Three years ago, Gina Jackson was an unemployed single mom of three girls. Today, Jackson is best known as the inventor of DishwasherMATE™, a product that keeps dishes from getting flipped over or melted in the dishwasher.

Jackson credits her success to the support of her family, who helped her big idea become a reality. “I shared (the idea) with my mom, because she would tell me the truth,” Jackson recalls. “She said, ‘That’s it, I think you’ve got it!’” Jackson also emphasizes the importance of doing your homework: “You have a lot to do...you have to research in depth to see if anything like it has been created before. And keep your idea to yourself!” 

These days, Jackson is under contract with QVC, which will give her access to over 90 million households. “It’s such an honor,” Jackson says. But she hasn’t forgotten the years of struggle that led her to this point. When she isn’t busy as a mom, she works with charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and encourages others to bring their ideas to life. “Anyone can do this,” Jackson shares. “Just believe in it...and be brave enough to do it.”

For more about Gina, and other local happenings and information, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style – Folsom, El Dorado Hills edition. Click on the Get Your Copy link on this Web site for some of our newsstand locations; click on the Subscribe link on this Web site to become a regular subscriber, or to order a copy of this issue or one of our back issues, please email  [email protected], or call 916-988-9888.