Chandler’s Karen Nowicki launched herself into the world of entrepreneurship when she woke her husband one night and informed him she was going to leave her corporate job the next day.

By combining her love of writing and a certificate in family coaching, Karen began a business that organizes retreats for mothers and daughters to come closer together through journaling and quality time.

She took her newfound drive, marketed herself as a family wellness expert, wrote a book and started contributing to publications and television and radio shows.

Last year, she won the first Mom Entrepreneur of the Year competition put on by The Mom-e Club. This year’s winner will be honored Saturday in Mesa.

Leaving her job as vice president of an educational group and becoming an entrepreneur, Karen says, was a dream come true. And she readily offers advice to other moms looking to make that leap.

“What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Really knowing you have value to add, whether you want to do a brick and mortar business, multilevel marketing or have a service to offer. I don’t think it matters what you choose as long as you know you have something to give, and something to share, that you’ll stop at nothing to put out there,” she said.

Karen did take a leap back into the educational field late last year when a dream job opened to direct a preschool, where she could also bring her young child, but she hopes to get more retreats going soon.

Tisha Marie Pelletier, founder of The Mom-e Club, started the “Mompreneur” of the Year event to honor fellow self-starters and combine her skills as an event planner (she owns Simply Put Marketing and Details Event Management) with her passion to help other moms get their businesses started.

“Mom-e Club … has grown tremendously throughout the Valley, but is also spreading to other parts of the nation. I know more mom entrepreneurs are seeking this type of support and therapy, too, to connect on a deeper level with moms that get them,” she says.

Because of that support and connection, there is a misconception that mom entrepreneurs “feel alone,” but they’re not, she says.

“There are so many networking organizations, including mine, that really help encourage them, support them and educate them on how to run their business. Successful mom entrepreneurs need to realize they can’t do it alone and help is just around the corner. All they need to do is ask,” Tisha says. “This event is an eye opener to all in attendance that mom entrepreneurs do it day in, day out without complaints or the gratitude they deserve some days. It’s time to applaud these women and give them a pat on the back.”

• Contact writer: (480) 898-6549 or mreese@evtrib.com

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