Today we’d like to introduce you to Emmie Nostitz.
Hi Emmie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
During a communications class in my first year at the University of Colorado, my professor spoke about advertising and building brands, and I was immediately hooked. I knew I wanted to create things, build stuff, and make brands famous. I knew from that day on that I would be in advertising. That day, in a lecture hall in Boulder, my career in building brands and being creative began. My first job was a two-week-long internship I bid on and ‘won’ at a silent auction I had been invited to in Chicago. It is comical thinking back on it; I am sure the head of HR was so annoyed when I called, saying I was the winning bid and I wanted a seat in the creative department. From there, I went back to school and met a handful of people who would set the trajectory for my career. People who would put me up for jobs all over the country, become my creative partners years later, and people who became mentors and who would help me see up from down.
After about 2 years, I ended up in NYC at one of the new hot advertising agencies in town. We were small, maybe 10 people and my first assignment was for Google. I was floored. There, I won some of the top advertising awards globally, including the first-ever Mobile Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival. I kept working–and not sleeping–as I dove head-first into my job. I moved around some until I was asked to interview at the best advertising agency in the world. I jumped at the chance, got the job, and kept working. My life was my job. I won more awards and got put on prestigious lists, such as being named a top female creative at the 3% conference.
However, that ended when I was let go due to budget cuts and organizational changes. To say I was devastated was an understatement. I was lost, but eventually picked myself up and got another job. I had,however, grown tired of helping brands I did not connect with, brands that did not do good things for the world around them, so eventually I turned to freelance and thought about leaving NYC. I for the first time thought about leaving advertising altogether.
Then Covid hit, and the world changed. I moved to Aspen to ski, leaving NYC knowing deep down I would never return. My best friend and her husband Zach (my now business partner) visited Aspen, and Tivity was born. Zach was also searching for his next adventure and a way to change the world and make it better. Zach came from a restaurant background and had an idea to create the Uber of Chefs. I remember talking about it that weekend in Aspen, not taking it too seriously. My best friend, Zach’s wife, turned to me and said “I really think you and Zach should do this, I know there is something here.” The spark inside me was ignited. That same weekend, Zach booked dinner on the gondola for a client with a Chef he knew in Austin – it was a favor, but it was also the first time I saw what eventually would become Tivity. Zach and I then talked about this idea for months. We would text and chat occasionally, and in those conversations, we came up with the name Tivity; I built a website and created a logo. Then, in September of 2021, Zach called and said, “I am going to do this. I want to represent Chefs and help connect them with clients. You can come to Austin, you can have half, you can go back to NYC, or you can have nothing to do with it…It’s totally up to you, but I am doing this, and I hope you want to do it with me.” I was on a plane to Austin the following week.
When I got to Austin I was not sure if I would stay, if I would like Austin, or if this thing we were calling Tiviy would even work. For those first two months, Zach and I built the foundation of Tivity. We made org charts, wrote a mission statement, and set goals. In those two months, I found a true home in Austin and knew we were on to something special. In those two months, this dream I had had for so long became a reality. I would finally build a brand I was proud of, advertise it my own way, and work with someone who put us first. It was then that my dream became my reality. Tivity was created – a Chef first Booking platform for private dinners and events in customers homes.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Anyone who says starting or running a business is smooth is lying. But all the bumps are worth it if you are on that road with someone like Zach, who keeps it exciting and fun. At Tivity, we have had the usual growing pains: How do we expand without losing our mojo? How do we get more clients? Where do we spend money? There are days when you want to pull your hair out, but at the end of the day, Zach and I have always kept our primary goal of putting Chefs at the center of this company and helping them book more dinners and events. We always start every conversation with “How are you?” rather than jumping into what we need from each other or the team. We also made a very conscious decision early on to put ourselves first. We both agreed we needed to have lives outside of Tivity and that we would never go back to a place where our jobs were all-consuming because we believe that this unhealthy and does not foster meaningful growth. We are building a brand other brands will be jealous of and a company that people will want to work for and create with us.
As you know, we’re big fans of Tivity. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Tivity is a platform to Book a Chef. We are about connecting Chefs with people who want good food, want to entertain, and need more time to make it all happen. At the core, Tivity is an outlet for Chefs to create one-of-a-kind menus, cook delicious food, be hospitable, and earn income. We provide all Chefs with the services they need to be successful. For the entertainer, Tivity is an easy and seamless solution to entertain a meal event without creating, planning, sourcing, executing, and serving the menu. You customize the menu and experience in collaboration with a Chef, and the Chef will cook the food in your kitchen on the night of the party. We are not a catering company. We are the connector that allows you to enjoy a restaurant experience in the comfort of your home (or wherever you choose). The bottom line is that Tivity is a way for Chefs to do more of what they love: to cook and be creative. Chefs showcase their talent and experience from inside your home, and your home becomes the hottest restaurant in town. It does not have to be a special occasion. Invite some friends over, and we’ll take care of the rest.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Please share something that might surprise us.
My favorite food is chicken fingers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theTivity.com
- Instagram: @the_Tivity
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetivity
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thetivity/
Image Credits
Megan Bucknall, Nicki Roche(Lemon Woman Photography)
