Deasia Ray
16-year-old Deasia Ray manages her mom’s cheesecake as she studies in high school.When it comes to decorating cheesecakes and managing her mother’s business, 16-year-old Deasia Ray makes sure she puts her best skills forward to satisfy customers who visit Everything is Cheesecake.
Before becoming a store manager, Ray worked alongside her mom in their home when she was around 9-years-old. She would sprint from the house to cars, giving out the cheesecakes.
When the opportunity came to move the business to a trailer, they sold cheesecakes from a single-compartment refrigerator. Now, her mom owns a store with “Everything is Cheesecake” displayed across the building in a pink and gold bedazzled font, and Ray continues to support her mother’s dream.
“It’s something that she’s always wanted her whole life,” Ray said. “I remember when she was working from home, and she was so depressed all the time. I knew that’s not what she wanted to do.”
Ray explained that since her mom expanded the business, an increase in staffing also had to occur, bringing in three new assistants. With a more prominent space comes more responsibility for the high school senior. Ray’s position from a team member to a store manager added to the workload. That made it difficult to relax because she was expected to set an example for other staff members.
“In the trailer, in our downtime, I’d just sit there and be on my phone, talking to mom,” Ray said. “Now, you can’t really do that because there’s a team looking at you.”
Ray attends classes daily and is out by 11 am, but she immediately tries to figure out what her day will consist of because she knows there is plenty to do. She said there are times when procrastination takes over, but only briefly because she knows the customers will not get their dessert.
Some of her daily tasks as the store manager include making cheesecakes, decorating, cleaning and greeting customers. She has accessorized the store for holidays to channel nostalgic, happy memories for herself and the customers.
“I love working here, but it’s very different from any other job,” Ray said. “I am hoping to take a little chunk of this business for my own.”
As Ray prepares to graduate from high school in June 2023, she has begun the process of choosing a college. Her options include Michigan State University, Howard University, and Florida A&M University.
“This is like my first step into adulthood. I won’t be living with my mom and under my mom’s wing.” Ray said. “I’ll be super independent and making my own decisions.
Once Ray goes to college, she will not be able to continue her work for the company. She plans to become a business major to gain the necessary skills to be owner of her mom’s business one day. She wants to make sure that the business remains family oriented.
“I think that family is the foundation to everything, especially having a family-owned business,” Ray said. “I want my staff to feel like a family. I cherish family, connections and love.”