Name: Jennifer May
Title: Co-Owner of Two Sister Bosses, LLC
Age: 49
Married/Single: married
Kids: three amazing adult kids, I’m a proud mom!
City you live in…
Cornville, the wine country of Northern Arizona.
A typical day in my life includes…
always starting with coffee, then kissing the hubs goodbye and heading to work bright and early. The past three years have been spent working on the hotel with my dad’s help, but now there are lots of final meetings and decisions to be made! We’ve also stayed involved in our family companies, which my brother Matt is currently handling as the rest of us have been more involved with Ambiente, and he is rocking it. It’s insanely busy each day, but I love it, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
I was born…
in the Verde Valley in 1970. We lived in Sedona in a small trailer park. My mom and dad literally came from nothing and have built a business that is still growing after 37 years. I’m super proud of them!
My favorite thing about Arizona…
the monsoons, the hot summer days, the smell of the earth when the rain hits – nothing like it anywhere else – and the gorgeous Red Rock formations in Sedona that glow at sunset. There’s no place like it, it’s always been home in my heart and where my soul rests.
I’m listening to…
Pandora Ghost Pong Radio. It’s the perfect chill station and work music. I also love Fleetwood Mac. In fact, “Dreams” is my ringtone. I love almost all 70’s music.
My family…
is very close-knit, between parents, sisters, brothers and all of our incredible spouses and kids. My husband Jimmy is a total badass ER Nurse, currently also in school for his NP license. My daughter Noël and her husband Matt both work for our family companies and have a super creative and beautiful handmade jewelry and industrial lamp business on the side.
Our older son Jess is a Navy Diver stationed in Pensacola, Florida working on his MBA in Finance, and his wife Lilyanna is currently working on her Masters at Johns Hopkins University in Global Health.
Our youngest son Shane is living in Atlanta, Georgia and working for our family companies, is an aspiring actor and a fitness fanatic (he looks like Hercules), and his girlfriend Natalie (also a fitness fanatic and model who looks like a rock star) is practically family as well!
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
Walt Disney, I mean talk about an iconic American entrepreneur with a crazy vision and the tenacity to see it through after being turned down over 300 times by bankers. That’s endurance.
One thing I cannot live without…
my cellphone. I hate to admit it BUT it is my lifeline to my family, my children, and our incredible hotel project. It’s the only way I stay on schedule being this busy. The reminder app is my BFF.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
an Olympic ice skater. Some dreams die hard and I’m forever grateful for that!
I’m inspired by…
my dad and his ability to accomplish things that seem impossible. He makes everything look effortless but being on the inside of the process with Ambiente means I get to see first-hand just how much effort, sweat and risk really go into a project like this. Also, my mom for always being my dad’s support system and raising us kids right. She’s been the backbone for much of my dad’s accomplishments. God sure knew what He was doing with those two! They gave us the foundation for success hands down.
The one person who motivates me is…
also my dad. He has no slow down or stop button. He gave me the best piece of advice at the beginning of this project when he told me to never give up. He said, “Whenever you hit a roadblock, find a way to get around it, over it, under it or through it. Tough times are when most people give up, but don’t ever quit.” I love that, best advice ever!
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
that my life had a soundtrack! I’m pretty sure it would be epic.
The perfect day would be…
greeting the faces of smiling, happy and satisfied guests of Ambiente and standing back after all of this time and effort to see it built and thriving! That will be the perfect day.
My first job was…
working for our family company. I worked on inventory, shipping and receiving on one of those original big-box computers with the black screen and white letters that type across. That dates me more than I want it to! Also, I’m so glad those are obsolete.
My favorite escape…
is Lake Powell hands down, all of our kids have grown up there over the years. Lake Powell in July is where our family puts aside all the crazy for 2 weeks to just be together. So many great memories have been made in that gorgeous place! It’s still all the grandkids’ favorite vacation.
My life…
is ridiculously wonderful and I’m so excited for the future!
I’m currently working on…
Ambiente. Breathing, eating and sleeping it every day. Really thinking through the guest experience from start to finish and their return visit has made this project evolve before our eyes and honestly, it just keeps getting better and better.
Always…
pray. For family, for friends and for guidance before every decision.
Never…
jump to conclusions or act without a full understanding of the situation.
Favorite Quote…
“I will walk by faith even when I cannot see.” Yes, that’s biblical!
Biggest Dream…
to see Ambiente find a second and third location down the road. The opportunities are beyond exciting!
My Pet Peeve(s)…
slow drivers in the left lane, hearing people chew with their mouth open and “Me Monsters”. If you don’t know what that is, then google that title and Brian Regan – you’re welcome.
More About Jennifer…
headquartered in Sedona, Ariz., Two Sister Bosses is a sister-owned and operated luxury hotel development and management company focused on creating one-of-a-kind experiences that are in harmony with the natural environment. Founded by two Sedona natives, Jennifer May and Colleen Tebrake, the company is committed to the principles of sustainable tourism and bringing new and exciting experiences to the community. Two Sister Bosses is the new generation of a local Sedona family’s development company that has operated in Northern Arizona for close to 35 years.
Blending contemporary design with innovative architecture, the company’s first project is Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel, the first of its kind in North America that will open in Sedona in late 2020.
