Meet Ashli Finuoli | Marketing, Sales, and Event Specialist

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

Hi Ashli, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs and I was able to learn from them all. I was inspired by their careers and saw how much they loved what they did. I really wanted to do something for myself at my own pace, I wanted to create a brand that could be a future of brands within one brand. Ashli Nicole Productions could house different opportunities; Public Relations, Event Production and Design, Brand Awareness, Sales, Marketing, etc. This would allow the company to be endless. When I first started ANPR I did it with the intention that I would start slow. I wanted to create more freedom with my schedule but I also had to pay the bills. I knew that the income would generate over time and I wanted to start something without allowing that fear to hold me back. So I left my full time day job and went back to bartending, this schedule allowed me to work on my business during the day, and bring in an income in the evenings.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career started when I was 15 years old and although it was fun, it was not easy. One challenge I faced was when I went back to college at UCSD when I was 30, everyone around me was pretty much in their late teens and early 20s! This was probably one of my most difficult challenges professionally, I knew to further my career I had to get my degree. I also had the personal goal to graduate, as I am the first one in my family to goto college. One of the biggest challenges was losing my dad at such a young age which left me feeling kind of lost and that is the reason my career started a little later than most people. He inspired me from his early career at 17, as an owner  of a TV repair shop and then as a carpenter and building his own construction company. I know he still is my biggest fan and would be so proud of all that I have accomplished.

I get most excited and joyful about working with people and bringing their vision to life.

I think what sets me apart from others is my bi-coastal background. I am from East Coast where everything is very fast paced and of course here in California things are a little more chill and relaxed. I feel like this really helps me have a healthy work ethic and work life balance. Half of me just likes to get things done and the other half knows that I need to take a step back sometimes and meditate on things. I think it is a really cool balance of the coasts.

I want people to know that my brand is a work in progress and it will always be just that. Building something that you want to last will not happen over night, and that’s okay – building something can take tears, sweat, and sleepless nights, but as long as you have people who inspire you and lift you up (and A LOT of laughter at yourself) things will fall into place.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d start by spending a few days in North County – this is where I grew up and there are some of the best cozy little spots in Cardiff/Encinitas, Solana Beach, and La Jolla. Encinitas is a quant little town with some of the best cafes and breakfast spots – A Little More and The Roxy are two of my favorites or anywhere you can walk to the beach after. Also, Subman is one of the best sandwich shops in town. Then Solana Beach has my favorite restaurant of all time Samurai, which has been in business for over 40 years and thriving. I would make my way down the coast to La Jolla and check out my old company O’Gara Coach, which is a retailer for Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, McLaren, and Rolls Royce. Stay for the amazing sunet and we’d have to stop by The Ranch for a yummy margarita and then Manhattan’s for dinner – its like taking a trip to old school New York for the night. We would have to go down to the Harbor for stroll to look at the yachts or maybe take a yacht ride with my friends at Infinity Yachts. Then Little Italy next for some more Italian food at Barbusa, then enjoy a night cap/my favorite dirty martini of all time at Born and Raised. The night would not be complete without visiting my favorite spots downtown for dancing, Moonshine Flats and Barleymash (I had the pleasure of working at both of these venues!). Coronado one day for the iconic Hotel Del experience, then back home to Normal Heights to enjoy a good night sleep. Wake up to a day of strolling the neighborhood, local shops and we’d stop for a drink at The Rabbit Hole.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh wow, what an amazing question. I am inspired daily. I start with the four generations of women in which I came from. My great grandmother was a single mother of two in the 1940s who bought her own home by working as a waitress, my grandma started her own company in the 90s after helping run a $22 million corporation, and my mom has been in upper management her entire career from restaurants to hotels and casinos. I guess it’s safe to say that I come from a blood line of badass ladies (can I say that? haha) I have had so much support and inspiration from these women and I am eternally grateful for their struggles. Any boss who ever hired me is part of the journey too and I have had A LOT of jobs. I have had the pleasure of working directly under or with the owners of these companies. Being able to learn directly from CEOs, Owners, Presidents and General Managers has taught me a lot, most which could never be taught in a classroom.

I am also inspired by those around me who give back to the community. I love working with Radys Children’s Hospital and their team whenever I am able. I have hosted a few events on their behalf and love to be able tell some of their patient’s stories and raise funds for a great cause.

I am also grateful for my current position at Toast Catering. I have never had bosses who care as much as they do and truly want their staff to be happy in everything they do, personally and professionally. I am grateful for their support.

Website: ashlinicolepr.com and toastcatering.com

Instagram: @ashlinicolepr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashli-finuoli-11b39439

Other: toastcatering.com ashli@toastcatering.com

Image Credits
Beck Freed Robert Grubbs Photography