Women Have Big Impact in Fenton Business

Whether they help people stay healthy, assist in a time of grief, capture memories for a lifetime, help build businesses, keep streets safe or supply goods that make families thrive, there’s no doubt that women are making a huge impact on Fenton’s business community.

“We are fortunate to have so much diversity amongst women in business such as representatives from home based businesses, mom and pop shops, big box stores, manufacturing, schools and government, just to name a few,” said Shelly Day, president of the . “Through their involvement they provide excellent examples of role models and many have volunteered at our annual Girls & Business workshop.”

Five local businesswomen shared their journey into business ownership with Fenton Patch. Here are their stories:

‘I love the life that I have’

Born and raised in Fenton, Chiropractor Erica Peabody opened the doors of in 2005, settling into its current building on Leroy Street in 2010. She said it felt natural to put down roots in a community that she loves dearly near family members who provide valuable support and allow her to bounce business ideas off them.

Peabody said women tend to be natural caregivers and qualities like compassion, understanding and nurturing serve her business well. Her genuine concern for people has resulted in strong connections between Peabody and the people she serves.

For her, the definition of success is freedom, happiness and a balanced life. She has achieved that by owning her own business and embracing the flexibility it provides. Café of Life is open Monday-Thursday and one Saturday a month so Peabody has plenty of time to pursue her passion for yoga, snowboarding, kayaking and spending time with her family.

She also looked out long-term and recognizes that in the future when she has a spouse and children that it will be easier to maintain a balance between work and home by having time available for family activities.

What she wants young women to know is that developing a successful business takes time to make connections with people and build a positive reputation. 

“You can do anything you want. Just put one foot in front of the other and keep moving,” she said.

‘I’m pretty darn lucky’

From a very young age, Becca Temrowski had one goal – to be in the funeral business. She spent years working hard to achieve her goal and married into a family that was also in the business. Today Temrowski and her husband Ken own and operate on Main Street in Fenton and are raising five children ranging in ages from 9 to 2.

Temrowski believes her natural ability to express emotions, be approachable and take care of people serve her well in her career choice. Being able to multi-task doesn’t hurt, either.

Thanks to a strong support system with family members, she is able to successfully juggle her work at the funeral home with taking care of the kids and their home.

While discussing the importance of maintaining a good balance between work and family, she adds that sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Her family can’t, for example, just take off on an impromptu trip up north for the weekend because the nature of a funeral home is 24/7. They must always have a plan in place for when a call comes in whether it is a weekend or the middle of the night.

Other things like laundry may have to slide for a little while so her focus can be on her family and business, but she said it’s all worthwhile when she is able to help a grieving family in their time of need.

“It puts things in perspective,” said Temrowski.

Her advice to young women is to stand strong because they can do anything the want in life.

‘It’s so much more than taking photographs’

Educated as a nurse, Lisa Ferguson has carved out a second career as a professional photographer. She takes an artistic approach to photography, finding a spark within each person to create an amazing experience for them.

“I’m creating images, not taking someone’s picture,” she said. “I try to pull something that is uniquely them.”

A wife and mom, Ferguson always enjoyed photography, but her interest was re-ignited when she began learning more about cameras and taking photography classes. Five years ago she established Creative Studios Photography in Fenton and she feels the business has had a positive impact on the family.

Ferguson’s schedule is flexible so she is available to her family and able to attend school functions and other events. In the summer, her kids enjoy earning spending money by assisting her on jobs. She believes watching her work and grow her business is an excellent learning opportunity for the kids as she works to instill a strong work ethic in them and teach them about courtesy, time management and commitment.

Ferguson recommends that those interested in photography as a career develop a strong background in business as well as their photography skills.

A different perspective

If anyone knows about multi-tasking, it’s Melissa Redmond. An attorney who operates the Law Offices of Melissa A. Redmond, PLC, in Fenton, Flint and Lansing areas, she also runs another business, . The Fenton resident thrives in managing all aspects of the businesses as each offers something different.

With her law practice, Redmond assists clients through some pretty tough situations. It can be a challenging task, but she views her work as an opportunity to impact their lives in a positive manner. 

Competitive Promotions assists companies with marketing through the use of promotional products while SendOut Cards, a greeting card and gifting company, is designed to make it easy for business owners to show their appreciation to customers through a thoughtful note. They compose a personal message and SendOut Cards takes care of printing a greeting card with their message and sending it. A gift card or gourmet brownies can also be tucked in with the card.

“It’s a lot cheaper to keep a customer than bring a new customer in the door,” said Redmond. “It’s a business element that makes sense.”

Redmond said women entrepreneurs tend to bring a more personal touch to the business world and that can open up additional opportunities for quality customer service.

She says the best thing a student today can do is to take the time to seek out women in the business community for a chat. Students can learn from the business owner’s experiences while the owner can connect with young people and learn from them, too.

“Almost anyone I know in the business world would love to take someone out to lunch,” she said.

Do what you love

Once Donna Anderson tried Jazzercise, she knew it was for her. It was a stress reliever and such a fun way to stay in shape that she became a certified instructor. Then, in 2009 when the opportunity presented itself to purchase the business, she seized it and has enjoyed operating the ever since.

In addition to Jazzercise, Anderson works full-time and said her business background helped prepare her for owning her own local business. Jazzercise is a very social atmosphere, not just a place to workout. It’s this personal, social touch that Anderson said women bring to the business world. She finds a lot of satisfaction in motivating people to do something that is good for them.

“If it’s what you love, it’s not work,” she said.