I am Heather, the founder, President and acting CEO of Women’s Source and Minnesota Women’s Source, a Women’s Source Community Showcase.

I was born and raised in small town Minnesota.  I grew up in the same town that my grandparents and dad did and had the great opportunity to grow up living a block away from my grandparents.  I moved to the Twin Cities at the age of 14 and was lucky enough to experience all of the programs and opportunities of a bigger high school.  I was very active in the music program, playing the flute since the age of 10, and active in other school organizations and activities.

My first child, Brittney, was born in November of 1996.  I was a single parent for the first year of her life while working full time and attending school for fashion merchandising, retail management and some interior design.  I met my husband, Jeff, in March of 1997 and we were married in August of 1999.  He has been a wonderful father to my Brittney since she was only a few months old.  We have four wonderful boys, Jacob, Zachary, Nicholas and Benjamin. 

Jeff is an Electrical Engineer, PE.  He graduated from the University of North Dakota.  We are huge Sioux hockey fans!  Our boys all play hockey and Brittney plays soccer.  We are very involved in our children’s activities as well as making sure they are excelling in school.  I home school for preschool and we supplement the children’s learning with “Mom Assignments” once a week. 

I worked as a teen in retail fashion and worked my way up the ranks eventually holding management positions for Braun’s Fashions (many locations), Gymboree (at the Mall of America) and holding a co-manager position for Limited Too (at the Mall of America).  I made the decision to become a stay at home mom while pregnant with my second child.

I always had the dream of owning my own business!  I started my gift basket business, Special Day Creations, in 2000.  I had a wonderful run with Special Day doing custom, handmade baskets.  I closed Special Day Creations officially in 2006 but still do a basket here and there for a few clients.  I started concentrating on Special Home Creations in 2004, making custom home décor.  I would make custom sets including wall plates, lamp shades, throw pillows, curtains along with anything else needed for a room.  I had wonderful fun and great success with Special Home Creations creating some wonderful sets for nurseries and bedrooms.  I went away from doing this full time in 2007 (although I still do take orders here and there) when I got the idea for Women’s Source.

Women’s Source is a passion of mine.  It came about from my experiences of a business owner and work at home mom – I so wished I had resources available to me when I wasn’t sure what to do first or next!  I thought of how wonderful it would have been to have the support of other women who were in my shoes and the knowledge of women who had already been where I was.  Women’s Source was born out of the true desire I have to help other women, watch other women succeed and to learn from other women who have had experiences I have not.  I am fortunate enough to have a husband and family that are totally supportive of what I do, are there to cheer me on and who are willing to roll up their sleeves and help when needed.  Women’s Source would not be where it is without the help of my husband and my business partner Cheri.  Along the way we have added some awesome women to our team who bring their own flair and talents to the table – they are all indispensable- I would not be where I am without them.

Along the way I also developed my passion for web design.  I worked countless hours learning and practicing until I got to the point of opening Squiggles and Giggles Web Design.  I now create web sites, logos and other graphics for small businesses and women in business.  It has been a fun, rewarding challenge and I truly love it!

I have always had a creative mind and love to be working on one project after another.  I am a published poet, an author of short stories and business materials.  I love to sew, paint or do anything creative with interior design.  I have a passion for all music; I almost went to school to become an elementary music teacher.  I am a lifelong Mickey Mouse collector – the “ears” are everywhere in my house!  I have a huge love of animals.  I am a big believer in large families.  I love to be active in my community and my church.  I am a hockey mom and a soccer mom.  I am devoted to my family and passionate about my business. 

My journey has not always been easy, I have had to endure many bumps and road blocks but I could not have asked for a more exciting path!  I truly am doing what I love and what I feel I was meant to do.  My life is busy and sometimes even moves at a frantic pace but I have been blessed in so many ways and can not complain about any of it!