About Us
At Iris & Ivy, we believe in the power of community to transform lives.
Thriving community centers and small business are the heartbeats of community, creativity, and belonging. We are here to help your passion grow into a thriving, sustainable business that reflects your values and strengthens the communities you serve.
Founded by Alyx MacKinnon, a queer operations strategist and continuous improvement specialist, Iris & Ivy brings together over a decade of experience in data-driven planning, people-centered process improvement, and coaching teams to flourish.
From streamlining daily operations to building training systems and business intelligence tools, we help small queer-owned and values-driven businesses gain clarity and confidence to scale sustainably—without losing the soul that makes them special.
We know that running a small business can feel overwhelming, especially when you are balancing your passion for your craft with the practical realities of staffing, finances, and growth.
Iris & Ivy is here to partner with you, offering tailored support to simplify your workflows, align your resources, and nurture your vision into reality.
Together, we can help your passion bloom.
From Passion to Purpose: Meet Alyx
Hello, it is wonderful to meet you! I’m Alyx MacKinnon, Continuous Improvement specialist, Six Sigma Black Belt, and lifelong maker with a passion for building community and helping others do more.
For over a decade, I’ve helped organizations of all sizes improve how the work, blending engineering expertise and data-driven insights with a distinctly human touch. Along the way, I’ve experienced how inclusive teams and sustainable strategies can uplift every member of a business, empowering people to build a life doing what they love.
I founded Iris & Ivy because I believe that small businesses owners, be they crafters, community leaders, or visionaries, are the keys to building communities and third spaces. As the daughter of a family of small business owners, I’ve seen firsthand the joy and beauty that comes with transforming a passion into a living.
It is my mission to lend my expertise in operations strategy and continuous improvement to start, grow, or revitalize your vision with renewed clarity, confidence, and sustainable practices.
When I’m not helping business grow, you can find me crafting, leading living history classes, or mentoring students in the joys of making.
I believe in building a world where people can thrive doing what they love.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!