Today, I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself, to all of you; since you’ll be seeing me here weekly now. My name is Tiffany Ottey, my family and I have called Madison home for a little over a year now. I have also been working at the newspaper for a year come February as well!
I was born and raised in the outskirts of Philadelphia, where I learned early on the value of community and hard work. Growing up, I was involved in a variety of activities that shaped who I am today. In high school, I was passionate about both sports and art. I played volleyball and threw javelin for the track team, while also pursuing my love for creativity through graphic arts and photography at a technical school where I was dual enrolled during high school. Those years taught me the importance of balance and discipline, skills that I think continue to guide me.
In addition to my athletic and artistic pursuits during high school, I proudly served as a third-generation volunteer firefighter. My family’s commitment to public service and wanting to help others has always been an inspiration to me. It instilled in me a strong sense of duty and selflessness, which I am forever grateful for.
In 2018, I married my husband, who I met while we were both volunteer firefighters during high school. At the time he was active duty Army and stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. Our time there was such a meaningful chapter in our lives, and it brought us to North Carolina where we called home for five years and made some of the best friends who are now like family to us. We’ve been blessed with two wonderful children, ages six and two, who keep us on our toes and keep us laughing all the time.
We decided to move to Madison last year as my husband transitioned out of the military, so we could be closer to family for the first time in our married life. What drew us to this town was the slow-paced, welcoming vibe, the charm of a small community, and, of course, the abundance of cows that I never tire of seeing. There's something about this place that makes you feel at home the moment you arrive. We knew from the beginning we wanted to settle down here and call this place home.
I started working at the newspaper as an advertising representative, it was the perfect way to get to know so many people in this fun little town. Back in May I got the pleasure of being “upgraded” to our in house Graphic Designer. It’s been a breath of fresh air using my artistic abilities again while designing cool ads for so many existing and new businesses here. It has been a blast and I’m looking forward to a new year full of new ads and meeting new people.
As I settle into this new chapter of life, I look forward to getting to know so many of you and contributing to the growth and vibrancy of Madison. Whether it’s through community involvement, sharing my story here, or simply being an active part of what makes this town so special, I’m thrilled to be here and eager to be a part of it all.
Thank you for welcoming me into this community we love calling home. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us, and I look forward to all the moments we’ll share along the way.