“The lessons I learned at The Ritz Carlton, imprinted in my mind how important our values are to any relationship, and at The Ritz that meant superior quality, attention to detail, customer service, and being authentically and emotionally connected to your customer”, said Mimi.

Operating with the premise that she wouldn’t compromise her values for the sake of the business, Mimi worked in the payment processing industry within such organizations as Elavon, US Bank, Bluefin Payments and Priority Payment Systems where she held director and executive level HR positions. In each of those companies, Mimi was the key to organizational effectiveness, to building culture and to managing change.

 

In 2003, after architecting a massive restructuring for Elavon, and going through a divorce, Mimi decided to follow her passion and embarked on an entrepreneurial venture in the pet industry launching two successful pet washes in Georgia known as: That Dirty Dog. For six straight years, That Dirty Dog, was voted by the Atlanta community, as the “best” pet-grooming business. During that time, Mimi learned valuable lessons about the tears and triumphs of a small business, which gave her insight to help small businesses for HR services so she became an HR consultant.

 

Since 2003, Mimi has worked with a variety of companies and individuals to help them achieve their business and personal goals.  She loves taking the complex and emotional personnel issues and developing creative, simple solutions for her clients.  Mimi always approaches her work with passion, enthusiasm, humor, compassion, and authenticity.  She is most notably known for her creative and solution oriented approach, and can-do attitude. Her mentor was her father, William (Bill) Darr, a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, who excelled as a leader due mainly to his authentic and enthusiastic approach to people. Bill Darr could turn strangers on an elevator into friends for life. The same can be said for Mimi, who meets strangers on planes, and creates life-long friendships.

 

Mimi has volunteered over the years for several organizations.  She was a member of The Rotary Club in Roswell GA, and served as a board member to Visions Anew, a non-profit support group for those going through divorce.  Mimi mentored high school students in the Star House Program, an afterschool educational program for At-Risk youth.  Her life coaching efforts include a program she created called Masterminds to give youth the tools and techniques to change their thinking, and thus, their outcomes.   Mimi currently volunteers in Bellevue, Idaho for Swiftsure Ranch, a non-profit, therapeutic equestrian center offering equine assisted therapies to children and adults with physical mental or emotional disabilities. 

 

Mimi is an avid animal lover, and has her own four-legged-furry children, Bella and Tigger- both Wheaten Terriers.    She loves spending her free time creating beautiful interior spaces, entertaining friends, hiking, cycling, and dining out.  Her dream is to have enough land to someday have her own land based “ship”- a Noah’s Ark- filled with dogs, sheep, goats, pigs and horses, chickens, donkeys, rabbits, and whatever other animal needs shelter.