"My integration with Veronica has been great. My interactions with [BELAY] have been fantastic. And I feel like I'm starting to get on top of things again and start being able to think about something other than my store all the time, or at least start thinking about how to run it strategically. I can't say enough good things."
— Jonathan Staufer, President
The Challenge
Jonathan Staufer has spent four decades building Grappa Fine Wines & Spirits into a Vail Village institution — a full-service liquor store and Colorado's only true wine cellar, family-owned and operated from the start. But after 19 years of hands-on management, the weight of running it had quietly shifted: the business was running him.
His responsibilities extended well beyond the store. Jonathan served on a nonprofit board, managed various real estate holdings, and presided over his HOA — a convergence of commitments that left little room to lead strategically. He had worked with virtual assistant services before, but the providers he'd relied on had changed their business models, leaving him without dependable support and starting from scratch.
"Outsourcing for some help was a necessary thing," Jonathan says. "I have used virtual assistants in the past, but did some research and the companies I was using before changed their models. So I did some research and [BELAY] came up – and I've been exceedingly impressed."
The Solution
BELAY matched Jonathan with Virtual Assistant Veronica Addae, who quickly took ownership of a wide range of tasks across both his wine shop and his broader business responsibilities. For Grappa Fine Wines & Spirits, Veronica manages product listings — sourcing images and writing descriptions — creates blog content, and handles Facebook posts.
"You name it – she does a lot of stuff online for us," Jonathan says. "Updating products on the website – she'll get the pictures, she'll get the description. She does blog entries for us. She does Facebook entries."
Beyond the store, Veronica took over database management, email monitoring, and calendar coordination — significantly reducing Jonathan's daily cognitive load. When larger tasks arose, she delivered: rewriting a lease and coordinating a donation solicitation mailing for his nonprofit. Her professionalism and discretion with privacy-sensitive clients made her a trusted partner across every dimension of his work.
Their working relationship was built on consistent, structured communication — starting with several check-ins per week and evolving into weekly calls supplemented by ongoing email and WhatsApp exchanges to keep projects moving.
"Outsourcing for some help was a necessary thing. I have used virtual assistants in the past, but did some research and the companies I was using before changed their models. So I did some research and [BELAY] came up – and I've been exceedingly impressed."
— Jonathan Staufer, PresidentThe Impact
With Veronica managing the operational details, Jonathan has reclaimed both his time and his mental clarity. The difference has been tangible — and noticed by the people closest to him.
"My wife has noticed that I've got more time to think, so that's good," Jonathan concludes. "And my mother did [notice] too, and she was very happy. It's helpful to have good help."
Most importantly, Jonathan has made the shift from reactive manager to strategic leader — no longer consumed by the day-to-day, but able to look up and think about where the business is headed. Veronica's reliability gave him the confidence to expand her responsibilities over time, compounding the impact of the partnership.
"My integration with Veronica has been great. My interactions with [BELAY] have been fantastic. And I feel like I'm starting to get on top of things again and start being able to think about something other than my store all the time, or at least start thinking about how to run it strategically. I can't say enough good things."