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!
Elizabeth Klenke
Tell us about your family:We have one kiddo, Eli. He is 3. We also have a dog named Dolly Parton and a cat named June Carter-Cash.
How are you involved in the ICT community? Right now the majority of my ICT community Involvement is coming from being a local business owner. We (Stormi, my co-owner, and I) truly love our community and are so fortunate to be in the heart of Delano and be supported by so many other local business owners. There are so many amazing businesswomen in Wichita who have shared their knowledge with us through our journey. Our salon is truly focused around our love for Wichita. All of our jewelry and clothes we sell are from local artists. We would love to expand our involvement in the ICT and have plans to do so in the coming months. Right now we are just loving the new connections and friendships being a local business owner has brought us.
What are you most proud of? My son. He has a gentle heart and a goofy personality. I’m seriously so proud to be his mom.
What do you like to do for fun? My idea of “fun” these days has turned into long baths with my phone propped up on a cup on the floor, just so I can catch up on Grey’s Anatomy.
What is your Favorite Podcast: Invisibilia!
What is your favorite local lunch spot? N&Js!
Tell us your guilty pleasure: Watching Dr. Pimple Popper Snapchats.
Mary Billings
Tell us a little bit about your family: Married to Dustin, who I met at KU – 1st date was a basketball game, which was perfect because we are both crazy fans. We have a daughter who is a little over a year, Elizabeth, and a maltese poodle, Teddy.
What are you most proud of? Besides my wonderful family, starting my dream business. I truly have wanted to own some kind of craft/party/paper store for as long as I can remember, and I cannot believe I’m actually a shop owner. What makes it even more special, is a lot of the daydreaming growing up was with my Aunt Mary, and she was my number one support and hype girl to make it happen. We lost her last year to a hard battle with cancer, and I’m so happy she was apart of making the dream a reality.
What do you like to do for fun? Party! But seriously, I love to put together a fun party – coming up with a theme/concept, setting tables, decorating, getting together with people, etc. I also love traveling to places, especially the beach or when it involves visiting family.
What is your favorite book? Only 1!? WorkParty is my current favorite read and is amazing for girl boss inspiration. Crazy Rich Asians is my favorite chic lit read, and let’s be honest, Harry Potter will always have a place in my heart. Oh, and since this is a moms’ site, Bringing up Bebe was the only parenting book I read and I really liked it!
Best tip for work/life balance: Know that it’s what you make it, and it isn’t going to be perfect. I juggle a patchwork babysitting schedule with my daughter, and fit in work where I can (love a long nap day). It can be messy, but I am able to get in time with her and find time to work. If you work from home or own your own business, I do recommend finding someone to watch your child/ren for a full day. It’s glorious to have at least one full day in the week where you can focus solely on work.
What are three words to describe you? Ambitious, Daydreamer, Creative
What is your dream job? Doing it! Party Planner/Shop Girl
Marcia Wood
Where do you work? I am a partner at Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Bauer, LLP.
How are you involved in the ICT community? I’ve been very active in the Wichita Bar Association, including serving as its president. I’ve been on not-for-profit boards, including StepStone and Dear Neighbor Ministries. I sing in my church choir. My daughter is in 4-H, so I help out with club activities. I also like to volunteer with her at various community events.
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? My favorite thing is the vibrancy I can feel downtown in recent years.
What is your favorite book? Pride and Prejudice.
Tell us about your guilty pleasure. Disneyland. It is pure escapism.
What is your dream job? Either appellate judge or backup singer for Adele.
Lindsey Stillwell
What is your current work situation? I am currently freelancing. I’m under contract with an app startup called LegacyBook and I’m an adjunct lecturer at Newman University in the Social Work department.
What are you most proud of?I am most proud of my resiliency. My story has a lot of twists and turns. I started adulthood as a teen mom (18) working at Sedgwick County 9-1-1 while raising an 8-month-old baby on my own. Today, I am freelancing strategic business operations support at a tech start-up. Through my journey, I’ve experienced a lot of closed doors and felt knocked down a few times, but somehow I always seem to get back up.
What do you like to do for fun? I really enjoy a good baseball game (go Royals!) and watch games from spring training through the World Series. Also, I like to visit the Arcade for some pinball after visiting one of Wichita’s many fantastic eateries.
What is your morning routine? On a good day … I’m up at 5:30 am to pray the rosary before reading the overnight news and checking the markets. Then I get my children off to school before getting a quick breakfast and hitting up a MCDs drive through for a large diet coke. Finally, I head over to the LegacyBook office.
Fun fact about you? I raced BMX bicycles at Emery Park BMX in the 90’s, and was even nationally ranked for a time.
Wendy Wheeler
How are you involved in the Wichita community? Being married to a small business owner, I am particularly interested in supporting local small businesses, and entrepreneurship in the community. To encourage the next generation that are considering developing their own businesses, I actively volunteer with Youth Entrepreneurs, supporting Southeast HS.
I also intentionally support moms who bless Wichita with their gifts and talents, usually from home. I love the East Wichita/Andover Neighborhood Mom Group set up by Wichita Moms Blog, it is the best referral source of information including those that may be starting new businesses! My girls take violin and piano from moms that each teach in their homes, and my middle daughter receives private speech therapy from a mom who does the same. My oldest takes hitting lessons from a mom that works full time and does hitting lessons in her backyard space on the side. Helping these small businesses be successful is a part of building a strong community.
What do you like to do for fun? Health and fitness is a passion. In my youth I was a competitive gymnast and then cheerleader, so Aviate trampoline and park with the kids is a favorite. It also gives me the opportunity to practice for Extreme Obstacle course races, which is a newfound passion that started in my early 40’s. I’ve run several races now including the Newton Conquer the Gauntlet and the Kansas City Extreme Timber challenge courses and plan to expand that list over time. This year, my oldest may run with me which should be even more fun!
Tell us your guilty pleasure. The husband and I enjoy binge watching shows on Netflix after the seasons end, for me typically complimented by red wine spritzers. Favorites are Homeland, Survivor, and The Blacklist.
What is your favorite local lunch spot/restaurant? Oak and Pie – their specialty pizzas are worth the carbs! And the atmosphere is great for lunch dates with friends or a lunch with the whole family.
What is your dream job? I think I already have it! I just wish I had 4 more hours every day to do everything else I want to do!
Megan Monsour
Where do you work? I am an Adoption and Family Building attorney at Martin Pringle.
How are you involved in the ICT community? I serve on the Ballet Wichita Board of Directors. I love supporting local restaurants, shopping and small businesses. I love doing fun things with my boys in our neighborhood and with our church.
Tell us a little about your family: I have three wild and beautiful boys and a husband that keeps our life together. My twin sister and her three kiddos live across the street from us, so there is never a dull moment at my house!
What is your favorite book? The Life of Pi
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? The small town feeling with the big city amenities.
Best tip for work/life balance: It’s not a balance it is a pendulum!
What are 3 words to describe yourself? Passionate, Mom, Progressive
Luisa Taylor
Tell us a little about your family: My husband, Whit, and I have been married for 5 years. We have two kids: Eli (11) and Ellie (4); one fur-child: Lexi (13).
How are you involved in the ICT community? I am the secretary for the BOD of Junior League of Wichita. I also sit on the BOD of Project access in addition to their development committee. I am on the Wichita Children’s Home Young Leaders Advisory Council. I am in the voter service committee of the League of Women Voters-Wichita Metro Area. I am also a Wichita Moms Blog contributor and I will have my hands full in the next year as the chair of the workshop committee for the Kansas 19th Amendment Centennial Celebration.
What are you most proud of? Acquiring a college degree while being a single mom.
Tell us your guilty pleasure: Eating shredded cheese out of the bag!
What is your favorite podcast? I love anything related to true crime.
Fun fact about you? I immigrated from Peru when I was 11.
Rachel Viner
Tell us a little about your family: I’m a single mom of a beautiful 6 year old girl. She is in first grade at Wheatland Elementary.
How are you involved in the ICT community? I grew up in Wichita and always knew this is where I wanted to raise my family. I joined the Junior League of Wichita a couple of years ago and realized my passion for helping with local charities. I think that’s why JLW means so much to me. We help with multiple charities around Wichita and own Family First Chiropractic.
What are you most proud of? As a single mom, showing my daughter that women are capable of anything we put our minds to. I love that I have my own business that I am building but that I still get to help with school parties or that I can be there with her on our “ice days” off of school.
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? This is a very hard answer because Wichita has so many great things to offer. I think the biggest one is the community pride Wichita has. Seeing different places have the ICT flag warms my heart.
Best tip for work/life balance: Have a strong support system around you and make sure to take time for yourself!
What is your dream job? I’m doing it! Helping others feel better through chiropractic.
Fun fact about you? I love to scrapbook! I don’t have a bunch of time to do it but it makes me so happy to see the final product.
