Apple Martini. Apple Pie. Almond Butter. These three things did not have a lot in common until 28-year-old Felecia Hatcher came along and made them into ice cream and popsicle flavors.
Hatcher, who lives in Florida, has made a name for herself with Feverish, an aptly named line of gourmet ice cream trucks that cater to the state’s warm-weather residents year-round.
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After working as a marketing manager at Nintendo, Hatcher started Feverish with her now-husband in 2008. Feverish now boasts clients like Playboy, J. Crew, and the W Hotel. Equipped with eco-friendly trucks and carts, the company make stops all over South Florida nightclubs, festivals, and anywhere they can find a group of people. They are able to give patrons their choice of dozens of flavors of vegan-friendly, organic treats of the frozen variety.
Before ice cream and Nintendo, Felecia coached high school students on getting into college.
Felecia Hatcher is making history … as an entrepreneur with flair. Through her innovative ice cream flavors and commitment to keeping her business an eco-friendly one, Felecia has been featured in numerous publications and was invited to the White House as an Empact 100 honoree, an award given to the country’s top entrepreneurs under 30.
A little-known fact …
According to the U.S. Census, the number of black-owned businesses in the U.S. increased 60.5 percent from 2002-2007, the most recent period in which statistics were released. Nearly 2 million of all non-farm businesses in the U.S. are black-owned.
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THE GRIO’S Q & A WITH FELECIA HATCHER
Q: What’s next in this chapter of your life?
A: My next chapter is expanding my foundation PopPreneurs which I started last year to help teach kids in dis-advantaged areas about entrepreneurship through urban farming and popsicles.
Q: What’s a fact about you that many people don’t know?
A: I got married at a Donut shop. After being engaged for 2 years and not being able to plan a wedding because of our crazy travel schedules we decided to elope to Portland Or. Although we didn’t have any friends or family there we had a blast.
Q: What’s your favorite quote?
A: “Opportunity is missed by most people, because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”- Thomas A. Edison
Q: Where do you get your inspiration?
A: I get my inspiration from my parents. My father left home at the age of 16 with nothing and put himself through college to become a very successful owner of a development company. My mother came from Jamaica with the main goal of one day getting her P.H.D. which she did and is now a college professor. My parents have always been strong examples of overcoming obstacles against all odds I remember being in high school and all of us being in school at the same time and watching them grow into amazing people who never let go of their dreams.
Q: Who are/were your mentors?
A: I’ve had a few along the years. The ones that stand out the most were my college professor Dr. Judy Welch and Maestro Powell the Promotions Director at Cox Radio who I interned for while in college. He taught me a lot about marketing and about being African American and surviving in corporate America.
Q: What advice would you give to anyone who wants to achieve their dreams?
A: Don’t be afraid to fire negative people in your circle. Following your dreams means going against the norm and pushing the envelope and going through a lot of really dark days that will test you and your relationships. You have to have a very strong support system and have the courage to let go of those people around in order to keep moving forward.
