2)         Age: 33

3)         Hometown: Haddonfield, NJ (current) – grew up in Cherry Hill

4)         Name and Location of Business: Little SPoRT, 121 E. Kings Hwy Unit 204 Maple Shade, NJ 08052   (856) 234.6445   www.LittleSPoRT.net

5)         Professional Title: Founder/owner

6)         How would you describe your business or practice to someone who has never heard of it (or you) before? We are a 6,400 square foot educational play center with the motto, “Life Education Through Sports.” open 7 days a week,  we offer open Play, innovative SPoRTBaby & SPoRTKid classes (taught by certified teachers),  sport, cheerleading & dance clinics, a Kids Club, Pajama Play Nights & Corporate Team Building Nights.

7)         List some important statistics about your business (i.e. number of employees, age, rate of growth, etc.): open 2 years on September 20^th, we are in a major learning period. Constantly listening, absorbing, innovating, we are working to “fit all the pieces” together.  Currently we’re growing at an annual rate of about 34% - with one full-time and over twenty part-time “team” members.

8)         How do you measure the success of either your business or yourself professionally? We measure success by the consistent increase in families who come and appreciate the uniqueness of the Little SPoRT experience.  Financially, success will be when my investors (ones who believed in the vision of a mother of three with no business degree) start receiving a large return on their investment.

9)         What successful women did you most admire while growing up and why?

Without question, my mother is the successful woman I most admired and to this day try to emulate.  Being able to have a healthy, happy marriage, raise and put 4 children through collage, have strong friendships, a career and genuinely love life are all things I will always work for. 

10)       What successful women do you most admire now at this stage in your life and why? Besides my mother, aunt and friends in her generation to whom I look for inspiration, I admire and draw strength from my girlfriends who work daily to find balance between being a good mother, a wife, a friend and their chosen careers or livelihood.

11)       What living women do you believe are doing a disservice to the advancement of the sex in general and why? Truthfully, I do not dwell in negative assessments of others. I focus on living positively and being proactive in life in general.

12)       What is your earliest memory of wanting to go into business for yourself? Realizing I had to support my three sons and not wanting to leave them, I decided to go into business for myself.  Looking back, I realize I have been an entrepreneur my whole life.  An extreme multi-tasker, I feel all my past endeavors led me to where I am now.

13)       When you first started looking ahead to achieving personal success in the world of business, were you intimidated by being a woman in a (seemingly) man’s world? Why or why not? Success in my business will come from hard work, dedication and a passion for my vision. I have never been intimidated by being a woman in business and I feel Little SPoRT’s success will ultimately be aided by the fact I am a parent and a mother/woman. 

14)       Many might assume being a woman in the business world is inherently fraught with obstacles. In what ways has being a woman in the business world been just the opposite? In other words, in what ways has being a woman in business been advantageous? As a woman in business, there are numerous support groups where fellow businesswomen are more than happy to offer advice, collaboration and encouragement.  I have been greatly inspired and helped by various women’s organizations in South Jersey, namely NJAWBo, the oGN and the YGN.

15)       What excites you most about your professional work? What do you wish you could change? I am most excited about pioneering an innovative way to positively educate the children of our future. Also, with Little SPoRT’s centers eventually all over, we will test market and generate our own line of educational products and merchandise. I wish I could change the length of this process!!  

16)       What is the most exciting thing to happen to you and/or your business in the last twelve months? I was married in March to Sean, a man who, without a doubt, is my true companion in life. We were fortunate to have the boys and over 115 other family members and friends come with us to celebrate in St. Thomas, USVI. It was truly amazing.

17)       When you look back on your professional life, what achievement are you proudest of?  I feel my professional life is just beginning and I have a long way to go.  As this journey unfolds, however, I am proud that I have followed my heart and my children and family have come through all the craziness stronger for it.

18)       What moment in your professional life do you most regret? With so many unknown variables at the start of this business, “learning on the fly” has become a way of life for me.  While there is no specific moment I regret, I wish I could have had more knowledge on what the inner workings of this company would be.  

19)       What are some of the most exciting developments, initiatives or projects you are looking forward to in the future? I am excited about the constant improvement of our classes. Using certified teachers as “coaches,” we work to encourage interpersonal and cognitive skills through diverse activities, sports and lots of fun!  We also excited to begin extending our demographic by offering corporate and athletic team building nights.

20)       How would those who work for/with you describe you? They would say that I am a very positive, high energy, family orientated person who constantly works to find the balance between being a good boss and business owner, and being a good mother, wife, sister & friend. They would also say I was a bit crazy!

21)       Are there any philanthropic ventures you are currently involved in? If so, describe what they are and why you were compelled to undertake them. I am a proactive believer in giving back.  Since opening, we’ve held two Eagles’ Pep Rallies, a “Networking for Charity” event, Free T-Ball nights and will be holding our second Blood Drive in September. Tsunami and Katrina relief funds, local families in need and the Ronald McDonald House have benefited.

22)       Fill in the blank: To be a woman in the year 2006 is to _live life passionately.

23)       What was your greatest personal challenge to overcome in order to be successful and how did you do that? I began my company while my 16 year relationship/9 year marriage was ending.  During that time I had to really evaluate what I wanted from life and what was best for my boys. I drew a lot of strength from the loyal support of my family and friends.

24)       Describe your immediate family and how you balance your professional life with the one at home. My immediate family includes my husband Sean, and our three sons (from my first marriage), John and James (5) and Glenn (3).
I balance my work and home life by keeping my priorities in order and making sure that while I work hard, I find time to play hard too! J

25)       What do you most enjoy doing to relax? I most enjoy a nice bath and a passionate night with my husband….. it relieves all stress and I get a good ab workout!

26)       What does a rewarding, productive day look like for you and your line of work? A rewarding, productive day includes families thanking us for creating Little SPoRT and for being so accommodating. Seeing a two year old shake hands (“Give 7”) and realizing that we are positively impacting the sportsmanship and life skills of our newest generation is truly rewarding.

27)       Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not? No - I’m a Darwinist, I believe in survival of the fittest. Do the best job, get the job, man or woman.

28)       As a leader in business is it better to be feared or loved? Why? It is best to be respected, and often that includes being both feared and loved.

29)       Fill in the blank: When someone enters my office or workspace, I want this person to feel _welcome and leave feeling inspired____.

30)       Fill in the blank: The biggest mistake a woman entering the business world can make is __to worry about the fact that she a woman entering the business world. –

31)       What is your greatest fear? Ignorance

32)       What is currently playing on your iPod/CD player/cassette deck/record player? U2 – my boys are being brainwashed by my husband! J

33)       What advice would you give to a young woman interested in entering the business world? Figure out what your passion is, do your research, follow your heart and go hard after your dream.

34)       If you could design six (6) Jeopardy categories for yourself—ones you would be an expert on—what would they be? Be as imaginative as you’d like.  

1.      Party Planning

2.      Multitasking

3.      Boston College Sports

4.      Baking

5.      Twins

6.      Motivational Quotes

35)       What living men do you most admire? What about historical male figures? A true “Daddy’s girl,” my father has been my rock. He has inspired me to take on the “work hard and play hard” attitude and, most importantly, to be true to myself. As for historical male figures, I am a John Adams fan.

36)       If the business world you are immersed in were an animal, what animal would it be and why? My animal would be a chameleon, as my business is constantly changing and adapting within our environment. For example, since opening we have changed and added six new programs based on the requests and needs of our clients. Like a chameleon, we will continue to adapt in order to thrive.

37)       What’s one other path you could have seen yourself choosing in life and why? A proud Boston College alum with a degree in communications, I am a motivational speaker at heart. I believe in a pro-active approach to living a happy life and think another path for me could have been in some sort of motivational communication field. 

38)       If your business and life were made it into a novel, what would you like the last sentence to read?  And as always, the glass was half full…..