There's a REAL Queen at Prints Charming!..

Is the Prints Charming monarchy in turmoil? Since we hired the reigning Portland Rose Festival Queen Emma Waibel, there might very well be.

In the past, the tasks of our admin support have been filled by interns, eager for the trade of knowledge in this craft. In the case of Emma, she was added to payroll without a second thought.

Daughter of a world-record-holding lumberjack, she's a fifth generation lumberjack herself. "Growing up roadtripping to these small-town events, I felt it was my responsibility to carry on this important part of my family's legacy".

Balancing a high school career with three diverse forms of volunteerism, (Friends of the Trees, Younglife, and the West Linn High ASB Vice President) wow'd us beyond the usual service trade for resume experience. Add to that list: competitive axe throwing, cross-cut sawing and log rolling, and you've got an organic fit for our "over-deliver" ethics in doing business.

The amazing thing is that this 100th Portland Rose Festival Queen even has any time to contribute to our business! After volunteering to assist Brian while shooting 50+ headshots for the Lake Oswego Rotary, it was clear that we needed to give her a desk at the studio.

The day we hired her, our Apple TV connection failed as Brian was teaching her to fire up the slideshow screen. Brian left the room for 90 seconds to check the wifi, only to return to an alternate solution broadcasting on the screen. Knowing her way around  Apple's Settings, Bluetooth and Air Display wasn't even on the list of expectations, but assured her a greater number of duties.

She doesn't care to sit on her hands, and is clearly in line for a successful career. Three lucky Universities (Seattle Pacific, Champan and Linfield) are on her radar, and will be fortunate enough to say that "they produced her". Little do they realize, they'll be foolish to ommit her name from their future Alumni list of successful people.

After 18 years of owning this business, Brian had best stay on his toes. She's interested in a career of serving people in a creative way. If he doesn't keep up his creativity, he may very well get the axe!

Jokes aside, it's no wonder that the Portland Rose Festival Foundation selected Emma to wear the coveted crown. She's an exeptionally talented leader, and we're grateful to have her for a tiny fraction of her thriving life.

Welcome Queen Emma Waibel, you rock and our clients are going to love you too!