Our Story
We Didn't Start a Business.
We Started a Conversation.
Two Kellys. One shared conviction: that running a business is hard, nobody tells you the truth about it, and having the right person in your corner changes everything. That's why BOSSY exists.
Our Story
We didn't meet in a boardroom. We met in our 20s, then began working together at Hillside Children's Center — Kelly M. as a Special Education Teacher, Kelly B. as a Behavioral Specialist. The work was equal parts rewarding and relentless, and we found each other in the margins of it.
After work, we'd debrief. Talk through the hard days, celebrate the small wins, and be honest in a way you can only be with someone who truly gets it. That feeling of being genuinely understood became the thing we kept chasing.
Within a year of each other, we both left to open restaurants. The industry changed. The after-work conversations didn't — if anything, they got more necessary. Because nobody tells you what running a business is actually like. They see the Instagram version. We were living the real one.
We felt so good after our meetings — clear, grounded, less alone — that we thought: what if other business owners could feel this too? That question became BOSSY.
The Journey
Two Kellys meet in their 20s.
Kelly M. joins Kelly B. at Hillside Children's Center. The after-work debrief sessions begin.
Both Kellys open restaurants within a year of each other. The meetings continue — now with higher stakes.
BOSSY Rochester is born — a networking and support community for women business owners in Rochester, NY.
Getting Real with BOSSY podcast launches. 85+ episodes and counting.
Speakers at the Women in Hospitality Conference at Google, NYC. The brand goes national.
Our Vision
Two People. One Mission.
We believe in transparency — sharing both the highs and the lows, every triumph and every setback. Our aim is to equip you with the tools and information you need to grow, alongside a community of women who are here to support and guide you on your journey as a business owner. Running a business can be challenging, and these conversations can stir strong emotions. We believe sharing our stories and experiences is essential to growth, and we honor the insights we gain from each other's journeys.
Meet the Kellys
Kelly Bush
bossyroc@gmail.comKelly Bush is a hospitality leader, entrepreneur, and unapologetic advocate for doing business differently. As co-owner of Union Tavern and Marshall Street Bar & Grill, and co-founder of BOSSY, she has built a career rooted in community, inclusivity, and real connection. Through speaking, consulting, and co-hosting Getting Real with BOSSY, Kelly shares the unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship.
Kelly Metras
bossyroc@gmail.comKelly Metras is an entrepreneur, community leader, and creative visionary based in Rochester, New York. She brings a blend of strategic thinking and emotional intelligence to her work — known for connecting people, cultivating strong teams, and creating environments where employees and clients feel valued. A passionate advocate for women in business, she co-hosts Getting Real with BOSSY.
What We Believe
The BOSSY Way.
Real over polished
We talk about the hard stuff — the cash flow problems, the burnout, the decisions that kept you up at night. No highlight reel here.
Support as a strategy
Having the right people in your corner isn't soft — it's one of the most powerful business decisions you'll make.
Done over perfect
We've learned more from doing imperfect things than waiting for the right moment. We build in public and we mean it.