Women in Business outstanding

Steps to Success: How local women turned passions into profit

Finding your “True North” doesn’t always come easy. But the thriving businesses of the successful local women profiled in this section indicate that they’ve done just that. And now, they’re sharing the risks that they took to turn their passions into profit.

Johnette Taylor, owner of Roundtree Landscaping, says following her love for the outdoors led her to grow her own company. “I knew I wanted to do something that was more outdoors-oriented. I thought being a forest ranger would be great but my Mom thought I was too social and it wouldn’t be a good fit,” she says.

“A friend told me about landscape architecture and I was immediately hooked.”

But Taylor says that Roundtree Landscaping’s success hasn’t been all about her.

“All businesses need a good team of staff and finding the right people can be a challenge at first. We are particular about who we hire, making sure they fit our company culture and will take excellent care of our clients. And we work as a team so that the client gets the expertise of our whole staff on a project, not just one person.”

Taylor says that mentors have helped her get where she is today.

“Having someone to bounce an idea off of really helps you stay on track.”

Realtor Jan Stell moved to the L-Street neighbor- hood in Lake Highlands to teach at Skyview Elementary in 1978. After a few years of teaching, Stell discovered that her true passion was real estate.

“Ever since then the enthusiasm has never waned, and now I’ve been in the business 30 years,” she says.

Dee’s Doggie Den owner Dee Moore worked long hours in hotel and restaurant management before she discovered her True North.

“While I was at work my dogs were home alone for long periods of time. It occurred to me that they needed a sitter or a day care. After some research, it turned out that Dallas had no such thing as daycare for dogs in 1990, so I had to create it on my own with the City of Dallas!”

Moore eventually put her business degree and restaurant management experience to use by founding Bake and Play Cafe, co-owned with Kelly Kemp last summer. The space has offerings such as summer camps, parent-night out, and even a giant indoor playground.

Keith Redelsperger, office manager for the Ebby Halliday White Rock/Lake Highlands office, says that he switched to real estate in 2005 after a career in the financial industry.

“I wanted to continue to help people,” he says. “In my opinion, the best way to help people financially is by coming alongside them when they make the largest purchase that they will ever make: a home.”

Redelsperger says that he truly enjoys working alongside successful women in business.

“I couldn’t ask to work for a better company that is run by the most successful woman in real estate, Ebby Halliday. We also have the best leadership team, Betty Misko and Mary Frances Burleson. Ebby Halliday is the number one independent residential real estate company in Texas.”

As office manager Redelsperger says that he most enjoys working alongside female agents who are goaloriented and also like to give back to the community.

“Ebby is built on three philosophies: service to the community, service to the client, service to the industry. I believe those ideas lend success to any kind of business.”

Realtor Jan Stell says one of her favorite aspects of her job is using her own personal experiences to help a client decide if it’s better to remodel their home or sell.

Dr. Roberts offers a fully-equipped IN-OFFICE LASER SUITE, with all lasers on site, where she performs laser surgery daily. In addition to laser surgery for adults and children, she also specializes in COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, including skin rejuvenation, Botox, and “fillers”.

We are excited to offer the new SKINPEN MICRONEEDLING TECHNIQUE, as seen on Good Morning America and The View, which stimulates your skin’s natural ability to produce collagen and elastic tissue for healthier, younger looking skin. SkinPen features the most advanced microneedle technology on the market today and is safe for all skin types.

PIXEL FRACTIONAL RESURFACING provides firming of the skin and improves skin texture and tone, sun damage, wrinkles and acne scars with minimal downtime.

Our High Speed LIGHTSHEER DUET LASER HAIR REMOVAL SYSTEM has advanced technology with a high speed handpiece which eliminates the need for topical anesthetics and provides improved comfort, treatment speed and effectiveness.

• Pixel Fractional Resurfacing

• SkinPen

• Harmony Skin Tightening

• Traditional Laser Resurfacing for wrinkles, expression lines, sun damage, scars

• High Speed LightSheer Duet Laser Hair Removal

• VersaPulse & Dye Laser Surgery for port wine stains, hemangiomas, spider veins

• Ruby Laser Surgery for freckles, “liver spots”, tattoos

• Botox Injections

• Mega Peel Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels

• Juvéderm, Voluma

“I have built two houses and remodeled four others, so I have a pretty hands-on experience with that. I also know what buyers expect and what they are willing to pay for those amenities,” she says.

Helping people realize their dreams, and sometimes even more, has been rewarding for Roundtree Landscaping owner Johnette Taylor.

“Many times clients can’t even imagine what their yard can look like. It changes people by giving them an extension of their home. I feel like I get to share that love of the outdoors I have with others that way coupled with my knowledge, experience and creativity,” she says.

Dr. Diane Colter, pediatric dentist at All About Kids Dentistry, says that focusing on her specialty to impact patients’ lives for the long run is most meaningful to her.

“Parents know that we’re going to focus on what’s important to look at with their child, as opposed to the overall population, pediatric and adult,” she says.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re a new patient coming into the office, or if they’ve been with us more than five years. We block out that time and make sure that we address their issues.”

Dr. Colter sees education as part of the added value that she can provide her patients.

“Because we are strictly a specialty, we can educate parents and the child, depending on their age, on what’s best for them. We can set guidelines for healthy snacks and help reinforce the choices that will result in less dental work in a patient’s lifetime.”

Dee’s Doggie Den and Bake & Play Café owner Dee Moore says that customers have become close friends, and there have even been a few love connections among her customers.

“Since I have been open so long, I now have the pleasure of getting to know the children of long-time Dee’s Doggie Den customers; it has truly created a neighborhood, family atmosphere that I treasure!” Dr. Dena Robinson, owner of Robinson Dentistry, says her work frequently offers her a chance to make a vital difference in somebody’s life.

I have lived in Lake Highlands and bought my first home in the “L” streets in 1978. We raised our son, Sam, K-12 in Lake Highlands where he was a wrestler, Wrangler, in marching band and was an Eagle Scout. Lake Highlands is a great place to be!!

I helped find the land and build the YMCA on Greenville Avenue. I have been blessed to volunteer building homes for Habitat in other countries, which I have loved. I have also built two homes in Lake Highlands and remodeled 4 others. So, I can help clients with a cost vs. value in their purchase or sale. I know from hands on experience.

“One of my most rewarding times with a patient was when I found oral cancer in one of my patients in its very early stages. He received treatment, and is doing very well today because of that early detection,” Robinson says.

“I love to rebuild smiles too: changing out a discolored old crown, and straightening teeth with Invisalign can each make a big impact on a person’s self esteem,” she says.

Kevin Caskey, Dallas City Center, thinks the women in his office have an edge in the market.

“Many women have the patience that it takes to assist clients with the ups and downs of real estate transactions. You really have to have a sympathetic ear to help them through the process.”

Caskey says that the quality of women he works with inspires him everyday. “I’m proud to say that we attract customer loyalty because of the relationships that our knowledgeable female agents build with clients,” he says. “It is rewarding to know that these women help people realize their dreams.”

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