Q&A with Business Women Who Make a Difference in Our Community

The National Women’s Business Council reports that women-owned businesses “contribute substantially to entrepreneurship in the United States.” 42% of all U.S. businesses are owned by women (13 million) and employ more than 9.4 million workers. Women are three percentage points more likely to start a business than men. Here we celebrate women in our community who are making a name for themselves while lifting up others in the process.

Sunny Salzman-Clough
Owner, Down Home Fitness Center and Pooler Day Spa

How long have you been in business?

10 years for the Gym, 3 Years for the Spa

How long in your field of expertise?

17 Years

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

Learning business itself! My passion is my profession which is a blessing, but learning how to run a business (Quickbooks, accounting, hiring, etc) was such an in the moment learning experience.

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

Being able to provide jobs, grow/cultivate a team, and watch people succeed daily!

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Jump in with both feet! There is so much that only experience and your intuition will teach you. Have a good support system, be prayerful and let your passion lead the way.

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

I have a good few! It would be hard to put them all down because each one plays a unique role in keeping me going. My managers/admins in each of my businesses are top on that list. They are some of the most adaptable and positive people I know. Above all they believe in our mission and stand by our vision.

Ivy Eilerman
VP, Senior Loan Officer, BankSouth Mortgage

How long have you been in business?

22 years

How long in your field of expertise?

22 years

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

A bad day is a day when I have to turn someone down for a home loan and deliver the bad news.  That is never fun. It’s basically like breaking a heart. That never feels good!.

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

Seeing the smiles on my clients’ faces & the faces of their families at closing!! New beginnings are often very exciting, and I am honored to be a part of the adventure!

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Do not underestimate the power of prayer! Don’t lose hope! Keep going, even when it feels like you are defeated. Just keep showing up every day!.

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

My referral partners and my family!

Mimi Ryan & Lindsay Horton
Co-owners, Georgia Girl Art Paint Parties

Mimi

How long have you been in business?

11 years

How long in your field of expertise?

15 plus

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

I wouldn’t use the word challenging, but we like to keep up with always looking outside the box. Fresh ideas, fundraisers, new designs, new products, different styles, etc.

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

Being a small business owner has afforded me the ability to make my own schedule and be present with my grandchildren on a daily basis.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Keep at it. Don’t worry over the word “competitor.” There is room for everyone in this world and each person has a unique style.

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

We would say our community as a whole. We have met so many wonderful people over the years, and the fact that they keep coming back to create with us speaks volumes.

Lindsay

How long have you been in business?

11 years

How long in your field of expertise?

20 years

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

Changing with the needs and wants of the customers demand.

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

Being able to teach our craft in such a fun way is the most rewarding. For both of us, the reward is seeing that look on the faces of our customers when their art work is complete. That look of amazement  seeing what they have just created.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Never give up, modify as needed and bond with your customers.

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

Friends, family and customers

Shirlinia Daniel
Executive Pastor, Bread of Life Ministries Inc.

How long have you been in business?

12 years

How long in your field of expertise?

18 years

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

Looking for the best, or most appropriate ways to obtain funding and getting a standalone building to become our own.

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

When families are blessed and overcome trials in their lives with the resources provided through the church. It’s a joy when we see resilience and recovery after families have re-prioritized their decisions to achieve a better quality of living with victory.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Investing in yourself is well worth it regardless of how tedious and time-consuming it may be. You will see the progress if you’re determined to stay during the most challenging times. Don’t be afraid to be the only female in the field, or the first. You are encouraging an audience when they see you pushing through. And who said we can only do one thing at a time?

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

God our father, my husband, & children and most definitely the church congregation.

Lisa Robertson
Office Manager, Garden Acres Mobile Home Park, Garden Acres Utilities, and Chatham Classic Homes

How long have you been in business?

 38 years

How long in your field of expertise?

 38 years

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

The most challenging part is controlling the atmosphere in the workplace. We try our best to find employees that are a right fit for the company. We also try to hire workers that you do not have to stand over, they are willing and happy to do their job. These efforts make for a very happy workplace.

What has been the most rewarding part of your profession?

I would say the most rewarding part is watching the business grow. When I started this job, the mobile home park only had 60 lots. As of today, it stands at 337 lots. In 2022, we purchased the last home to put on our last lot; it has been years of expansion. Having witnessed the pleasure of watching the growth, I can now sit back and just enjoy.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Surround yourself with professionals. They will lead you in the right direction if you are ever in doubt and they follow through and look out for the company. A good attorney, banker, insurance agent, and CPA will take you a long way.

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

My work family for sure; Donny Tuten, Heather Brown, DJ Nickens, Madison Erickson, Sharon Lawson, and Alyssa Lawson. Everyone in our office is willing to help each other out, even if it’s not in their job description.

Also, my husband, Danny Ray Roberson, my daughter, Madison Erickson, and my son, Daniel Roberson. They have shown an uplifting amount of support throughout the years, even when the work load takes you away from family time.

Sika Smith
REALTOR®, BlackSmith Realty, LLC Brokered By Realty ONE Group Inclusion & Owner / Photographer, III Olive Green, LLC

How long have you been in business?

1 year as a REALTOR® & 10 years as a Photographer

How long in your field of expertise?

1 year & 10 years

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

Trying to do it all by myself. For some reason, women like to think if we don’t do it, it won’t be done right so we take on too much.

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

Being the reason a smile comes out on someone’s face. I love delivering what I promised… what the client expects. When the job is done and the client is pleased, it brings me so much joy.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Don’t quit on yourself. There will be difficult times; sometimes more than the effortless times, but we have to KEEP GOING… HARD. The end results are what we’re doing it for but every bit of the journey matters… Good and Bad.

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

My husband was my biggest cheerleader. He passed away August 25, 2021, and when his push was no longer there, it was tough to keep going at first. It still gets hard but I feel his energy pushing me and I know when he is proud of me through different moments and smells and signs from the universe.

My parents are here to cheer for me as well as my 13 year old son. We motivate each other to keep moving forward even in the moments when it feels impossible.

Jennie (Vandenhouten) Comparetto
Nurse Practitioner, Georgia Skin and Cancer Clinic

How long have you been with the company?

Joined GSCC in 2000 as a medical assistant. Advanced to  a LPN followed by RN and left the clinic around 2006. Returned as a Nurse Practitioner in 2016-current.

How long in your field of expertise?

Medicine 24 years. Dermatology on and off for 24 years.

What has been the most challenging part of your position?

There are many challenges that present themselves frequently in the ever-changing field of medicine. Some of the current challenges are trying to get medication to help a patient in need when we are met by constant obstacles dictated by insurance companies. It is extremely challenging to sit in front of a patient who is in serious need when you know a medication can help them, but you have to fight insurance companies and be a persistent patient advocate in order to get the medication. We are met with difficult obstacles and overwhelming paperwork that must be submitted in order to “plead our case” on the patient’s behalf. All while we are at the mercy of a stranger in another state following a unknown protocol that can decide our patients fate without knowing the severity and disease state and its impact on the patients daily physical and mental health.

What advice would you give other female professionals?

As challenging as the medical field is, keep trying to be the change. It sounds cliche, but women offer a unique quality to the field of medicine. We are a complex being, we think differently than our male counterparts and that can be a real gift to our patients. Many of us are not only thriving in medicine, but we are also balancing raising children, running our homes, serving our communities, etc. To quote two current powerhouse females in entertainment, “Who runs the world? Girls”! (Beyoncé) and Ms. Taylor Swift “If I was a man, I’d be the man”! I kid, I kid, or do I? #wink

Courtney R. Rawlins
President/CEO, Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, Inc.

How long have you been in business?

10 years

How long in your field of expertise?

5  years

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

Running a membership-based organization involves numerous challenges, not the least of which is clearly communicating the organization’s vision.

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

The experience of managing the Chamber of Commerce has been incredibly fulfilling, particularly when observing its continuous growth and development. It is deeply gratifying to witness the positive impact our efforts have on the local business community. To hear feedback from members who express genuine appreciation for the resources, networking opportunities, and support we offer only validates the hard work and dedication put into building a thriving business environment.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

The guidance I offer to fellow female entrepreneurs is rooted in the principle of self-care. It’s crucial to prioritize your own well-being and health, as it forms the foundation of your capability to support and nurture others. In the demanding journey of entrepreneurship, where you are often expected to be a pillar for your team, clients, and possibly family, overlooking your needs can lead to burnout. Therefore, I stress the importance of regular self-care routines to ensure that you are at your best. Only when you are well-cared-for can you effectively care for your business and those around you.

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

My most fervent supporters are undoubtedly the influential and esteemed members of the Chamber Team, the outstanding colleagues with whom I am honored to work, and the unconditionally supportive family. It is their unwavering belief in me that fuels my every endeavor. I strive to achieve greatness not for personal acclaim, but to leave an enduring heritage that will inspire success and aspiration.

 
Hannah Sikes
Owner & Founder, Full Bloom Salon & Dry Bar

How long have you been in business?

5 years

How long in your field of expertise?

8 years

What has been the most challenging in running your business?

Learning how to lead and motivate my team while maintaining a work/life balance

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?

I love seeing our guests leave feeling beautiful and seeing my team grow into amazing fully booked stylists.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Celebrate all of your accomplishments! Even the small ones; Surround yourself with like-minded women in your community; Leave your emotions at the door; Don’t wish for it, work for it!

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

My greatest cheerleaders are my husband, family, close friends, and my awesome team at Full Bloom.

Sophia Habeeb
Internet & Marketing Director, Pittman Enterprise Automotive

How long have you been with the company?

15 years

How long in your field of expertise?

6 years

What has been the most challenging part of your position?

The most challenging part of my profession is time management, based off each general manager’s needs. I assist with four brands and five dealership locations. My general managers all have different personalities, so each portion of marketing ideas I deliver can be challenging.

What has been the most rewarding part of your profession?

The most rewarding moments are when I complete events that involve outreach in the community. Knowing I work with a company that is dedicated to giving back. It’s rewarding to know I am assisting with making a huge impact.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

The advice I give is no matter the pressure, mistakes or failures you endure. You learn from them to become better at your craft. The only way to grow is to face all three. Because when those challenges arise again, nothing can stop you!

Who are your greatest cheerleaders?

My children are my biggest cheerleaders. They inspire me to strive for better and overcome all obstacles I face daily.