Name: Stephanie Montgomery
Twitter: @stephmonty
Instagram: @stephmonty
Website: MaxAndOllie.com
Age: Let’s just say…I’m an 80s baby
Title: Founder & Philanthropist
Married/Single: Married
Kids: Max is 4, Zoe is 9 months and Ollie, our mini Australian Shepherd, is 6.
City you live in: Scottsdale
A typical day in my life includes…waking up with my kids, attempting to squeeze in a run and working on all things Max & Ollie.
I was born…to create, to be active and to care for others.
My favorite thing about Arizona…is the lifestyle. I love raising my children here, being so close to nature and yet also having great neighbors and neighborhoods. Between the baseball season, baseball trades and then coming home for the offseason, we have averaged at least 2-3 moves per year – and we have yet to find a place that compares. I always tell people that if you can handle the summers, there’s no other place like AZ.
I’m listening to…Fleetwood Mac, forever. “The Chain” is my all-time favorite song. Other songs currently in the rotation are from a Spotify curated Hip Hop playlist and the Super Mario Odyssey soundtrack (my son loves anything and everything Mario, which is fitting since I grew up playing NES). It’s an eclectic mix, I know.
My family…inspires me, motivates me and has endless energy. If I could have 1/8th of the energy that my kids do, I’d be invincible.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…my family. When my daughter came home from the hospital, my son seemed to morph from a toddler into a teenager overnight – I’ll never forget it. Between that and busy work schedules, I’ve started to experience just how fast the time does go – and shifted my mindset when it comes to appreciating these moments while we have them.
One thing I cannot live without…my robe. It might not be a true necessity, but it’s worn often – anyone who knows me knows that if I’m at home, there’s a good chance I’m in my robe.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…an actress.
I’m inspired by…moms.
The one person who motivates me is…Dr. Kim Feinstein. She’s a brilliant woman and local mom of 2 who has helped me change my perspective on success and prioritization.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…to ensure that every mother had the resources that she needed whether supplies, access to medical and/or mental health professionals or a bigger support system, whatever their unique needs are.
The perfect day would be…a lazy morning with a good cup of coffee, getting a workout in, having time to read and write and ending it with a beer and a hot dog at the baseball field.
My first job was…a server at a chain restaurant in small town Michigan.
My favorite escape…is going for a run. I wasn’t a true runner until after I had my son, and now I’ve been able to explore so many cities from Central New York to Daegu, South Korea by running through them.
My life…is happy, organized chaos.
I’m currently working on…the Max & Ollie brand, continuing to create things to get kids (and baseball fans of all ages!) excited about the game of baseball. It’s a sport that can truly bring people together, and I hope to bring some joy to others the way the game has brought joy to each member of my family. I’m also working tirelessly to bring awareness to diaper need and it’s implications.
Always…advocate for yourself.
Never…let someone else’s opinion of you dictate how you live your life.
Favorite Quote…I love quotes. Some of my lifelong favorites are ”the squeaky wheel gets the oil,” “it does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop” and “life is not a dress rehearsal.”
Biggest Dream…is to end diaper need in this country.
My Pet Peeve(s)…especially this time of year, a pet peeve of mine is that other states don’t adopt our ways and get rid of daylight saving time! Just another reason why Arizona is the best.
Bio-on yourself/company: I’m a former Google employee, TV host, writer and business owner. I’ve hosted shows for the Home Shopping Network, Amazon and People Magazine – and in 2020, I wrote a children’s book about baseball. Since then I’ve developed it into a lifestyle brand, Max & Ollie, which features baseball-themed gifts and apparel – with a portion of the proceeds going to families in need via our family fund, Monty’s Marvels. I’m also a frequent flyer, thanks in part to my husband’s career as a professional baseball player, and last – but certainly not least – I’m a mom of two.
Know someone that should be a Trendsetter? Pitch your idea to trendsetters@azfoothills.com.
