Today we’d like to introduce you to Glen Providence.
Hi Glen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am the Executive Director at Hebni Nutrition, a community-based nonprofit organization headquartered in Orlando. I have worked since 2009, when I started as a volunteer and never left. I cannot put into words the experiences I have had over the last 15 years. It has been an incredible journey that has allowed me to meet some fantastic people and have the opportunity to participate in activities that I would have never had the chance to do otherwise, including being in the Rose Bowl parade, working hand in hand with organizations like the Orlando Magic, Advent Health, Disney, The City of Orlando and Florida Blue. Working at Hebni has also opened my eyes to people in the community doing some incredible things, inspiring me from an entrepreneurial perspective. My Dad is also an entrepreneur, so you can say that it is “in my blood!” With that in mind, I attended a course on the ice cream business in late 2018 and launched the SMILE Ice Cream Company in the spring of 2019. People always ask about the name, and I respond, “It is impossible to eat ice cream without smiling!” Ice cream is a feel-good food. When things are going well, and you want to keep the mood going by heading out for some ice cream! The opposite is sometimes also true, and ice cream can be that one thing to cheer someone up. It is hard work at times, but as my passion project, it matches my personality perfectly. I am always smiling and love bringing a smile to people’s faces. In 2021, I was approached to help a couple create a social media and online presence for a small community newspaper called The Pine Hills Press. About six months into the project, I was asked if I would be interested in acquiring the paper as they sought to retire but wanted it to continue being published. After contemplation, I decided to purchase the paper from them. The paper was renamed The Midtown Press to show growth and expansion. I have been blessed to have had some significant positions throughout my career, which have prepared me for where I am today. I am incredibly grateful for the journey and excited about what will come.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has been a rocky road filled with ups and downs. Running a nonprofit is more competitive than most people realize. Running two small businesses brings about its own set of challenges. Entrepreneurship is a lonely journey. It requires late nights and early mornings, lots of coffee, and lots of sacrifice. However, I am grateful for it all.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about SMILE Ice Cream Company & The Midtown Press?
SMILE Ice Cream Company: Our ice cream is made in small batches to create some of the best-tasting ice cream. Each custom recipe begins with fresh cream and milk. We add simple ingredients using old-fashioned methods to ensure the freshest ice cream possible. Every batch of ice cream we make is hand-crafted with a SMILE!
The Midtown Press: The Midtown Press (formerly the Pine Hills Press) has been published continuously since 1995. They report news and events of primary interest to residents and businesses in Pine Hills and beyond. The publication promotes good citizenship, civic activity, volunteerism, and community development.
The Midtown Press is the local paper for the 70,000 + residents (in some 24,000 households) living within the greater Pine Hills area and surrounding local communities, and an established marketplace for local businesses with 40 or more advertisers in each issue. The Press ranks as the leading source for local news, events, meeting notices, and service announcements while providing a place for small and large businesses to promote products and services. Our mission is two-fold— to print the local news and report local events— while providing a channel for even the newest and smallest of businesses to broadcast their commercial message in a market scarcely served by the major market news publications. The Press is published bi-monthly, six times a year, with a distribution of more than 7,000 (1,500 print & 5,000+ digital).
Alright, before we go, can you talk to us about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
- Hebni – Volunteer or Donate
- SMILE Ice Cream – Schedule an ice cream social or other event
- The Midtown Press – Advertise in the paper and submit story ideas
Contact Info:
- Website: themidtownpress.com & smileicecream.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysmileicecream/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themidtownpress/
