When you meet Sherrie Ortiz, owner of Just One Day Travel Tours, her passion for people, storytelling, and exploration is immediately contagious. Her Kansas City–based tour company curates memorable local experiences—from walking tours to conference outings and family gatherings—giving guests a new way to see and celebrate the city she calls home.

Sherrie’s entrepreneurial story is one of reinvention, courage, and community—a reminder that it’s never too late to start something new and joyful.

The spark for Just One Day Travel Tours began years ago with her mother. “My mom used to take senior tours, and I thought it sounded like such a fun job,” she recalls. “I put the idea on the back burner while I ran my home bakery and raised my kids. But when they graduated from college, I decided it was time to give this a shot.”

After 18 years as a cake designer—first in retail bakeries, then from her own converted garage—she knew what it meant to build something from scratch. But after closing her bakery, she wanted a different kind of life. “I didn’t want to go back to retail,” she says. “Being a tour guide sounded like much more fun.”

That decision turned into a second act that combined her love of people and discovery. Originally focused on senior independent living communities, her business has since evolved to include conferences, military reunions, family gatherings, and local walking tours. Each one is built around connection and curiosity.

Owning a small business always brings challenges, and Sherrie is candid about hers. “I think I’m still trying to figure that one out,” she admits. “Every year has been an adventure.”

One of the biggest lessons she’s learned is the power of vulnerability. “When people would ask how things were going, I used to say everything was fine,” she says. “But once I started being honest and saying, ‘It’s really difficult, I’m not making enough money,’ that’s when doors started to open. People want to help. We’re all dealing with the same issues at different levels.”

That openness has helped her form a network of mentors, advisors, and peers who’ve been essential to her growth. “The Women’s Business Center, the InovateHer group, SBDC, Small Changes Big Shifts—all of them have been incredible resources,” she shares. “And in travel and tourism, groups like GBTA keep me connected to my industry.”

At 55, she decided to start over—and she’s proud to show what’s possible when you follow your instincts later in life. “People think entrepreneurship is for the young,” she says with a laugh. “But age doesn’t matter. I scrapped my first career at 55 to start this all over again.”

Her proudest milestone so far? “Making it past the first three years,” she says without hesitation. “That’s when most small businesses fold, so getting here feels huge.”

Her advice to other women is equal parts practical and heartfelt: “Take all the classes. Study. Find a mentor. And learn to build networks that actually work for you. If it’s not connecting you to opportunities, it’s okay to move on. Sometimes the fit just isn’t right.”

She’s also learned that every mistake can be a teacher—especially when it comes to marketing and money. “It’s really hard to make clear decisions when you’re feeling desperate,” she admits. “But even when something doesn’t work, it’s called failing forward for a reason.”

As she looks to the future, Sherrie envisions Just One Day Travel Tours growing into a sustainable business with loyal, returning clients—and one day, something she can even sell.

More importantly, she hopes her work continues to make Kansas City shine. “I love when visitors say, ‘Wow, we’re going to come back here for vacation!’” she says. “And even locals leave with a list of new places to explore. That’s what I want—to show people what’s right here in their own backyard.”

For Sherrie, success isn’t measured only in numbers—it’s in satisfaction, community, and joy. “Success to me is a job well done, and being able to afford the extras in life,” she reflects. “I want to be remembered as someone who made changes and encouraged others to try something new.