This month, we are highlighting five Washtenaw County women business owners who inspire for Women’s History Month.
Patty Hoffman, Illustrator, owner of Happy Street Studio, LLC
How did you become a business owner and local leader in your field?
I’m a former journalist and hobby artist who started writing and illustrating picture books about my fluffy little dog, Happy, and his sausage dog friend, Vienna, in January 2020. The pandemic opened fantastic online education opportunities with top-tier illustrators and writers including NY Times bestseller Bob Eckstein, a New Yorker Cartoonist, Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustration Prize winner, Maisie Paradise Shearring, cofounder of Orange Beak Studio in the UK. My current mentor is Katie Harnett, a wonderfully creative picture-book author/illustrator who I admire.
My passion for picture books bloomed into a series of seven children’s stories for which I’m now seeking an agent and publisher.
I traveled to the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, in March 2023 and to New York City for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators winter conference in Feb. 2024 to learn more about the business of children’s books and to network with people in my field. These events gave me a broad overview of the industry and ideas for pursuing a publishing contract.
To what do you attribute your success?
My picture-book work is successful because I continue to align my belief in my stories with highly talented and successful people who also believe in my work. I enthusiastically accept feedback and critique from those who have gone before me to achieve success in illustration and writing books. I also maintain motivation by listening to inspiring podcasts and reading books. I particularly like “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert and this Theodore Roosevelt saying that Brene Brown frequently repurposes, “If you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.”
What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of my ability to lean into life’s silver linings. This quality led me to become a 58-year-old woman happily working in her home studio on quirky, delightful picture books. Through life’s challenges, including living with Multiple Sclerosis for 20 years, I’ve continued to look for new ways to use my talents.
How do you inspire other women?
Many women have contacted me through Instagram @happyandpatty to tell me they’re inspired by my work and my positive attitude. It started out as an account where I posted photographs of my dog. It’s grown into a place where I share my artwork and occasionally share stories about living with MS.
What is a piece of advice that you want to share with readers?
Believe in yourself and your work. If you don’t yet wholeheartedly believe, surround yourself with people in your field who you admire and who believe in you and are enthusiastic about your success.
Misty Begeon, Musician/Photographer
Misty Begeon,How did you become a business owner and local leader in your field?
Becoming a business owner was pretty much happenstance. I started making photos for myself as an artistic outlet and then I started volunteering to make photos for local organizations. As folks started to see my work, I started to get job offers. I would not call myself a local leader in my field, but I am very good at what I do in certain niches. I became good at those things I think because I brought an authentic love for the subject to the work. I absolutely love capturing candid moments, so events are a delight to shoot. I am a musician, so shooting live music comes very naturally and I know how to move in those spaces. For the headshots I get to make, I bring a genuine love of humanity – I think everyone is beautiful (for real!) – and I think that comes through in the photos.
To what do you attribute your success?
I attribute any success that I’ve had to being a part of an amazing community. By making connections outside of photography through my music and other jobs, volunteering and personal projects, I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people. These connections naturally unfold into more work as I go.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud when a person loves the photo I took of them, and I am especially proud of the work I’ve done with women. It’s what I love most about my job and I’m very good at finding the beauty in the moment.
How do you inspire other women?
I can’t say I know how I inspire other women, but I can say that other women inspire me daily. Especially women over 40 who celebrate life and who clearly love themselves. My 52 Portrait Project focusing on inspiring women was born out of my respect for and desire to connect with amazing women from all walks of life! As for me, I aspire to be someone who alchemizes every difficult thing I go through into some kind of wisdom, and I can only hope that that wisdom might inspire others in the future.
What is a piece of advice that you want to share with our readers?
I think it was Elizabeth Gilbert who said to “follow your curiosity.” This has proven the most fruitful way of living for me. When I follow my curiosity, I end up in the most charmed and surprising places and doors open for me that I didn’t even know existed. It is those beautiful moments that sustain me and keep me enthusiastic, wanting to see what might be around the corner. This could look like volunteering for an organization you’re curious about with no expectations for any kind of outcome. Just see where things take you. You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll get to experience!
Nicole Leffler, Owner of Dharma Hive and New Moon Neuro
Nicole Leffler, Owner of How did you become a business owner and a local leader in your field?
I spent a decade fine-tuning my dream business vision and focused my career moves to support that until it could happen. My first business was consulting (which I continue now) but my first brick-and-mortar was a wellness community and retail center in FL that I sold in 2022. That “hub” for healers, seekers and creatives really gave me a great foundation to support others on their path…which remains the focus of both of my current businesses. Feeling the best in mind, body, spirit is at the core of my work – from supporting women in their business to their wellness.
To what do you attribute your success?
Having deep entrepreneurial roots growing up in a family business gave me the starting foundation (even if it was in a very opposite industry). My strong will and the intuition to follow my own dharma has never failed me pushing forward successfully. I know there is a reward for following your passion with fierce determination – even if it requires a perspective shift of what you define as success!
How do you inspire other women?
I have always had the vision to see the potential and special gifts in my clients, employees, friends, even acquaintances. With my consulting clients, I help them shine their light by getting out of their own way in their business. With neurofeedback, I support clients to take a hold of their mental health and (often) take their life back from the throes of anxiety, depression, burnout and other challenges.
What is a piece of advice that you want to share with our readers?
Start with YOU: filling your cup, taking care of your mental health, cleaning “your” closet of what (or who, or where) isn’t serving you…the rest will come easily and abundantly. Always!
Jill Damon, Owner of 16 Hands
Jill Damon, Owner of How did you become a business owner and a local leader in your field?
I never wanted to own my own business, especially not in a retail setting. Having lots of kids, living in nature and being an artist were my dreams growing up, but my practical side said ‘college first’. So after growing up in Ann Arbor, I went to MSU (sorry dad) and got degrees in Social Work and Psychology. Being in the Honor’s College allowed me to take art and art history classes too.
After working as a medical social worker for several years I decided to try plan B. Marriage, babies, weaving (my mom taught me how) and doing lots of art fairs came next.
I joined 16 Hands in 1978 (it had started as an artist’s cooperative in 1975) so I learned a lot of business skills there, but not formally. The 8 co-op members shared all the work and decision-making of running the business. At the time the members were from 4 different cultures/countries with a shared passion that united us. Those were really fun times…until I had to support myself.
Then I had to really get creative. I learned how to do key-lining and graphic design, sold some of my weavings and fiber sculptures. that supported me, but barely, and only with a lot of all-nighters. Those were super rough times, and my work/life balance was pretty awful.
But I believed in myself and my passion for art and had learned a lot about running a business. I gradually became sole owner of 16 Hands (1988) and moved it to Main Street, a much busier location.
To what do you attribute your success?
A passion for art, all things handmade, and creative thinking. Working extremely hard, creative problem solving, delegating. A warm, friendly and knowledgeable staff. A community that supports the arts and local, independently owned businesses. Our product mix – Original, high-quality gifts, jewelry and home goods. Creating an inviting atmosphere/shopping experience. Excellent customer service. Consulting experts – I haven’t done this enough but wish I had. Very supportive family, friends. Incredible clientele/customers
What are you most proud of?
My three sons – all who have grown up working in the shop at various times and are now successful entrepreneurs themselves. Supporting hundreds of artists/makers over more than 40 years by selling their work and encouraging them. Creating an inclusive, fulfilling, and fun work environment. Finding great gifts that people really love – very time-consuming and so much fun! Helping to elevate the importance of craft in everyday life. Just because it’s functional doesn’t mean it can’t also be beautiful, have character and be made by human hands instead of machines. Sharing the importance of sustainability, social equity, supporting other small businesses and American made products.
How do you inspire other women
- Several of my (female) staff have gone on to hold positions in major American galleries and museums and/or be successful artists themselves.
- Mentoring artists/makers and business owners who are just starting out.
What is a piece of advice you want to share with readers?
If you’re thinking of going into business for yourself, or already are;
- Seek the advice of experts – you can’t be great at everything
- There’s no substitute for being organized (I’m still working on this one)
- Always be curious – you can learn so much more by asking and listening instead of assuming.
- Train your staff really well and focus on their strengths.
- Hone your conflict management skills.
- Above all, be kind.
Carol Dunitz, Ph.D., Writer and Owner of The Last Word LLC
Carol Dunitz, Ph.D., Writer and Owner ofHow did you become a business owner and a local leader in your field?
Many years ago, after getting divorced I “hung out a shingle” as The Last Word LLC and started advertising in Crains Detroit Business. One night after several months of advertising I had an outlandish dream. The next morning, I called my ad rep and told him I wanted a graffiti beard and mustache drawn on my face and a headline with a play on my name, “Dunkin Dunitz.” The following week over 100 people called Crains complaining that someone had sabotaged my ad in the copy department. The following week the editor ran a story explaining I had perpetrated the crime on myself. I got a lot of publicity and subsequently ran a different ad weekly for fifteen years. I was able to build a successful business with my outlandish ads because I was selling creativity. I still take on some advertising projects but am mostly focused on crowdfunding for a docudrama musical movie I’ve written and scored. Bottom line here: find a way to meaningfully differentiate yourself from your competition.
To what do you attribute your success?
Several weeks ago, I went to an event in Sterling Heights. I saw a man there who told me he had met me at the Detroit Economic Club in 1999 and that I had given him advice which he still follows to this day!
“Don’t try to sell people anything. Listen intently to them and what they have to say. See how you can help them. Make it about them, not you.” My success is all about caring about those I meet and figuring out how I might help them achieve their goals.
What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of all my business achievements. I get very excited about my dramatic (I toured in one of my shows a decade ago) and musical ventures. But what I am most proud of are my four daughters. Like me, they are not just interesting people, they are interested. They care about others, are creative, and are determined to succeed with their undertakings.
How do you inspire other women?
Inspiring other women is really important to me. My current venture is a musical movie about the world’s first superstar, Sarah Bernhardt (BernhardtOnBroadwaymovie.com). I am committed to establishing a brighter future for our daughters and their daughters. My film is one way to inspire girls and young women. I present a remarkable role model and not only bring the story of success to women of all ages but also support a major issue of our time, the empowerment of young women. Movies are very expensive to produce. I encourage donations to the project and there are rewards.
What is a piece of advice that you want to share with our readers?
Do what you love. Follow your passion. Volunteer. Give back. Help others. Live a life that is punctuated by caring. What is life if it is not about those we touch?
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
