Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie DeSimone.
Ellie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Sullivan County NY the youngest of six siblings. my mom was the best mom anyone could have asked for and my Dad was an Entrepreneur. We grew up in the harness racing world and my dad owned race horses and owned DeSimone Horse transportation. Fast forward, to 22 years old I opened my first hair salon several years later I owned 2 salons before marrying my first husband who taught me all about the automotive towing repair business the largest in upstate Sullivan County NY.
Once married I sold my salons and became a full-time towing /mom. When my son was 2 years old my ex-husband walked out of our marriage. I was put out into the street with my son. My ex said to me I would leave what I came with. I said no I am leaving with more, I am leaving with my son, my dignity. And my knowledge. With these three things, I will surpass you.
One year later 1994 I bought a homemade tow truck and hire a manager, fast forward 10 years my ex went out of business I helped. And I owned the largest towing company in that area. I did later marry my manager’s business partner who became my second husband and helped me raise my son as his own and together we had a daughter.
So in 2016, We are operating one of the largest towing company s in that region of NY. 27 light-duty tow trucks and 6 heavy duty including a rotator, and 58 employees. My husband and I decided to call it quits and he bought the tow company from me. So kind of retired I decided to open a rental car company in NY in 2017 which is still operating today. In 2016 I started various software ideas and bought them to life only to lose out to conglomerates.
And late 2019 I started working on a software design that I thought of in 2016 and the technology did not exist yet. I was able to make a good connection. As we started to put this project together we get hit by covid which now spiraled some of our work. we started up again in May 2020 to we finally released the first liver streaming pay function website only to have it crash in the summer of 2020. Today it is rebuilt and implicating virtual reality which is in its infancy onto the website.
At that point, it is now Sept 2020 I sold my house in NY and was moving by myself to my other home in Delray beach Florida. It was a bad time all over the world with covid and I could not see myself living by myself in an area with no family or being able to travel. So I decided to listen to my Son and his wife and rent a home in Wintergarden Florida temporarily. Well, temporarily became permanent. I am now in the process of buying the home I live in.
Since I moved down to Florida my daughter also changed her direction she is in grad school at USF Tampa studying Sports Medicine with a PA. I can not stop talking about how I ended up in central Florida !! People would say what about your home in Delray by the beach? I said I may sell it. I tell people central Florida is a hidden gem!! It has so much to offer.
I plan to spend all my time here with my family My Son his wife and grandkids and of course, my Daughter visits from Tampa. I am extremally proud of my kids my Son works for Black and Veatch as an Engineer. And his wife is a mathematician and develops E-learning online programs and both are great parents if I may add.
I also found a love for working with real estate in Central Florida century 21 so between ready to relaunch my live streaming and real estate. I will continue to reap the rewards of living in central Florida. Roots here I might as well-placed my real-estate license with century 21. I started a rental car company in 2017 that is still operating in NY.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not a smooth road at all. I think I explained some in the last chapter. But I did challenge the NYS Police over them favoring other tow companies took them to court the list goes on. I had several back surgeries. Had to start over several times in my life some my own doing but climbed back up every time, and managed to raise 2 successful children.
Was hit head-on by a drunk driver I was almost killed I think I was lol pulled out of that. I was asked to become an activist for surviving that accident for most people don t survive what I went through it was a miracle. I can keep going lol as I write this letter to you I am battling covid but I will be fine.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would have to say being an Entrepreneur, and a creative thinker. Today I am completing my software project www.backstage-passes.com with the hopes of it becoming the new way for celebrities to be able to connect with their fans on a more personal one on one. I can’t say too much about the addition of the software due to patent approval.
Also, I love meeting people and that’s where the real estate comes in it’s so challenging, especially in this market, and when I get them in a home it’s like YESSSS!!!!! I did it, lol. My most proud of all my accomplishments would have to be my children. Some may not agree but!!!!!! Anyone can create or work but to be able to raise independent children was enough to accomplish I was gifted and had both. Thank god.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would have too many to list. lol, I would have to start with my parents for giving me a stable happy home and raising me to be the best at whatever path I chose don’t sell yourself short, and be humble. I would have to thank my first ex-husband for throwing me in the street because if he didn’t I would have never been where I am today.
For me bad becomes good And I would def thank my 2 husbands for helping me grow my dreams and being the best dad I could have ever gotten for my kids.
Image Credits
Alfred DeSimone, Sam Miller, Julie Miller, Kristen Brooks, and Sean Brooks
