Founder's Letter May 2024

Each month one of our co-founders, Chelsea Gennings, writes a personal note to community members. We hope you enjoy this closer look into our journey and the values that drive us at Pet Releaf. The best way to read our monthly Founder’s Letter is by subscribing to our email list.

Hey there,

You are used to seeing these monthly letters come from my daughter, Chelsea, but since it is Mother’s Day I wanted to stop by and say hello!

I am Alina Smith, CEO of Pet Releaf, mom to my three kids, Chelsea, Andrew, and Ryan, and of course, proud dog mom to my pup, Bella.

This month, I wanted to share about my experience working with Chelsea and introduce you to some of the other amazing moms who work here at Pet Releaf.

A Mother-Daughter Team

Not many people get to have the experience of working with their mom or their daughter. I’m lucky enough to have gotten to experience both.

In Chelsea’s March letter, she introduced you to my mom, Lorraine, who is also an entrepreneur. I learned so much from watching her build her own manufacturing business and eventually working alongside her.

Her daily commitment to doing the work, being the best that you can be, and dedicating your family to one single goal still influences the way we run Pet Releaf.

When Chelsea and I decided to get into business 10 years ago, I was excited to start our working journey together.

Working with Chelsea is incredible. I get to see and talk to her every day. It’s truly a gift.

One of the most satisfying experiences I’ve had as a mom is watching my daughter’s professional growth. She has gone from quiet and reserved to an exceptionally confident leader. Getting to witness that evolution in real time is hard to describe. I couldn’t be more proud.

Lessons From a Working Mom

Since Chelsea was a baby, I’ve been pursuing entrepreneurship.

I can remember long days, tackling challenges and making tough decisions with her on my hip.

With my youngest two, Andrew and Ryan, I got to learn from my experience raising Chelsea.

The biggest lesson has been learning to say “no”. Understanding what boundaries I need to have so that I can carve out the necessary time to be present with my kids.

To all the other working moms out there — it’s hard balance but I know one thing for sure: our kids learn so much from watching us and our commitment to both them and our careers!

The Moms Who Run the Show

It takes a village to run a business, and ours is fortunate to be filled with incredible working moms. I’m excited to introduce you to them:

This Mother’s Day, I want to thank you for not only supporting my family, but also supporting all the moms who make up the Pet Releaf team.

We love what we do, and we love helping your families in the best way we know how — through the highest-quality plant-based products.

Sending you, and of course, your pets, wellness this spring,

Alina Smith