29 minute read
She Means Business
When she means business, SHE MEANS BUSINESS. So many great, local women lead and have started some great businesses around Kalamazoo and the surrounding areas. Many you know and love, and some are bound to leave you pleasantly surprised. Read on and meet the women who make it happen in Southwest Michigan!
* 269-870-7321 | moxiemagazine.com | info@moxiemediagroup.com *
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Janene Pirbhai Adventure Designer
Some mornings Janene Pirbhai wakes up surprised that her childhood dream of travel to Tanzania has evolved into the Kalamazoo Safari Company. The safari adventure company was born from love of Tanzania and the desire to share with those inspired to journey there. In 2012, Janene and her husband Erfan invited friends and family to come along to Tanzania with them. Through this process, Janene discovered the challenges of creating custom safaris and met their current partner. Eighteen months later, the Pirbhai’s formed their new company. Kalamazoo Safari Company specializes in crafting customized adventures while staying committed to providing the service and attention that everyone expects, along with the security of a US-based organization.
Janene recognizes that travel to East Africa is a long, expensive, and expansive trip. Every sense ignites as you explore the Cradle of Mankind and the wildness that reigns supreme. Sunsets in Africa hold light differently; the shimmer of reds and oranges are intensified by ancient volcanic landscapes. Janene has discovered that by the time travel ends; you might just feel that this trip marks a personal dawn: the time that you woke to view the world a little bit differently.
As co-owner and Chief Adventure Designer, Janene Pirbhai has organized dozens of safaris for their clients. Additionally, since 2015 she has hosted four hikes to the Roof of Africa: Mt. Kilimanjaro. She feels that while it is important to help clients achieve their adventure goals, it is her mission to inspire travelers to explore and dream more.
KALAMAZOO SAFARI COMPANY | 269. 929.7679 | www.kalamazoosafaricompany.com
For Jeannie Henderson, relationships and community investment are a source of joy. As a Kalamazoo native raised by parents who taught her the values of family, hard work, kindness, and having fun, Jeannie grew up to model those values in her everyday life and instilled those values in her children, Julie and Travis. From her first job at Burger King to building over 30 franchise restaurant locations in Southwest Michigan with Terry, her husband of 36 years, Jeannie has experienced a profound and heartfelt ideal: Make lives better in all that we do. In 2015, Jeannie and Terry purchased a cleaning business from some old friends who were retiring – a business built from the ground up and running for more than 14 years. That business is known today as Jeannie Cleaning. Their goal is to make lives better through their values of Caring, Excellence, and Community – which are most certainly expressed through their actions. In 2021, Jeannie Cleaning was recognized as a “Top 3 Partner” by Cleaning for a Reason for providing free cleaning services to cancer patients. For her, there’s nothing better than seeing the smiles of a happy team and clients. Jeannie is also an Abundance Mentor and Business Coach, operating Jeannie Henderson Consulting. She has affiliations with the Salvation Army’s Annual Coat Drive, is a Member and Senior Coach of Cleaning Business Fundamentals, and serves as Chair of ISSA North America Residential Cleaning Council. She’s also a Board Member of Buy Local Kalamazoo, and is a Member of the Kalamazoo Chamber. Jeannie Cleaning has also held its first-ever Making Lives Better Awards, recognizing several of our community’s nonprofit organizations. Jeannie has
Photo by Aubrie Lane Photography been a franchisee partner in brands including Little Caesars, Big Apple Bagels, Qdoba Mexican Grill, The Wine Loft, and Smashburger. Some of Jeannie’s hobbies include gardening, preparing healthy meals, helping others, and traveling.
JEANNIE CLEANING & JEANNIE HENDERSON CONSULTING 269-377-8289 jeannie@jeanniecleaning.com 640 Romence Rd, Ste 115, Portage, MI
Financial Strategist & Coach
A self-professed lifelong learner, Michelle Mitchell is always on a mission to further develop her leadership skills. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Michelle obtained her BBA in Accounting and two master’s degrees, one in Organizational Management and another in Career and Technical Education. With this knowledge and skill set, she founded Mitchell Consulting twelve years ago.
Beginning as a service for small businesses offering bookkeeping, the team at Mitchell Consulting has grown. Each member holds an undergraduate accounting degree in addition to a graduate degree. Michelle’s staff is also certified in QuickBooks Online, of which she has been a trainer for twelve years. Services now offered include bookkeeping, accounting, advisory services, and coaching. Specializing in serving women entrepreneurs who are experts in their fields, the team at Mitchell Consulting is there to help clients get a handle on their finances so they can confidently make business decisions. The goal is to help women business owners bridge the gap between their passion and profit. As an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business program, Michelle Mitchell is the perfect leader for the charge.
Family is important to Michelle, and building her business was no exception: she could still be available to her children, Antonio and Danielle, during the process. She has also married her husband, Antonio, for 30 years.
Sabrina Pritchett-Evans
State Farm Agent
Sabrina Pritchett-Evans is a dynamic business owner with insurance and financial services operations in Kalamazoo and South Haven. Sabrina is passionate about helping clients develop a solid financial foundation by discovering what is important to them and then protecting it. One of the driving ideas behind Sabrina’s successful business practices is this: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Sabrina is a passionate community activist, wife, and mother of two adult sons. In addition to her multiple connections throughout the community, Sabrina is the co-founder of Tendaji, a philanthropic group of Black women supporting and advancing non-profit work in the Kalamazoo area. In her rare moments of free time, Sabrina loves to watch tennis but doesn’t play. She also enjoys shopping and indulging in fine dining. STATE FARM INSURANCE | 2618 Portage Street, Kalamazoo 1400 Kalamazoo Street, Suite 1, South Haven
Amelia Lietzau
Commercial Realtor
Amelia enjoys helping business owners make great property decisions through real estate and construction. She specifically takes pride in representing buyers and tenants doing commercial real estate. In addition to her work in the commercial sector, Amelia and The Barton Group specialize in working with non-profits and passionately invest time into making our community a better place. Amelia has two young sons (Waylon & Nolan) who keep her busy with rocks, dirt, and laughter. They also have one dog and two cats. Last year, Amelia partnered to open a new business, 25th Hour Athletics, where girls build softball skills. She loves spending time at Little Paw Paw Lake, working on home projects, finding fun eateries, gardening, cooking, and playing outside.
THE BARTON GROUP | 269-823-3572 | bartongroupllc.com 8750 Portage Industrial Dr, Portage | amelia@bartongroupllc.com
Our Philosophy at West Michigan Plastic Surgery
Our mission is to provide you a comprehensive plastic surgery experience in which your total health and well-being are at the core of your treatment. We want to build lasting relationships with our patients, not only to provide the result you desire but to become partners with you in your overall health for life.
Our Passion for Beauty
We believe beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. While there is no one perfect formula for what makes a person beautiful – natural, healthy, confident are always part of the equation. Dr. Holley and the entire team at West Michigan Plastic Surgery are committed to helping our patients become the best versions of themselves. We accomplish this by focusing on each patient, one encounter at a time.
We Don’t Sell Services. We Provide Choices.
Our patients are educated and well-informed participants in their own care, who appreciate quality and honesty. We will work together to understand your concerns and identify a treatment plan that will best achieve the result you desire. We don’t sell services, we provide choices – choices that are based on sound, scientific principles.
Results That Whisper, Not Shout
West Michigan Plastic Surgery is passionate about bringing out the beauty of you. Most patients in our practice are seeking subtle and natural improvement to their appearance, and that is what we provide. While always at the forefront of technology, we carefully consider the “latest and greatest” procedures often touted by the media before undergoing thorough evaluation for scientific validity and safety. At West Michigan Plastic Surgery, we believe in a thoughtful, measured approach to refining and reshaping the breast, body, and face.
There is No Substitute for Experience
For over two decades, the staff at West Michigan Plastic Surgery have earned a reputation for excellence in aesthetic care. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to partner with our patients in achieving their beauty goals, and we take this responsibility seriously. If you choose West Michigan Plastic Surgery, you can rest assured that you have chosen practice and surgeon that uphold the highest standards of education, training, and patient care.
Certified Laser Esthetician & Skincare Specialist
Stephanie joined our team in 2021, bringing over 15 years of aesthetic experience. Her goal is to ensure that clients feel good when they look in the mirror and educate them about safe and effective products that provide excellent results. She is a Certified Laser Esthetician, and one of her favorite laser treatments for optimal results with little downtime is the Halo. For skin laxity, skin tightening/remodeling, and collagen stimulation, she recommends the state-of-the-art Radio Frequency Micro-needling with the Morpheus8. Stephanie’s best beauty advice is to wear sunscreen! Two of her favorite skincare products include SkinMedica’s TNS+ Advanced Serum and SkinBetter’s Alto Advanced Defense Serum. Stephanie’s knowledge of treatments and skincare products helps clients address concerns such as aging, melasma, sun damage, and acne scarring.
Roxanne Cornelius
PA-C, Master Injector
Roxanne, PA-C, is a Board-Certified Physician Assistant and Master Injector. She has been a PA for 20+ years, spending time on Allergan’s National Training Faculty. Her favorite procedure is gently injecting a combination of neurotoxins and dermal fillers, which helps patients feel more confident, refreshed, and relaxed! Roxanne’s commitment to assisting women to become the best version of themselves is evident in every patient interaction. West Michigan Plastic Surgery hosted an injection training with world-renowned injector Tom Van Eijk from the Netherlands at our office last spring. Both Roxanne and Elizabeth participated in learning the latest in aesthetic injection techniques.
Certified Medical Esthetician
We are excited to announce the addition of our newest team member, Tiffany Cobb, Certified Medical Esthetician at West Michigan Plastic Surgery. Tiffany’s passion for beauty wellness, skin health, and educating clients on products & treatments is contagious! She uses Visia Skincare Analysis technology to determine skin health while teaching clients about their skin at a much deeper level, literally! Favorite treatments include BBL Forever Young and the duo “Hydra-needling,” which incorporates HydraFacial with the Skinpen micro-needling. Tiffany’s knowledge of treatments and customized product regimens will help clients address their skincare concerns and reach their goal of beautiful skin
Elizabeth Knapp
PA-C - Certified Physician Assistant
Elizabeth, PA-C, is a Board-Certified Physician Assistant who joined WMPS last summer with many years of experience in plastic surgery. Elizabeth provides both clinical patient care as well as specialized cosmetic services. As a cosmetic surgical patient, you will spend time with her in the pre-op visit to finalize the details of your surgery. Elizabeth is also passionate about cosmetic injections, including fillers, PRP, and wrinkle relaxers. Elizabeth loves that Injections can provide facial rejuvenation, minimize the appearance of wrinkles, and add volume to cheeks and lips while giving patients results soon after treatment. She enjoys her work as a Physician Assistant because it allows her to practice medicine in a hands-on way & she finds great satisfaction in being able to impact women’s lives.
WEST MICHIGAN PLASTIC SURGERY | 269-222-1611 | www.wmips.com PORTAGE: 8175 Creekside Drive | BATTLE CREEK: 3035 Capital Ave SW, Ste 110
Jaime Flees Insurance Agent
Jaime Flees has a passion for educating and helping people navigate the often-confusing world of insurance. As a Farm Bureau Insurance agent in the Kalamazoo area, Jaime is committed to providing fast, fair, and honest treatment while providing the best life, auto, homeowners, farmowners, and commercial insurance. As a long-term member of the Kalamazoo community and a native Michigander, Jaime is proud to represent Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, a Michigan-based company since its founding in 1949. Farm Bureau Insurance is consistently ranked among the top 100 insurance companies ranked by written net premiums by National Underwriter. While her new and rapidly growing business occupies much of her time, Jaime is dedicated to serving the community through involvement with several non-profit organizations. Jaime’s charitable affiliations include: being past-chair and current vice-chair of Constance Brown Hearing Center, past-president of the Kalamazoo Kiwanis Club, Big Brothers and Big Sisters Matchmakers committee member, Kalamazoo Air Zoo past-committee member, and a supporter of the Farm Bureau of Michigan Agent Charitable Fund’s mission to end hunger. Jaime’s proudest accomplishment is her beautiful family. Twenty-two years ago, she met and began dating Jeffery, her husband of twenty years, while she was a student at Northwestern Michigan College. Jaime and Jeffery have two amazing kids, Gage (16) and Jade (13). The family shares their Gobles home with their two teacup poodles, Brewer and Bourbon. When Jaime isn’t in the office serving her clients, you can find her supporting her kids at their many activities. If the family is lucky enough to have a free weekend in the summer, they love to escape to their cottage at Sandy Pines in Dorr, MI. Jaime loves boating, golfing, and camping, so the time her family spends at their summer cottage are some of her favorite moments. In the winter, Jaime enjoys spending time on the slopes and in the ski lodge, and no matter what time of year, she enjoys spending time with her friends.
FARM BUREAU INSURANCE - Jaime Flees | 269. 381.1262 | jflees@fbinsmi.com | 6221 W Main St, Kalamazoo
Ean P. Hamilton Attorney & Partner
Life is full of big decisions and never-ending changes. As anyone can attest, these things can all be challenging to navigate. As a practicing attorney for over 12 years, Ean P. Hamilton works with her team at Hamilton Law to help their clients with these decisions. Centering their focus on estate planning, probate, business, civil litigation, and real estate, Ean and her team take pride in offering flexibility to their clients while making them feel at ease when they walk through the front door. One key factor in customer satisfaction is displaying their rates on their website. This offers their clients transparency and builds trust. It’s the same treatment the staff at Hamilton Law would want for themselves.
Recently awarded “Ones to Watch” by Best Lawyers for Estates and Trusts, Ean believes that nothing beats a failure but a try. Her determination is evident not only in her accomplishments as an attorney but also in her community involvement. She serves as President of the Charles J. Pratt Bar Association, Vice Chair of Friendship Village, Board Member of Inner City Youth for Change, and Vice Chair of Boys & Girls Clubs of Kalamazoo. Ean, a resident of Portage, MI, is also running for Portage Public School Board to represent the best interests of all students in the Portage community. Ean isn’t all business all the time – when no one is watching, she loves to sing and dance, and her family and friends get to see her at her silliest. Her husband, Philip, is also her partner at Hamilton Law. Date nights are essential to Ean and Philip, and they try to fit them in as often as possible. Together, they have two sons: Parker, 8; and Austin, 5. Raising them to be decent humans is a significant focus. We also can’t forget about the 12-year-old family poodle named Charlie.
One interesting fact: Ean loves interior decorating. Hamilton Law just moved into their new office space, and the interior is Ean’s handiwork! So, the next time you’re in the area, pop in and tell her how amazing it looks.
HAMILTON LAW | 3431 Oakland Dr, Kalamazoo | 269-488-8394 | info@hamiltonlawplc.com | www.hamiltonlawplc.com
Welcome, Fall!
Instead of using my She Means Business ad space this year for information about ADVANCING LIVES, LLC and me, there is something much more pressing on which I’d like to focus.
While I always love to share details about helping people achieve optimal health, 2022 has proven to be a year of great need for both people and animals alike. Whether emotionally, financially, spiritually, physically, socially, or whatever, people, animals, and the organizations who assist are in great need.
Many people are in situations they never dreamed would happen to them. Many are hungry and do not know how to provide for their families. Being in need could happen to any of us. No one is immune.
If you are in a position to do so, please consider donating to a cause this month. Any amount makes a difference. Whatever you can manage in your budget will be graciously appreciated.
Thank you for your consideration.
LET’S TALK REDOX.™
INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATE
269.779.2900 | AdvancingLives.myasealive.com | Jacque@AdvancingLives.biz
Between Kalamazoo & Plainwell is a small town called Cooper, MI – that’s where you’ll find JR Harper and her husband of 29 years, Mike, when they aren’t “road tripping.” The one caveat to their travels? For it to count, they must stay the night in that state. So far, JR and Mike have 16 states left in their travels. When they aren’t hitting the road in their cross-country travels, JR works as the President of Envision Advertising Design & Video Production. Their teams specialize in developing promotional, instructional, and communication videos – all while maintaining low costs, excellent service, and a quick turnaround. Whatever your marketing project may be, Envision has a creative solution to bring that idea to reality. Not only is Envision proud to be a certified company on the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), but JR is also affliated with several other business, including as Southwest Michigan First, Buy Local, BNI, Kalamazoo Women2Women, and Battle Creek Business Network. In her free time, she also enjoys crocheting and cross-stitching.
ENVISION ADVERTISING DESIGN & VIDEO PRODUCTION, LLC 269-254-8557 | jr@envision-eav.com | envision-eav.com
The definition of a home is “the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.” To Lu Ann, turning houses into homes has been her passion and career for the past 43 years, 12 of which have been spent with Re/Max. When it comes to being a Real Estate Broker, listing houses is something she loves, but working with buyers can be just as rewarding. One thing that Lu Ann prides herself on is that she is a one-woman show: If you call her, you’ll get her. Best of all? Everyone is a friend. Originally from Muskego, Wisconsin, Lu Ann is big on family and its love. She and her husband of 46 years, Harold, live in Lawton, Michigan, and together have been blessed with three children and seven grandchildren. When Lu Ann isn’t turning houses into homes, she is donating her time to work for Children’s Myocarditis – she lost her godson to the disease fifteen years ago. You can also find her sipping a cup of joe at different coffee shops. RE/MAX ADVANTAGE | 269-488-3515 | luann@mi-homes.com
Jenn Tangeman Owner
Clean By Design is a female-owned company founded and operated by Jenn Tangeman. Over the last decade, Jenn has trained a fantastic professional team to assist and provide cleaning solutions to the surrounding Kalamazoo/Portage area. Jenn is a single mother of three active teenagers. She understands the feeling of being overwhelmed, trying to find time for everything! She also knows firsthand the peace of mind one gets from being able to come home and enjoy your family. Her company’s mission is to create customized cleaning solutions for busy families and businesses and provide help for people who cannot maintain their own homes. Well-trained technicians and fantastic clients have contributed to the continued success of Clean By Design. The core values are respect, integrity, empowerment, community, and culture. Jenn enjoys spending time with her three children. Her hobbies combine her love of nature, camping, hiking, kayaking, cooking, and traveling. Every day she has an attitude of gratitude and loves sharing her success with others.
CLEAN BY DESIGN | 269-366-5994 www.cleanbydesignkazoo.com | cleanbydesignkazoo@gmail.com
Chloe Ryan VP - RPO & Talent Acquisition
Glass ceilings are becoming a thing of the past, and women like Chloe Ryan are living proof. This Richland, MI native became an Executive before the age of 30, which allowed her excellent opportunities to lead the RPO division to double digit growth over the last two years. As the VP of RPO and Talent Acquisition at EG Workforce Solutions, Chloe oversees a team of 60 people who help people find new careers – helping both the candidate and the customer succeed! With a mission of “Helping People Succeed,” the company will help over 10,000 people find new careers this year! Chloe is a proud mother to sons, Aidan (6) and Charlie (3), who inspire her to be a better, stronger, more confident woman daily. Her and her husband are building their dream home on 7.5 acres where they can explore and enjoy the great outdoors. When she’s not busy shattering glass ceilings, Chloe enjoys working out and partaking in events such as Fit Body Boot Camp and 5K Spartan Races.
EG WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS | 269-491-0981 Chloe.Ryan@egnow.com | www.egnow.com
Ethel Wilkey-Downs Realtor
Ethel Wilkey-Downs established her real estate business in 2013, working as a full-time realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. While Ethel excels in supporting both sellers and buyers achieving their real estate goals, her niche is first-time home buyers. Over the past seven years, Ethel has guided more than 130 of her first time home buyer clients through the process of becoming homeowners! This is an accomplishment she cherishes. Although Ethel thoroughly enjoys helping these clients, her expertise has served a wide array of clients from those searching for half-million-dollar lake homes to new real estate investors with budgets as low as $25,000.
Ethel has a firm foundation in business management. Watching her mom build and run a successful business for over 25 years made a powerful impression on Ethel, particularly about the importance of good business values and the true meaning of quality customer service. Ethel earned her first degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management and began a career with Bill Knapp’s restaurant chain. This career led to a chance meeting with a property management firm, and in 1991, Ethel joined that firm and began her real estate career.
After years of working in the real estate industry, Ethel enrolled in the Elementary Education program at Western Michigan University, earning her degree in 2003. She spent years as a classroom teacher before her love of the real estate industry, and her entrepreneurial spirit called her back into the business world, this time as the owner of her own real estate business.
Ethel’s clients value her dedication to customer service, her strong negotiating skills, and excellent communication. Serving on Berkshire Hathaway’s Beyond the Sale Committee allows Ethel to focus on giving back to local residents and the community. She is also a member of the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors, where she has served on their Community Relations Committee and co-chaired the Veteran’s Day Community Event. One of her proudest professional accomplishments is being names to the GKAR Board of REALTORS Top 100 Agents five times in the past seven years. Ethel loves being a wife, mom, and grandma. Cooking is her passion, and she loves to create new recipes and experiment with new dishes. Nothing makes Ethel happier than being in the kitchen cooking with her children. Ethel would one day love to open her own food truck.
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY | 269.267.0515 | www.ethelwilkey.bhhsmichiganrealestate.com | ethelwilkey@bhhsmi.com
Maria serves as the President of Pest Pros and has led a career in several different roles within the pest control industry. She is on a mission to create a better quality of life for people which is reflected in how she does business with her clients and supports her team. Under Maria’s leadership, Pest Pros prioritizes their commitment to people by creating jobs where employees have unlimited potential to create the path they desire. One of her goals is to become a Best & Brightest Company to Work For. This results in excellent customer service and contributes to her passion of positively impacting the greater good and community. In her opinion, Pest control is an added advantage to society but isn’t the sole reason she wakes up to come to work every day. Maria immerses herself in leadership activities allowing her to be a resource for entrepreneurs who want to make a positive impact in the world.
PEST PROS | 269-993-0051 info@pestprosmi.com | 5068 S Sprinkle Rd, Portage, MI As a Licensed Esthetician, Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Advanced Holistic Doula and Childbirth Educator, and Life and Health Coach, Lisa Marie Valdez-Wogoman helps people understand how to take care of their bodies. Her business, L’Marie Holistic Skincare and Wellness, works with clients by assisting with skincare and wellness needs. Currently, she’s finishing up her final year to add Naturopath to her list of credentials. Lisa is affiliated with Women2Women Kalamazoo, ELLAS Cohort 2022-2023, and Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Community Cohort 50. Lisa is also a mom of nine and enjoys homesteading, gardening, and reading.
L’MARIE HOLISTIC SKINCARE AND WELLNESS | 269-447-3072 www.kalamazooskincare.com | 516 Whites Rd, Suite 2, Kalamazoo
Mary Beth Lyons
Owner
MARY BETH LYONS owner A Single Ray of Hope, LLC is a trusted and insured Personal Assistant & Concierge Service that has been serving southwest Michigan for 13 years. Do you ever wish you could wave a magic wand and all tasks on your TO DO LIST were already done? Wait no more! Schedule a consultation with Mary Beth to learn how A Single Ray of Hope, LLC is a you can Reclaim Your Time Today! Warning: Benefits trusted and insured Personal include breathing easier, having peace of living longer and happier lives. mind, and A SINGLE RAY OF HOPE Assistant & Concierge Service that has been serving southwest Michigan for 14 years. Do you ever wish I 269-720-7605 I MaryBeth@ASingleRayOfHope.com you could wave a magic wand and all tasks on your to-do list were already done? Wait no more! Schedule a consultation with Mary Beth to learn how you can Reclaim Your Time Today! Warning: Benefits include breathing easier, having peace of mind, and living longer and happier lives.
KELLY DUGGAN Image Consulting, LLC, offers a total image service, including executive presence development, personal brand strategy and careerinterview readiness, through coaching, speaking and consulting. Additional services include signature style and wardrobe development, personal shopping and eyewear selection service for men and women. Kelly is an award-winning image consultant. Her passion: to help
Kelly Duggan clients realize the power they have in themselves, develop their inner poise and confidence, and position Founder & President themselves strategically for greater professional and personal success. “I help my clients authentically and strategically think, feel and present their very best.” In addition, Kelly is an independent stylist with J.Hilburn Menswear.
KELLY DUGGAN IMAGE CONSULTING | 269.873.1598 kd@kellyduggan.com | kellyduggan.jhilburn.com | kellyduggan.com
Publications are like puzzles: there are several loose pieces that, when fit together in the correct places, craft a complete, larger picture. Several elements – from designing each page to securing ad space, coordinating our events to editing every article – have their place, and it is crucial that everything is as it should be, or the bigger picture falls apart. Our goal is to provide the most transparent, concise final image for our readership, leaving nothing short of fresh, fun, and fabulous.
You are viewing our completed image, which was put together by a team effort. Not just any team; a team that is creative, determined, and ambitious. A team that is – you guessed it – full of moxie. Keep reading below to learn more about us!
Alicia Pauwels
Creative Director and Lead Graphic Designer
Graphic design ties together two things Alicia is passionate about: art & problem-solving. She enjoys the challenge of pulling together pieces of information and transforming them into something that is enjoyable to look at and easy to digest. As the Creative Director for Moxie, Alicia gets to do something she loves while supporting the wonderful community of southwest Michigan. Alicia was raised in Muskegon, MI and earned her BFA at Central Michigan University. After her career took her to New Jersey, then Florida, her love for her home state roots brought her back to Michigan. Besides her work on Moxie Magazine, she also works as a Graphic Designer for FireKeepers Casino Hotel. When she finds a moment between projects, she loves walking her dogs, Tenny and Lefty; dancing in the kitchen; photographing events; listening to books; and spending time with her husband and their families.
Jessica Redmond
Editor-in-Chief
As a Creative, Jessica often has so many ideas flowing through her head that it can be difficult for others to keep up. She has been operating her music website, fusionofsound.com, since 2016. Beginning as a writer, she later moved up to editor and was given full ownership in 2020. Jessica conducts artist interviews, album reviews, concert/tour reviews, and press releases and writes features on various topics. Working with labels such as RCA Records, Sony Nashville, and Atom Splitter PR, to name a few, has been surreal. She is also our Editor-in-Chief here at Moxie Magazine! Jessica has been married to Kyle for 13 years. Although they are a house divided (she is a University of Michigan alumni, he’s a Notre Dame fan), they survive. They have three boys – Carter (13), Nicholai (9), and KJ (6).
MOXIE MAGAZINE / FUSION OF SOUND
Sales Manager
When empowering others is your passion, there’s nothing better than making a career out of it! As an Independent Sales Director for Mary Kay & the Sales Manager for Moxie, empowerment is a part of daily living. In 2020, Onda debuted as an Independent Sales Director for Mary Kay and earned the use of her first Mary Kay career car within 4 months of starting her business. She will never tell you that to impress you but to impress upon you that anything is possible with “Moxie and Girl Grit!” This also allowed Onda the flexibility to freelance for Moxie. She is passionate about the recognition given to female-owned businesses by Moxie. She is honored to shine a light on every woman’s Moxie, using features such as She Means Business as a prime example. When she is not connecting and supporting women and female-owned businesses, you may see Onda out & about with her husband of 13 years, Mike; or bribing their two Scottie Dogs, Berkleigh and Pippen, with treats.
Executive Director of Events
Work in the corporate world isn’t meant for everyone, and that’s what Alicia discovered. She found herself feeling unfulfilled for someone with such a bubbly, extroverted personality, and that’s when she decided to make a change. Alicia left the corporate world to start Hey Doll Event Planning, where she plans and executes trade shows, socials, summits, retreats, sales meetings, and conferences. She can do it all! Just don’t ask her to plan any weddings … she will (very politely) decline. Unsurprisingly, she also serves as Moxie’s Executive Director of Events.
Alicia is a married mother of twins and has a wide array of interests. Golfing, boating, skiing, cooking, fashion, reading, wine tasting, and spending time with family and friends are essential, but you can never forget her passion for The Real Housewives.
MOXIE MEDIA GROUP / HEY DOLL EVENT PLANNING agunter@moxiemediagroup.com | www.moxiemediagroup.com
Mary Miller
Editorial Assistant
Mary Miller is a recent graduate from Western Michigan University where she studied journalism and sociology. She is currently the editorial assistant at Moxie, where she strives to deliver quality content for entertainment and enjoys the element of contributing to a fun environment for women. Mary would one day like to be an editor or own her own business. She lives in the Portage area and enjoys visiting local coffee shops, restaurants and stores and likes to walk and bike on the nature trails. She likes to read, play tennis, be with friends, and go shopping in her free time.
Kim Yancey
Graphic Designer Fine Art Photographer
Kim is a Texan who found her home in
Kalamazoo. As a professional freelance graphic designer, I help my clients communicate clearly by transforming their vision into effective design. My twenty-plus years in the printing industry have given me the opportunity to complete many projects, like corporate logos and branding, packaging, book covers, magazines, bridal suites, restaurant menus, billboards, advertisements and marketing materials.
I have also provided professional photography for commercial and personal uses, as well as producing fine art photography for exhibition and sale. I love creating and learning new things while sharing
Creative ancey s concepts and ideas with others. I’m inspired by music, nature, architecture and travel. I am grateful for my many blessings and would love to be a part of your next project. K YANCEY CREATIVES | 616-581-7641 kyanceycreatives@gmail.com | facebook.com/kyanceycreatives
