Breaking Ground & Breaking Ceilings

Panel Discussion at UNF University Center on December 8, 2009

Story via Susan Brandenburg

The legendary corporate glass ceiling is cracking. Tuesday’s panel discussion at UNF’s University Center featuring four of Florida’s leading female CEO’s was testimony to that fact. The lively panel consisted of Mary Tappouni, President of Breaking Ground Contracting Company, Teresa Meares, CEO of DGG Taser & Tactical Supply, Inc., Teresa K. Myers, CEO of Myers-Seth Pump, Inc., and Desiree Forgione, President of The Christopher Company. Each of the impressive panelists is a highly respected leader in the traditionally male dominated industries of building, manufacturing and contracting.

The well-attended panel discussion was facilitated by Beaver Street Enterprise Center (BSEC), SCORE, SBA, Jacksonville Women’s Business Center, UNF’s Small Business Center, and sponsored by the First Coast Business Alliance and Fifth Third Bank.

Panelists openly shared savvy insights regarding their motivation, challenges, and basic business philosophies. A native of Vietnam and one of 12 children, Teresa Myers said she was inspired by her mother’s entrepreneurial spirit and courage. Teresa Meares attributed her success to keeping it simple, staying strong and doing the right thing. Desiree Forgione, in answer to a query from Tanya Douglas, President of Alliance Business Consultants, Inc. about the all-consuming nature of business ownership, advised “You’ve got to take some personal time or you’ll perish.” Forgione also talked of receiving “gifts from God” in the form of good people who stuck by her during this recent economic downturn. “Truly, when you do the right things, people respect you and the money comes,” said Mary Tappouni, whose company focuses on green construction and educating citizens about environmentally friendly practices.

Fifth Third Bank took advantage of the entrepreneurial event to present a $2,000 check to Beaver Street Enterprise Center in support of future educational programs. Fifth Third Bank’s Assistant Vice President Kevin Mackiewicz told the audience that Fifth Third actively supports small business development in the community and has recently partnered with Beaver Street by bringing their mobile banking van to the Center. “We look forward to continued involvement with the BSEC Incubator and its educational outreach,” said Mackiewicz.

One of the approximately 50 attendees at the event was Rebecca Walden, President of First Coast Signs, Inc., who opened her company just last month. “As a brand new business owner, I was inspired,” said Walden. “What I took away was that I’m not alone. The challenges and hard work are indisputable and I’ll be drinking from the fire hose for some time to come, but there is promise and great satisfaction in owning my own business.”

“We’re grateful to Fifth Third Bank for their generous support and to all of our many resource partners who made this event possible,” said Jackie Perry. “We hope to facilitate more entrepreneurial events like this for the woman business owners in our community. With the caliber of female business leaders gathered at this event, it’s obvious the glass ceiling is fast becoming a thing of the past.”

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