Discover a local teen who owns her own successful small business
Monica Montgomery, a sophomore at Daviess County High School, has a pretty impressive resume. The young entrepreneur has experience as a social media manager, videographer and real estate assistant.
At just 16 years old, Monica has established M Squared Productions, with plans to continue to expand her business in the future.
When Monica was still in elementary school, she was already dreaming of working in video production.
“When I was 8 years old, I had been playing guitar and taking lessons. I never got into it,” Monica said. “I was watching YouTube all the time and watching bloggers. I begged my parents to let me quit guitar and start a YouTube channel.”
Monica was excited when they agreed to let her start her own channel, naming it “Growing up with Monica,” a move that eventually led to her first paid gig in videography.
“I started making videos for about two years. By age 10 or 11, I bought my first equipment—a Canon camera,” Monica said.
Monica later purchased a MacBook and editing software. As she expanded her arsenal of tools and gadgets, new opportunities emerged.
“Local Realtor and entrepreneur Matt Brown needed a videographer for a project and asked me if I could film it,” Monica said. “I told him I would bring all my camera stuff and film it on one condition—I told him if he liked it, he had to hire me.”
After being hired for her first job, doors began to open one after another for Monica, who started creating more videos and helping real estate agents and other small businesses post to their social media.
“When I was 13, I was working as an assistant for a local real estate agent,” she said. “When he left to go to a new company, I went with him.”
What began as a personal YouTube Channel allowed Montgomery to find her passion for editing and video creation.
“It didn’t take me very long to realize I didn’t want to be on that side of the camera,” she said.
“I love the editing aspect of projects.”
Within the next year, Montgomery expanded her clientele to serve several clients at once, managing social media pages, creating spotlight videos for the sponsors of a local youth camp with Habitat for Humanity, and eventually diving even deeper into assisting local small businesses.
“One summer, I became an assistant for a real estate agent. We would stage houses, arrange furniture to make everything look pretty, move things from one house to another, and pick out paint colors,” Monica said.
Perhaps one of the biggest accomplishments for Monica happened recently, when M Squared Productions became an LLC. Although she can’t be the sole owner until she turns 18, Monica is already learning many aspects of running her own business.
One of those lessons Monica has learned is to invest in help, specifically hiring her brother. Though he might live right down the hall, the siblings take the work they share very seriously.
“It’s perfect for him—he does posters, graphic designs and fliers,” Monica said. “He doesn’t love it like I do, but he does enjoy it. It’s nice for him to be able to make money, too.”
Montgomery is thankful for her business to be a family affair, with her parents offering to do their part of their daughter’s business.
“They love it—they have always been super supportive of me. My dad or mom will pick me up and get me where I need to go since I don’t even have my license yet,” Monica said.
Some of her past and current clients include Junk Pro by Jereme Wilner, Greater Owensboro Realty, Justin Rightmyer, E.P.I.C Youth Camp, and Kelly Burke. She has also helped create videos for Kentucky Farm Bureau and Heritage Christian School.
After creating her official business name and a stronger social media presence, the clientele will likely continue to grow.
Recently, Monica has also started to offer drone services, using her drone to shoot the inside of a house for sale.
“I launch the drone, drive the drone down and go straight in,” Monica said. “It’s perfect for real estate videos.”
From teaching herself the ropes of making YouTube videos to and using free software on her mom’s laptop, Monica is proud of how far she’s come.
“I love what I am doing. I used to think I’d pursue my mom’s career and be a loan officer. I don’t know if it’s still in the cards for me or not,” Monica said. “I do know I’d like to have more employees and continue to grow my business. Part of me thinks I’ll continue to do this.”
As far as future plans for college and beyond, she is keeping her options open there, too.
“I don’t want a ton more social media management right now. Next year, I’ll start early college and have a little more flexibility. I used to think I’d get out of Owensboro, but I don’t really want to. I love our community. It’s a great place to grow up.”