Meet Britney Calkins | Business Owner, Boards by Brit

We had the good fortune of connecting with Britney Calkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Britney, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always had a passion and love for cooking, hosting and entertaining. In recent years, I began creating charcuterie boards when family and friends came for dinner. Their excitement over these boards was ultimately the springboard that inspired me to take the risk and start a business. I saw an opportunity in the market and believed that combined with my background in managing teams in the corporate world, along with my need to achieve and grind would allow me to be successful in this space.

What should our readers know about your business?
Boards by Brit is more than just a charcuterie service – it’s a celebration of seasonal flavors, premium ingredients, and aesthetic finesse. Our team’s dedication to this craft is evident in every meticulously arranged board, where an assortment of artisanal cheeses, savory cured meats, delicate crackers, and an array of complementary elements come together in a harmonious symphony of taste and texture.

I am most proud of the fact that I started this business out of my kitchen at home. It started with a vulnerable social media post and very quickly blew up. In a matter of months, I needed a commissary kitchen space and a team of dedicated Charcutiers, plus a marketing and social media manager. This year we were awarded 2nd place in the “Annual Readers Poll Best of the Inland Northwest” for catering/charcuterie. We participate in farmers markets, wedding shows, and other events throughout Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

We are now expanding beyond charcuterie and offering options such as salads, pastas, shrimp cocktail and more…essentially offering full catered meals and experiences for events. Other charcuterie businesses in this area do not offer this.

Has it been easy? Heck no! Owning a business can be taxing on family life and has caused many a sleepless nights worrying if/how we’ll fulfill all orders in the coming week or days, but I am so grateful to have a talented team that I can always depend on. Having a team also enables me to ensure I can have a work-life balance. My family always comes first!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Pacific Northwest is gorgeous and offers a wide-variety of activities! I love being active, so if a best buddy were visiting we would go biking on the Hawaitha trail in northern Idaho…a 15 mile ride with 10 large and dark tunnels (headlamp essential) and spectacular scenery. There’s an abundance of small lakes here, ideal for water skiing, surfing, pontooning and swimming. In the winter, you don’t want to miss a visit to Schweitzer mountain, the largest ski resort in Idaho and Washington. Not only is the skiing epic, the resort offers a host of activities like tubing, skate skiing, live music, good food and much more. The “can’t miss” in this area and where I would absolutely take a friend is the Coeur d’Alene resort. It overlooks Lake Coeur d’Alene. The rooms are spacious and cozy, the spa is an oasis, and the restaurants, particularly Beverley’s, are divine! They even have an infinity pool over by the golf course overlooking the lake that’s so peaceful!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve had some incredible mentors and leaders throughout my life. In high school, my leadership and cheer coach, Mrs. Donley, was always pushing me to new levels. During my career in HR at Stryker, Mark Lipscomb, Jeff Batuhan, and Tamara Sniffen, all highly respected leaders of the company, were among my biggest mentors. Whether it be encouraging me to lead a “Lunch and Learn” or train for another marathon, these individuals were always trying to capitalize on my potential and talent and most important, they believed in me. I would be remiss not to mention my family. My parents, sisters, husband and extended family have always been my biggest fans and support team. I feel incredibly blessed by the village around me and this small community who supports and loves.

Website: www.boardsbybrit.com

Instagram: boards.by,brit

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/britneycalkins

Facebook: Boards by Brit

Image Credits
@lauriedenneyphotography