THE BUSINESS
Brie Rehak opened her small cheese board business in April 2021, by renting commercial kitchen space in the basement of a local bar. Social media and word of mouth helped That Girl Brie grow to such an extent that she moved into a full retail space by June 2025. The business now offers show-stopping food displays and custom-ordered charcuterie boards, as well as grazing tables and a mobile cooler cart for special events.
The St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center, and specifically, Dr. Sheri Marnell, became a great stepping stone for Brie on her entrepreneurial journey. “Sheri builds you up, coaches you, guides you, and gives you great resources!” Brie said. “She asked the questions I didn’t think to ask and helped me make connections I would not have otherwise made like at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls (UWRF) and the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC).”
THE SBDC’s ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAM (ETP)
Sheri suggested Brie enroll in the SBDC’s Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP). “The program was incredible! At first, I was intimidated because a full ETP program seemed so big for my little cheese board business. In the program, I learned to step out of my comfort zone, look at things from a new angle, and take needed steps to pivot,” Brie said.
Watch to hear benefits of discovering an unexpected pivot
The ETP program assisted Brie in understanding financial projections and actionable business growth. Brie said, “ETP was a big game changer! Some of the most valuable parts of the program for me were learning from peers who were fellow business owners and having direct access to SBDC consultants like Maren Valentine and Katherine Fossler.”
Accomplishments with SBDC at UW-River Falls
- Sales permits
- Grant applications
- Resources
THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER CONSULTING
“Maren Valentine, my SBDC consultant, helped with sales permits, completing grant applications, and sharing incredible resources. She truly cares about the success of my business. She is such a community supporter and even attended the grand opening of That Girl Brie in its new retail space in August 2025,” Brie said.
Listen to Brie describe all the help Maren provided through the SBDC
The grand opening was a huge success. “We were floored that over 200 people attended the recent ribbon-cutting event held in partnership with the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. We offered custom cookies, cheese samples, and a build-your-own-lemonade stand. There wasn’t a single cookie left at the end of the day,” Brie laughed.
THE OBSTACLES AND GROWTH
The small cheese board entrepreneur knew she needed to pivot when the business ran into licensing and legal obstacles due to USDA and FDA food requirements. Brie was also dealing with limitations of shelf life and weather when it came to her cheese products.
Hear Brie’s words of wisdom on dealing with obstacles
One pivot she discovered through ETP was the need to have her own private label cheese, and now Merlot Cheddar, Portabella and Chive, and six other cheeses are custom That Girl Brie cheeses. She was selling so much cheese through one of her suppliers, Harmony Cheese, that in 2024 at the request of the owner, she took a job selling her own as well as two other distinct cheese brands for the company.
Brie also developed a relationship with the Dairy Plant at UWRF. “Our current shop is kitty corner from the Food Sciences building on campus. We are supporting each other: the University Farm, the student-run Dairy Plant, and That Girl Brie. Now the community can come in every Thursday and purchase cheese curds in my shop that are 20 minutes old,” she said.
Discover how the university relationship benefits all involved.
THE ADVICE TO OTHERS STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS
Brie gave great advice to others who are hoping to start a small business, saying, “My number one piece of advice is to know where your money is. Get an accountant and have someone knowing the legality of your finances. Also, love what you do; this will help when you face the challenges. If you love what you do, the long days don’t seem like just work and obligation.”
Listen to the advice Brie offers to others wanting to start their own business
THE FUTURE
Brie is excited to see how this community-supported business continues to grow and change in the future. She is looking forward to participating in the 300-person grazing table event at a new healthcare facility in Hudson on October 3.
Hear Brie’s excitement about the importance of community
View six story videos linked below
Published October 2025