Hi! My name is Shelley Stannard and I am originally from Massachusetts – I grew up in a town about 20 minutes South of Boston. I went to college at Georgetown University in Washington DC and then moved back to Boston to live in the city for several years. I then moved to San Francisco to continue my career in Advertising/Marketing. When I got married and started my family, I moved to Bel Air since I had a Sister here at the time and we wanted to live in a community that would enable me to stay home with our kids. After about 10 years as a stay-at-home Mom, I was itching to get back in the work force and this time I wanted it to be more of a creative endeavor. While I first planned to open an interior design shop, I decided instead to go the route of local bakery since I knew , as a Mom, that our community could definitely use a high-quality bakery. While I was not a Baker, my business intuition and creative desire came together to give me the vision to open a Cupcake Shop to fill a market need and to let the creative juices flow. I spent about 10 months in my kitchen developing recipes and the Flavor brand and dreaming about the beautiful shop I would soon open and share with Bel Air! I also love to spend time with my family and friends and love to cook, hike, and enjoy the great outdoors.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have three grown children – Lilly 24, Jack 22 and Aidan 19. They all now live out of state as they pursue their educations and careers.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
My first career was in advertising. I enjoy my current career much more since it is more hands on and tangible. I love the creative process of developing new bakery products, flavors, and seeing people enjoy your creations!
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Pairings Bistro, 111 Main, Sean Bolans
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in Bel Air for 26 years and opened Flavor 12 years ago
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Old School TV is King of Queens and current show is Bad Sisters
Q: What advice would you give to people?
If you decide to pursue a new business or personal adventure, you have to be all in! I would not have been able to start Flavor if it was just an “idea” but rather a full on commitment to create a business and to step forward every day in the direction of the end goal!
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Pairings Bistro has always been a favorite local/neighborhood restaurant because of its quality, comfortable atmosphere and always seeing a familiar face there. I also would be nostalgic for Broom’s Bloom Ice cream because of their tremendous quality product and the farm atmosphere they have cultivated for so many families to enjoy. All the new Breweries in town also offer a great, relaxing meeting place for friends.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I like how our County, Harford, is so large and we all consider ourselves to be one community. Where I grew up, it was all about the “town” only and therefore it limited exposure to people and businesses.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Somewhere closer to the water. I hope to eventually retire to a waterfront community somewhere on the East Coast.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I’m the middle child of 9 siblings. Irish Catholic Family from Boston!
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Currently the amazing workout and staff at Orange Theory Bel Air! Working out there has whipped me into shape and the motivational staff inspires me to show up and focus on my physical and mental well being
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
All three of my children. It means the world to me to be the best I can be for their sakes and to give them the guidance, mentorship and inspiration to always keep going in the face of difficulty
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
beauty, love, tradition
