We are excited to (re) introduce you to the other half of the Gulf Coast Mom ownership team today as our Mom Feature Friday! Jen Guthrie is a local mom of four and a multi-business owner born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 

Jen Guthrie was born and raised in Long Beach, Mississippi. She is the daughter of Jack + Diane Donovan (you may recognize them as the family behind Jack & Diane’s Tattoo). She has an older sister, Connie, an older brother, Sean, and a twin brother, Jack. She comes from a big family and welcomed her fourth baby this past May. 

While attending Mississippi State, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She and her husband, Jamie Guthrie, got married in 2013 and headed back to the Coast where she began working for Gulfport School District as a music teacher for West Elementary School. In 2017, she left the school district to pursue her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi. 

“I actually had every intention of going back to the public schools to snag a job as an administrator. The day that I found out I passed my exam in order to do so, I also took a pregnancy test and found out we were expecting our first baby! A few weeks later, I got the phone call with what I thought would be a dream job offer and I couldn’t help but turn it down. I completely shifted my “plan” and pursued turning my “side hustle” into working from home full time in the marketing industry.” 

During that same time, her husband, Jamie, was also finishing his Master’s degree in Social Work and he was beginning the process of earning his LCSW. They welcomed their first baby boy in December of 2018. Two years later, they welcomed their first baby girl in November 2020, followed by ANOTHER baby girl 2 years later in 2022, and their fourth  baby- a little boy- just joined them in May of 2024. 

“I used to joke with my parents that my biggest dream was having a bunch of kids, rescuing a bunch of dogs, and having my own flock of chickens. I am proud to say I am truly living my dream over here.” 
(I spend my free time attempting to bake sourdough bread, planting gardens, and raising all my babies, dogs, and chickens. )

In the summer of 2023, when Erin approached Jen with the idea for the two to take over The Gulf Coast Mom, Jen literally couldn’t resist. It was the perfect blend of social media, marketing, connection, community, and most of all- motherhood!  They also launched FRAME - Branding Agency in the summer of 2024 as another means to serve businesses across the southeast.

On top of owning The Gulf Coast Mom and FRAME - Branding Agency, she and her husband also opened Renew Counseling and Therapy Services where her husband provides professional counseling and therapy to individuals, couples, and families. 

When asked to share one piece of advice to all the mamas out there, this is what she said:

“ It’s so easy in our busy society and culture to rush rush rush. It’s easy to hurry through the motions, hurry through bath time, bed time, and through all of the things. It’s even easier to hurry through all of the things with our phones in our hands. But all our kids want from us is our time. Put the phone down. Read the extra book at bedtime. Play the extra game. Have that extra 2 minute focused conversation. Take the walk. Give the extra snuggles. It will become the most cherished parts of your days, as well as the most cherished parts of theirs. I want to encourage all of the mamas reading this to just slow down when you can and soak it all in.” 

You can find Jen and her family’s businesses online HERE:

Renew Counseling and Therapy Services  Facebook, Instagram, Website

The Gulf Coast Mom: Facebook, Instagram, Website

FRAME: Facebook, Instagram, Website

Jack and Diane’s Tattoo : Facebook,Website