Home Business Champ of Wisconsin

Filed in archive home business people on April 12, 2007

Helping others succeed in their endeavors is such a rewarding feat that not only many would find self-fulfilling but award-worthy, too. Kudos to those who although are faced with the hustle and bustle of their own businesses can still find time to help others grow their enterprise.

The Small Business Administration of Wisconsin has recognized the volunteering efforts of Maggie Foote, who has managed to give time to helping out others who are struggling to make their home businesses and women-owned businesses take off.

"Foote has served as president and in other board member roles for the Eau Claire Women's Network (a nonprofit business group) many times between 1982 and 2006. She helped organize and lead the Chippewa Valley Women Entrepreneurs organization during the 1990s and was the second coordinator of the Eau Claire's Women's Network, which had approximately 120 members at the time of her leadership.

She was instrumental in the chartering of the Friends of the Red Cedar Trail and has continued to volunteer her help to that organization. Foote is currently serving on the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce leadership program curriculum committee as the arts, culture and tourism chair

Her forte is not one of policy development nor financial/business planning. When describing what she "does," Foote said she is a concierge because she enjoys "the challenge of matching people's needs and interests with experiences."

Some of those matches include performing as a coffeehouse singer, bringing songs to her audiences; as a copywriter, establishing links between clients and their customers through the written word; as a community member, welcoming the opportunity to share her talents with other women seeking networking possibilities; and providing a satisfying experience to customers when she worked in restaurant management. Foote currently has two active businesses.

She owns two home-based businesses. Foote operates the Oaklawn Bed and Breakfast, located on the outskirts of Menom-onie, where she is on-site innkeeper; and she works as a marketing consultant serving clients that include regional independent medical clinics and healthcare professionals and other small businesses.

Foote also finds time for free lance writing projects for regional publications focusing on tourism and health/wellness related topics.

As SBA's Wisconsin Home Based Business Champion, Foote was judged on her volunteering of time and energy to improve conditions for home-based businesses; her entrepreneurial training, policy development efforts, or financial or business planning specifically tailored for home-based businesses; her demonstrated interest in home based-business as an owner; and her measurable accomplishments in advancing home-based businesses such as initiating public policy or expansion of a program.

Foote is truly a champion for small business through her continued and untiring efforts in assisting small business owners in various different ways.

She will be honored at the SBA/SCORE awards presentation breakfast on Friday, June 1 at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha.

For more information on the awards breakfast, contact Mary Trimmier at (414) 297-1093 or e-mail her at mary.trimmier@sba.gov."

via DunConnect