Say hello to Lauren
Roux LLC • April 1, 2020
We’re a small, humble bunch here at roux, and sharing stories about ourselves doesn’t always come naturally. Still, it’s important to get to know the people you’re working with, whether you’re a client or a freelance partner. We’d certainly love to hear more about you!
All that to say, we’re going to start sharing a bit more about our team here in the kitchen, starting with our wonderful creative director, Lauren Weiss.
Lauren has been a creative gal from the start, and she’s always had a bit of the South in her—South Dakota, that is. She comes to us from the small town of Hot Springs, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. If you’ve heard of or been to Mount Rushmore, Hot Springs is about an hour’s drive to the south.
Lauren moved to Tennessee after college in 2013, and after meeting our founder, Stefan, she began freelancing for roux. She says she knew from the start that this was a special place. Now, every day is different for her, from leading projects with our creative network, to going on client photo shoots or collaborating on brainstorming sessions.
As creative director, she’s also in charge of making sure quality and consistency are at the forefront of our clients’ work, and she spends plenty of time designing, too.
We asked Lauren to answer the following questions in her own words. Keep reading to see what she had to say.
Have you always been a creative type?
I’ve been obsessed with creating from the start. As a kid, I went through sketchbook after sketchbook drawing, and I would wake up early to watch craft shows before school (which is saying something, because I’m not a morning person).
My family has always supported my creativity, and they supplied me with any paints or random craft items that I needed. Their encouragement fueled my love for the creative process even more.
How has life prepared you for where you are today?
I’ve had a lot of great role models that have helped to define my path. They’ve taught me how to work hard, be humble and lead with kindness.
I always knew that my path would be a creative one, but I never imagined it manifesting into a creative director role until joining the team at roux. I was just excited to design and learn more about the industry. Now that I’m here, this feels like a natural fit for my strengths and passions.
Any memorable moments you’d like to share from your time at roux?
Stefan has a way of always making Christmas special, and last year, he sent our team on a scavenger hunt all over Main Street Franklin. It involved a shopping spree, giving back to those in need, and saying thanks in a historic church. At the very end of the hunt, we found him at a restaurant for a wonderful dinner all together. We were smiling ear to ear all night!
We love to share meals together at roux. What’s a memorable cooking experience you’ve had?
My grandma would bake Christmas stollen every year during the holidays. She made loaves upon loaves to share with friends and family, and she taught me how to make it a few years ago. She would say there isn’t much of a recipe—it’s more of a feeling. She would say, “A little more, a little more,” or “Okay, now get in there,” and she wouldn’t be satisfied until I was up to my elbows in dough.
I’ve also shared some special cooking experiences with my grandpa. He was a butcher for many years, and we love making homemade German sausage together. It's a special tradition that we look forward to every year. I'll always remember him tasting the raw meat until it reaches the right balance... eek!
Throughout these experiences, I've realized that cooking is a very creative process, and it seems only natural that we'd be inspired by it outside of the kitchen, too
What’s something you’re looking forward to?
I’ve recently decided to visit all 50 states before my 30th birthday. I was inspired by my big sister Caitie who finished the same goal this past year. I only have six states left!
Fun Food Facts about Lauren (What can we say, we love to eat!):
- Favorite Franklin Restaurant: Merridees
- Go-To Coffee Order: Chai, matcha, or cold brew (depending on the weather)
- Favorite Food: Knoephla soup
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit about Lauren. She’s an integral part of our team, and we’re blessed to have her with us. Keep watching the kitchen for more fun stories from our team, client news, and the occasional freebie.
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