PUSHING THROUGH THE FEARS By Carrie Vittitoe Photos by Sunni Wigginton
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f you were to look up the phrase “entrepreneurial spirit,” you would probably find a photo of Marie Riggs. She founded both of her companies, Botanical Processing, LLC and Hawaiian Hula & Ori Tahiti of Louisville, during her graduate studies at the University of Louisville. It seems like an unlikely blend of interests, but she is able to bounce between them in a way that gives her energy and pleasure and keeps her balanced. Botanical Processing, LLC, specializes in the extraction and refinement of high quality oils from botanicals. Hawaiian Hula & Ori Tahiti focuses strictly on education and execution of Hawaiian hula and ori Tahiti. Marie studied mechanical engineering at JB Speed School of Engineering, but she was turned on to the idea of botanical extracting by a friend whom she had worked with as a teaching assistant. While she was intrigued by the idea of using botanicals for their medicinal purposes, what really inspired her was the possibility of creating her own unique career path. During a co-op in the surgical device industry, Marie discovered that working for a big company might not be her cup of tea. “I quickly realized that it doesn’t always matter how hard you work. Sometimes other people will dictate your future,” she says. Although she had no experience in chemistry, Marie immersed herself in study and research to learn more about the processing and extraction of botanicals from hemp. She liked the idea of using a natural product to help people feel better, but she knew she wanted to use PAGE 8 >>
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May 2018 / TodaysWomanNow.com