Name
Alli LaFond
Company/Organization
Driftwood Summer Shop and Dockside Dining & Drinks
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
Local and historic ice cream and coffee shop, and a local lakeside restaurant.
Age
33
Accomplishments
I work tirelessly to ensure my community has a comfortable and fun place to bring their families. We support local organizations by donations, fundraisers, and/or community collection boxes. I am also the vice president of our local lake association which ensures the quality and health of the lake stay a top priority.
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
I hope to grow my volunteer work in the community, as well as continuing to grow our businesses.
Education
B.A. Science in Child Development minoring in psychology and youth studies.
What Town Do You Reside In?
St. Joseph
Where were you born?
St. Joseph
What was your first job?
Celebration Cinema in Benton Harbor
Best advice you ever got?
It’s a bit cliché but my mom always used to say “we don’t cry over spilled milk” which taught me a lot about not sweating the small stuff and letting it ruin my day. People make mistakes, we take responsibility, we fix our mistakes, and we keep moving forward.
Who inspires you most?
My mom.
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
Owning these businesses has really brought out a tougher and bolder side of me. I always used to worry too much, but now I am able to step up and step in to situations that used to make me pull back.
What do you love to do in your downtime?
I love being with my family, whether it’s snuggling on the couch watching a movie or going to the beach, I’m happy if I’m with them. I also love to read, go to the gym, and spend time with friends.
What book are you reading now?
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
Volunteer activity you love the most.
I’ve always loved anything that allowed me to work with kids.
What motivates you to give back to your community?
My community is the perfect motivation. They are always ready to help others in need which really inspires more people to want to help. It is a beautiful cycle of people helping people. It’s amazing to be a part of that system.
What Superpower would you most love to have? (for example, the ability to fly or to be invisible, or incredible strength, etc)
I would love to be able to teleport. I would save so much time if I could just pop in wherever I was needed.
What would you like to leave behind as your legacy once you are gone?
I just hope people remember me with happiness. I hope that I bring joy and light to people’s lives, and that when I’m gone, that light is remembered and continues to spread. Hard work and building a future is wonderful, but I want people to remember the balance in life, love, and happiness.
What does the honor of being named to the 40 Under 40 most mean to you?
It allows me to step back and appreciate what I do and what I’ve helped build. Sometimes I get wrapped up and so busy I forget everything I’ve accomplished. This helped me stop, take a step back, and enjoy the life we have created.
