November is the Month of the Entrepreneur, and we’re excited to feature ten amazing businesswomen who are paving the way for the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

Our special guests are each trailblazers in their own way, and all have unique connections to Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. They are excited to share their stories with Girl Scouts on November 24 during Leading the Way: Women in Business!

Registration closes for this free event on November 16, so register ahead of time!

So who are these amazing female entrepreneurs? Let’s get to know them!

Moderator: Te’Jal Cartwright

Tell us about your business!
What’s the Biz is a digital platform that works to strengthen the relationship between black entrepreneurs and consumers. As a team, we help increase the customer base for black owned businesses through media and storytelling. Our most popular project is What’s the Biz with TJ! What’s the Biz with TJ is an energetic YouTube series that highlights the stories of black business owners.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
I started What’s the Biz as a hobby in 2019. We’ve interviewed over 40 business owners so far. Each episode and conversation with the entrepreneurs, inspired me and gave me courage to really pursue my dreams. Fast forward to 2020, Covid hit and I found myself re-evaluating my life. I really wanted to give the show 100 percent of me for my community and my son’s future. So now I’m going for it!

Panelist: Patrice B. Borders, JD

Tell us about your business!
Prevention Strategies, LLC, was founded nearly twenty years ago with the vision of amplifying emotional intelligence. As the firm’s Founder and Principal, Patrice Borders, a former employment lawyer, provides executive coaching, customized facilitation and keynotes to achieve the mission of empowering leaders who pause and mindfully build work cultures that support teaming, collaboration, and belonging.

Her firm was founded in 2001 and has grown into an international consultancy. Patrice is looking forward to celebrating the 20th Anniversary in 2021 with the release of her book outlining her personal mindful centering practice, the 20SecondHUG™.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
Doable: Saw other people do it.
Unique: Strong belief that I had something unique to offer.
Confidence: Desire to bet on myself and invest in my vision.

Panelist: Kelly Dailey

Tell us about your business!
Funk Lab Dance Center is the area’s first and most complete hip hop dance studio. Offering classes in break-dancing, popping and funk, as well as industry style choreography, Funk Lab offers classes for beginners as well as dancers desiring professional careers. Modern Elements- The Dance Studio opened November 1, 2020. With class offerings ranging from Horton and Graham Modern to Creative Ballet to our Popstar Preparatory program, there will be selections for everyone. Modern Elements also offers a beautiful dance boutique complete with ballet inspired gifts and classwear and shoes.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
I was inspired to pursue my entrepreneurial venture after briefly moving to Chicago for dance opportunities that did not exist in our area. Upon arriving in Chicago, I quickly realized how much I missed Dayton and my family. Once I moved back home, I created the opportunities and program our city did not have.  This would allow me to have everything I loved in one place. Since that journey a decade ago, I have come to love entrepreneurship as well as creating original and unique ideas to better the lives of others. 

Panelist: Rita N. A. Mansour

Tell us about your business!
At Mansour Wealth Management we believe you have two assets – and neither one of them is your money. Your assets are your health and your relationships. Money is simply a tool used to provide financial security, peace of mind and opportunities for you and your heirs. We are a family that is cemented by a shared framework of core values and a desire to positively impact the wealth and wellness of our clients and our own households, as well as our communities.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
As a woman, I wanted to have the flexibility and freedom in my career.  I wanted to help people solve problems, be able to make a great living so I could help others, and wanted a voice in controlling my destiny and that of my potential clients.

Panelist: Debbie Monagan

Tell us about your business!
Communica is a full service, integrated marketing communications firm. For over 30 years, we have helped regional, national and international businesses grow their brands.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
I realized that our original team had the skill set to start and grow a business. We are a creative group and the work was fun. It just felt right.

Panelist: Brenda Moots

Tell us about your business!
Indian Lake Outfitters is a family-owned business specializing in what we love—the outdoors! We focus on selling quality outdoor gear and accessories for hunting, fishing, camping, and shooting sports.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
As a young girl, I always knew I wanted to own a business and I didn’t care what it was that I sold, so I went to business for Business Administration. From there, I realized that if I was going to have to work the rest of my life, I wanted it to be something I enjoyed, like meeting and socializing with people, doing something different each day, and being able to use art and creativity, which drove me in the direction of retail. My husband liked to hunt and fish, and there was a need in our community for a specialty shop, so we created Indian Lake Outfitters LLC.

Panelist: Morgan A. Owens

Tell us about your business!
Morgan strives to empower individuals and businesses to invest in their futures and find their Sparkle. An entrepreneur powerhouse — Author, Consultant, Speaker, Brand Ambassador — Morgan uses her vision and voice to coach and uplift women and young girls by sharing the knowledge and expertise she’s honed in the areas of physical and mental health, beauty, personal empowerment, and lifestyle content.  She uses her passion and fashion-forward savvy to authentically bridge the gap between brands and underserved audiences.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
What inspired me to pursue my entrepreneurial venture was, I saw a need. Instead of complaining about no opportunities for minority women I decided to create them. I never knew creating a need in my community would lead to a full fledged business.

Panelist: Meg Ressner

Tell us about your business!
We work with organizations to find their purpose and align their goals and resources to realize their fullest potential. We mix and match practice areas like human resources, strategic planning and change management to create a customized plan. Our commitment is to provide a fun, challenging experience while delivering amazing returns – greater and more sustainable than they ever thought possible.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
Following a 30-year career with a company I loved, Owens Corning, I took time to reflect and assess where I could best share all that I learned and how I could have the greatest impact. I worked with many consultants over the years and picked the best traits from each of them, and created my practice. It has offered me the opportunity to help organizations prosper and grow while having balance professionally, personally and philanthropically.

Panelist: Chris Salley-Davis

Tell us about your business!
Crafty Supermarket is an indie craft show in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio. Our juried show features crafters, artists and makers from all over North America and draws shoppers from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and beyond. Founded in 2009, Crafty Supermarket is a great day of shopping where consumers get to meet the makers and designers of their goods!

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
I had two big inspirations in this venture. One was the fact that I would travel all over the U.S. with my husband and find all of these amazing maker shops and events but then I’d come back to Cincinnati and didn’t see anything like that. Makers weren’t networking or connecting and there wasn’t anything that helped bring makers and shoppers together on a big scale.

At the same time I was involved in Girl Scouts supporting girls through their Gold Awards and take action projects and I realized that I had a problem to solve in my local community and by supporting girls through their projects, I realized the program was rubbing off on me too. I didn’t start out trying to make money, I just wanted to make something happen in my community and that’s how Crafty Supermarket came to be! Ten years later we are still going strong.

Panelist: Charlynda Scales

Tell us about your business!
Mutt’s Sauce LLC is a tomato-based, specialty sauce you can use for every meal. We distribute three flavors in grocery stores and online:  Original, Sweet N Spicy, and Ghost Pepper.

What inspired you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
Owning a small business was not my original plan. I desired to serve my country via the military, but I inherited a sauce recipe from my grandfather that became my ‘new calling’. I listened to mentors and followed their advice, which helped me start and grow my business. 

We’re so excited to talk with these female entrepreneurs later this month, and we hope you are, too! Be sure to register for Leading the Way: Women in Business so you don’t miss out!