By Kirk Kern
After more than 20 years as a school psychologist, Amber Messner decided it was time to exercise a different part of her brain.
“I work full time as a school psychologist and have used the left side of my brain for over 20 years,” she said. “It was time to scratch the itch of the right side of my brain and let my creativity have a moment.”
That creative outlet became Millholm43, a custom gift box and gift basket business that she launched in 2025. What began as a passion for thoughtful gift-giving has grown into a business that allows her to create personalized gifts while supporting local makers and small businesses.
Messner admits she had no experience running a business before starting Millholm43.
“I had zero previous background in owning a business,” she said.
What she did have was a knack for creating meaningful gifts.
“I do have a personal creative flex when it comes to custom gift giving,” she said. “It’s something I genuinely enjoy doing.”
That passion comes through in every order. Messner works closely with clients to learn about the recipient, then curates gifts designed to reflect their personality and interests.
“When a client tells me all the wonderful things about someone they want to give a gift to, and trusts me to curate something that will wow them and make them feel special, it’s the absolute best,” she said.
One recent project involved creating 35 gift boxes for a teacher appreciation event. The response confirmed she was on the right path.
“I had them displayed on a table, and when the principal walked in, she audibly gasped and smiled so brightly,” Messner said. “Moments like these are exactly why I’ll keep doing this.”
The business name itself has roots in the Skye Canyon community. Millholm43 is named after the street where the business was founded, while the number 43 symbolizes discipline and creativity.
Those roots run deep. Messner and her husband moved to Las Vegas from Minnesota a decade ago and built their home in Skye Canyon four years ago.
“People said, ‘You’re going to move all the way up there?’” she recalled.
Today, she says it was one of the best decisions they ever made.
“It’s beautiful here. The people are great. The amount of parks, trails and activities is perfect. And it’s amazingly quiet at night for the amount of energy the community has during the day.”
Supporting fellow small-business owners is an important part of Millholm43’s mission. Whenever possible, she sources products locally and actively promotes the businesses she works with.
“My network of local makers is continually growing, and that’s something I am proud of,” she said.
Whether partnering with vendors at community markets or incorporating locally made products into gift boxes, she makes sure customers know where those products come from.
“I’m also a big advocate of buying from small businesses, both local and nationwide,” she said.
One of her favorite custom projects involved creating a retirement gift for a woman who had played a significant role in a colleague’s career. After hearing stories about the retiree and the impact she had made, Messner carefully selected items that reflected her personality and interests.
The finished gift included candles, wax melts, chocolate, tea, a monogrammed mug and spa-themed items such as bath salts, lotions and eye masks. Everything was arranged in a reusable basket accented with flowers, ribbon and a handwritten note.
“He wanted the sun, moon and stars in that gift basket,” Messner said. “And rightfully so.”
As a new business owner, Messner has focused on networking and building relationships throughout the community. She participates in local markets and events and plans to continue expanding her online presence through social media and her website.
“You’ll probably see me at Chalk and Cheers again this fall,” she said.
Looking ahead, she hopes to build partnerships with real estate professionals and home builders by creating customized closing gifts for new homeowners.
“I have so many housewarming gift ideas at varying price points,” she said.
For now, however, Messner isn’t focused on rapid expansion. Instead, she wants to continue doing what inspired her to start the business in the first place: helping people celebrate life’s important moments with thoughtful, personalized gifts.
“I just hope to keep doing what I’m doing,” she said.
Based on the smiles, surprise and appreciation her creations continue to generate, it appears she’s doing exactly that.
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