened in October 2022, with four more locations in development.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Surrounding myself with like-minded individuals in my field has been a lifesaver. Finding people I look up to and being a part of committees and boards that are aligned with the goals of my organization have been key to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.envisionquality.com https://crispandgreen.com/menu/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crispandgreen/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057383812307 https://www.facebook.com/crispandgreensandy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krissie-summerhays-76953221/
