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2018 40 Under 40: Amy Blansit, 39

Founder, The Drew Lewis Foundation Inc., Solely Jolie; professor, Missouri State University

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Life moves fast for Amy Blansit. In the last few years, she founded a nonprofit wielding $1.5 million in grants, launched an award-winning startup, began teaching college courses and earned her doctorate.

The Drew Lewis Foundation Inc., named after Blansit’s late husband, benefits families facing poverty in the northwest side’s Grant Beach Neighborhood.

Blansit’s company Solely Jolie, which produces makeup cleaner, was accepted into The eFactory’s accelerator and won the Spin66 startup competition last year.

Blansit also teaches health and wellness classes at Missouri State University, and earned her doctorate in health sciences in December 2017. She’s also one of Springfield Business Journal’s 12 People You Need to Know in 2018.

When did you realize you had grown up? Just last week when the nonprofit I started was sent insurance cards for two full-time employees - and it is quality insurance coverage. That’s legit adulting.

What is your best productivity hack? Asana. It is our company virtual whiteboard. I can manage Solely Jolie, Drew Lewis Foundation and MSU class tasks all in one place. 

What did you learn the hard way? Managing a team. Motivation, work ethic, personalities – all have to be considered when creating and driving a team.

What historical figure do you identify with most? Jane Addams – mother of social work, women’s rights and poverty advocate. She got her hands dirty.

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