Mae

Mae Suramek is a reformed non-profit administrator turned social entrepreneur. She has worked as a human rights investigator in Kentucky and North Carolina, alumni director for her alma mater—Berea College, and Executive Director of the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center (Ampersand). After 20 years of managing non-profits, Mae thought there had to be a more sustainable way to fund the critical work that non-profits were doing. Mae opened a noodle shop on the main street of her small town of Berea, Kentucky, with the simple goal of “creating epic noodle bowls and changing the world.” Noodle Nirvana is committed to living wages, supporting local food providers, and significantly impacting the most pressing needs of the community. Now in its fifth year, the restaurant has raised over $120,000 for local causes and has consistently grown in sales. Mae and her husband, Adam also own Hole & Corner Donuts and Happy Jack’s World Sandwich Bar. Mae has served on the Berea Human Rights Commission, the board of Mountain Association (formerly MACED), and she currently serves on the board of Canopy, a start-up non-profit working to support and recognize socially responsible businesses.