Success
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The Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC) presented Jazmin Whitmore, owner of More to Love plus sized consignment, with the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Jazmin launched her business just one year before the COVID-19 pandemic started. During a challenging time for many entrepreneurs and small businesses, she pivoted her business to add online sales and took advantage of economic disaster programs to remain resilient in her second year of business. A serial entrepreneur, Ms. Whitmore launched her first business, Those Lovely Locks, in 2017 as Asheville’s only wax and chemical free dreadlock studio. In 2019, she launched her second business More to Love, which addresses the need for fashionable clothing for plus sized women. “I have always enjoyed using fashion to express myself. As a plus-size woman it can be very challenging to find a wardrobe that you love and can afford,” she said. “This point was driven home for me one day when I was shopping downtown for an outfit for a special occasion. I had a $200 budget and I was very excited to finally have the money to buy a locally made outfit. I spent 5 stressful hours going from store to store.” Jazmin’s experience showed the need for more options for plus-sized women. The average American woman is a size 16, according to a 2016 study, while most retail clothing shops sell only up to a size 12. More to Love sells new and used clothing starting at a size 12. Each year during National Small Business Week, WWBC presents this award to a business that has shown success and serves as an inspiration to other small businesses in the region. “We want to extend a heartfelt congratulation to Jazmin Whitmore. She is the epitome of a true leader and inspiration in our community,” said Zurilma Anuel, Western Women’s Business Center Director. The WWBC’s mission is inspired and driven by those it serves: entrepreneurs and small business owners, especially those who are women, people of color, and people in rural distressed areas. The WWBC meets the needs of women entrepreneurs through one-on-one business coaching, workshops, and access to capital. Our team of experts offer support on a range of topics small businesses need to start and grow. “We are proud to have supported Jazmin with one-on-one coaching for her business. Starting a second business brings up specific issues for entrepreneurs and our expert coaches were there to help. We can’t wait to see where Jazmin goes from here,” said Tara Brown, Western Women’s Business Center Associate Director
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 "Life will put obstacles on you, but the limits are set by you" Gabby Mendez; Assistant to the Executive Director of Latino Advocate Coalition of Henderson County (Hendersonville Community Center) Gabbie Mendez's Story: I was born in Mexico City in 1988, at the age of 10 my parents, brother and I emigrated to Hendersonville NC. At the age of 16 I was a first mother two years later I had my second child. After being married for 7 years my ex-husband and I decided to end the marriage. My parents always told me "The only thing impossible is what you don't try" and I decided to start working on my passions and dreams one of them is cooking and with a lot of work and effort I was chef of a prestigious restaurant at Hendersonville Season's Restaurant after 8 years of working in restaurants as a chef, I decided it was time to turn the page and make another of my passions come true and I had the opportunity to work for an organization without for profit In Henderson County, that foundation helps victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, I wanted to make a difference in the community by helping and I was the main advocate. Help more than 300 women get out of abuse and restore their lives. I received many hours of training to do this kind of work and much study on laws and rights of the Latino community. After 3 years in that organization, I got the great opportunity to continue helping the Latino community, I was hired as Assistant to the Executive Director of Latino Advocate Coalition of Henderson County better known as the Hendersonville Community Center. I now have responsibility for the 3 main departments. Advocacy, Education and Mental Health, together with Executive Director Sergio Fernandez we are creating different resources for our Latino community. For example, last year we helped register Latinos to vote in elections, I am now working hand in hand with Pardee Hospital to keep Latinos informed about COVID-19 virus vaccines and we help get appointments for the not only Henderson County community, but nearby, I go to the Pardee clinic or mobile clinic to interpret the community when the vaccines will be given. We already help nearly 200+ people get the vaccine. Also, in the advocacy program we are talking to North Governor Carolina Roy Cooper to let him know the needs of the Latino community. As undocumented community licenses or to cancel state-wide laws of 287g and other laws against Latinos in our state. The struggle and work will continue for my Latino community. Historia de Gabby Mendez Nací en la Ciudad de México en 1988 a la edad de 10 años mis padres, mi hermano y yo emigramos a Hendersonville NC. A la edad de 16 años fui madre primeriza dos años después tuve a mi segundo hijo. Después de estar casada 7 años mi ex esposo y yo decidimos en finalizar el matrimonio. Mis padres siempre me dijeron “Lo único imposible es aquello que no intentas” y decidí empezar a trabajar en mi pasiones y sueños uno de ellos es la cocina y con mucho trabajo y esfuerzo fui chef de un prestigiado restaurante en Hendersonville Season’s Restaurant después de 8 años de trabajar en restaurantes como chef, decidí que era tiempo de pasar pagina y volver hacer otro de mis pasiones realidad y tuve la oportunidad de trabajar para una organización sin fines de lucro en el Condado de Henderson, esa fundación ayuda victimas de violencia domestica y abuso sexual, quise hacer la diferencia en la comunidad ayudando y fui la principal Advocate. Ayude a mas de 300 mujeres en salir del abuso y restaurar su vida. Recibí muchas horas de entrenamientos para hacer este tipo de trabajo y mucho estudio sobre leyes y derechos de la comunidad Latina. Después de 3 años en esa organización, me llego la gran oportunidad de seguir ayudando a la comunidad Latina, fui contratada como Asistente del director ejecutivo de Latino Advocate Coalition of Henderson County mejor conocido como El Centro Comunitario de Hendersonville. Ahora tengo a mi cargo los 3 departamentos principales. Abogacía, Educación y Salud Mental, junto con el director Ejecutivo Sergio Fernandez estamos creando diferentes recursos para nuestra comunidad Latina. Por ejemplo, el año pasado ayudamos a registrar a Latinos para votar en las elecciones, ahora estoy trabajando de la mano con el Hospital Pardee para que los Latinos estén informados sobre las vacunas contra el virus de COVID-19 y ayudamos a obtener citas para la comunidad no solo de Henderson County, pero a sus alrededores, acudo a la clínica de Pardee o la clínica móvil para interpretar a la comunidad cuando se darán las vacunas. Ya ayudamos a ya casi 200+ personas en obtener la vacuna. También en el programa de abogacía estamos hablando con el gobernador de Norte Carolina Roy Cooper para dejarle saber las necesidades de la comunidad Latina. Como licencias para la comunidad indocumentada o cancelar las leyes en todo el estado de 287g y otras leyes en contra de los Latinos en nuestro estado. La lucha y el trabajo sigue para mi comunidad Latina. “La vida te pondrá obstáculos, pero los limites los pones tu”  Here at the Western Women’s Business Center, we celebrate each of our clients’ wins because we are in the business of seeing you succeed! We also love sharing those stories of success as inspiration and motivation for all the other hard-working entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina.
This quarter’s success story features Addie Rediske and her recent transition from pet groomer to business owner. Let’s dive in and learn a bit more about Addie and what her experience becoming an entrepreneur has been like. Please provide us a little background about you and your business including your products and services. My name is Addie Rediske and I’m the owner of Something to Bark About located in Asheville off Tunnel Road. After being in the grooming industry for over 10 years, the opportunity arose for me to take over the business and I just couldn’t pass it up. I’ve been an animal lover since I was a little girl. We always had dogs, cats, and horses growing up. When I was trying to figure out what to do for a career I stumbled across a private pet grooming internship and gave it a whirl. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Working with all sorts of different dogs for a career brings me so much joy. To be able to create artwork by giving the pups adorable haircuts and making them have an enjoyable spa day is truly a passion of mine. At Something to Bark About we do anything from nails, baths, haircuts, brush-outs, and of course, all of that comes with lots of TLC for all the furry friends and their owners. We also have a darling little merchandise area with toys, treats, collars, harnesses, and shampoos to keep your pets happy and healthy between spa sessions. How has Western Women’s Business Center helped you in achieving business success or in working through your challenges? Especially as it relates to COVID-19. The Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC) was beyond helpful to me when it came to the time for me to take over the business. Since this was my first time being a business owner I had lots of questions and needed some guidance. The WWBC was able to provide all of that plus more. They had unbelievable one-on-one coaching available. The ladies at WWBC were able to help me identify grants to apply for, helped me find business insurance, recommended accountants for me to use, and with so many other things. They also referred me to SCORE, which was extremely helpful when it came to purchasing the business and helped me by figuring out an accurate price, what my business growth should look like, and plenty of other tips. Without them and the WWBC, the process would have been extremely difficult. During these hard and rapidly changing times of COVID, I wasn’t sure who would even be able to help but they made it happen. What advice do you have for anyone thinking about getting started or who is working on growing their business? It’s simple. If you need any guidance with any part of your business, the Western Women’s Business Center can and will help you. They truly want to see the best for you and your business. How can people learn more about you? To learn more about me you can find me on Instagram at @SomethingtoBarkAboutAsheville  The Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC) is excited to officially relaunch our blog so we can highlight local businesswomen and entrepreneurs who have worked with us on growing their business. We know that being an entrepreneur can feel isolating and that each individual journey is a unique experience in uncovering your own greatness. Our hope with this blog is that by sharing stories of others we can celebrate successes together and uplift each other through our challenges. We are dream catchers, ready for you to take the leap! In this first monthly success highlight, we’ve got a dedicated workshop attendee, and coaching client, Sara Metzger from Vista Coaching to share a bit of her journey with us! Please provide us a little background about you and your business including your products and services. Hello all, I am Sara Metzger and I’m a personal development coach, mother of two, and owner of Vista Coaching. I spent 20 years as a teacher and after retiring from the world of education I started my own coaching practice. I specialize in working with empty nesters. How has Western Women’s Business Center helped you in achieving business success or in working through your challenges? Especially as it relates to COVID-19. The Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC) has played a pivotal role in the creation and success of my fledgling business. A friend suggested that I participate in some of the seminars presented by WWBC being held at the AB Tech Small Business Center. I’ve learned about marketing, networking, social media platforms, infusing creativity into my work, and other priceless skills. I loved the offerings and the Deep Dive Labs where small groups come together to process what we have learned. I’ve met amazing people who are working on building their businesses and brands. The support I received from the WWBC and the community that they create is awesome! Being an Empty Nester myself, I have always disliked the term “Empty Nest” and bristled at that label. It sounded so sad and lonely! When my two daughters headed off to college, I was hit with that wave of loss, sadness, and realization that I wasn’t sure who I was anymore. I worried that without my “Mom identity” I didn’t have a true purpose. After floundering for a bit, I was lucky enough to partner with some wise souls who helped me create a mindset shift to realize that a so-called empty nest was really just a space for personal growth! I rediscovered my talents, strengths, passion, and purpose. My life became full again. I decided to help others who might be struggling or feel stuck in their lives. Through coaching, using a Presence-Based Model, I help my clients discover a renewed sense of direction in their lives while reconnecting with their partners and the surrounding community. Together, we create new vistas and clients realize that the challenging, empty nest transition is really an opportunity for an exciting, personal transformation. When COVID-19 hit it felt like the world changed. Everyone felt isolated and separated. The Western Women’s Business Center remained a constant resource through it all. They quickly pivoted to online offerings and continued to reach out and connect with the community they helped create. They offered courses specifically designed to help small businesses adapt to the new reality. Again I can’t stress how supported and connected I feel! Most of the people I met through the WWBC are now friends as well as business contacts. What advice do you have for anyone thinking about getting started or who is working on growing their business? I highly encourage folks who are thinking about starting their own businesses or growing their existing ones to reach out to the WWBC community. It is a great resource and allows you to learn new tools, network, and ask the important questions you want to be answered. I find if you ask a question, you receive a quick answer along with some contacts to further your knowledge. I thrive on collaborative learning and WWBC is the place to experience that first hand. How can people learn more about you? Please visit my website, email me, check out my social media, or give me a call! https://vistacoachingservices.com/ sara@vistacoachingservices.com https://www.facebook.com/Vista-Coaching https://www.instagram.com/vista.coaching 828-515-1129  For some, taking a bold step into the unknown to pursue even the tiniest spark of passion may turn into a lifelong love affair. Such is the case for OWL Bakery founder Susannah Gebhart. Her woman-owned business is a smashing success in an industry historically dominated by men.
One of Gebhart’s first forays into the culinary world came in college while studying anthropology and African-Studies when she worked on an organic garden; it was here where she began dreaming of being part of a food community where she could help others to build knowledge, confidence and alliance around holistic ideas related to health and wellbeing. It was while working at the Montford Walk-In bakery that Gebhart had her ah-ha moment and realized she passionately loved this craft. That little voice in her head seemed to be saying, “Pursue this… there is No Other Option.” In August 2014, Gebhart opened the retail storefront of OWL (Old World Levain) Bakery on Haywood Street in West Asheville. At first, Gebhart was somewhat naïve about how to run a business, but she jumped in feet first and began learning as much as she could. Recognizing her focus would be best utilized creating an excellent product, she knew she would need bookkeeping, cash flow help, and a loan. Therefore, she contacted the Carolina Small Business Development Fund and the Western Women’s Business Center (WWBC). Gebhart received a scholarship to participate in The Best Year Yet workshop offered by the WWBC and met Annice Brown, a successful small business consultant and coach with over 25 years of experience. Working with Brown proved to be a pivotal time in the evolution of OWL Bakery. Today Gebhart is seeing the fruits of her labor and intentions as OWL Bakery continues to grow and gains national recognition. She was recently selected as one of 15 Badass Female Chefs and Restaurateurs You Need to Know Around the U.S. by ZAGAT. Gebhart’s passion for her business, and passion for and within her life, remains positive and upbeat. For more information about OWL Bakery, visit www.owlbakery.com Instagram: @oldworldlevain  T.B.M Smallcakes. “My experience with the WWBC and the CSBDF has been such a positive one. The thought of even thinking about opening our own business was scary in itself, but to take the steps towards beginning the process was enough to make me want to tremble in fear. However, from the moment I made the phone call to Sharon at the WWBC, I knew that I had been connected with the right soul. After having being dismissed by another small business resource, before I could even explain the proposal, needless to say, I was very apprehensive and nervous. Sharon helped to take all of that away the moment I walked into her office, and she gave me such a heart-warming smile. As she sat and listened so intently as I shared my story, dream, and proposal, she did not hesitate to say "Oh Yes Brandy, we can do this! It meant the world, and at that moment I knew that although the road was not going to be easy, it still could be traveled upon. With the resources and support from Sharon & Tommy, T.B.M Smallcakes opened its doors on Oct. 15, 2016!! We not only have had a great start, but we have also been able to give back to donate to a few community events and causes, which is one of the ways we desire to impact our surrounding community. Thank You, WWBC & CSBDF, for helping to make our dream come true," told by Brandy during the WWBC Third annual Conference. Share this success story with your friends!
 My Sister and I, an event planning and catering company. Andrea is a native of Asheville and the oldest of six kids. As a child, she was fortunate to have both a great grandmother and grandmother. They were both great cooks. Andrea remembers the four-layer chocolate and coconut cakes, macaroni and cheese, and cathead biscuits with homemade applesauce. After becoming ill and retiring early from a career in business development, she decided to open her own business. “I spoke with the great people at Carolina Small Business & Western Women’s Business Center, and the WWBC promoted our work, helped me to market my business and work on proposals and contacts. WWBC made sure they helped us grow our business by hiring us to cater for them as well,” Andrea said during the WWBC Third Annual Conference.
 Devoted Human, the brainchild of Meredith Bennett, sells handcrafted products for pet lovers through an e-commerce platform and in local shops in Asheville, NC. The company was created to help artists and artisans reach a wider audience while giving back to grassroots animal rescue organizations. Meredith sought help from the Western Women’s Business Center, where she received technical assistance in areas of finance and human resources. Being located in the A-B Tech incubator has allowed Meredith to build strong relationships not only with the team at the Western Women's Business Center but also with other business owners in the incubator. These connections have assisted the company's first-year growth and provided her with the opportunity to sponsor local events, secure key vendors, and connect with the community through a local radio show.
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