Hi! I'm Amanda Loeffler, CEO of Simplicity Gluten Free! I've been a Navy EOD spouse for the last 15 years, 10 of them on Active Duty and the last 5 in the Reserves.We have endured 5 deployments and I have no idea how many TDY's. When we began our journey in the reserves, I had a goal of starting a gluten free restaurant. I had spent many years in the restaurant and hotel industry but didn't have the degree to go with it. My husband graciously gave me his GI bill so I could go to culinary school and then to finish my bachelors degree in Business and Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship. I graduate in May of 2021 and would like to open my restaurant after I can get funded for my equipment and space needed to start a Gluten Free/Dairy Free/Nut Free/Allergy Friendly restaurant and bakery. I would be honored to have your support so I can use my restaurant to support our local community and eventually expand beyond my area of St. Petersburg/Seminole, FL. Family dynamics - Jake has 3.5 years left in the Reserves. We have 5 children ranging in age from 12 to 2. My Why: 10 Years ago I learned I had a bunch of food allergies and celiac disease. I had digestive, skin, head, mental health issues galore and had no idea that it was all tied to what I was eating. I had a serious food addiction problem and it was all making me sick. I was pregnant with the third kid and literally making a pan of brownies a day and eating the pan of brownies each day. A few friends would pop by around 10am when they knew the brownies would be ready.... when I had to switch to gluten free, it was depressing. Most of the gluten free products on the market on the time were not very good. I had experimented with a few things and none of them were necessarily fabulous so the learning curve was steep but once I figured it out , its been a blessing to be able to help others through the journey of figuring out life with all these allergies and celiac disease. Over the last 10 years, the biggest struggle I've had has been eating out. Some restaurants have a gluten free menu but often times its the cross contamination that ends up making me sick again. In the area that I live in, there is a huge need for more gluten free restaurants and bakeries. Many other people struggling like I am just want to go buy a cupcake somewhere local. Or they want to just order a meal and not wonder if its been prepared in a manner that will possibly threaten their health. I look forward to providing that safe space for people to come dine at or order out from and not have to worry about cross contamination. Another set of goals is to provide to places I get stuck such as schools, colleges, airports, stadiums, hotels, coffee shops, and more. Thanks so much for reading and for helping me obtain my goals!