More than 45 women entrepreneurs from around the region were at the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) La Plata Campus Nov. 7 to network and share their business success stories during the inaugural Women’s Business Showcase presented by CSM’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The event featured keynote speaker Tameka Montgomery, president and CEO of Core Strategy Partners Inc. and former associate administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development, who spoke about ‘doing business courageously.’

(Photo above, right) Keynote speaker Tameka Montgomery challenged the audience to push themselves, recognize and move past their fears and eliminate self-doubt.

Montgomery encouraged those attending to pursue their business ownership freedom. “We all want freedom,” she affirmed. “And, we all have freedom; freedom to make money; freedom to succeed; freedom to chose with whom we work.” Citing multiple examples of ‘rags-to-riches’ business stories, Montgomery challenged the audience to push themselves, recognize and move past their fears and ask themselves one question.

“If you knew you couldn’t fail, what goal would you set for your business?” she asked. “There is nothing that can stop you from achieving that very goal.”

Also on-hand were the owners of 13 Southern Maryland businesses who shared their personal journeys to becoming business owners and how the SBDC helped them achieve their goals.

“We are just so excited to work with all of today’s business owners,” said CSM SBDC Regional Director Ellen Flowers-Fields. “They are the movers and shakers… the reason our economy is thriving.”

The featured businesses included:

Bekoz Marketing, Brackish Waters, Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home, Excellent EZ Solutions, Fran’s NU Image Mastectomy and & Wig Salon, The Good Earth Natural Foods Company, Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts, Inc. and Penny James Jewelry Co., Mathnasium of Dunkirk, Myra’s New Orleans Restaurant & Event Catering, Nails & Faces of Joy, Spider Hall Farm, Therapeutic Massage & Wellness and Wear Your Spirit Warehouse.

“The 13 business owners who spoke today are digging in and doing a great job at growing their business and responding to the needs of their customers,” Flowers-Fields added. “Tameka was just inspirational and every bit of the feedback I received from the attendees confirmed she motivated them to keep pushing forward.”

The Maryland SBDC, Southern Region, offers low-cost and no-cost online training, classroom training, events and consultations. Visit www.sbdchelp.com or https://www.csmd.edu/programs-courses/non-credit/workforce-training/sbdc/ for more details.

Photos from CSM’s Inaugural SBDC Women’s Business Showcase can be found at https://csmphoto.zenfolio.com/2018sbdcshowcase.

(Photo right)Spider Hall Farm, LLC owner Susan Cox told the audience how Spider Hall Farm added agri-tourism to its many business functions as a way to educate and instill the joy of agriculture.