Are we the first DUO? We had to ask if this was acceptable, paving the way!
We met in high school and have been together since we were 21 years old, to date ourselves we used to sit and listen to music on my MYSPACE page and now have been married 10 years this September 22nd.
We are all about adventure and risk- which is what brought us to opening FLOATERS- our lakeside beach rental spot. We have always been outdoor enthusiasts- from climbing trees as kids to hiking, biking, water-sporting, 4-wheeling adventurers and everything in-between as adults. We aren’t say’ers, we are do’ers. We spend as much time as we can enjoying our new home and our cabin up north, there is never enough time off to enjoy it all 100%. We feel like we became much more immersed into Big Lake living when we moved to our new place in May of 2021, over by the St Francis River, where we lived on site while our home was being built. Living the less modern camper life gave us more time to enjoy the little things, like Taco Tuesdays, and time away from our devices. We began to spend more time- really- seeing and exploring our community. Part of what makes our home special is the amenities we have right out our doors, we love the lake and the beach and wondered how NOBODY has ever thought to bring a kayak and paddleboard rental to our beach. Low and behold- FLOATERS- our small business we have big dreams for! Couples that FLOAT together, stay together!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
We both grew up in Minnesota- Terrence in Clearwater and Stacy in Palmer, and attended Tech High school where we ‘met’ -our stories differ a bit on how we truly came to know one another. We both only have one sibling and our folks still live in the homes we grew up in. Now our family is just the two of us and our two fur babies who pretty much go everywhere we do. We spend a lot of time working, maybe too much time, but it keeps us grounded. On our ‘off time’ we head up north to Talmoon, MN where we have a little cabin on Big Jessie Lake and we enjoy all of the outdoor activities we can, all year around.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
We both love El Loro -we celebrate Taco Tuesday like it’s our birthdays- you always feel like a regular when you visit even if you are a first timer- they know how to treat everyone special. You also can not go wrong with Pizza Factory- they are a 10/10 every time -try the “Volcano”- pineapple, Canadian bacon, jalapenos and pepperoni. Cambo Flare also has all of the ‘off the beaten path’ items we love- give us the HEAT!
Q: Please tell us about your current, past or future career plan. What do you/did you love most about it?
Stacy: I work for Guardian Angels as an Assistant Administrator and love the work I do advocating for our seniors.
Terrence: I am a Union Electrician by trade and work in Minneapolis.
Independent of our chosen career paths, we are partners in owning and operating FLOATERS and are excited to see how we can make it grow.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
We moved to Big Lake in 2011, Orrock Township, and just recently moved to our new home last October. We love being close enough to town to bike to our favorite spots. We moved to Big Lake to be closer to our careers and started FLOATERS at Lakeside Park, Big Lake Beach, Memorial Day 2022- we are officially Big Lake Business Owners!
Q: Who is an interesting person in our community that you’ve met and deserves to be included in The Faces of Big Lake project?
Lorenzo Cota- if you have met him from going to El Loro you can probably see why he would be a great community member to highlight.
Q: Do you have any pets? If so, what are they and what are their names?
Yes, we have two rescue dogs Manny- 9 and Palmer- 8, who are our BABIES! We also have several deer that frequent our property that we have named- they are family now, too.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV Shows?
Stacy: I am a sucker for reality TV- MTV or BRAVO, totally binge worthy. Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie, ever!
Terrence: Jurassic Park- classics.
Q: What is your favorite holiday? Favorite season?
Autumn and Thanksgiving, they go hand in hand and the transition from Summer to Autumn in Minnesota is breathtaking. Taking time to really come together with family and friends is what life is all about!
Q: What advice would you give to people living in Big Lake?
Get outside! Big Lake has BEAUTIFUL parks- our trail system is exceptional and so well kept, and we have a clean, super well-kept beach, ya’ll!
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Our bucket list is more like a cargo container list- we have big dreams and want to check everything off! We love to travel and have done a road trip every year for our anniversary -other than during COVID restrictions- and have a couple states left to visit, by land, so that would be a big checkmark for us.
Q: What is your favorite current or former business in our community?
Our Police, we wouldn’t say they are necessarily a ‘walk in and shop business’ but we are huge supporters of these fine folks who keep our community safe! Since opening FLOATERS we have had the opportunity to meet more of the police force, including Sherburne County Sherriff’s, and have always appreciated the dedication they have to our community and surrounding areas.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Big Lake is an area dreams can come true- sounds deep, right? But Big Lake has boomed in the last several years and small business, housing, education and community leaders here help us be the best. Big Lake has all of the ‘big city’ amenities with a ‘small town’ charm but also has immediate access to serene parks and trails and the Sand Dune State Forest which is unique to us!
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Right here. We are entrepreneurs at heart and want to continue to grow our endeavors- possibly outside of our community- but we love Big Lake and truly consider this our home.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Even though we complained about it, we actually ENJOYED living in a camper from May to mid-October while we built out home last summer. Simple life, lots of outdoor time and memories that will never be taken from us.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Each other. We are lucky to have someone by our sides that truly support each others dreams and tend to stand side-by-side with while doing it. Can you tell?
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of Big Lake?
Work meets play.