With a mission to support local moms and community, Wichita Moms Blog is proudly featuring Wichita women who deserve recognition for their inspiring work at home, in the office, or in the community through our She Means Business Series, brought to you in partnership with Martin Pringle Attorneys at Law.
We hope you join us in getting to know some of Wichita’s women who mean business. And stay tuned for next month when we announce and celebrate more local ladies!
Jenny Helms
How are you involved in the ICT Community? I’m engaged in eating disorder advocacy/education (in high schools and the community), podcasting for the local therapy community, interviewing local therapy influencers (Yellow Brick Therapy Podcast). I also started a business this year that is partnering with many local organizations to help provide better resources for trauma and eating disorder therapy/treatment in our community.
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? The people. I came to Wichita after growing up in and living in bigger cities (Atlanta, Denver) and thought I’d only be here for two years max. However, the great community of people and the new wave of Wichita pride has kept me here. I also feel a calling to do the advocacy work for the gaps Wichita currently has in quality, up-to-date mental health care.
Tell us your guilty pleasure: Coffee, wine, and watching Scandal on Netflix/anything to do with serial killers
What is your morning routine: Waking up disturbingly early and heading in to CrossFit, CrossFit with friends, stretching out while laughing with my CrossFit friends, Coffee and breakfast while listening to an audio book or podcast, and then tunes in the car on my way to Soma Recovery.
What is your favorite local lunch spot? Beautiful Day Cafe and Tanya’s Soup Kitchen
Sharilyn Ray
Tell us a little about your family. We have four children in the home plus 3 bonus children through foster care.
How are you involved in the ICT community? Restoration Family Services is a nonprofit child placing agency. We offer therapeutic services that are taken to the school and home to better serve children and families in need. We provide training’s and connection to resources. We are working with foster parents on providing birth family supports and building partnerships. Since becoming a licensed child placing agency seven months ago, we have partnered with or have agreed to partner with many companies and individuals in the community to change and impact the child welfare system for the better.
Tell us your guilty pleasure. I love Reese’s placed in the middle of an Oreo cookie.
Best tip for work/life balance: PRAYER….. It takes a lot to balance life and work, especially at the beginning stages of an agency.
Fun fact about you? I am an identical twin, and yes we are emotionally connected and know what the other person is feeling many times, even through we are a thousand miles apart.
Ashlyn Lindskog
Where do you work? I’m an attorney at Martin Pringle. My practice focuses on employment law, municipal law, business advising and litigation and real estate litigation.
How are you involved in the ICT community? I serve on a number of boards in and around Wichita, including the Wichita Women Attorneys’ Association, Dress for Success Wichita, and El Dorado’s Susan B. Allen Foundation Board. Beyond those activities, my passion project is to elevate and empower the female entrepreneurs who are breathing life into this City by building a guide to women owned businesses in ICT and a network that encourages and lifts whose women up.
What are you most proud of? Personally, my marriage. My husband is an army veteran who served two tours in Iraq and struggles with combat PTSD. We were married when we were just kids, at 22 and 23. The years between then and now were not always easy, but through grace, prayer, and stubborn love, we’ve built an incredible life together. Professionally, I’m most proud of my clients. I represent some of the most interesting, fierce, diverse, brilliant individuals and businesses and I’m proud they let me be a part of their journeys.
What is your favorite book? I don’t think I have a single favorite, but I really love a trashy romance novels.
Tell us your guilty pleasure. Reality TV. The Bachelor, The Real World, The Challenge. The more dramatic the better.
What is your dream job? Either the person who names OPI fingernail polish colors OR a professional karaoke singer.
Sally Cavanaugh
Tell us a little about your family: I have two children, Caroline (6) and Harry (4). We also have a chocolate lab Milo (7). My husband and I are both Wichita natives. We absolutely love this community and are so happy to call Wichita home.
How are you involved in the ICT community? I love to be involved in the Wichita community. I am currently the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year in Wichita. It was truly an honor to be nominated and work together with the community to raise money for blood cancer. I am also the event photographer for Wichita Moms Blog and love seeing my customers and clients at various WMB events around town.
What do you like to do for fun? I love going to the lake with my family and enjoying our time out on the water. Whether we are just floating around, tubing or jet-skiing we always have the best time.
Tell us your guilty pleasure: Wine
What is your morning routine? Coffee, coffee, coffee and school drop-off. Then, more coffee. I am not a morning person.
What is your dream job? I honestly love what I do. I often times have to pinch myself and feel very blessed to be working my dream job.
Portia Portugal
Tell us about your family: I’m married to Joey Baughn and we have 3 fur babies – 2 dogs and a cat.
How are you involved in the Wichita community? I co-lead Lean In Wichita Kansas, I’m on the committee for Women Entrepreneurs of Kansas, I am a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, I’m on the Inclusion Committee for the Global Leadership Summit, I just joined the Junior League of Wichita and I’m a member of YPW.
What do you like to do for fun? Hot yoga, knit, watch Netflix, travel, hang out with friends, hang out with my hubs and my fur babies.
What is your favorite podcast? Snap Judgement. Hands down.
Best tip for work/life balance? Turn off notifications on your phone. I have all of my social media and my work email on my phone, but having the notifications on for every little thing caused me a lot of stress and anxiety unnecessarily. It helped SO much to simply turn those off.
Fun fact about you? I spent a summer working at a women’s weaving cooperative in Peru during college.
Danielle Cornejo
Where do you work? I am an attorney at Martin Pringle Law Firm. My practice focuses in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration, real estate and business law. I love the practice of law, but more importantly I truly enjoy the people I work with and the all-around great service we provide our clients, which I believe are important aspects of any job.
Tell us a little about your family: My husband Clint and I recently celebrated our two-year anniversary. We both come from very large families and are fortunate to have many of our family members living here in Wichita. Oh, and I almost forgot the most important part of our family, our sweet, lovable, humongous 5-year-old Labradoodle named Mister!
What are you most proud of? I’m proud of my education and career. I grew up in a very small town in Oklahoma with a graduating class of 13 people. Neither of my parents attended college, much less law school. I am very thankful for the support of my family and friends in helping me reach my goals.
What is your favorite podcast? Confession: I only recently gave podcasts a true chance. A few weeks ago, I had a road trip planned and decided to Google “best podcast” (because how else would I figure that out, right?). “Serial” was the first one to pop up so I thought I’d give it a shot. Needless to say, I’m HOOKED! If anyone has suggestions for my next podcast binge, send them my way!
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? I love how Wichita really is a small town in a big city! I love the connections you can immediately make when you meet someone simply by connecting your relationships with theirs.
Fun fact about you? I can barefoot waterski (Yes, that’s waterskiing without the skis!)
Kelcy Mohr
Tell us a little about your family: I have 4 children ( two boys and two girls) and 1 dog. My husband and I had a 1 year old and I was newly pregnant when we opened my business 9 years ago. Our kids have inspired me daily to work hard to achieve my dreams as a female small business owner.
What do you like to do for fun? I love to try new restaurants! Wichita has a wonderful selection of local fine dining, cafes, wine bars, and diners.
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? I love the sense of pride our community has! You can’t drive down any street in the city without seeing the Wichita flag hanging on a porch or painted on the side of a business and I think that sums up just how warm and welcoming our city is. I was born and raised here so I might be biased, but I believe it’s the greatest city to raise a family in.
What is your favorite book? Gone Girl by Gillian Flyn. All of her novels are captivating and hard to put down!
Best tip for work/life balance? Don’t be afraid to say no. Focus on what you are good at, and don’t spread yourself too thin. (I am still working on this!)
What is your dream job? Country music artist
Fun fact about you? I ride horses and used to compete in barrel racing in rodeos.
Julie Gawith
Tell us a little about your family: I am married to a local chiropractor, Jake Gawith, and have two ornery little dudes, Jaxon and Jordy. Our boys are in 2nd grade and Kindergarten and are actively involved in soccer, wrestling and baseball. We have one lil fur baby, Laila, who is a 4 year old Boxer and is as much a part of the family as the rest of us. She is spoiled rotten. We are proud members of Newspring Church and love growing in our faith in such an amazing community.
How are you involved in the ICT community? I am the owner of TRUE Physical Therapy and part of our mission is to be a strong influence in our community. We seek to share our faith and reach out to those in our community that are limited by pain and dysfunction. As a clinic we reach out in various ways including screening patients at local business, providing services at races and various sporting events, hosting open house events for high school students, giving informative lectures at local businesses, mentoring interns and clinical students, and providing various services as needed throughout the community. We strive to partner with other like-minded businesses to help reach out and provide services to make our community healthier and happier.
Tell us your guilty pleasure: Ice cream.
What is your favorite local lunch spot?Red Rock – the something chocolate, Perfect margarita and wings are to die for!
Click here to view our other She Means Business 2019 nominees!
