MONIQUE Priestley
34 | The Space on Main | Founder & Executive Director
Residence: Bradford
Career highlight(s): The career highlight I'm most proud of is The Space On Main. It has been a roller coaster and an incredibly pivotal step in my career. It has made me feel more connected and invested in Vermont and Vermonters everywhere.
Community Involvement: My community involvement includes serving as a resource for those in need; as a voice for small, rural towns; and as an example for those trying to figure out how they can engage civically.
What motivated you to live and work in Vermont? I was motivated to live and work in Vermont by our spirit of survival and tradition of neighbors helping neighbors. I choose to live in a beautiful place that allows me to work, recreate, and engage deeply in community.
Favorite part of your job? My favorite part of my job is all of the random needs that I and The Space On Main are able to meet. I love connecting with people, voicing the needs of rural Vermont, and serving our community at the local, regional, and state level.
Most inspiring mentor and why: My most inspiring mentor is a toss-up. I am lucky to have a wide array of incredible mentors who pull me up, ask me to the table, shine a spotlight, provide an ear, and offer advice. I don't know what I would do without their support.
What is the best career advice you have received? The best career advice I have received is to include referrals in correspondence. Having mentors who understand the importance of sharing their clout in a genuine way has been a game-changer in many circumstances.
Tell us something fun about yourself that few people know: Few people know that I am obsessed with health, nutrition as medicine, and biohacking books. I closely track my own data points. I once ate nothing but butter for 3 weeks while experimenting with ketosis.
What three words best describe you:Three words that best describe me are driven, gritty, and curious.
Favorite Vermont escape: My favorite Vermont escape is any of Vermont's ponds, lakes, marshes, or rivers. They are each beautiful, unique, and full of life.
Favorite downtime activity: My favorite downtime activity is standup paddleboarding on Vermont's ponds, lakes, marshes, and rivers. A greater part of my summer weekends are dedicated to being on the water with friends.
Favorite Super Hero and why: My favorite super hero is Ant Man. He's an average guy with amazing technology that allows him to help people and pull off incredible feats.
Favorite Social Media and why: My favorite social media is Facebook. It has allowed me to stay in touch with colleagues, friends, and coworkers; has united me with family that I probably wouldn't have found otherwise; and facilitates community networking and engagement on a daily basis.
Person you would most like to share a Vermont beverage with: The person I'd most like to share a Vermont beverage with is Senator Becca Balint. She offered and I just need to take her up on it. She is a badass and one of Vermont's most inspirational leaders in my mind.
If you had unlimited access to funds, which cause(s) would you support: The cause I would support is Vermont community and economic development. We have so much untapped potential, so many amazing people, and aging infrastructure just begging to be transformed and better utilized.
What one song is on your playlist that are you embarrassed to tell your best friend: The song on my playlist I would be embarrassed to tell my best friend doesn't exist. Music keeps me going all day every day. I appreciate it all.
Where do you see yourself professionally in the next 5-10 years?In the next 5-10 years I'd like to make The Space On Main a sustainable business, rather than a volunteer side-hustle. I would like to see it transform into the bustling entrepreneurship and community center that I set out to create.
What career goal(s) would you like to accomplish in the next 5-10 years? The career goals I'd like to accomplish in the next 5-10 years are constantly adapting the more I get involved in. I honestly don't know what's next, but I remain open to opportunities to serve, advise, collaborate, and contribute.
How has your community service changed since the pandemic? My community service during the pandemic has changed in volume and scope. While much of my community service remained local, I also got pulled into regional, state, and national community recovery advisory positions.
How has your job changed since this pandemic? During the pandemic, my job has changed. I worked full-time for a software company in Seattle for the past decade, but due to Federal CARES funding, I was recruited by the Center for Women & Enterprise to focus on engagement of partners, women entrepreneurs, and small business owners throughout the state of Vermont.