| Tell us about your company: |
| Dirty Sue was born behind the bar at Jones Hollywood to solve a simple bartender problem: the olive juice ran out long before the olives, causing waste and standard jar brine was never meant for cocktails anyway. I worked directly with an olive farmer/importer and his family to develop the first premium bottled olive juice crafted specifically for dirty martinis. Along the way, I leaned on the palates of bartender friends and trusted allies to make sure Dirty Sue was truly bartender-approved before I ever sold a single case. |
| What inspired you to start your business? |
| Entrepreneurship was part of my upbringing. My family created a product called Pizza Put-On—an Italian spice blend my dad developed to perfect frozen pizza after long tax-season nights. It was pre-internet, pre-Amazon, and while people loved it, scaling a side hustle with a full-time career and a busy family proved tough for our family. However, one of my Professors for my marketing major in my senior year at Syracuse loved the story and often had me waxing poetic about the trials and tribulations of our start up. My classmates… not so much. That experience lit the fuse. Years later, when I had the idea for Dirty Sue behind the bar, I knew I had to try. It seemed obvious—so obvious I was surprised it hadn’t been done before. I’m glad I didn’t overthink it. |
| What are your proudest achievements so far? |
| My greatest achievement has been earning the trust of bartenders and home cocktail enthusiasts alike. Dirty Sue started behind a bar, and years later it’s more relevant than ever and – being used by professionals and people hosting friends at home all around the country. That continued trust means more to me than any single milestone. Also, walking into a store, bar, strangers house and seeing my product never gets old. |
| What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs: |
| Start a business rooted in both passion and belief. If you only have one, it won’t carry you very far. Entrepreneurship is the road less traveled for a reason—it’s hard. You have to love what you’re building and truly believe it will work, because that’s what gets you up in the morning and keeps you going when things go wrong. And they will. The gratifying moments are real, but they don’t last forever. What builds resilience is realizing every successful entrepreneur has faced bad days, worse weeks, and moments close to failure. If they can push through, so can you. |
| Please share a memory or thought about your alma mater: |
| While I gained knowledge in the classroom, the bigger lessons came from the people around me. Meeting classmates from different backgrounds and perspectives broadened my worldview and helped shape who I am. College gave me the space to grow, take risks, and build lifelong friendships. Two of the three investors in my company were college roommates. And once you graduate, remember, Never Stop Learning. Ever. It will keep you motivated, focused, sharp and great at dinner parties. |
Alumni Emporium 