Connect
To Top

Community Highlights: Meet Ashley Riley-Newby

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Riley-Newby.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
My single grandmother raised me in what some would consider poverty, but to me, it was the foundation that made me into the woman I am today. She worked domestically to care for the family and never owned a car, so we relied on public transportation or walking everywhere. With 3 other siblings in the household, I learned to budget and created my income as early as 8 years old. I sold candy, learned to do hair, and began babysitting as I got older. Upon going to high school, I began setting my dreams on wanting to attend college but knew It would be costly, so I decided to start doing scholarship pageants to help compensate. With the money raised, I could go on to FAMU, a dream I had since a child making me the first generation from my family to graduate high school and leave for college. As an adult, I begin working in corporate America, mostly in the financial industry. However, at 21 my mother approached me about the difficulty of finding her passion and getting a job that could afford her a better lifestyle. At this point, she had become a convicted felon from bad decisions she made when she was young, but they haunted her everywhere she went. After long deliberation, I recommended she become her boss. She was uncomfortable about starting the process, so I offered to start the business, and she could work for me. That business was a janitorial company that became a 6 figure earner in 6 months. With success from that company, I could fund 4 other entrepreneur journeys a non-profit aTax Preparation Business, a Consulting and Development firm, A non-profit, and A wedding Elopement service. I take pride in being a serial Entrepreneur because each business I birthed has a story behind it of how to transform pain into purpose and profit.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
Not In fact, if anything came smoothly, I probably would question its place in my life. I have been super successful, but I must say my success was also a sacrifice for some hard times and painful memories. I have faced a lack of confidence, severe anxiety, racism, sexism, many failures, homelessness, and the death of a child.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Why Knot Wedding and Elopement. and Star Preparation?
Why Knot Wedding & Elopement – Offering pop-up elopement services and wedding officiant services. We are offering services as soon as 48 hours. We can accommodate parties as small 2 or as large as 250. We are offering the gift of forever for anyone, anytime. Star Preparation- A Tax and Notary service targeted to assisting and educating in business and personal issues. Along with helping entrepreneurs structure and create blueprints for success.

Any big plans?
I want to continue to promote Love and Marriage for all, so I’m hosting larger-scale date nights and a couple of trips to help encourage fun and sparks. I also feel that entrepreneurship is big, but the need for multiple streams of income help offer financial freedom, so I want to continue to encourage and educate on being as successful as entrepreneurship.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
professional individual profile photo girlbossbranded

Suggest a Story: VoyageJacksonville is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

1 Comment

  1. Meme

    July 21, 2022 at 4:38 pm

    You Go Girl!!! Been an inspiration to me since I was a young girl!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Local Stories