Lorain women gather to network, support

Women Business Owners Network of Lorain County is a casual group

Fran Campana knows how to flow with the economic times.

With each market shift, Campana adapted and developed new skill sets. Thus her career evolved.

Now a licensed realtor, Campana further applied her adaptable work philosophy in 2000 to a need for a forum for women in business.

So she and others who shared the vision launched in 2001 Women Business Owners Network of Lorain County with a mailing address of 350 N. Leavitt Road, P.O. Box 1333, Amherst. And WBON is on the Web at www.wbonlorain. org.

Karen Cheshire, an office manager for 25 years at J&R Movers in Amherst, also serves as a contact person for WBON.

“We’re a real casual group,” Cheshire said, estimating about 10 women attend meetings at a time, but about 50 people remain on a roster. “We don’t have strict rules.”

Campana said she and other founders met a need for networking among women who on business launch rarely have extra cash to pay to a club.

“There are networking groups out there, but they will charge,” Campana said. “We wanted it to be more informal. We have meetings at a restaurant or at a business if someone has the space. If people know and like you, they will do business with you. People aren’t going to open up the (telephone book) and do business with you.”

For example, an accountant is a key support for a new business owner. A level of trust usually must be built before the business relationship is established, she said.

A recent local trend is increasing opportunities for women willing to open their own doors, she said.

“I’m 61 years old,” Campana said. “When I was growing up, you had about five things you could be: nurse, nun, teacher, (homemaker), and secretary. That was about it. Now people have more choices. As far as trends, it’s increasing. They’re in a better place. Back in the ‘40s and ‘50s, it was frowned upon if you were to do what we’re doing now. It’s just been getting better the last 15 years.”

In the 1990s, Campana owned her own secretarial business. But from about 1995 to 2000, people bought personal computers, she said.

“They didn’t need me any more,” Campana said. “My sister said I needed to reinvent myself. So I did. Now you don’t need a brick and mortar business. You can be from anywhere and do business anywhere in the world. Now they have virtual assistants. You send the person the stuff via email. They send it back to you, and you never see each other. That’s the present about secretarial service.”

Opportunities for women are “golden,” she said.

“I just think the sky’s the limit,” Campana said. “I think everybody is very fortunate these days.

“When people say they can’t find a job, it kind of annoys me,” Campana said. “There is stuff out there to do. You can make your own business. I’m a realtor now. Prior to that I was rehabbing houses. Prior to that I was working with a guy rehabbing houses. He took me under his wing. I have my real estate license. I rehabbed 18 homes. People have to be open and not afraid to try different things, and learn whatever they can.”

A youthful short attention span – a negative of sorts at work – she turned into a strength.

“I was always bored when I had a regular job,” Campana said. “I would be watching the clock. Then I started asking questions: ‘Oh, how do you do that?’ Like using a postal machine. Then when you are ready to move on, you are better off.”

Another virtually untapped resource in Lorain County is Service Corps of Retired Executives, she said, which operates an office at 319 Black River Lane in Lorain.

She advises contacting SCORE, a group of volunteer mentors, for business advice.

The goal is to find people who already succeeded in an area, to meet with them, ask questions and learn, she said.

“You have to think out of the box,” Campana said. “When I was doing resumes for people, I thought to myself, ‘Where are there people who need resumes?’ I would run an ad in the Morning Journal every week with help wanted ads. I got so much business from that.”

Networking groups also help a new person find openings, she said.

“When people are starting up, they don’t have much money for advertising,” Campana said. “But you have to spend money to make money.”

She also recommends Lorain County Community College, with deep resources for technology, inventions, and business networking.

Though small, WBON offers special speakers on business topics and peripheral areas related to business.

“I think that makes a person more well rounded,” Campana said. “The more helpful you are to your clients, that makes you more valued. That’s not something you can buy.”

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