Linda Russell
Nell Merlino is Founder, President and CEO of Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence. She is the creative force behind Take Our Daughters to Work Day, which moved more than 71 million Americans to participate. Now, she is leading a global movement to empower women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses to a million dollars and beyond by providing tools, resources, and a supportive community of their peers.
Here's a look at some of the women she has helped make successful.
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The Caracas Arepa Bar is Maribel Araujo's dream of a restaurant serving arepas, the national dish of Venezuela, to hungry New Yorkers. "It is a place where people feel like home: unpretentious with a lot of ambiance and amazing, fresh food." Maribel's business was on paper when she discovered Count Me In in 2003, which was then the nation's only online micro-lender for women owned businesses. With the loan and counseling she received, Araujo opened Caracas Arepa Bar and rapidly became profitable. In late 2009 Maribel expanded into her third location and maintains a successful catering business.
Business: Caracas Arepa Bar
Industry: Venezuelan Restaurant
Location: New York Annual revenue in 2004: $469,740
Annual revenue in 2009: $2.2 million
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Angela Vanegas's business The Green Maid, Inc. provides ecologically responsible cleaning services for homes and offices using toxin-free, biodegradable products. Launched in July 2007 as an entirely bootstrapped initiative in Chicago, Angela partnered with her husband as co-owner and invested personal income, savings and lots of sweat equity into all of the start-up costs and activities.
Business: The Green Maid, Inc.
Industry: Bio-degradable cleaning products & maid service
Location: Chicago Annual revenue in 2008: $50,000 Annual revenue in 2009: $317,088
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Michelle Herbert and her business partner, Amy Wright, started Amy Michelle Go Totes in 2004 after discussing the issues Herbert was having with her diaper bag. The two have been friends since graduate school. "Dinner out is where it all started. We were laughing and talking over dinner about things women do: balancing family, friends, career, and staying sane through it all." From this conversation in 2004, their elegant line of baby bags was born. Function and fashion became the foundation for Amy Michelle
Business: Amy Michelle Go Totes
Industry: Travel & Diaper Bags
Location: Boulder, Colo.
Annual revenue in 2007: $58,000
Annual revenue in 2009: $130,632
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Maureen Borzacchiello's business, Creative Display Solutions, handles the many variables associated with exhibiting for trade shows, graphics and events, including combining numerous product lines to meet specific marketing, exhibiting and budgetary requirements as well as specializing in creating portable and custom modular displays. One of the reasons that Maureen started her own business was to have options when she decided to start a family. "As the mother of a soon to be 5-year-old, child care is an important issue for me."
Business: Creative Display Solutions
Industry: Exhibition Materials
Location: Long Island, N.Y.
Annual revenue in 2004: $174,624
Annual revenue in 2009: $1 million
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Mary Casey's business, Boulder Quest Center, began with her love of martial arts in 2004. After several years of teaching and practicing martial arts, Mary and her husband, Kevin relocated to Boulder, Colorado from North Carolina and decided to open their own dojo (martial arts school). The Boulder Quest Center began in a park with two students. By the end of its first year, Boulder Quest Center had an official address, 50 students, one part-time employee, and $50,000 in annual revenue.
Business: Boulder Quest Center
Industry: Martial Arts
Location: Boulder, Colo.
Annual revenue in 2005: $50,000
Annual revenue in 2009: $185,000
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Chapman Concierge started when Colette Chapman experienced just how difficult it was to accomplish day to day tasks while juggling caring for her ailing father and two children. When her father passed away, Colette realized there was an opportunity to support other people that might need an extra hand so they could focus on their personal or professional lives. In May of 2004 Chapman Concierge began, offering lifestyle management services designed to enhance and promote a balanced living experience.
Business: Chapman Concierge
Industry: Virtual Assistance
Location: Morristown, N.J.
Annual revenue in 2008: $357,422
Annual revenue in 2009: $655,842
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Prior to the start of Daytner Construction Group, Theresa Daytner owned two businesses. The first was a CPA practice and the second was a residential roofing company. In January 2003, Theresa convinced her husband to leave his job and partner with her in consulting on commercial projects which eventually led to general contracting. With Count Me In, Theresa established contacts through networking and she developed friendships through its vast community of women. In 2009 Daytner Construction Group grew to eight full-time and two part-time employees including Theresa and her husband.
Business: Daytner Construction Group
Industry: Construction Project Management
Location: Mt. Airy, Md.
Annual revenue in 2005: $100,766
Annual revenue in 2009: $3 million
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In 2005, Jillian White started her appraisal company, White Picket Fence Appraisals, Inc. with a staff of three other appraisers covering five counties in the state of New York. At the end of 2005 the company's revenues totaled to $70,000 annually.
Business: White Picket Fence Appraisals
Industry: Real Estate Appraisals Location: Westchester, N.Y.
Annual revenue in 2008: $91,000
Annual revenue in 2009: $210,818
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Kris Wittenberg's business SayNoMore! Promotions specializes in bringing client messages to life through the creative execution of promotional products and corporate gifting programs designed to entice, excite and acknowledge. Founded in 1999, SayNoMore! Promotions has over 750,000 products to showcase logos or brand identities.
Business: SayNoMore! Promotions Industry: Client Services Location: Eagle, Colo. Annual Revenue in 2009: $500,000
Projected Revenue for 2010: $1,000,000
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Marie Moody saw the need for more commercial nutritious pet food and with the help of veterinary nutritionists, her business Stella and Chewy was created. The first products of Stella and Chewy's were available in 2003. Marie started making and storing products inside her industrial freezer from her apartment in Manhattan while making personal deliveries in taxis.Eventually the company developed a solid following.
Business: Stella and Chewy's
Industry: Organic dog food
Location: Muskego, Wis. Annual revenue in 2005: $215,584
Annual revenue in 2009: $5 million
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Garnett Newcombe started her business, Human Potential Consultants, with her partner Joyce Keener around the belief that improving individuals with any type of background will help them become productive members of society. The goal was to identify skills in these individuals that they could use to secure their own financial and social stability. Today, Garnett has 140 employees and brings in $8.3 million in revenue annually.
Business: Human Potential Consultants, L.L.C
Industry: Workforce Development
Location: Carson, Calif. Annual revenue in 2005: $434,048
Annual revenue in 2009: $8.3 million
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