I’m writing this as a final update to this campaign.

When I started this, I hoped that my community, family, and friends would rally behind a woman-owned business trying to make a fresh start. Instead, the response has been largely silence, and in some cases, open hostility. The work that I put into this was massive, and the bandaids that I had to ripp off in order to provide an honest picture of why and how I got here was very emotional. I guarantee the path I have walked was very difficult and I do not wish it on anyone, but to use it against me, is a low and selfish. I will take this as a necessary lesson.

I have decided to move forward by securing a high-interest business loan. Taking on debt is scary, but it is safer than the alternative. Some have asked why I don't just find an investor. The answer is simple: I am currently fighting a legal battle to reclaim a business I built, where I was treated like a cash cow, defrauded, and then discredited by partners who wanted me to just "go away."

I refuse to put myself in that position again. I will own this new venture 100%, or I won't do it at all.

To the very few of you who did donate: Thank you. You saw me when others looked away. To everyone else: Watch This!

Full Transparency

The Road to a Fresh Start

The Background

I loved my job. For a long time, I planned to launch a stable, profitable business in the vacation rental market. I executed that plan with two partners, handling the heavy lifting: creating the filing systems, manuals, invoices, and ensuring the properties were up to standard. My priority was always stability for the employees and quality for the guests.

The Turning Point

Despite my dedication—including personally cleaning properties, fixing cosmetic disasters, and managing operations—financial transparency was withheld. When I demanded to see the bank statements to understand why paychecks were consistently 10 days late and why I wasn't receiving my share, the reaction was immediate.

I was fired the next day. The locks were changed, and I was removed from the business I helped build. While I am currently seeking legal counsel regarding the theft of my business interest, the legal system takes time that I do not have.

The Current Reality

I am currently in a market that is over-saturated with low-paying labor. However, I have identified a new location with a high demand for my specific skill set. My husband is 100% supportive, and a friend who needs sanctuary and a fresh start will be coming with me to help me kick start this business.

We are not asking for a handout; we are asking for a bridge to get to this new market before my credit score—damaged by this sudden loss of income—prevents us from renting.

THIS Initiative cannot happen without support from all of you. Why Nashville?

Nashville is a city of dreams and growth, but it is also a city with a massive demand for high-quality short-term

rental management. By establishing ourselves here, we position The Fortress Initiative in a market where our professional excellence can directly fund our mission of social change.

Our Commitment

We are 15-year veterans of the professional world—with backgrounds in insurance, property operations, and management. We bring high-level expertise to a "labor-class" industry because we believe that the women doing the work deserve the same respect and pay as those in the boardroom.

We are building a fortress—not just for ourselves, but for every woman who is ready to pack up, chase a dream, and leave the past behind.