Hosted by the StarTUp at the Armory, the ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore Women in Business Speaker Series features trailblazers from across Maryland discussing accomplishments, challenges, and insights as women business leaders. This is a great opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community members from Greater Baltimore.
On May 14, ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore held a Women in Trades Panel featuring:
- Anna Gavin, president, Fireline Corporation
- Danni Donovan, master plumber and director of operations, Donovan WaterWorks
- Joanna Bartholomew, chief executive officer and founder, O’Hara Development Partners
- Moderator: Britt Tegeler, president, Tegeler Construction & Supply
On May 14, the Women in Trades panelists shared their unique stories about what it is like to be the only woman in the room, being a source of relief and comfort for women customers and understanding the importance of networking and being strategic with your skillset as a business owner. Each of these women have had many successes and broken down many barriers in the trades industry.
The advantage for women in the trades in leadership, I think, is you stand out in a sea of Steves and Bobs and Joes. You stand out, so everybody remembers you. So, I got asked onto a lot of boards and I built a really beautiful network of people. It was people who would help me when I needed help. It was people I offered help to. And that was because I think I stood out amongst a crowd.
Anna Gavin, president, Fireline Corporation
In the heteronormative world that we live in, people will call in with a plumbing issue. Usually it’s the wife that I am dealing with, and I can’t express to you enough the sigh of relief the woman has when the door is opened. Instant trust. They don’t feel like they’re gonna be taken advantage of.
Danni Donovan, master plumber and director of operations, Donovan WaterWorks
Having a business is hard. If you have the opportunity, go to webinars and workshops, but your story is going to be your story. You have to be okay with not knowing, but also being strategic with what you do know. Get a mentor, get into some of these groups.
Joanna Bartholomew, chief executive officer and founder, O’Hara Development Partners
The trades are the backbone of our economy, but for so long, women have been underrepresented. And that is slowly changing. And that is thanks to women like yourselves that are on stage. These women aren’t gently stepping into the space, right? They’re building companies, they’re innovating, they’re disrupting, they are redefining what leadership is in construction, in development, and far beyond that.
Britt Tegeler, president, Tegeler Construction & Supply
Are you a women-owned business looking for mentorship? ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore is a yearlong mentorship program, headquartered at Towson University, designed to assist women entrepreneurs with their business. Applications for the program are currently being accepted.
