Meet Kenefy Perez | Baker & Celebration Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kenefy Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kenefy, why did you pursue a creative career?
It actually took some time for me to circle back to a creative career. I’ve always felt a natural inclination to artistic things. As a kid my favorite hobbies involved some type of art form- sketching, dancing, crafting, and baking. However, some where along the road I lost sight of how much joy those things brought me and felt inclined to studying what society would consider a “formal” career. It’s so easy to be railroaded when you hear so often the never ending story of “the struggling artist,” it was scary, so I went with safe and opted to study Fashion Marketing and Management.

After obtaining my degree I began to work as an Executive Sales Assistant in the New York Fashion District. I quickly began to feel disillusioned with my career choice and emotionally drained by the lack of artistic expression in my position, as a result I began to hobby bake. Baking helped fulfill that desire I had to create- it became my stress reliever and artistic outlet. It was that experience that led me to exploring this passion and make a career out of it. The road wasn’t a straight one or an easy one, I’ve had to grind every step of the way but I am fortunate enough to be able to say that I love what I do and all the other creative opportunities baking has exposed me to. I now consider myself to be a celebration specialist, where I focus on offering celebration solutions to my clients in order to facilitate their party planning experience. It’s a beautiful thing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Although the bulk of my business is generated from my baked goods I think what sets me apart from other bakers is that I also dabble in many other areas of the celebration industry. I think the appeal for my clients is knowing that they can come to me and one stop stop their celebration needs. Beyond the baked goods I also offer balloon decor, dessert table decor and specialty gifts. I am exited to continue offering my clients novelty items that are unique and customizable to their occasion.

I got to where I am today by emerging myself in learning new techniques, developing ways of meeting an unfulfilled need in my market and always striving to offer a quality product. It has not been easy, I’ve had to invest a significant amount of money and time to grow in my craft. The greatest challenge I face as a small business owner is being able to meet all the needs of my business while still balancing my personal life as a wife and mother. A lot of times people only see the glamour of the finished product but not the effort or sacrifice that it took to get there. I am basically a one woman show and sometimes it can be difficult to meet the expectation of perfection that I aspire to have. To overcome these challenges I try to set proper expectations for my clients by being transparent with them and the way I operate my business. Along the way I’ve learned to not over commit beyond my capabilities and to value my service and time.

If there is something I wish the world recognized about me and my brand is that I take so much pride in everything I do. My story is one of a resilient dreamer that has experienced both success and failures but refuses to give up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a mom of two little ones my idea of a good time is a fun day of activity with the kids and some good food. Our favorite family dates include a visit to Ponce City Market where we snag a cuban sandwich with some yuca fries at El Super Pan in Ponce City Market followed by a delicious Gelato at Honeysuckle and some miniature golf on the Roof. We also love day trips to the Zoo and Aquarium followed by a delicious tex-mex meal at Superica Krog street location. In the summer we make great memories and soak up some sun at Margaritaville Lake Lanier. For the most part though we mostly just love curling up on the couch to a movie with fresh baked MPS goods straight out of my kitchen- because you can’t beat home made.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of the inspiration and determination that has helped guide me through the ups and downs of pursuing this type of career I owe to my family and the never ending support of my friends and clients.

Growing up in a single parent household and seeing my mother thrive through adversity gave me the confidence I needed to break away from the norm and take a chance on my dreams. I am grateful for my husband who not only supported me and encouraged me to quit my corporate job to pursue becoming a Baker but along with my father helped fund my first brick and mortar venture. Overall I am just very fortunate to be surrounded by friends and family members who inspire me daily through their own entrepreneurial journey. Beyond that I really do have the best customers, through their support they keep me motivated to continue learning and creating.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mpscafe_atl

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Image Credits
Event Photography by Arnesis Ramos Photography https://arnesisphotography.pixieset.com www.instagram.com/arnesisramos