Meet Anne Palsgaard | Mold Inspector

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anne Palsgaard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anne, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had grown increasingly miserable at a job in a small independent lab that did mold testing for the mold inspection industry. I was carrying that stress in my body and bringing it home all the time to my family life – which was especially hard for me as a new mother and wife. The pay was great though, so I didn’t want to leave those big reliable paychecks. “Golden handcuffs,” right? But then we got acquired by a much larger international testing company – it was not a fit and things got worse there. That was the kick I needed. I quit, my back pain disappeared almost instantly after leaving that desk job, my family life improved, and I was able to pick back up with the state mold inspector license that I still had from when I had considered about going independent years earlier. Now, after years of working in the lab, I not only still have that license but also a network of industry mentors that I built through my years of serving that client base. That was enough to get started. I knew that launching my own business would probably be scary, risky, and unstable at first – and some days and weeks it has been – but I knew that if I was going to take the risk of making this change and spending years of my life working super hard to build my own business, then I had to stay focused on the big, long-term picture of what building a successful mold inspection business could offer. What has been most important to me has been to build a life for myself where I could both make a good income and also be a happier and more present wife, mother, friend and family member. I couldn’t do that by staying miserable at my office job – but I’m finding that I can do that through my own business.

What should our readers know about your business?
I had worked as a microbiologist for 13 years prior to launching my mold inspection business. My science and biology background help home and property owners navigate the stressful and often confusing situation of combatting mold issues. And because I’ve personally dealt with these kinds of issues in my own properties as well as my family’s homes, I know exactly what my clients are going through, and find ways to work within their budget and lifestyle so that we can get rid of the mold and get back to living life to the fullest. Some lessons I’ve learned along the way is to not be SO desperate for a project that I overlook my core values and ethics. At the heart of this all, I want to help homeowners – and that often means butting heads with big contractors who are in it for the money.
When something disastrous happens in a property that leads to mold growth, you need someone on your side to walk you through the steps on how to combat the issue before it gets out of control. Mold damage can wind up costing upwards of tens of thousands of dollars to remediate if not caught early on. I am here to help people by working within their budget, while still focusing on the science of why mold is growing in their property, so that they can achieve peace of mind.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
During the week, I’d bring them the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science. They are part museum, part aquarium, and you can easily spend a full day exploring their interactive exhibits and animal displays. Outside the museum is an art walk dedicated to different species of cats and dogs. The sculptures of our beloved fur friends are human-sized and covered in beautiful art and graffiti. Right next to the science museum is the Perez Art Museum, but that’s for day 2! Their souvenir shop alone deserves a visit, as I’ve found the most unique books, stationary and curios there. I’m a huge foodie, so I’d bring my friend to my favorite restaurant on Miami for the weekend: Barton G . The Restaurant. If you want a show-stopping, wow-worthy dining experience, this is the place. Every single item on the menu is jaw-dropping. We’d order the Dougie Challenge cocktail, which comes out with it’s very own juke-box playing hip hop music while liquid-nitrogen fog floats out of the drink. For an entree, the Samurai Salmon is a must have – delicious, tender salmon stabbed with a life-size samurai sword – perfect for fending off anyone who wants a bite of your dish! For dessert, it’s the Dollar Dollar Bill Ya’ll. The chocolate and smores’ tart is covered in gold, and comes out with hundred dollar bills in the case below it, It’s the sweetest and most exhilarating end to a perfect dining experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shout out goes to my mom – who is my best friend, business mentor, and biggest cheerleader. Her tough upbringing inspire me on a daily basis, and I draw a lot of strength and perspective from thinking about what she went through to raise me here. She was so determined to give birth to me in America – where I’d have more rights, opportunities and safety (compared to where she and my father had been living) — that she flew on an international flight across the Atlantic – while over 8 months pregnant- just to make sure she could do that. She didn’t know a single person in this new country, and when she arrived, the person who was supposed to rent out a room to her didn’t answer her calls. By some miracle, the family who sat on the flight next to her gave her their phone number, and she reached out to them for a place to live. It is her story and determination that makes me push harder every day to be the best entrepreneur, mother, and wife to my family.

Website: www.rayofsunshinemold.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayofsunshinemold/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-palsgaard/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rayofsunshinemold/

Image Credits
Amy Renee