It may be cliche' to say that you can accomplish literally anything you put your mind to, but a quartet of incredibly strong women proved to a full house at the Shadowland Ballroom at Silver Beach Center today there is definitive truth in that message. In fact, perhaps the strongest message in today's Women's Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance networking forum may have been, "Don't wait for the perfect alignment to move on your dreams, because that moment may never come."
That was the advice of Marydawn Taggart, the fiery owner of Maddog 5/1: Revolutionary Fitness, whose meteoric rise is almost legendary in Michigan's Great Southwest. She was joined in a panel discussion with Jamie Kastelic, who founded Spero-Hope and Jayme Cousins, owner and operator of the Mason Jar diner in the Benton Harbor Arts District. The panel was themed, "It's All About Strength," and there is enough strength in those three women to surpass many people's wildest dreams.
For Jayme and Jamie, persistent personal health issues led to amazing self-discoveries through reams of research seeking solutions to the issues that were ailing them. Jamie Kastelic is a breast cancer survivor who battled fiercely and crafted her own all-natural hygiene products to overcome issues that were the direct result of over-the-counter products that were literally failing her and compounding her problems. It was a push by Jamie's own sister to sell her natural products to others that launched an empire that is growing exponentially and now making its way onto store shelves at mainstream retailers.
Jayme Cousins told of the food-related issues she encountered that were keeping her in ill-health until she delved deeply into the make up of the food she was eating. Unable to obtain the quantity and quality of healthy foods to reverse her health problems, Jayme opted instead to establish a diner that would serve such foods to help not only herself but the hundreds of others like her searching fruitlessly for such options. Her Mason Jar restaurant has been booming since the day she opened.
For Taggart, moving 8 times in a short period for the corporate world proved to be the push that turned into a shove. That, and a group of young women in a spin class she was teaching who she overheard calling her "that older lady" as their instructor. She was horrified to be seen in that light and vowed that would be the door opener to what has become an amazing run for Maddog 5/1: Revolutionary Fitness which is now five years old, having doubled in size twice and relocated last year to St. Joseph.
The inspirational stories the trio of powerhouse women shared with the audience today was punctuated by the keynote address of Western Michigan University Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard who came in from Kalamazoo to cap the day with a motivational speech that also reinforced the day's message that "you can do whatever you set your mind to."
Beauregard is into her 20th year at the helm of the university's athletics programs and sounded every bit the "coach," reminding audience members that everyone needs to have an entrepreneurial spirit. She told them, "You have to believe in yourself. Whatever you do, believe in it…strive for it…and success will be yours."
Beauregard grew up in a family of three girls and was the one her dad turned to to play catch and other sports, always encouraging her to "quite throwing like a girl." He was a banker and helped fire the passion in her. She told the crowd, "I love what I do, and we do this for the student athlete's experience." Her run has certainly not come without the myriad challenges, not the least of which is serving under five different university presidents during her tenure to date, and they're looking for another one now. She cited the long hours, and the lessons learned along the way.
"Change can be really scary…but it can also be the biggest opportunity you ever face," Beauregard told the field of entrepreneurs in the audience. She admits that she took a huge risk, instead of the easy route when it came to hiring her new football coach, calling it a "true game changer." He's now 3-and-0, and the AD believes that when you take high risk there's the strong option for high reward. She cautioned her audience to "never change away from your moral compass."
Saying that she enjoys pie, she works to fashion her life into the pie mold by designating "individual slices for family, for friends and cherished colleagues, for exercise & diet, for religion, and other of the most important things in your life." She then quickly adds, "If your job is consuming three-quarters of your pie, it might be time to make an adjustment, and reallocate the slices."
The Women's Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance hosted the event, Celebrating the Entrepreneur in All of Us." The networking, luncheon, and panel discussion is an annual session that was traditionally emceed by the late Denise Bohn, whose role was filled today by her colleague from Mid-West Family Broadcasting, Zack East.
In the photo above are (left to right) Marydawn Taggart, Jamie Kastelic, and Jayme Cousins. Show below is a photo of Kathy Beauregard, followed a picture of the full-house audience. A full video of the event is below the photos.
