This story first appeared in the Summer 2025 Vision.
By Christina Capecchi Ries ’00
With the passage of time, the benefits of a Visitation education become clearer — not simply academic excellence and leadership skills but more nuanced traits. A Vis education builds character and courage, the kind that is required to change courses, asking the hard questions: Am I where I want to be? Do I enjoy this work? Is it meaningful? Is it right for me?
A pivot may be more praiseworthy than a promotion — being self-aware, accepting trade-offs and choosing what’s right for you. A successful Vis alumna builds a career on her own terms — centered on passion, on growth and creativity and on making a positive impact.
This new series celebrates our outstanding alumnae whose careers are truly a labor of love.
Read about Jen Grady Peery ’01 who followed her own unique path shaped by purpose and heart.
Chasing Down the Ice-Cream Truck
When Jen Grady Peery ’01 walks into Gym B at Black Hawk Middle School in Eagan on a recent Saturday morning, she appears to know everyone. Her 11-year-old’s volleyball game doubles as social hour.
Soon Jen is taking a selfie with a Vis alumna to send to another alumna, greeting her in-laws, joking with neighbors and cheering for girls by name on both teams. Jen is a people-person.
The kind of heart-to-heart relationships she learned to foster as a Vis student has defined her adult years, creating a rich tapestry of personal and professional bonds. It’s the pulse behind her latest adventure: running an ice-cream truck. Pink Cow Ice Cream (pinkcowicecream.com) is an events-based truck, which arrives in hot-pink style to serve up bomb-pops, snow cones and nostalgia.
“The smiles on people’s faces when we show up is priceless,” Jen says.
The leap of faith has turned into a successful business venture — and it’s been a blast. Her Vis foundation, Jen says, paved the way.
Owning an ice-cream truck wasn’t on the master plan, I’m guessing. How did it come to be?
It fell into our lap! I’m a pretty active member of the community, so the previous owner of Pink Cow Ice Cream, Jen Williams, knew I’m a bus driver in the district and have summers off. She contacted me on Facebook Messenger one day asking if we would be interested in buying the business.
My immediate response was no because I didn’t think we had the financial means to suddenly purchase a business. When I told my husband that I had declined, his response was “Why?” He was intrigued and wanted to know more.
As I messaged back and forth with Jen, I soon realized this was absolutely perfect for us. We were able to find the funds to do it, and about a week later, we bought the business from them.
I’m a huge believer that you get back what you put out into the world. Spreading joy and optimism helps me be happy and positive.
Were you scared to take the leap?
A little. But knowing how well the previous owners did, we knew we would do great. Given our many ties in the community, I had a feeling business would boom — and it did!
Business is good?
We bought the business in March, and it was paid off by July. After our first summer, we were able to go on a cruise as a family, which is something we haven’t been able to do until now. We’re truly thankful for such an amazing community and their support. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible.
So you’re profitable and you’re enjoying yourselves?
It’s so much fun that we forget we’re turning a profit.
What’s your bestselling treat?
For adults it’s the Chips Galore, which is the chocolate chip ice cream sandwich. For kids, it’s probably the face ice cream such as Sonic or Spongebob.
It sounds like you’re tapping into that Salesian virtue of joyful optimism. Do you feel a bit like Sister Marie Thérèse, our Sister Honey, who served up popcorn and hugs at Vis?
Yes! I’m a huge believer that you get back what you put out into the world. Spreading joy and optimism helps me be happy and positive.
Vis emphasizes heart-to-heart relationships. Has that been a through-line for you?
One hundred percent! Love, compassion, empathy and kindness are very important to me, and I try to practice them daily, especially in relationships. This is true of the relationships we have with our customers. We are so blessed to know them and be part of their special events. Without these relationships, we wouldn’t have a successful business.
You’re dishing up nostalgia. The truck can even play music. Do people tell you, “This brings me back to my childhood!”
All the time! The best part about our ice-cream truck is it’s not just for kids! Adults see our treats, and they revel in the nostalgia it brings to them. It makes my heart so happy. I, too, have some nostalgia with the treats, especially when I see the old stickers from the 90s at our supplier’s office. Kids and adults equally love our ice-cream truck, just in their own ways, which is what makes running this business so unique.
Are the lessons you’ve learned running this business ones you wouldn’t have learned in a more conventional or corporate job?
Definitely not. This is much more personable.
What are some Vis skills that have served you in this role?
Managing people, coordinating, branding, adjusting price points, supply and demand. My math and economics classes are definitely paying off.
You even launched a “Spread the Love” program to bring ice cream to those who can’t afford it.
Because I know not everyone is privileged enough to have the support system I do, I want to help others find their happiness and realize they are loved. I don’t have all the money in the world, but I do have kindness, compassion, love and empathy, and I think it’s important we share that with others.
It takes confidence to pursue a venture like this. Do you credit Vis for that?
Yes, definitely. Vis helped me be much more confident in high school and beyond. It’s difficult to be a confident woman, especially in today’s world. But it’s so important to remember that other people’s opinions of you do not define you.
You chose having a positive impact over prestige.
If there’s one thing I wish I had learned sooner, it’s the ability to ignore what others think of me. Up until about five years ago, that was a difficult task. When the pandemic hit, I realized there will always be haters, so do it anyway! In fact, during the pandemic, I stood on street corners in a blow-up Pikachu costume waving just to put smiles on people’s faces during a dark time. I can’t tell you the amount of people who messaged me and told me it made their day. People actually sought me out to be birthday parades that happened during COVID. Although I was behind a costume, it took a lot of confidence to get out there and do that.
Now that you’ve taken this leap as a business owner, do you feel bolder about going for other things?
Absolutely! Life is short. Don’t wait for retirement or next year to do something you’ve always wanted to do. Go for it.
Are you more deliberate these days about giving yourself creative outlets?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself becoming more creative. It definitely has become an outlet for me to express myself! Now I enjoy teaching myself how to do new things. For example, I taught myself how to make shaker kitchen cabinet doors and refaced all the cabinet doors in our kitchen. I’ve taught myself how to use many tools, which has allowed me to build and remodel parts of our home. It’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it!
