Octavia is the Owner of Ice Cleaning & Painting. She has a B.A. in History from Edinboro University and holds an active cosmetology license. She is originally from Slippery Rock, but has lived in Pittsburgh, Erie, and now resides in Oil City.

An achievement that she is proud of is that she built a business in Butler County solely by word of mouth. After moving, she said that she didn’t anticipate the struggle of relocating her business as well. “I still commute many days because it is obviously a challenge to build a clientele in a place where one is a stranger.” She hopes to learn the skills to become a more confident business owner and hopes to expand her business and hire some employees.

One of her goals through her business is to “provide a work environment that’s flexible and friendly toward working parents who often need more flexibility than many employers provide.” As a single mother, she wants to be able to spend time with her two daughters while also giving others ample time with their families at well.

She enjoys collecting books, working on her house, kayaking, and camping. “The best backpacking trip my daughter and I ever had (she was 7 years old!) was at Oil Creek. I love that there are so many waterways and wooded areas close at hand. I’m also a big fan of Trails to Ales and the Venango Co-op…my house of filling up with quirky antiques from there” said Octavia.

She mentioned how she is very appreciative of the kindness of the people in the area. She really likes Oil City’s “friendly, small town feel.”