Bank teller, mortgage lender, farm owner, nonprofit leader: Lisa Mitzen offers a modern-day redefinition of the phrase “renaissance man.”
The Hudson Falls native has redefined herself with each phase of life.
“After graduating from high school, all I wanted to do was get a job, make money to buy clothes and hang out with my friends, but my parents didn’t think that was the best plan. They sat me down to talk with me about the importance of continuing my education,” she remembered. “They said, ‘Go to ACC, live at home and give it a try. If you still think it’s not a good idea after a year, no harm.'”
So Mitzen met with an advisor, who encouraged her to take business classes. “I always liked math, so I started taking business law and accounting, I took a marketing class,” she said.
After three years, one change of major and a semester in the Walt Disney World internship program, she graduated from SUNY Adirondack.
“I don’t want to be dramatic and say that ACC saved me, but it certainly put me on the right path,” Mitzen said.
Mitzen transferred to SUNY Poly in Utica and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Throughout college, she worked summers as a bank teller, so securing a job at The First National Bank of Glens Falls (now TD Bank) in the credit card department was a natural next step. “I knew I really loved banking and finance and it interested me,” she said.
That job led to a long career in mortgage lending and, inadvertently, to love, as she bumped into Ed Mitzen in a building where they both had offices. They started dating several months later, founded Fingerpaint Marketing in 2008, then married in 2011.
“Once Fingerpaint really started to take off, Ed said, ‘It’s your turn,'” Mitzen said. “To say the mortgage business had become stressful would be an understatement. I was totally burnt out and ready for a change.”
When the Mitzens first met, both were already actively involved in the community, serving on boards, making donations and helping however they could.
The pandemic fueled that desire. “In 2020, we thought, ‘We’re so blessed and there are so many people struggling right now, how can we do more to help people?”
Ed suggested they purchase The Bread Basket in Saratoga Springs. “‘What if we buy the bakery and donate any profits back to the community?,’ he asked,” Mitzen recalled.
They did, and founded Business for Good in late 2020. They also purchased Hattie’s Restaurant and Chicken Shack in spring 2021. In partnership with Business for Good, they donate all profits from their businesses back into the community.
The nonprofit arm supports community organizations, but also works with entrepreneurs to develop their businesses to help their communities.
Since it was founded, Business for Good has donated more than $5.5 million, supporting Alzheimer’s Association, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, Frank Chapman Community Center, Shelters of Saratoga, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, Open Door Mission and Franklin Community Center, among other worthy causes.
The Mitzens hope to expand their reach. “We’d love to take it national so we can help those around the country,” Mitzen said. “And so far, so good — pun intended.”
The journey of Mitzen’s life — banker, farmer, philanthropist, nonprofit co-founder, business owner — all started with finding her way at SUNY Adirondack.
“ACC sent me on a great path,” she said. “It was a great place for me to start.”
