Faces of Female Entrepreneurs

Portrait Exhibition

The idea for the Faces of Female Entrepreneurs project came from a portrait conference in California last year. The leader of the Portrait Masters conference, Sue Bryce, made the first presentation of the day and introduced her team by inviting them to come up on stage. They were each carrying a 5 foot tall black and white image of themselves. The crowd went crazy and those enormous powerful prints stood in the hallway and mesmerized the conference attendees for the next two days. You looked at those printed portraits and you could feel their power and sense the personality of the subjects.

I decided I wanted to do that too! The problem was I didn’t have a team. Like so many small business owners I wear many hats, so short of photographing myself immersed in a variety of tasks, my series of portraits stopped at one. I realized that my position was similar to many of my neighbors downtown and the idea of focusing on my fellow female entrepreneurs was born.

So I did what everyone does these days, and I created a Facebook event. For good measure I even printed posters, and I invited women who had started a business in New Milford to contact me so that I could create their portrait.

I set my initial goal at 20 portraits. That came and went pretty quickly and I ended with 35 plus one of me! Of course there are many more talented business owners in New Milford but time and resources meant that I had to stop. Some of the last portraits were of Rita and Anne. Two local ladies who started Literacy Volunteers on the Green from a park bench on New Milford green. Their group of mainly female volunteers have been teaching literacy skills to local residents since 2005. Some of them have even gone on to start their own business.

I wanted to show these beautiful strong women the look of strength, power and determination in their eyes. I am proud to be part of this network of women. The portraits were shown at the opening night at 19Main and the exhibition will be on display during April at Makery Coworking on Bank Street, New Milford.

Meet New Milford’s Faces of Female Entrepreneurs…..

Maureen Kenny: Nutmeg Olive Oil. Lyn Van Buskirk: Swank on Bank

Luisa Amaral: Ruth Chase Flowers. Lupo Passero: Twin Star Apothecary

Karen Ross and Pamela Picheco: Joe’s Salon and Spa

Sandra Stetson: Green Granary. Jessica Reis: Reis Learning Center

Rebecca Doring: Massage Therapy. Jessica Bitner: Lasting Impressions Jewelry

Lisa Berte: LAB Media Designs. Allison Eng: Ruby Bridal Boutique

Denise Trach: Creating Cadence. Sarah Lopes: The Safari Collection

Shannon Powell: A Muddy Paw. Janie Larson: Study Works

Anne Hungerford: AH Yoga. Lisa Lent: Intuitive Movement

Monica Harcken: Monica’s Corner. Julie Czerenda: Art Experience

Ashley Ayers: Salon27. Gail Henderson: Functional Rehab

Manuela Durre Young: Alpenhaus Restaurant. Kathy Henkel: Kathy Henkel Fitness

Janet Taub: Planet Photo. Marion Cooper Farrell: Mind Body Connection

Elizabeth Parkinson: Fineline Theater Arts. Amanda Placeres: Placeres Naturopathic and Acupuncture

Crystal Girgenti: G-Force Coaching. Debbie Bauman: Barkery Bootique.

Vanessa Gronbach: Gronbach Law. Kris Stewart: Kris Stewart Photography

Anne Maitland and Rita Guariglia: Literacy Volunteers on the Green

Stacey Palancia: Blush Couture. Lacee Yurtoglu: Artist

Thank you to all the ladies who trusted me to take and choose their portrait for the exhibition!

19Main and Makery Coworking for showing the portraits

Crystal Girgenti for believing in and sponsoring the project and delivering a keynote speech

Joe’s Salon for donating refreshments

Ruth Chase Flowers for donating flowers for the opening night

Mitch and Mike from Charisma for music

Bank Street Investments for support and sponsorship