Crystal Mills had been feeling a bit personally unfulfilled during the pandemic even though she was busy building her blooming South Boston business.

“Although I was going 100 mph trying to figure out what we were going to do with the business, it made me slow down just a little bit in a much needed way,” said Crystal, who co-owns Love Child with Colleen Dunleavy.

In her self-evaluation, Crystal felt a strong desire to be more a part of the community, especially since ”the South Boston business community has been so incredibly welcoming to Love Child from the beginning.”

So when South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation posted a job for a small business specialist, “I literally felt like the job was meant for me. It felt that way,” Crystal said. “I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason.”

SBNDC received a Tufts Medical Center – Community COVID-19 Relief & Recovery grant to hire a part-time specialist to provide outreach and technical assistance to local business owners.

Crystal, 35, whose title is Small Business Growth Manager, will focus on stabilizing and growing South Boston’s small businesses.

“I will be actively researching and educating myself to know the resources that are available for our small businesses. They can consider me a liaison of sorts. My whole purpose is to help to build a robust program for the small businesses.”

Her first order of business will be getting women- and minority-owned businesses registered with the city. When small businesses register, it allows large corporations to notice them and reach out if they have a service the small business could provide.

Signing up with the city comes with so many benefits, Crystal said. “It's important because there's a ton of resources that are out there and a ton of free education and networking opportunities.”

Crystal brings experience in different sectors to the role. “I bring six years of owning a business and, prior to that, I grew up with entrepreneurial parents as well.”

Crystal is the founder of WanderLush Boston, a craft cocktail catering company serving restaurant-style beverages at private events. She’s learned retail with Love Child. She’s worked for two brewing companies. And previously, she was a recruiter in the healthcare and banking fields.

And through all of it, she focused on relationship building and strategic partnerships. “Connecting people … I do that every day as a human anyway,” she said.

She is looking forward to helping small business owners to collaborate with each other and network. 

What has she learned from the pandemic that she can impart to others?

“You have to let go of everything, kind of. You have to be willing to let go of control at times,” she said. “In the beginning of the pandemic, it literally felt like every other day we were having to change ideas, creative processes. Being a little bit fluid and being flexible was a really hard lesson to learn.

“Just listen to yourself and take the time to understand your strengths,” she added.

She is excited for her new role.

“I’m thrilled to have an even more meaningful role in the community. Not just as a business owner …” 

To reach Crystal, email her at crystal@sbndc.org.