Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
“I’m Courtney Lynn Ottrix, a storyteller at heart, a community enthusiast, and a true Clevelander who was born and raised in Shaker Heights. I come from a big family, (my parents had five children), and I loved growing up with siblings. I literally dreamed of having my own family. I graduated from Shaker Heights High School and went on to attend Duquesne University. Upon graduation, I very proudly moved back home.
Now, as an adult and resident I’ve dedicated my career to highlighting Cleveland’s vibrant life and hidden treasures through my brand Courtney Covers Cleveland.
I am the wife to Bryon Ottrix Sr. and the proud mom to four wonderful children Bryon Jr., Pauly, Bryce Cameron and my only daughter Codi Lynn. Nothing gives me more purpose or is more fulfilling than being their mom.”
Tell us about the children’s book you recently wrote that was inspired by your family.
“One of my favorite projects of all time was co-authoring this book with my two sons (my birth son Pauly and my bonus son Bryon Jr.) about our blended family. I noticed when they were young and I was searching for books about blended families, everything was about divorce and that just wasn’t our story. We took it upon ourselves to create a book for families like ours from the perspective of the kids. A story where a dad with a son, met a mom with a son and they fell in love and very happily became brothers in a blended family. It’s a great book highlighting what they each loved most about gaining a brother and what life looks like now that they live under the same roof. Let’s not forget how on birthdays and holidays they not only have double the gifts and grandparents but also the love.”
Since you’re a native of Northeast Ohio, what are some of the things you love about Cleveland and the region?
“Cleveland holds a special place in my heart for so many reasons. It’s remarkably affordable, which is a huge plus, and the amenities here are fantastic—our Arts District is second only to New York’s, and the food scene is incredible. I also love how close we are to other major cities, making travel and road trips a breeze. But what sets Cleveland apart is its unique vibe and the people. There’s this strong sense of community and a ‘if you can make it here you can make it anywhere’ kind of spirit. We stick by our Cleveland Browns, win or lose because that’s how much we love our city. It’s that combination of spirit and pride that makes Cleveland so endearing. Beyond that, the city is always buzzing with energy, whether it’s a new exhibit in the museum district or a festival downtown. And despite its growth, Cleveland maintains that friendly, small-town feel where neighbors know each other and genuinely care.”
What inspired you to start Courtney Covers Cleveland? What type of things do you cover on your blog/social media?
“I was honestly tired of millennials complaining there was nothing to do here. I was tired of my friends moving to bigger cities to get a social life and work to only cover their living expenses. I wanted people to see what I saw in Cleveland. I wanted people to try things and go to new places, I wanted them to enjoy the hidden gems, and developments that were coming to town and so I started sharing them! I quickly named Courtney Cleveland — and one of my followers suggested I start a blog to house all of my content. In May of 2017, Courtney Covers Cleveland was born and I committed to covering cool places, cool events, and cool people with my iPhone.
I didn’t know it would take off the way it did nor that it would become a full-blown business however it has truly been an amazing ride. Of course, I get to cover a lot of cool things like private events, but I also serve as a resource for the community.”
What are some things that you and your family enjoy doing?
“As a family, we love the Botanical Gardens and going to new restaurants. My kids have started sharing their own reviews so you can expect to see more experiences from their perspectives. When traveling events come to town my kids love to see shows at Cleveland Playhouse or Rocket Mortgage. What I love most is that my kids are open to trying new things. I will not allow them to say no.”
What are some of your favorite spots in Northeast Ohio?
“I love exploring new coffee shops, however, I absolutely love Biggby Coffee at Fairmount Circle. I also love Spaces & Co, which is a cowering space downtown. As an entrepreneur, it’s nice to find spaces that allow me to fully concentrate and work outside of my home. Your’s Truly which is truly a staple in this town — has been a childhood favorite, I always get the Notso Fries a day kids love the Mickey Pancakes. When I want a glass of wine, you can catch me at Cle Urban Winery or any of our fabulous local wineries.”
Tell us about your work in TV sports? What are some of the cool things you get to be part of?
“I’m an onsite production coordinator for Major League Soccer (MLS) on AppleTV and I freelance in Production for ESPN. This allows me to travel often, enjoying the biggest events in sports. When I can I bring the kids along for short family getaways. When it comes to work in sports TV it definitely also has its perks! My kids all love sports so having them attend games is always fun. Just last week Bryce got the opportunity to go behind the scenes for a Cavs game, sit on the floor during warmups, play on the court, and meet all the players to get autographs. He told me it was the best day of his life and that meant the world to me. I work hard so my kids can enjoy the benefits.”
With Mother’s Day this month, how will you be spending the day?
“It’s funny, last year I was just arriving in Denver to begin work on the NBA Western Conference Finals with ESPN. This year I have an MLS Match in Dallas on Saturday and will be flying home early Sunday morning on Mother’s Day just to spend time with my kids and have dinner. Then I’m going to read our book at a youth event Monday and fly to Austin, Texas on Tuesday for another MLS Match on Wednesday. My kids mean the world to me, so I truly appreciate every second I get to spend time with them no matter how crazy my work schedule may be.”
Tell us about the organizations/philanthropy work you’re involved with and some of the things you do.
I am very community focused so I’m going to share a few highlights.
First I am a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated – Alpha Omega Chapter, which is the oldest Greek letter organization established by African American college-educated women. Our mission is to be a “Service to All Mankind” something I strive to do in every area of my life. Not only do I partake in a variety of service projects but I am also rolling out a new initiative called Courtney Covers Cleveland (Literally) in partnership with To Attain Healing and The Table Solutions – to include but not limited to – providing covers to the homeless in the winter and items for women and families at shelters throughout the year.
Beyond that, I sit on the Board of Work Enlightened (a think tank that focuses on systemic injustices) and firmly support Birthing Beautiful Communities (a community-based doula program that extends intensive peer-to-peer support to families throughout pregnancy, during labor and birth, and up to babies’ first year).
I am also passionate about consistently working with ThirdSpace Action Lab in the Glenville area, which was created to disrupt the vicious cycle of disinvestment and displacement that exploit low-income communities of color.
How do you balance it all?
“That is the most asked question for me lol… and the truth is I do not believe in balance. It does not exist in my world. I have come to terms with the fact that I can’t and will not try to do it all at once. I do what I can when I can, and I give it my all in those moments. For instance, I’m a great mom in the morning – I’m spending time with the kids making breakfast, and packing lunches and then I’m a great entrepreneur during the day — focused on work and business. At night, depending on the day, I’m doing whatever needs to be done. Sometimes, that’s bathtime, other times that might be a podcast or a dinner date. I give myself grace to know in the moment I’m giving whichever job 100% but I can’t do that simultaneously.”
Do you have any cool “mom hacks” or things that help your family routine?
MOM ADVICE:
1. Talk to your kids! We like to play ‘a rose and thorn’ at dinner time meaning we discuss as a family one good thing and one bad thing that happened to each of us during the day. Beyond that, we’ve also started using “Get to Know Me: 101 Conversation Cards for Kids” — asking random questions and each answering them. I find it a great way to learn about them and for them to learn about me. The questions range from where’s one place in the world you’d love to visit, to a time you felt really loved, and one thing you wish you could spend more time doing. It covers all their emotions and thoughts — I seriously love it!
2. Learn to listen and apologize to your kids, it’s healthy and helpful. I think it’s important that they know mommy makes mistakes and accepts responsibility when I do. I also like to hear when I’ve hurt their feelings and have clear and concise conversations around that. This kind of communication is a part of our everyday life so they feel heard and understood.
3. Give yourself GRACE as a MOM! Do what you can, when you can, and know you are giving it your best in that moment. Also, know you’re never alone – there’s another mom in another house feeling the same exact way!
MOM HACKS:
1. For parents with littles
create WEEKLY BINS! They surely changed our lives and helped us tremendously in the mornings. On Sundays, we pick outfits and socks for the week (oftentimes doubling them up so we have outfits for the weekend and beyond) and in the morning the kids just grab and go. No ironing shirts in the morning, no looking for shorts, or trying to find socks to match- we are prepared!
2. Try to incorporate your kids into the things you DO! For instance, I let them choose the type of place we visit or cover as a family. Do you want pizza? Great let’s find a pizza place we haven’t tried and review it together! Cooking dinner at home — great Pauly picked the Hello Fresh meal, Codi helped me with measuring the ingredients and Bryce practiced reading. I literally let my kids give input in almost everything we do so they enjoy it more and feel involved.
3. I often remove myself from
situations/problems and force them to work together. In my opinion, this teaches them to trust each other and also lean on each other for help and support. Can’t tie your shoes, ask your brother to help you, not sure what color you want to wear, ask your sister for her opinion. Mommy is always there but I want them to always know how important their family is and that they always have each other.
Keep Up with Courtney:
Facebook: Courtney Covers Cleveland
Instagram: CourtneyLynnC