Minnesotan To Meet: SmallCakes' Kerri Hall

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesotan you're about to meet has spent her entire career working with oil.

She began in sales in the petroleum industry, but her second career has her selling oil that you could say makes things a little more sweet.

Whether it was making cake pops for her neighbors or birthday party for her kids, baking has always been her passion. The Apple Valley mom is taking advantage of all that being a business owner and baker has to offer and that's what makes her a Minnesotan to Meet.

Since 1991, Kerri Hall worked in the oil business.

"My first job with Amoco oil 1991, stayed with them until 2006," Hall said. "There was never really a lot of engaging enthusiastic work."

Afterward, she worked for a petroleum wholesaler, but baking then became her escape from her corporate life.

"It was my saving grace, it was just my little outlet and gave me some peace happiness during the day," Hall said.

It was a book called Buttercream Dreams by Jeff Martin that inspired Hall to leave the oil industry for good.

"I love baking, but I didn't have a portfolio of recipes," Hall said.

After she finished the book she drove town to Kansas City to meet Martin and within three hours she decided to start working with a different kind of oil: cooking oil. You'll find her most days.

Hall said she didn't want to be just an owner, but an operator at SmallCakes Cupcakery as well.

"I have a great primary baker, but she's off two days a week and those days I bake and I love it," she said.

On opening day the staff was running on empty, baking over 2,000 cupcakes.

"The first day I thought we were prepared. We absolutely were not, we had to beak four different times," Hall said.

Hall really has turned this into a house run operation. Her son Brett is back this summer from college working in customer service. Her daughter, Caelin, is the general manager.

"It's something I've been grooming myself my entire life, but didn't' realize it until now," Hall said.

Now, she hopes there are many more cupcakes to come.