Katie Linder-Jesse at her desk, talking with a client

About Small Bay Studio

Teacher by training. Business owner by experience.

I'm Katie Linder-Jesse, founder of Small Bay Studio. My career has taken me from the classroom to business ownership and both taught me the same thing: people do their best work when they know exactly what's expected and have the tools to do it well.

Small Bay Studio exists to give small business owners those tools, without asking them to build everything themselves.

“Good training isn't more paperwork. It's what helps people feel confident doing their jobs well — and it saves you time and money.”
— Katie Linder-Jesse

Why it matters for you

An educator's know-how, applied to real businesses

The Small Bay Studio New Employee First Week Checklist on a tablet, with a five-step method for teaching each task

I understand how adults learn.

A master's degree in curriculum and instruction, more than a decade of teaching students with special needs, and experience training educators at the college level mean I know how to break a job into clear steps people remember.

I understand how small businesses run.

More than 12 years in real estate and business operations, owning and running businesses, gives me a realistic view of your time, budget, and pressures.

I build systems people actually use.

I've developed procedures, training materials, and organizational systems for real operations with practical tools, written in plain language, that hold up on a busy day.

Background

Experience on both sides of training

Education & instruction

  • Master's degree in curriculum and instruction
  • Educator and special education teacher
  • College instructor training teachers
  • Trained and mentored teachers, business owners, and other professionals
  • Instructional design, adult learning, and curriculum development

Business & operations

  • 12+ years in real estate and business operations
  • Owned and operated businesses
  • Managed commercial property development, operations, and tenant relationships
  • Developed procedures, training materials, and organizational systems

How I work

What you can count on

Integrity

Honest recommendations and clear pricing. If a $39 template is all you need, I'll tell you. And when you call, you'll reach me — a real person, not an automated system.

Simplicity

Plain language, practical formats, and nothing your team won't actually use.

Partnership

Your knowledge of your business, combined with my training expertise. We build it together, around how your business actually works.

I'd love to hear about your team.

Tell me what's working, what isn't, and where training tends to fall through the cracks.