THE MOTHER-CHILD TEAM
Joseph Neese, founder and son
Linda Young, Mom and pastry chef
Vanessa Young, manager and daughter
THEIR VENTURE
Mac & Ethel’s, a digital bakery fulfilling orders from its Baton Rouge kitchen
LOCAL SINCE
2021
WHAT THEY DO
Mac & Ethel’s menu is filled with a variety of gourmet cookies and shortbreads, brownies and blondies, and more desserts. Every item is baked by hand with love. Start by ordering the classic shortbread — customizable with fine chocolate, fruit and nuts — or the tropical Hawaiian and boozy Irish Coffee Cookies.
What advice do you have for other mothers and children working together?
Like Mom always said, “if you’re not having fun, you’re doing it all wrong.”
What makes your relationship work well for the business?
Our treats are baked with love, and that begins with our love for each other.
Share with us a time the three of you had a difference of opinion over a business matter, and who won out? Why? How’d you work it out?
In life, mom’s always right, but at the office, there’s no winning or losing. Work decisions should never be personal, so we’ve learned the value of the two C’s: communication and compromise. We’ve found this to be the best way to make decisions for the business, as one team.
What unique talents/traits do each of you bring to the partnership?
Mom is a professional pastry chef, who spends hours rolling handmade shortbread. While my sister is a seasoned retail pro who keeps our digital business afloat, Mom doesn’t own a computer, and Vanessa doesn’t know how to bake. So each of our skills are the perfect complement for each other’s experience and talents.
