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 When they delivered their first child in 1999, Russ and Christine Myers – who at the time were living in South Carolina - did not imagine that 8 years later they would be back in their home town of Frederick, Maryland publishing a local resource guide for parents, grandparents, and families.
While business ownership is in their blood, they thought they would continue in the same type of business as the paintball field they owned when their daughter was born. They had finished the business plan for an alternative sports retail store and were about to move forward to open it when they decided they wanted to move back to Maryland instead. So with their 2 year-old girl and their 3 month-old boy, they returned to Frederick.
Once home, Russ went to work first as a truck driver for Pepsi, then as a crane operator. Christine focused on mommy-hood while writing, teaching childbirth education and doing doula work part-time. But both kept on the look-out for another business venture that would satisfy their craving for entrepreneurship.
Years later, in a Providential discussion with Jay Buck, co-founder and president of Modern Babies & Children, Christine found out that MB&C was offering franchises and it just clicked with her. She felt the opportunity would give her a chance to combine her writing experience, love of children, and desire to mentor new parents into a business she could be passionate about. Russ was a little reluctant at first (where were the skateboards and paintball guns?) but very soon got on board with the idea, lending his sales talent and natural business leadership. They are both very glad they have brought Modern Babies & Children to the area.
Russ and Christine met and fell in love while attending Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick. They have been married 13 years and have 2 children, 2 dogs, and 15 nieces and nephews.
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 Jay remembers the excitement and tears of joy that followed when he and Karen opened the first issue of Modern Babies & Children just after their newborn was delivered from the printer. Jay likens the experience to becoming a parent for the first time all over again and reports that the great sense of pride continues with each edition.
He focuses on forming partnerships with advertisers and on training new franchisees.
Prior to working with Karen at Wedding Pages and then at The Knot, Jay spent nearly two decades climbing the sales, marketing, and management corporate ladders in the food and wine industries at such companies as E & J Gallo Winery, The Kronheim Companies, and Carnation/Nestle.
Back in college, Jay, an athlete, knew he wasn’t going pro and had the foresight that he would one day miss the competitive spirit and teamwork from which he thrived. At first, he planned to pursue a career in teaching and coaching, but by sophomore year realized he could teach and coach in business. At every level of Jay’s career, he’s served as a mentor. It’s the part of his role with MB&C that he enjoys most.
Jay is a graduate of Frostburg State University.
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 Karen Buck never realized the kind of chord Modern Babies & Children could strike with readers until she received a call she’ll never forget. The magazine’s second issue featured an article about WBAL TV anchor Mindy Basara’s potentially life threatening experience with blood clots during her pregnancy. A reader brought a copy of the story, which had a happy ending, to her doctor’s appointment and explained she had the same symptoms. Turns out, she had similar clots. “If we saved one person’s life from that story, it’s all been worthwhile,” says Karen.
Karen manages the magazine’s content, website, and helps guide the new franchisees.
As a young girl, Karen figure skated competitively and trained away from home until her father said he could no longer finance her passion. Years later, in 1988, while working as the Advertising and Marketing Director for a Baltimore floral business, Karen took on a volunteer position of publishing the souvenir program for the National Figure Skating Championships, which had come to Baltimore. She interviewed more than 200 skaters and wrote their bios, sold advertising, and helped get printing bids. Karen was hooked. Not to mention, her skating background had paid off!
Karen soon learned that the Wedding Pages, a magazine in which the floral business advertised, was for sale. She borrowed $20,000 to purchase the Maryland and Pennsylvania franchises and six months later, with no option to fail, this single mother repaid in full. She later sold the franchises and became a Regional Sales Director for The Knot, which purchased the publication.
Karen continues to publish the Maryland edition of Perfect Wedding Guide. She is a graduate of Villa Julie College.
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