Amanda was born and raised in Dearborn, where she began her career in social work after graduating from Wayne State University with an undergraduate degree in psychology and a masters degree in social work. While living in Seattle, Amanda launched her food blog amandasplate.com. Her passion for food led to competing on MasterChef and launching of her award-winning bakery, butter bear shop (which has since closed). In 2019, Amanda was selected as a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow and completed a business mentorship program. Most recently, Amanda served as Business Inclusion and Opportunity Manager for the City of Detroit. Amanda is passionate about community, small business and food — and with a professional background in all three areas, she is sure to be a strong addition to our team. When she’s not busy helping small businesses thrive, she enjoys baking and going for walks with her daughter, Hannah.