Jill Blashack Strahan is one of the nation's leading female entrepreneurs. As the Founder & CEO of Tastefully Simple, she has become an inspiration and role model to thousands of people across the nation. Called a "CEO All Star" by Inc. magazine, Jill Blashack Strahan founded Tastefully Simple with humble beginnings and big dreams. Today this successful speaker, author, founder & CEO oversees a $140 million-plus enterprise.

Jill Blashack Strahan's entrepreneurial spirit, drive and strong work ethic took root at a young age, as she grew up on her family's farm near Villard, Minnesota.

After a year at the University of Minnesota-Morris, Jill Blashack Strahan transferred to Alexandria Technical College, where she discovered her passion for business and graduated with an associate's degree in sales and marketing. Following graduation, Jill Blashack Strahan managed and co-owned a small restaurant with her father called "Jill's Grill" and started her own retail gift basket shop.

In 1993, Jill Blashack Strahan liquidated her retail business but continued to sell gift baskets to corporate and direct-mail clients. She decided to participate in a special event to promote these baskets, where she gave out samples and received an incredible response. That's when Jill Blashack Strahan realized the power of taste-testing. And a couple of weeks later at 3:00 in the morning, the idea of Tastefully Simple was born.

In June 1995, Jill Blashack Strahan founded Tastefully Simple on what she often calls "a dream and a shoestring."

In fact, the company started in a 1,200 square-foot shed with no running water. Using a pool table as a packing station, Jill Blashack Strahan bootstrapped the business with her own savings, an investment from a silent partner and a $20,000 Small Business Administration loan.

Today, Jill Blashack Strahan has turned Tastefully Simple into a $140-million-plus company with over 28,000 independent consultants throughout the U.S.

More About Jill Blashack Strahan . . .

Just three years into the business, Jill Blashack Strahan was rocked by double tragedy. Her brother was killed in a fall, and only a few months later, her husband died suddenly. Jill was faced with raising her 5-year-old son alone, but instead of giving up, she persevered with grace and determination. Jill Blashack Strahan turned her pain into passion to live her dreams.

In 2007, Jill Blashack Strahan became a published author with a book called Simply Shine: Stories That Stirred the Fire - a collection of short stories about her life and journey with Tastefully Simple.

Jill Blashack Strahan has been personally recognized with many honors, including: Twin Cities Business Hall of Fame, Inc. magazine's list of "CEO All-Stars," Fast Company magazine's "25 Top Women Business Builders," and the Small Business Administration Entrepreneurial Success Award.

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