Meet Lauren Clarke | Founder, Turn

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

Hi Lauren, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As a female entrepreneur and mother, balance is a huge challenge. I think one has to be very intentional in how and when balance is exercised. It’s difficult, and some days are better than others. I deeply care about my business, its people and our mission, similar to how I care about my children and my family.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started a business four years ago called Turn, based in DFW. We help consumers and businesses reduce and recycle food waste, and we promote a circular economy. Turn has been a true entrepreneurial journey as I started it in literally in my backyard and with my personal vehicle, often times with my son in his car seat. It has been very challenging, but now I’m proud that we have a great team of 10+ people. We serve consumers across the DFW metroplex in a partnership with Whole Foods Market and other local business hosts. We service commercial clients like restaurants, corporate offices (Google, Salesforce, Boston Consulting Group, and more) and we also service DFW International Airport for composting. I’ve learned so many lessons along the way, and I continue to learn and grow every day with Turn. I’m extremely humbled to be leading a wonderful team on a great mission, and I’m excited about the days to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Traveling and experiencing other cultures is one of my greatest passions! I have deep Texas roots as a 7th generation Texan born in Dallas, but I also worked and lived in New York City for 9 years. So, I have respect for both urban and rural/natural settings.

In DFW, we have a really great food scene, a lively cultural arts community, and then there are some downright amazingly unique things that one can do like go to a rodeo or the State Fair of Texas. I love supporting everything local – businesses, makers, artists, growers. One of my favorite weekly traditions is to shop every weekend at Good Local Markets, where all of their vendors are farmers and artists within a 100 mile radius. I had the same Sunday farmers market tradition when I lived in Manhattan.

I love being, working, and playing outside. I’m a master gardener, composter, and I love outdoor work, especially pulling my 7-year-old son Ben into the mix – and finding adventures in every living thing around us. The Texas countryside is really beautiful and quite varied, so I would also my friend to experience the joys of hiking in one of our great state parks, tending to one of my personal outdoor garden spaces, visiting a local farmer, going fishing, or sitting by a homemade bonfire. Being outside and connecting with nature is very important to me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My early inspiration for recycling and respecting food is my late grandmother, Ms Wanda Craig. She grew up in the country in a large family during the Great Depression and World War 2. She helped raise me and my sister, so she had a profound impact on my life, from a very early age.

Another huge mentor in my life is my father, Don McMinn. He is a great leader in his own right, and he is willing to answer my calls for advice at any time. He also helped me purchase the first vehicle for my business, because I’m woefully ignorant about machines! Thanks, Dad. I love you.

Website: www.turncompost.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/turncompost

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/turndfw

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

Image Credits
Ashlee Freese Sprinkles Creative