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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-10-26, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, October 26, 2016 Women in Business in Huron East Heather DeJong was a creative child who always was drawn to colour and beauty. In her late teens, she took a course at Conestoga College in home decorating, which led to employment that allowed her to help people feel good about their surroundings. Her pursuit of creative outlets led her to painting ceramics, which she soon found to be boring. Someone suggested that she take a class in brushstroke techniques, and she learned how to create dimension using light and shadows. She was hooked! She began developing her own designs, and was encouraged to teach basic brushstrokes and stenciling classes. For a time, Heather worked for a paint manufacturing plant, where she gained product knowledge. Another job gave her knowledge in drapery and design, and she learned colour design, colour theory, and textures. Heather's first small business was begun as a way to sell her crafts and designs. She opened "The Pine Box" in Wellesley, which was a community based consignment craft store. After that, a family member needed help in a country department store which sold sewing machines, fabric, notions, and everything else from clothing to hardware to paint. That store gave Heather the opportunity to teach painting classes. Heather moved to Seaforth, and in the early 90's opened her own business, Decorative Ventures. She was a home interior consultant, and offered custom stencil designs as well as faux finishes for walls. She employed a sewing shop to create the draperies she and her customer chose, and she created her own stencils to match the patterns in the draperies. In 1999, Heather and her husband Pat DeJong purchased the Huron Fuel Injection business, and Heather found herself working full time alongside her husband. She tried to keep Decorative Ventures going, but there wasn't enough time in the day for two jobs. She always needed a creative outlet, though, so she took painting workshops and continued to dabble in painting, scrapbooking, and sewing. She loved working with her husband, but as the years rolled by, she missed being creative, and felt a bit stifled in her work environment. It's funny how things work out. Heather was diagnosed with some serious health issues, and had to step out of the family business in order to take time to regain her health. For the six months she stepped back from the business, she spent some time being creative. As she considered what to do next, she learned that painting parties were a popular social event for many. There's a saying that goes, "When God closes a door, He opens a window." A window of opportunity opened when Heather attended a Decorative Painter's convention, and mingled with some well-known artists, who recommended she begin teaching painting events. She found a great resource, Deco Art Canada, a social artworking program for teaching in groups. When Heather offered her first painting party, she was amazed at the response. People were very receptive and excited about signing up for a class and meeting new people. Heather connected with the Women in Business Networking Group, and those women offered to be her first students. She started a Facebook page for Brushstrokes in Motion, and invited all of her friends to like the page. Heather has a booth at the Made in Huron Artisan Markets shop in Clinton, where she sells products such as her paints, brushes, and patterns. She has held classes there in the shop, as well as at the Legion and a few other locations. She also does custom paintings and her own creative paintings when she has the time. Recently, she and Pat went out to celebrate their anniversary, and Heather left a business card at Samuel's in Salfford. She got a call from the manager, and they decided to work together, setting up a Paint Night and Dinner Party, which sold out quickly. What a wonderful evening the participants will enjoy! Being in business for yourself is challenging at times. Heather said that she sometimes struggles with time management... she has a difficult time staying on track. An entrepreneur needs to learn to balance home life and business. In her job, working hours are often evenings and weekends, which may mean missing out on family gatherings. However, the satisfaction of doing what you love means that you learn to prioritize. Some beginning business owners might fear going from a steady income to not knowing what the income will be. Heather's advice? "Do what you love and the money will come!" She is certainly doing that! Brushstrokes in Motion 519-524-3358 heatheradejong@live.com What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Are there obstacles to overcome, especially if you're a woman going into business for yourself? Janet Billson is writing a series of articles about business women of Huron East, focusing on sole proprietors and entrepreneurs. Janet is the owner of a small business, Add Some Flair, and is passionate about using non-toxic, Canadian -made paint to transform ordinary objects in the home into extraordinary treasures that you love. She has furniture for sale in her store, and offers workshops that are fun and informative! www.addsomeflair.ca • 519-527-2682 43057 Winthrop Rd, Seaforth • info@addsomeflair.ca Way before Win This Space, not many thought an economic officer was needed A story of the municipality's first and only economic officer Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor With all the admirations linked to Jan Hawley and what she calls her "team," it's hard to believe that less than a decade earlier, very little of the munici- pality of Huron East was in favour of adding an economic officer to the payroll. It was about eight years ago, remarked Hawley as she stood behind a huge Win This Space sign that is plotted in the town hall of Seaforth. Long before the initiative of WTS hit the area by storm she had an established career as a project coordinator for a local land developer, a job that she had held for close to three decades. At its pinnacle with Hawley at the helm they built the first condominium development in Huron County. Despite all the success taking place around her, Hawley longed for a different occupation path and the potential job in Huron East sprung up. "I still don't how 1 was able to land the job, I actually applied for the position against young men with MBA's, they had just gradu- ated," Hawley remarked in the first week of October. Having the advantage of working in the private sector for such a long period of time, Hawley is confident that's what made her a prime candidate for Huron East's first-ever economic officer. The Mayor of Huron East Bernie MacLellan, said if they weren't the original party to hire a municipal employee of this capacity in Huron County, they defi- nitely were one of the first. "It was a bit of a risk and battle with council," - stated the Mayor of Huron East, Bernie MacLellan. An undertaking he admit- ted that nowadays has become a success story, however back then, the mayor said this was not an "easy sell," by any stretch. "It was a bit of a risk and battle with council," stated MacLellan. Seeing as this task may potentially be hazardous financially, the council still moved forward in adding this new position to the budget. As stated as soon as the position was granted, the municipal assemblage Huron -Perth Chi da -en's Aid Society .L.17 017+2 CA Le4.114n• NSA CA 114-2,11:44o Frr1R3'2$11J ®J.+ H 1413 x.. 1kr Ema.m t+Ii.t Ix: Jltiitl krw. The Huron -Perth Children's Aid Society is seeking potential community based Board members from the two counties with a variety of skills, backgrounds and experience that are over the age of 18 and who are able to commit to a three year term. Potential members of the Board of Directors are volunteers who can support the Vision, Mission and Values of the Society, are interested in advocating for the needs of children, and are committed to assisting the Society in its efforts to provide quality services for the children and families in Huron and Perth Counties. Interested persons are invited to contact Angela Simpson at 519-271-5290 ext. 2398 or visit the agency website at www.h-pcas.ca for more information regarding the application process. Application deadline is December 16, 2016 Our Vision is: SAFE CHILDREN. CONFIDENT YOUTH. RESILIENT ADULTS. Our Mission is: To advocate for and protect children's rights; to support and strengthen families; and to be leaders for positive change in our community ti • . 1 " • i • ' SIs11l(s] it is] 11 decided to give this five -years before seeing an "honest return" on their investment. It's 2016 and MacLellan said this has more than exceeded its expectations. "Jan has put so much leg work over the past few years, she can hardly keep up with the flow through that's com- ing back from all that work," said MacLellan. "Now she's adding these programs, Win This Space, she's adding so much businesses to the economy that she cannot stay on top of it?' "We keep wondering if she needs help:' Jim Fergusson, a council- lor for Huron County and a chair at the Huron Business Development Corporation met with Hawley and MacLellan in Seaforth to dis- cuss her success with the Expositor. "First of all at HBDC our purpose is to help entrepre- neurs make good things happen in Huon County," explained Fergusson. "So we were excited and very pleased to be asked to be a partner of Win This Space. He continued and said this fulfills his organization's mandate by creating value to the economy and it adds employment. With a resume including a national award from the Ontario Business Improve- ment Area Association in April of this year for Business Retention & Expansion Award and most recently winning the Community Economic Development Award from the Ontario Association Community Future Development Corpo- ration last September. The recent success of Win This Space has the community wondering just what is next for the economic officer. Whatever the plan is, MacLellan and Fergusson said they are more than will- ing to back her up in any type of enterprise. "I don't watch a clock; I don't start at a certain time or leave at a certain time, I work until my job is done, said Hawley. "My job has become my life"