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. And what better way to kick off this series than on International Women’s Day, 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!
Jennifer McDonald
How are you involved in the ICT community? Within my role at Jenny Dawn Cellars, we are in the process of opening the first urban winery in downtown Wichita to increase quality of life. I am also actively involved in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. I am a member of WIBA, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce and WE Kan. I am a part of the Wichita Business Journal’s Influencer group. Our group’s mission is to raise awareness for community engagement in education, health and wellness, job creation and talent development to accelerate economic development in Wichita.
What are you most proud of? I am proud of my determination to transition my winemaking hobby into a thriving business. Jenny Dawn Cellars started with me making wine in my basement and transitioned into making wine in Napa. This Spring, I’ll be opening my winery at Union Station in Wichita.
What is your favorite book: Becoming by Michelle Obama
What is your Favorite Podcast: Renee Duxler and Stacy Ward Lattin’s Ceiling Breakers
What is your favorite local lunch spot/restaurant? If I am working downtown at e2e, I will always check to see if LoLo’s Crepes or Uno Mas food trucks are parked at the Pop-up Urban Park. Both vendors offer delicious food!
Nomination: Jennifer has developed her business from being an in-home winemaker to being on the verge of opening a winery at Union Station, greatly helping to advance the development of downtown Wichita. She made great strides in her business while continuing to work full time as a recruiter until she got to the point where she was able to leave her full-time job and become a full-time entrepreneur. She has done it all while caring for her family with two children, attending classes, and training to become a certified sommelier.
Alyssa Calbert
How are you involved in the ICT community? Working for Wichita’s largest university has been super involved. I have an influence on campus as well as online. I really love finding the connections between my work and my side hustle, Wichita with Love. As a designer, I grew in the art community of Wichita as well. Final Fridays are a long time fav, and are a great automatic date night.
What do you like to do for fun? I, like any sensible person, love a good Netflix binge. I also really enjoy doing home projects with my husband. That must be why we have a million started, planned and unfinished things going on in our house. I promise we’ll finish painting the kitchen soon.
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? The people. They are why I stayed. I grew up always planning Wichita to be a stepping stone to something bigger and better, but I fell in love with my community and never want to leave.
What is your favorite book? Girlbosses by Sophia Amoruso
What is your dream job? This is such a difficult question, because my current experiences have shaped my future path so much. I’ve found either new loves or found out that I don’t love something as much as I thought I did. “Picking” my future seems impossible. Perhaps that’s due to my younger age. I am so excited to be a mom someday, that’s a job. But I’m also so excited to be a working mom. My mom worked and I admired her so much. She was an incredible influence in my life.
Nomination: Wichita with love not only empowers women, but the city of Wichita as well. Alyssa is one motivated boss lady at such a young age.
Anna Ritchie
Where in Wichita do you live? On the east side of town in a neighborhood developed by Ritchie Development, my husband’s family’s real estate development and building company.
How are you involved in the ICT community? I have been a member of the Junior League of Wichita since 2012 and have been active in the League’s efforts to combat child abuse in our community. I have also served as a board member for the KU Alumni Network in Wichita, which has allowed me to help connect area students with higher education opportunities.
What are you most proud of? My family.
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? I love the energy and atmosphere of change occurring. Seeing downtown evolve and having the city host events I love, such as the NCAA Tournament, is exciting!
What is your favorite podcast? Anything true crime or investigative reporting. Serial, My Favorite Murder, The Dream, Up and Vanished, In The Dark, and Slow Burn are on my subscribe list, but I always love a good recommendation.
What is your favorite local lunch spot/restaurant? I love breakfast at any time of day, so Doo-Dah Diner, HomeGrown, or Livingston’s.
What is your dream job? I love being a lawyer, but as someone who is a huge commercial aviation enthusiast (vacation for me begins at the airport), I know I would be an awesome gate agent. The pressure, getting to use a loudspeaker, helping people get to exciting places, and knowing the logistics behind it? An av geek’s dream!
Emilee Stucky
How are you involved in the ICT community? I love working and collaborating with clients and other vendors in the Wichita wedding industry. I’ve also taught over 500 students in the local Wichita area how to improve on their God-given artistic and crafty abilities–or lack thereof–with my workshops and classes. I’ve taught classes like Basic and Intermediate Pointed Pen Calligraphy, Floral Watercolor, Brush Lettering, and a soon-to-be-released Botanical Drawing/Illustration workshop.
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? I love how Wichita is a tight-knit community, filled with some of the most talented and kind people! Getting to know more of other moms and entrepreneurs involved in the local wedding industry has been one of my highlights in the last year.
What is your favorite book? Call me old fashioned… but Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery will ALWAYS have my heart!
Tell us your guilty pleasure: Netflix and sparkling grape juice. Hands down.
Best tip for work/life balance: Right now, in this stage of life with being at home with my two-year old twin girls and also owning my own business, I like to use what I call the “swiss cheese” method. I literally fit work in whenever I can get a spare moment to do so… whether it’s while the twins nap or late at night while they sleep. Thankfully they sleep in during the mornings, and I get a good solid 5-6 hours of rest before they wake up typically. I’m a night-owl at heart! I also have an amazing husband and supportive family members who will help pitch in and watch the girls for me several times a month when during the busy wedding season. They’re my heroes!
What is your dream job? I’m living it! I love being able to create custom works of art for clients and local wedding couples. One thing that had been on my radar forever, which is in the early stages of being a reality now, is owning a vintage platen press to be able to letterpress print and create unique and romantic stationery suites.
Coleen Tabor
How are you involved in the community? Rise Up for Youth Board, Junior League of Wichita, Workforce Development
What are you most proud of? Besides my kids, my work with building capacity to grow small non-profits like Rise Up for Youth
What is your morning routine? Get up at 5:00. Take dogs out, Shower, dress, take dogs out, make smoothie, take son to school by 7, head to work, 7:20 catch up on email and plan the day
What is your favorite local lunch spot/restaurant? Lotus Leaf
Best tip for work/life balance: There is no such thing as balance…make time for what’s important.
What is your dream job? The one I have at Emprise! Couldn’t ask for better mission, culture, challenge, or people!!! Perfect mix!
Fun fact about you? I jumped out of a perfectly good plane…once!
Claudia A Yaujar-Amaro
How are you involved in the ICT community? I work with the Latino community very closely. I have a community Radio Show in Spanish every week to connect what is going on in Wichita with our Latino Community since we do not have a lot of Spanish Resources in Wichita. I also serve different boards and I am currently working on Leadership Development within the Latino Community and Mental Health on Immigrants.
What are you most proud of? My 19 year old son, my whole family.
Tell us your guilty pleasure: Pizza and Candy
What is your favorite local lunch spot? I have a few. Sabor Latino, Gabby’s Kitchen, El Vaquero, Cesar’s Table, and more.
Best tip for work/life balance: Expect the unexpected
Nomination: Claudia has been an advocate for the immigrant and Hispanic community in Wichita. She is fearlessly telling her story to highlight the plight of our neighbors. She never hesitates to help her fellow community members and she has a presence in many organizations in town.. She does all this while running a business called AB&C Bilingual Resources.
Juliana Cavender
How are you involved in the ICT community? Plugging into our Wichita community has provided an opportunity to connect with other locals, organizations and great causes. Myself and my salon and shop, Everyday Beaut, are involved with Wichita Moms Blog, I Support the Girls, a nationwide nonprofit, and the Miss Kansas Organization; the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, Douglas Design District, the American Cancer Society and Young Professionals of Wichita. Involvement in the ICT community is so important to me and I’m always looking for ways to engage further, invest in our city and give back.
Tell us a little about your family: Oh man, my family is nearly everything to me. And it just multiplied last fall when I got married! I was raised in a large, close family as the eldest of four. I have two sisters and a brother. Our family is one big supportive, loving bunch that likes to cause a ruckus from time to time. And then insert my new husband into the mix!
What are you most proud of? I’m most proud of my growth — personally and professionally. The greatest thing I’ve done is walk away from certain hindrances in my life to pursue God’s calling for me; trading what I once believed to be important for a pursuit of a higher purpose. It’s a daily journey and one I know I’ll never regret. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is to stay in your lane. We’re all equipped with different strengths unique to us. Focus on yours!
Tell us your guilty pleasure: Wine – at lunch.
What is your favorite local lunch spot/restaurant? Ziggys College Hill! I always tease them that I should own stock in that place because I eat there so much.
Nomination: Juliana has a smile and a soul that lights up the room. She has grown her company Everyday Beaut from just her to now having multiple employees. Juliana runs her business with class, fun and a spirit of giving. I can’t say enough good things about her business and the kindness and integrity of the employees she brings in. The fact that she brings in other small and local businesses to have product in her shop is amazing. She is an advocate for small businesses and loves the Wichita community.
Cassie Routh
How are you involved in the ICT community? I am new to the community and just finished the Young Professionals of Wichita Leadership Academy. I hope to get more involved in the community this year!
What do you like to do for fun? I love to travel every chance I get. My goal is to travel to all 7 Continents. I have been to Africa, Europe, and Asia and have South America, Antarctica and Australia left.
What is your favorite thing about Wichita? Downtown life. There is shopping, food, music, entertainment, etc. all within a couple miles of each other. I love that it is a larger city but feels small because of the community.
Tell us your guilty pleasure: I can live without chocolate. I can’t live without beef jerky.
What is your morning routine? I sleep in as long as possible. I am more of a night owl. Lately I have been starting my morning with a celery juice. Sometimes I listen to an audio book while I get ready for the day.
Best tip for work/life balance: Be purposeful during the day. Start the morning checking off the most important things on your list. By the end of the day the important work is done and anything else can wait until tomorrow. The rest of the evening can be spent relaxing or with family and friends.
Fun fact about you? I love to travel. Last March I traveled to Uganda where I teamed up with Ugandan Lawyers and Law Students and helped initiate plea bargaining in the Jinja Prison.
