Meet Celeste Potter | Business Owner, Wellness Advocate, and Community Builder.

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

Hi Celeste, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
At Serenity Sips, our social impact starts at the local level. We believe that when you take care of people in your immediate community, the ripple effect is real and lasting. Our space was intentionally created to be more than a café. It is a place where people can connect, feel supported, and build relationships.

We actively invest in our community by hosting weekly networking gatherings that connect local business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals. These events create real opportunities for collaboration, referrals, and support among small businesses. We also host a monthly Day of Giving, where 10 percent of all sales are donated to a local nonprofit, allowing our guests to participate in giving back simply by showing up.

Beyond our walls, we support community events, schools, and local organizations through our mobile coffee cart at fundraisers and gatherings. We intentionally partner with other local and family-owned businesses for our food, coffee, and retail offerings, helping circulate dollars within the community and supporting fellow entrepreneurs.

On a personal level, Serenity Sips was built from a place of resilience and healing. Wellness, connection, and care are woven into everything we do. When people walk through our doors, they are not just customers. They are part of a community that values well-being, generosity, and belonging. That human-centered approach is how we believe small businesses can make a meaningful impact on the world, one relationship at a time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career has never followed a straight or easy path, and that is one of the things that sets me apart. I began my career in healthcare administration in 1999, where I developed a strong foundation in operations, compliance, and organizational leadership. Over the years, I learned how systems work, how teams function under pressure, and how critical integrity and consistency are in leadership.

I later completed graduate school and enlisted in the military, experiences that shaped my discipline, resilience, and ability to lead through uncertainty. Along the way, I worked closely with small businesses, helping them with formation, regulatory setup, policies and procedures, standard operating processes, and financial budgeting and forecasting. That work gave me a deep appreciation for what it truly takes to build and sustain a business from the ground up.

Since 2011, I have worked alongside Dr. Mila McManus at The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness, where I have helped manage and grow a practice that values both innovation and compassionate care. Together, we focused on building strong systems, fostering a supported and collaborative team, and creating an environment where patients feel genuinely cared for. That long-term role allowed me to refine my leadership style and understand how intentional culture directly impacts outcomes, sustainability, and trust.

Before opening Serenity Sips, I experienced a personal injury that forced me to step back from many of the professional roles and projects I had been balancing. During that time, I continued working alongside Dr. McManus, a role I still hold today, but intentionally paused everything else. That season of limitation created space for reflection and clarity. It became clear that I wanted to build something different. Something that was not dependent on what I could carry alone, but something rooted in wellness, connection, and shared purpose.

Serenity Sips is not my first business, but it is my first brick-and-mortar, and it represents the culmination of everything I have learned professionally and personally. Opening a physical space required stepping into visibility, financial risk, and responsibility in a new way. It was not easy. I faced uncertainty, the realities of cash flow, and the challenge of building something sustainable from the ground up. I navigated those challenges by staying grounded in my purpose, learning as I went, being willing to pivot, and asking for help when needed. My family played a critical role, stepping in alongside me and helping build something we could grow together.

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that growth does not come from having all the answers. It comes from being willing to listen, learn, and lead with humility. Sustainable success is built slowly through trust, consistency, and showing up even when things are hard. I have also learned that connection matters just as much as strategy, and that businesses rooted in care and community have the power to create lasting impact.

What I want the world to know about me and about Serenity Sips is that this brand was built with intention and heart. Serenity Sips is not just a café. It is a reflection of resilience, healing, family, and community. Every decision we make is guided by the belief that people matter, collaboration is stronger than competition, and success is most meaningful when it is shared.

I am most excited about continuing to build something that lasts. Something that creates opportunity for others, supports local businesses, and offers a space where people feel welcomed, seen, and connected. My story, like my career, is still being written, and I am proud of the foundation it is being built on.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I would want them to experience what makes this area truly special: the people, the small businesses, and the sense of community that exists here. I would intentionally build the week around local, family-owned spots and places where you can feel the heart behind what’s being created.

Day 1 – Welcome + Community Hub

We would start the week at Serenity Sips, because it’s the perfect introduction to the community. It’s a place where people gather, work, connect, and slow down. From there, I’d take them to visit some of the small businesses we partner with, including Ome Calli Cafe to experience the organic coffee we proudly serve, and nearby local shops to get a feel for how interconnected this area is. The evening would be casual, maybe a walk along the water and dinner somewhere relaxed where conversation comes first.

Day 2 – Old Town Spring Small Business Day

We would spend the day in Old Town Spring, wandering through locally owned boutiques, antique shops, coffee spots, and artist spaces. It’s one of the best examples of how small businesses thrive when people intentionally support them. Lunch would be at a local spot, followed by more exploring and time to just take it all in.

Day 3 – Food, Makers, and Local Favorites

This day would be all about the food scene that’s built on relationships. I’d take them to Knead Me Bakery for sourdough and baked goods, Galindo’s Bakery for pastries and gluten-free options, and Allyanne’s Kolache Kitchen for kolaches. These stops aren’t just about eating. They’re about meeting the people behind the counter and hearing their stories.

Day 4 – Nature + Reset

We’d slow things down with time outdoors, walking trails and enjoying the green space that makes this area feel grounded and livable. Lunch would be light and local. The afternoon would be for rest, conversation, and resetting. This area shines when you don’t overschedule it.

Day 5 – Wellness + Connection

I’d intentionally include a wellness-focused day, starting with coffee and a relaxed morning, followed by time to unplug, reflect, and recharge. We’d keep meals simple and nourishing and spend the day connecting, not rushing. That balance of productivity and rest is a big part of why people stay here.

Day 6 – Community + People

This would be a people-centered day. We’d time it around a local gathering or networking event so they could meet business owners, creatives, and families who make this area feel like home. Lunch and dinner would be at familiar spots, surrounded by people who know each other by name and genuinely care.

Day 7 – Slow Send-Off

We’d end the week the same way we started it: coffee, conversation, and gratitude. No agenda, just time together and a final walk or brunch before they head out.

What I’d Want Them to Take Away

What makes this area special isn’t big attractions or flashy destinations. It’s the small businesses, the relationships, and the sense of community. It’s a place where collaboration matters, where people show up for one another, and where supporting local isn’t a trend, it’s a way of life. That’s the experience I’d want my best friend to have.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
That’s a meaningful question, because this isn’t my first business, but it is my first brick-and-mortar, and that distinction matters.

My biggest shoutout goes to my family. Opening a physical space requires a level of commitment, risk, and presence that goes far beyond ideas or online ventures. My family believed in the vision, stepped in when needed, and carried the weight alongside me, from behind-the-scenes support to showing up in very real, hands-on ways. Serenity Sips exists because it was built together.

I also want to recognize my mentors, including Dr. Mila McManus and other incredible leaders who shaped me long before Serenity Sips. They showed me what it means to lead with integrity, compassion, and consistency. Their trust and encouragement gave me the confidence to step into something as personal and visible as a brick-and-mortar business.

Another important shoutout belongs to our local small business community. The spirit of collaboration, shared knowledge, and encouragement among other family-owned businesses has been incredibly impactful. Choosing connection over competition has reminded me that success is stronger when it’s shared.

Finally, I want to thank every guest who has walked through our doors. Their support, patience, and belief in what we are building has confirmed that community-centered spaces still matter. This journey has been shaped by resilience, mentorship, and shared effort, and I carry that gratitude forward every day.

Website: https://www.Serenity-Sips.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenitysips_tx/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/serenity-sips

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Serenity-Sips-Wellness-Caf%C3%A9-61559800598637/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SerenitySipsTX