MOMpreneurs Local moms in business
Anne Malinoski
This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating local moms who inspire us with their passion, leadership and creativity.
Each of these women founded her business while managing a family — the kind of achievement that gives fellow moms goosebumps and happy tears. Soak up their inspiring stories and be sure to follow them online. It feels so good to support hard-working women!
Charlene Corn CeeCee & Bee
Sugar Mamma made a stir at the 2012 San Diego County Fair when Talmadge mom Nancy Flint won “Best Sweet Treat” for her buttery-soft Sea Salt Caramels. Since then, she’s expanded her offerings to include 17 seasonal caramel flavors, handcrafted marshmallows, caramallows and s’mores. Sugar Mamma Caramels was named “Favorite Dessert” in the 2018 Union-Tribune Readers Poll and won a Small Business Excellence Award in the newspaper’s dessert category. Flint’s journey to small business success hasn’t always been sweet. When her two daughters were quite young, a Stage IV cancer diagnosis ended her career as a childbirth educator and Certified Lactation Consultant. “After years of chemo, my girls asked me to homeschool them through middle school, which was invaluable — to be able to treasure every moment of living,” says Flint. When the girls were ready for college, they — along with Flint’s husband of more than 30 years — encouraged her to share those tasty caramels with the world. Flint’s advice to mom entrepreneurs: “Give yourself grace, as you will make many mistakes along the way. Pray a lot and enjoy a great glass of wine at the end of the day!”
Cardiff native Charlene Corn wasn’t looking to start a business. But when the single mom of two was struggling with income, she found potential in her own garden. “I started crafting with lavender trimmings from my backyard and decided to start making pure natural lavender soap — which is something I personally loved using,” says Corn. That idea inspired a line of handcrafted bath and body products, which she creates with her sister and business partner, Debbie Churchill. CeeCee & Bee customer favorites include Pacific Ocean Soap, Tub Tea and Pedicure in a Jar. All products are made with natural, locally-sourced ingredients that are eco-friendly and gentle on sensitive skin. “Using natural products like this is one small thing I have done to help me heal after trauma from abusive relationships,” says Corn. “Because I’ve seen the healing power of gentle self-care first hand, I created the Self-Care for a Cause program where I donate CeeCee & Bee products to women at domestic violence shelters to help them in their healing process as well.”
Follow Sugar Mamma Caramels: www.SugarMammaCaramels.com Instagram: @sugar_mamma62 Facebook: @SugarMammaDesserts
Follow CeeCee & Bee: www.ceeceeandbee.com Instagram: @ceeceeandbeeapothecary Facebook: @CeeceeAndBee
Nancy Flint Sugar Mamma Caramels
22 • SanDiegofamily.com • May 2019
