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Woman-Owned Small Business Spotlight: SPACE, Inc.

This is the third edition of our woman-owned small business spotlight series. For this edition, we take a look at SPACE, Inc., a company focused on workplace interiors. The company’s Dealer Principal, Kathie Fuce-Hobohm, gives an inside look on SPACE and gives advice for other woman-owned small businesses.

Can you provide a brief overview of what SPACE does?

SPACE is a WBENC-certified, woman-owned small business (WOSB) that specializes in designing, selling, and installing beautiful and functional workplace interiors. Incorporated in 1995, we have a professionally trained team of interior designers, product specialists, project managers, and installers focused on developing productive and sustainable working environments that enhance productivity and meet the project mission. Our projects are monitored from beginning to end to provide each customer the finest in turnkey services.

SPACE is passionately committed to impacting the work lives of everyone we touch by crafting brilliantly creative, highly efficient, and sustainable workplaces for businesses and federal agencies. Our clients look to us for more than providing products; they rely on us for interior spaces that meet a triple bottom line—people, profit, and planet.

What inspired you to start SPACE?

I am what is known as an “accidental entrepreneur” and opened SPACE when the company I had previously worked for closed their doors in October of 1994.  I knew I did not want to work for anyone else, so I opened SPACE, Inc. 90 days later. It was quite an adventure.

What is your proudest moment for SPACE?

I am always proud when one of our team members steps firmly out of their comfort zone, “finds their voice,” and grows professionally. That is immensely rewarding. From a business standpoint, when we won the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch and being named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to work for every year from 2017 to 2020.

What is the biggest challenge you have overcome with SPACE?

It would have to be learning to lead the business. I did not have any leadership experience or business acumen when I started SPACE, Inc.  Being able to lead an organization is massively different than owning a company and learning to lead is a daily challenge.

What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?

You must be able to understand and use all your financial data. Someone once told me that learning to read financials is like learning to read music. I agree. The better you read and interpret the information the better you can run your organization.

Do you have any suggestions on resources that women-owned small businesses should use?

I love the Aileron organization in Dayton. Their mission is to help small businesses grow and their courses/information are extremely helpful.  Also, the Edward Lowe Foundation sponsors CEO roundtables using a technique called “Peerspectives.”  And finally, The Small Business Association of Michigan, or SBAM, has an Owner to Owner program that connects small business owners and facilitates peer learning.

To learn more about SPACE, Inc. visit their website at http://spaceinc.net/

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Women Impacting Public Policy Announces 2020 Award Recipients

Woman Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) recently announced its annual award recipients.

Each year, WIPP selects a single business owner, a business advocate, and a corporation to honor. Awardees demonstrate accomplishments in advocacy, small business support, and economic success. The awards recognize support for the women’s business community, in alignment with WIPP’s mission and policy pillars.

2020 Award Winners

The 2020 WIPP award winners are:

  • Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Sue Schweim Tellier, JetCo Federal
  • Agency Advocate of the Year – Barbara Carson, U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Corporation of the Year – Accenture

JetCo Federal and Women Impacting Public Policy

JetCo Federal is honored to have been selected as the recipient of the WIPP Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year. JetCo Federal’s President, Sue Schweim Tellier, has served on WIPP’s Leadership Advisory Council since 2017, and she recently spoke as an expert on compliance at a WIPP webinar.

Candace Waterman, President & CEO of WIPP, said, “Sue was honored for her leadership, support, and commitment to women’s business community. Since the pandemic, she participated in almost every WIPP webinar/educational program offering, provided sound advice, updates, and resources to the community who need it most, small businesses.”

“This award is SUCH a big deal to me – not only because we were selected as WOSB of the year, but because of the organization that selected us,” said Sue Schweim Tellier, President at JetCo Federal. “WIPP attracts brilliant leaders of innovative, growing companies. Through WIPP, I’m surrounded by ambitious, confident women I deeply respect. This isn’t just any recognition, or just any award. This is from an organization and women leaders I deeply admire.”

WIPP is a national nonpartisan organization that aims to increase woman entrepreneurs’ impact on the nation’s public policy, economic opportunities, and alliances with other organizations. WIPP also aims to create equality for Woman-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) in federal contracting, ensure fair tax treatment for all businesses, and increase in capital for the businesses they partner with.

You can find more information about Women Impacting Public Policy by visiting https://www.wipp.org/.

 

 

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JetCo Federal Adds Digital Marketing Specialist to Team

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH (October 6, 2020) — JetCo Federal, a Grand Rapids-based supply chain management and warehouse supply company, added a full-time employee to their team this month.

Carly Contreras

Carly Contreras joins the JetCo Federal team as a Digital Marketing Specialist. In this role, she manages JetCo Federal’s website, social media, blog, and digital media campaigns. Contreras is a graduate of Grand Valley State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Public Relations.

Prior to joining the JetCo Federal team, Contreras was a Marketing and Database Intern at Experience Grand Rapids and an Advertising Intern at Campus View Housing, gaining over two years of marketing experience.

Contreras stated, “I could not be more excited to put my knowledge and experience to use in a new industry. Digital marketing has a large impact on every business, especially in the government contracting space. I look forward to working with such a hard-working and dedicated team!”

To learn more about the JetCo Federal team, please visit our leadership page.