Talking business: Women to share stories
GENESEE COUNTY
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

GENESEE COUNTY - Women interested in starting their own business are encouraged to attend two panel discussions in honor of Women's History month, say organizers of the discussions.

Women entrepreneurs will share stories of how they took the leap into starting a business, said Pat Peterson, director of support services for the Genesee District Library, which operates 18 branches and is a sponsor and organizer of the events.

At 2 p.m. Saturday at GDL headquarters, 4195 W. Pasadena Ave., Flint Township, Raynetta Speed, vice chairwoman of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, D-Flint, will moderate a panel including:

SaRyne L. Byers-Johnson, owner of Jewel-SaRyn Inc., a beauty salon in Flint Township.

Phyllis Hairston, a Ford production systems coordinator and past owner of a maid service.

Linnell McKenney of Grand Blanc, a Flint Journal columnist and co-director of the New Direction Youth Program in Flint. She was the first Flint woman to play professional basketball.

Chantale L. Williams of Flint, a romance novelist who writes under the pen name W. Lynn Chantale.

Details: (810) 732-0110.

A second panel is slated for 6:30 p.m. March 18 at the Winegarden Library, 200 E. Caroline St., Fenton. Former Mayor Patricia Lockwood, a former state representative who now is Michigan's emerald ash borer policy director, and will moderate the panel, which includes:

Laura Carpenter, owner of Little Professor Book Center in Fenton.

Diane Coleman, owner of Fenton Basket Co.

Penny Fausey, a certified public accountant and principal with the Fausey & Associates accounting firm in Fenton.

Betty Huotari, a professional organizer and owner of Logical Placement in Tyrone Township.

Tracey Howard, owner of Jump 'n' Play Gym in Fenton.

Linda Houston, owner of Houston Photography in Tyrone Township, which specializes in environmental photography.

Nan Witzgall, owner of Cardinal's Nest Scrapbooks in Fenton.

Details: (810) 629-7612.

Refreshments will be served at the panels, which are co-sponsored by Comcast Cable.

- Melissa Burden

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© 2005 Flint Journal. Used with permission