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Women
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2014
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This Women In Business feature was made possible by the Cadillac
Area Chamber of Commerce; in an attempt to provide members with an
opportunity to celebrate the eforts of women in business in the Greater
Cadillac Area. This special publication features 20 local business women,
focusing on their professional achievements, dedication to building
community and overall personal contributions to the organizations they
own or work on behalf of.
Women
working in our community.
the contributions of
Recognizing
02 May & June 2014 Womenin business
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Nicole Schultz Toy Town
Mary Jo OHagan Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors
Andrea McSwain, DO Mercy OB/GYN Partners
Chris Beydown Piranha Hose Products, Inc.
Mollie Osborn Curry House Assisted Living, Memory Care
Jennifer White, DDS Brite White Dental
Esther Nederhood Belle Oakes Living Center
Emily Klotz Resurrection Life Church Cadillac
Joann Spry Cadillac Area Public Schools
Deb Ballard Chemical Bank
Sharon Jenema Highpoint Cadillac GMC
Kelly Cater Rec Boat Holdings, LLC
Wendy Divozzo McCurdy, Wotila & Porteous
Tara Hall Cadillac News
Mary Gadbaw Davis, CNM, MSN Mercy OB/GYN Partners
Kelly Smith Baker College of Cadillac
Julie Rushing Wexford Community Credit Union
Sindy Huver Orrin A. Sprague Agency, Inc.
Donna Weaver FirstMerit Bank
Jessica Cushman-Dunlop Cherry Grove Event Center
May & June 2014 in business
Women
in business
2014
04 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Nicole Schultz
231.775.TOYS (8697) 122 S. Mitchell St. (Elks Bldg.), Downtown Cadillac
Mon.-Wed. & Sat. 10 AM-5:30 PM, Th/Fri 10 AM-7 PM Open Sundays Memorial DayNew Years
Shop local in-store and now on-line too! www.toytowncadillac.com
Ride-Ons
Puzzles
Games
Outdoor Fun
Stuffed Animals
Trains & Trucks
Dress Up
Playmobil
New Tech Kites
Science Kits
Dolls & Accessories
Educational Toys
Art & Craft Kits
Melissa & Doug
Classic Toys
Hobby Too!
TOY TOWN,
Business Owner
Nicole has quite literally a hands-on approach to owning
a toy store: We have our products out on the shelf, open and
waiting to be played with, she says, If someone is thinking
about purchasing something, but doesnt know what it is, we
will open one up and play it with you. Then we will even gift
wrap it for free. At Toy Town, she brings the same zest for
helping kids learn and making them smile as she did when she
started out as a preschool teacher. On top of all the fun that
Toy Town exemplies, Nicole makes sure her business
is doing its part for the community by organizing
events and collaborating with other service agencies
such as the Canine Counselors, who brought in
Therapy Dogs to celebrate reading month, and the
Child Protection Council, who helped celebrate
Parenting Awareness Month with a Family
Game Night.
Nicole also works with families and
children through her involvement with Great
Start Collaborative, an organization comprised
of community leaders, business owners,
area organizations, educators, and parents
committed to developing comprehensive early
childhood systems. She is currently nishing
a masters degree in leadership administration
and would like to expand her work to be a
team-building and leadership consultant.
If shes not out running, Nicole is at her
kids school. Whether its helping in the
classroom, serving on the PTL board, or
working a book fair, she loves being there.
May & June 2014 in business
Mary Jo OHagan
Mary Jo loves her job. As an agent with Coldwell Banker
Schmidt Realtors, she has found a vibrant and enjoyable
career that underpins her fervor to enjoy all of life. She
prides herself on offering the current market conditions
that update on a daily basis for the Cadillac area, as well
as specializing in nding the right price of homes for sale
and giving listings her top-notch professional presentation.
Through this devotion, she looks forward to building her
solid clientele by helping buyers of all ages to choose a
sound real estate investment or sell their real estate with
a good return.
In 2011, Mary Jo served as Director at Large
for the Paul Bunyan Board of Realtors, and she
currently serves as President of Meadview Condo
Homeowners Association. These positions have
allowed her to showcase the same strengths she
exhibits at work: dedication, honesty, communication,
and time management.
Athletics are her other passion, and she actively
involves herself in her childrens sports as a coach
and, of course, their #1 fan. She has previously
been the YMCA swim teams assistant coach and
has coached CASA volleyball, basketball, soccer,
baseball, and softball too. But dont let this
coaching experience fool you: she doesnt sit on
the sidelines! In fact, she still plays hockey in
Cadillacs Womens League!
COLDWELL BANKER SCHMIDT REALTORS,
Realtor, ABR
SCHMIDT REALTORS
2721 Sunnyside Dr.
775-1737
Mon.-Sat. 8:30 AM-5:30 PM, Sun. Noon-3 PM
Mary Jo OHagan, ABR

Realtor

(231) 775-1737 Offce (231) 775-1798 Fax

(231) 920-8222 Cell
mohagan@coldwellbanker.com
TRUST
The Real Estate Professional
Buying or selling a home can be overwhelming.
Mary Jo OHagan will guide you through the process
from beginning to end. All you have to think about
is how much youll love your new home!
06 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Andrea McSwain,DO
Andrea McSwain, DO | Sarah Helm, DO 7985 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601
(231) 876-6100
Providing Innovative
and Compassionate
Patient Care.
MERCY OB/GYN PARTNERS
Dr. McSwain came to the Cadillac area after
graduating from Midwestern University College of
Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale, Arizona and then
completing her residency at Ingham Regional Medical
Center in Lansing. She recognizes northern Michigans
unique beauty and seclusion and enjoys the challenges
that practicing healthcare in a rural setting can offer.
Having achieved a signicant professional goal
when she became a physician, Dr. McSwain now looks
forward to offering medical care for women and the
community through Mercy OB/GYN Partners. She
believes that a career is made up of many different
professional interest areas coming together, and
shes always willing to listen and learn, especially
from her patients. As she explains, In medicine,
ones career is called a practice. The salient point
is that every day is a learning experience. My
patients are also very important teachers. When
asked to share something people may not know
about her, Andrea said, I was born on New
Years Day. Born at 12:03am, I was the second
baby born in the entire state.
Personally, Andrea hopes to be the best mom
she can be. She enjoys exercising, learning
the piano, and taking in the great outdoors of
Michigan.
May & June 2014 in business
Chris Beydoun
2500 Weigel, Cadillac, MI 49601
Toll Free (800) 250-5132 (231) 779-4390
With backgrounds in business administration and
accounting, Chris soon worked her way up from entry-
level positions to her current role as Finance Manager at
Piranha Hose Products, Inc. Chris enjoys the constant
variety in her employment and looks forward to
learning from the new opportunities she gets involved
in. She uses her reliable, friendly personality to be the
person at work who can always be counted on and who
is always willing to help, even if it means going out
of her way to get the job done.
Guided by the mottos do what you love and
dont sweat the small stuff you cant change
or control, Chris nds great satisfaction in
her job and wants to better herself and her
coworkers through it all. She hopes to start
working toward her CMA certication in
the near future and bring this new skill set
into her workplace.
Chris loves to spend time with her
husband, Jay, and their two daughters
Anastacia (12) and Adriana (8). Along
with her professional goals, Chris
continues to act as an involved and
supportive parent through her roles
as Treasurer of the school PTO, Girl
Scout troop helper, and sports fan.
PIRANHA HOSE PRODUCTS, INC.
Finance Manager
08 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Mollie Osborn
Licensed by the State of Michigan
Assisted Living
Allows for more independence
Personalized care plans
to ft your needs
Spacious rooms with 4 different
room size options
Outdoor patio rooms available
Kitchenettes complete with
microwave, sink & refrigerator
Pet friendly
Memory Care
Secure neighborhood
Outdoor courtyard &
screened-in porch
Assistance with all activities of
daily living
Dedicated, trained memory care
staff
Activities developed for those with
memory impairments
Consistent daily schedules
5858 S. 47 Rd., Cadillac
(231) 876-0611
www.curryhousecadillac.com
2 Separate
Neighborhoods
To Choose From!
Assisted Living & Memory Care
CURRY HOUSE,
Director of Business Development
Curry Houses commitment to personalized care
encourages residents to live independently with dignity
and respect, and Mollie feels that Curry House owes it
to their residents and families to provide exceptional
customer service. Because of this emphasis, Mollie gives
110% to everything she does, bringing a persistent resolve
to make a difference every day.
In her position, Mollie promotes Curry Houses
three residential neighborhoods to the Cadillac
areas community and professional organization
while organizing marketing events for various
referral sourceskeeping the residents needs at
the forefront at all times. She is also a certied
trainer for Second Wind Dreams Virtual
Dementia Tour and has served as a community
representative for the American Cancer Society.
She returned to school and graduated with a BS
in Public and Nonprot Administration from
Grand Valley State University in 2008.
She considers relationship building to be the
key to success and hopes to continue learning:
these qualities work together to open doors,
enabling her to provide better service to
her residents, their families, and the wider
community.
May & June 2014 in business
Jennifer White, DDS
Brite White Dental
Dentistry by Dr. Jennifer White
CALL US TODAY! 231-824-3711
113 East 7th Street Manton, Michigan
www.mybritewhitedental.com
Accepting New Patients Find Us On Facebook
BRITE WHITE DENTAL,
Dentist and Owner
In the fth grade, Jennifer decided she wanted to be a
dentist, and she has been on track ever since. After growing
up in Valparaiso, IN and attending dental school at Indiana
University, she worked at several practices before jumping at
the chance to purchase her own practice. Jennifers lifelong
dream became a reality when Brite White Dental opened
its doors to Manton and the Cadillac area.
Though Jennifer acknowledges that many people
dread visiting their dentist, she counters that
apprehension by making her ofce a different kind
of dental experience. The patient is in charge of the
music, the atmosphere is light and fun, and everyone
knows they are getting the highest quality of care
where each patient is treated as family. On top of all
that, Jennifer says, Our patients are also educated
so thoroughly that, at times, they are able to create
treatment plans themselves. In the future, Jennifer
would like to add implant placement and full mouth
rehabilitations to Brite Whites already lengthy
service list.
A golfer and a skier, Jennifer loves to exercise,
as well as cook fresh and healthy dinners for her
husband (Dr. Ben Seymour of Northern Quality
Dental) and her son (Zach). She looks forward
to building relationships with Manton and the
Cadillac area community.
10 May & June 2014 Womenin business
231-775-3081
www.bellarosetherapy.com
Belle Oakes
Living Center
231-779-4671
www.belleoakes.com
Esther Nederhood
BELLE OAKES LIVING CENTER
Registered Nurse & Owner
Esther seeks to bring out the very best in people in her
work as a nurse for over 35 years. This is especially true for
her 130+ staff at her four businesses, who she considers and
treats as family. Her mentorship is infectious, and she sees
opportunities for learning and encouragement every day. As
she trains her staff to care for her clients as she does, Esther
develops her business into a true community built on
nurturing compassion.
She built Belle Oakes with a vision to give elderly
people the best care and comfort in a beautiful residence.
Numerous awards and honors reect her mission and
spirit, includingmost recentlythe Ethel Mitty
Nurse of the Year Award from the American Assisted
Living Nurses Association. She currently serves on
the Citizens Committee for the United Way of
Wexford/Missaukee, and she is also a Certied
Dementia Practitioner (CDP), a Certied
Assisted Living Nurse (C-AL), and an RN. With
her leadership, Belle Oakes has garnered its own
recognition, including a national Bronze Award from
the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) and
multiple years of Level 1, 2, and 3 Quality seals from
the Michigan Center for Assisted Living (MCAL).
Of all the roles she lls, two of the dearest to
her are mother and grandmother, and she
is excitedly awaiting the arrival of her fourth
grandchild this spring.
May & June 2014 in business
Emily Klotz
CONNECT WITH GOD
for inspirational worship and teachings
that will transform your life!
wednesday night @ 6:30pm
sunday mornings @ 9:30 & 11:15am
KIDS & TEENS
9127 E. 441/2 Rd. Cadillac | 231.876.1885
www.getreslife.org
OUR KIDS ARE THE CHURCH OF
TODAY AND THE LEADERS OF
TOMORROW. IT IS OUR GOAL THAT
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONNECT
WITH GOD AT ANY AGE.
JOIN US
As Director of Womens Ministry and pastors wife at
Resurrection Life Church, Emily wields her impassioned
leadership skills to encourage and empower both her
church and the Cadillac area. Besides ministering at Res
Life with her husband, Dan, Emily leads the ministry
Real Women, which aims to heal and encourage women
of every background as they discover who God created
them to becondent and free, loved and loving.
One of the main reasons Emily is passionate
about loving God and loving people in ministry
is due to a serious tragedy that happened to her
in 1993, which ended in forgiveness and a forever
changed life. The video of her story can be found
here: www.cbn.com/tv/1400677309001.
Having served in full-time ministry for fteen
years has kept her busy, but outside of work
she enjoys family time with her husband,
her children (Analynne and Levi), their two
cats, and a dog. An avid reader and coffee
acionado, she welcomes the company of
friends and anyone ready for conversation
especially if theyre up for a walk!
Emily considers herself blessed that her
professional and personal goals commingle in
an effort to grow closer to the Lord and to help
others do the same. I want everyone to know
the joy and love that Jesus has given me, she
says, I want to pour out to others what God
has freely and generously poured into me!
Building Gods Kingdom and bringing him
glory is my highest goal.
RESURRECTION LIFE CHURCH CADILLAC,
Director of Womens Ministry
12 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Joann (Jo) Spry
Excellence
In Academics, Fine Arts,
and Athletics
Students in Fine Arts
consistently achieve
high marks in
competition
and qualify
for prestigious
programs.
Preparing
Our Students
For The Future
A robust
athletics
program
continually
produces scholar
athletes and
successful teams.
Cadillac High School, ranked 17th
in Michigan by US News
CADILLAC AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
Superintendent
Jo believes she has the perfect career for her. She has a love
for learning, children, schools, and community, and her work
fuels these passions as she serves the area.
As superintendent, Jo works on supporting the entire
school district, which includes academic instruction, but
also nance, buildings and grounds, technology, food
service, transportation, and communications. Obviously,
it helps to possess a few must-have skills to keep
everything running smoothly, and Jo points to a
crucial strength: her ability to look at multiple
perspectives and analyze situations before
making decisions.
Theres a lot on her plate, but through all
things she tries to bring care, enthusiasm,
and integrity. She acknowledges that her
commitment to integrity doesnt always
mean such choices will be easy or received
well by everyone, but her adventurous
spirit spurs her on to the next challenge.
Jo plans to stay a superintendent in
education until she retires, all the while
continuing to be an active member
of the community and doting on her
grandchildren, Amelia and Elliott.
May & June 2014 in business
Chemical Bank has a variety of small business
banking options to help you follow your passion and
pursue your biggest dreams. Visit a location near
you or ChemicalBankMI.com for more information.
SELF MADE IN MICHIGAN.
Deb Ballard
At Chemical Bank, Deb aims to be known as
approachable, fair, and committed. She identies her
strengths as her goal to provide great customer service and
her passion to make a difference in the lives of those in need
through her community involvement.
Deb supports many community events and organizations,
and she encourages others to get involved as a volunteer
in an organization they are passionate about. She values
Chemical Banks dedication to the communities in
which we live. The company urges all employees to
get involved and regularly supports many outreach
organizations through both monetary support and
stafng events with Chemical Bank employees.
Outside of work, Deb enjoys spending time
with friends and family, especially her husband
who, she says, puts up with me when I take
on too many things at once! She also loves
to shop and is always on the lookout for
bargains to put together donation baskets
for various fundraisers.
She hopes to follow Chemical Banks
motto of Hire to Retire, giving her ten
or more years as a company employee.
Throughout this time, as always, she
strives for a balance between work and
home life, taking care to appreciate the
little things.
CHEMICAL BANK,
Branch Manager/Assistant Vice-President
14 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Sharon Jenema
South End Business US-131 Exit 177, Cadillac
(231) 775-1222 1-800-828-9852
SALES HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 AM-6 PM, Sat. 9 AM-1 PM
SERVICE DEPARTMENT: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 AM-5 PM,
Sat. 8 AM-NOON FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
SEE OUR INVENTORY AT www.HighpointAuto.com
JASON COPPICK JACK PEDLAR AL PIERCE JERRY KOOP, SR. JERRY KOOP, JR.
STEP UP TO PROFESSIONAL GRADE
A twenty-year member of the Highpoint team, Sharon
continues to nd reasons to get excited about her job. She
believes there is nothing better than going to work every
day at a place that she enjoys going to, and she looks
forward to the future of her career while working to
help make Highpoint successful.
Her position poses a distinctive challenge
that guarantees she never sees a dull day. As
she oversees vehicle dealership accounting,
she is in a sense accounting for six different
small businesses: New Sales, Used Sales,
Service, Parts, Collision Center, and Lease-
Rental. With all of this on her plate, its
a good thing she has the organizational
strengths and math problem solving skills
to handle it all!
Life outside of work doesnt settle
down much for Sharon. A mom of three,
she strives to raise her kids to be happy,
educated, independent adults. Sharon is
thankful that Highpoint is such a family-
oriented place, because she has the freedom
to take care of her kids and pick them up
from school, practices, and sports games.
HIGHPOINT CADILLAC GMC,
Offce Manager
May & June 2014 in business
Kelly Cater
Fun enjoyed around the world Built in our community!
Many people in Human Resources readily acknowledge
that life can take many paths, and Kelly Cater uses her own
experience as evidence! After majoring in psychology and
starting as a teacher, she couldnt shake her passion for working
with people and helping them develop their own paths, so she
returned to school to train in human resources and business.
Now, as director of human resources at Rec Boat Holdings,
Kelly continues to nd many teaching opportunities while she
serves her company as a valuable resource herself.
Kelly attributes her success not only to her
collaborative team building and insights but also
to the forward-thinking atmosphere of Rec Boat
Holdings and their enthusiasm for promoting
women to leadership positions. Of course, her
excitement for boating and recreation, with
work or with family, doesnt hurt either!
As people step into Kellys ofce, they may
notice the cornucopia of toys on her desk: a
Magic 8 Ball, a dinosaur with biting jaws, a
Danish Hoptimist, and an Easy Button.
What you may not realize, however, is the
function that Kelly nds for each toy. As
she explains, You can easily determine the
mood of the person coming into the ofce
by the toy they choose At the end, it
usually can bring a smile to their face. My
hope is they slap the Easy Button at the
end of the conversation. That tells me we
are doing the job right.
REC BOAT HOLDINGS, LLC,
Director of Human Resources
16 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Wendy Divozzo
Attorneys and Counselors
LEGAL EXPERTS ~ LOCAL PEOPLE
Family Law Civil Litigation Municipal Law
Criminal Law & Estate Planning & Probate
120 W. Harris St., Cadillac
231-775-1391
4393 220th Ave., Reed City
231-832-3231
McCURDY WOTILA & PORTEOUS, P.C.,
Partner
Wendys persistent, detail-oriented attitude and her ability
to listen to and understand her clients needs have made her
a force to be reckoned with. Since joining McCurdy, Wotila
& Porteous in 2000, she has worked hard to offer Cadillac
quality, affordable legal counsel and servicesa commitment
that led to her being named the rms rst female partner in
2002. She is proud to be a part of a small-town rm with big-
city expertise. As she continues to serve the Cadillac area, she
hopes to continue building her estate planning practice
and her reputation as the best family law attorney in
northern Michigan!
Outside of work, Wendy has served on the boards of
the Wexford-Missaukee Bar Association, Cadillac Area
Community Health Clinic, and the Wexford County
Council on Aging. In her free time, she enjoys skiing
with her family and cheering on her two daughters
at their numerous sporting events, activities that
reinforce her conviction that everything in her life
is oriented toward her family.
To young women entering their careers, she
would offer the advice, Dont let anyone tell
you how to work through your priorities.
You have to do it your own way, not someone
elses or it doesnt work. This doesnt mean
you cant take input and be mentored, but
you have to execute your life plan your way.
At the same time, be credible, be honest, be
direct and be reliable.
May & June 2014 in business
Tara Hall
The Cadillac News provides information that enhances the lives of the people,
businesses and communities we serve. We are the areas #1 source of local news
and advertising information and we are YOUR trusted, local and connected
community resource. From hard news to feature stories to recipes and the latest
coupons, nd it in only one place...The Cadillac News.
Have we enhanced your life lately?
News
C A D I L L A C
Trusted. Local. Connected.
231-775-6565
130 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac
www.cadillacnews.com
CADILLAC NEWS,
Business Department Leader
A self-proclaimed eternal optimist, Tara always hopes to
see the best in people and situations. She embraces change and
challenges because it all keeps her on her toes, which suites her
fast-paced position with the business department at Cadillac
News. Tara knows the value of choosing a career to love and
enjoy doing every day.
While putting herself through college with a toddler and a
full-time job, Tara worked hard towards one goalto get
an education and nd a career she could be proud of, one
her family could be proud of, and one that could sup-
port her family. Ive found that here at Cadillac News,
she says. She picked up formative experiences along the
way, especially her opportunities to work for women
managers who led by example with condence and
compassion, characteristics she strives to emulate.
Tara currently serves as clerk for the village of
Harrietta and proudly obtained grant funding for a
new village playground while organizing commu-
nity volunteers to install it. She loves being at home
with her husband and three kids (ages 16, 9, and 2)
and enjoys working on home improvement proj-
ects and outdoors in her ower gardens. Those that
know her know shes a simple country girl with a
passion for trucks, mud bogs, and NASCAR. She
and her husband actually worked together years
ago as pit crew for close friends who had a monster
truck running in the Monster Jam series, which
Tara describes as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
18 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Mary Gadbaw Davis, CNM, MSN
Mary Gadbaw Davis, CNM, MSN
Certied Nurse Midwife
7985 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601
(231) 876-6100
When Youre
Expecting,
Expect the Best.
MERCY OB/GYN PARTNERS,
Nurse Midwife
As one of the only nurse midwives in the area, Mary
offers a wide range of experience in nurse midwifery
and has a special interest in lactation support. She
graduated from Case Western Reserve University
with her Masters of Nursing and went on to become
a Certied Nurse Midwife from Frontier School of
Midwifery and Family Nursing.
With Mercy OB/GYN Partners, Mary is one of
four providers who bring different interests and
experiences to their patients. They all care about each
other, their patients, and their staff in a healthy
work environment. In 2013, Mary received
the Peoples Choice Nightingale Award for
Nursing Excellence following a nomination
from one of her patients.
Mary plans on having a long career working
as long as she can. In her spare time she enjoys
knitting, cooking, writing, and sending snail
mail. She also maintains an Ashtanga Yoga
practice, and it is one of her longstanding
dreams to travel to India someday to deepen
her knowledge of yoga.
May & June 2014 in business
Kelly Smith
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CALL: (231) 876-3119 OR TEXT: BAKER TO 74700
97% of our available graduates are employed. Plus, every graduate
receives Lifetime Employment Assistancefree and forever.
9600 E. 13TH ST.
CADILLAC, MI 49601
Before becoming president of Baker College of Cadillac, Kelly
was already accustomed to responsibility. She was the oldest of
ve children raised on a farm, and she spent a good deal of time
helping out with chores and keeping an eye on her siblings. She
has been in education for over thirty years, loving every minute
and every learning opportunity that came her way.
Since taking over the role of campus president in 2011,
Kelly has leveraged what Baker College of Cadillac can do
to make a difference for its students and the community.
She believes that Baker is unique from state-funded
universities and community colleges in that it
is a not-for-prot, four-year degree bearing
career college. She and her colleagues advocate
for continuous improvement, adaptability, and
community orientation for their day-to-day
decisions. Kelly nds endless cause for motivation
in Bakers ability to change students lives each
day by empowering them with knowledge.
Kelly hopes to nish her dissertation, she
says, so that my PhD can be complete before
I die! In between her career and completing
her doctoral degree in educational leadership,
she makes time for her daughters and grandson
downstate and enjoys socializing with friends,
staying healthy, and being outdoors.
She thanks her many great mentors who
helped her to use lifes hard knocks as
opportunities that pay off in the end.
BAKER COLLEGE OF CADILLAC,
President
20 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Julie Rushing
Looking For A Better Way to Save Your Money?
Serving all residents of Wexford, Missaukee & Osceola Counties
www.wexccu.com www.facebook.com/Wexccu
Cadillac 775-2081 Lake City 839-2081
WEXFORD COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION,
CEO
Since Julie stepped into her current roles as president and CEO
of Wexford Community Credit Union, she has been an inspiring and
empowering presence for her staff. She encourages her employees
of all levels to own their roles. With a background in teaching, she
faithfully strives to help her staff discover their best professional selves
through strong training programs and an environment of teamwork
and respect.
Julies vision for Wexford Community Credit Union is
to provide excellent service to individual members while
maintaining what is in the best interest of the member-
owners as a whole. WCCU, as its name implies, is here
for the community, and Julie sees service to and support
of the community members and events as essential to
their vision.
As wife and mother of three, Julie loves to laugh
often. She enjoys a long relationship with Christ and
is part of a local church. Surprisingly, she is also a
certied childbirth instructor and has coached over
fty births. She describes these experiences as the
single most fascinating moments on this earth.
A visionary who values grace and balance
in life, Julie likes to see the bigger picture. She
understands that work and home life will have
their uctuations, but she is mindful to prevent
one role from consuming any others. She sees that
women in business constantly spin the plates of
life and are often hardest on themselves, so being clear
on priorities and responsibilities is essential to success
in any area. She plans to nish her career with WCCU
and will keep working toward a self-sustaining staff.
May & June 2014 in business
Sindy Huver
6631 E. M-115, Suite A., P.O. Box 248 Cadillac
(231) 775-4671 (231) 775-3871 Fax
Specializing in a full spectrum of benefits for
health, life, disability, dental & vision for group
or individuals on and off the marketplace.
As a health and life insurance agent with Sprague
Agency, Sindys work is always fast-paced and people-
oriented, which is just how she likes it. A motivated
agent who welcomes a good challenge, Sindy strives
for excellence every day. Her clients have even called
her a bulldog because of her relentless aim to get
them the best results imaginable while looking out
for their best interests.
Currently, Sindy is planning to build an unrivalled
health department with Sprague Agency. She wants to
reach the Cadillac area businesses to guarantee their
knowledge of the marketplace (SHOP) options by
educating them and providing them with resources
necessary to save more on health insurance. It
is her goal to work with all local businesses in
developing a solid game plan for their bottom-
line cost control for employee benets.
Sindy is an artist in her spare time. She enjoys
painting, crafting, and construction. Her latest
project has let her try her hand as a clothes
designer.
When it comes to getting the most out of the
company-employee relationship, Sindy cannot
stress enough how important it is to know your
employers and what work ethics they have. She
has learned that she can only be as good as an
employer allows her to be; for that reason, she is
very grateful to work for Sprague Agency.
ORRIN A. SPRAGUE AGENCY, INC.
Insurance Agent
22 May & June 2014 Womenin business
Donna Weaver
Donna Weaver
Branch Manager
231-779-4236
Fax: 231-775-5454
Cell: 231-878-8583
Branch: 231-779-4252
donna.weaver@rstmerit.com
NMLS#: 707441
Downtown Cadillac
103 N. Mitchell St., Cadillac, MI 49601 www.rstmerit.com
FIRSTMERIT BANK,
Branch Manager
Donna brings a passion to her job as branch
manager of FirstMerit Bank and holds a two-
fold mission: to help clients with their personal/
business nances with one local banker and to be
the best business partner that she can be for her
clients. Certied in business banking, she uses
her training, experience, and expertise to meet her
clients needs every day.
Donna has held a number of community-
oriented positions including president of
the Cadillac Zonta Club, secretary for the
Wexford County Habit for Humanity, and
acting board member for West Michigan
Home Builders Association. She currently
serves as a member of the Cadillac
Area Chamber of Commerce 2013-
2014 Ambassador Club. She strives to
involve herself in the area through her
community- and church-involvements
while bringing character and integrity
to each of her efforts.
She would like to pass on four guiding
principles to other businesswomen
starting out their careers: Smile. Work
hard. Stay positive. Integrity matters.
May & June 2014 in business
Jessica Cushman-Dunlop
Introducing Cadillacs Newest Event Center!
We are pleased to announce Cadillacs newest
event center, Cherry Grove. Here at Cherry
Grove we aim to make any of your special
occasions, wonderful. We offer a variety of
beautiful spaces, accommodating all sizes of
events and newly designed interiors meeting
the most modern of expectations.
231-499-5338
jessica@cgecmi.com
www.cherrygroveeventcenter.com
As events manager of the newly opened Cherry Grove
Event Center, Jessica has big dreams for her business.
She works toward booking the Center every night and
offering all of her customers the best experience they can
have, and she wont stop until she sees Cherry Grove
become one of the best in Northern Michigan. She cites
the Centers multipurpose setting as what makes her
business unique. With the ability to cater to so many
different types of events, Cherry Grove hosts anything
and everything from everyday business meetings to
elegant special occasions.
Jessica stresses the importance of determination
in all areas of life. She views each experience, win
or lose, as a learning opportunity and doesnt let
failure faze her: Its how you pick yourself up
that shows your true determination. She also
knows that a little creativity can go a long way,
professionally and personally. She loves arts and
crafts, baking cupcakes, and playing with Addie,
her dog.
For someone known for having a smile
on her face at all times, Jessica shares a very
tting quote: Wherever you go, no matter
the weather, always bring your own sunshine
(Anthony J. DAngelo).
CHERRY GROVE EVENT CENTER,
Events Manager
Women
in business
A program of the Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce
The Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce
designed the Women in Business Series with
the goal of assisting women in developing
business opportunities and facilitating
business-to-business interaction. The Women
in Business Series focuses on relevant
business, personal, and health topics. WIB
is held quarterly and is a highly popular and
well attended program of the Cadillac Area
Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber encourages area women to join us at a future
Women in Business luncheon. For more information on the
Women in Business Series, please contact Doreen Lanc at
231-775-9776 or membership@cadillac.org.