Press Releases
DATE: 11 Mar. 2009
Photo (from left): Jennifer Parker, Annqunette Thirdkill, Jacque James, Jen Seitz, Dorothy Edwards, Kimber Chappelle
Grace Hill Women's Business Center Honors Women Entrepreneurs
By Barbara Kasten, 584-6904
Grace Hill Settlement House
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center recognized women entrepreneurs at the 10th Annual Wall of Fame event on Thursday, March 26 at the Bank of America Plaza.
The event celebrated women business owners and their success as entrepreneurs. Senator Robin Wright-Jones gave a keynote speech on the importance of women in business and the balance of home / work life. Mayor Slay provided a few words honoring the honoree's contribution to business and the City of St. Louis. Over 150 friends and supporters of the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center and the honorees attended.
Since 2000, the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center has honored women for their successful business ventures and work with the Business Center. This year, five diverse and talented women were for their hard work and dedication to small business. The honorees for the 2009 Women’s Business Center Wall of Fame include Jennifer Parker of Parker Whitehead Design Studio, Anquenette Thirdkill of KIOJE Educational Store, Jacque James and Jen Seitz of Wine Necessities, Dorothy Edwards of Robbie’s Health Bar and Kimber Chappel of MK & Associates LLC.
10th Annual Wall of Fame Award Honorees
Jennifer Parker of Whitehead Design Studio provides commercial and residential design services. She also works with builders and developers of rehab projects--a part of the business she especially enjoys. After receiving a psychology degree from University of Missouri and a another degree in commercial interior design from Maryville University, Parker knew she wanted to get involved in interior design. She attributes her artistic ability to her mother, who helps her with the business.
Anquenette Thirdkill of KIOJE Educational Store ran her own in-home day care for 11 years while taking child care and business development classes at the community college in the late 1990s. While running her home day care, Thirdkill realized a need for a single source of supplies for those caring for and educating children: her idea of an education store was born. Through the help of the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center, Thirdkill developed the business plan for KIOJE Educational Store. Currently the store operates online, offering over 16,000 items ranging from desks and schoolroom equipment to books, teaching resources and bulletin boards. Her store at 512 N. Taylor in the West End will open soon.
Jacque James and Jen Seitz of Wine Necessities, partners in the two-and-a-half-year-old company, both made wine as a hobby and thought of opening up a “do-it-yourself” wine-making shop. Their business’ growth continues in spite of the economic downturn, and business is shifting from a consumer business to corporate. Wine Necessities has 38 different varieties to blend and create new flavors. Wine necessities works on party events and different fundraisers for non-profit organizations.
After working for many years at Monsanto, Dorothy Edwards of Robbie’s Health Bar longed for a business of her own: a health bar. Edwards completed the Options Program at Fontbonne University. Then, through her involvement with the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center, she networked and received a startup loan for her business. Opening soon in Webster, the bar will feature live jazz music, a healthy food menu and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. During the daytime, Robbie’s Health Bar will be open for special events such as fundraising and community programs.
The Grace Hill Women’s Business Center is proud to announce the winner of the first Annual Larry Parker Award, awarded to an outstanding business that has received assistance through the Women’s Business Center and has been operating successfully for at least three years. This year the recipient is Kimber Chappelle, managing director of MK & Associates, LLC, a forensic engineering firm. The company employs 13 employees and consultants.
The Grace Hill Women’s Business Center trains and develops small businesses within the community. This public/private partnership with the US Small Business Administration focuses on providing microbusiness development for aspiring women entrepreneurs in the area. Partnering with other institutions and community organizations, the Women’s Business Center is able to offer a variety of programs and services to further individuals’ aims of entrepreneurship. For more information, call 314-584-6840.
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