Wise working women

Several veteran southwest Missouri businesswomen shared their experiences and their collective business knowledge during the Women Entrepreneur Panel Discussion.

The panel included Patti Penny of Penmac Personnel Services; Jennifer Huxley of Telec Inc.; Cindy Ussery-Hood of The Country Hearth and Tea Garden Café in Bolivar; Tricia Derges of Mostly Memories in Ozark; and Hallie Sale of WineStyles.

The women agreed on this advice: Develop a strong working relationship with an accountant, an attorney and a banker.

From there, Penmac founder and owner Penny said that business success is based, in part, on desire and risk.

“Do what you know best,” she said, a sentiment echoed by Country Hearth owner Ussery-Hood, who offered the following advice: “Do what you love, and love what you want to do.”

Huxley, president of Springfield communications company Telec, offered an additional bit of wisdom.

“Persistence is key,” she said. “I’m like a Chihuahua – I clamp onto something and I don’t let go.”