On June 13th, Entrepreneur Ashley Butler sat down with local radio host Jamie Meloni on That Business Show with Jamie Meloni to discuss her success as a local business owner and how her involvement with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization has influenced her business career.
Ashley describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. As a local graduate of the University of South Florida, she discovered her desire to own a business and to give back to the community. At the age of 23, she became a franchise owner of a local business. She has become quite successful with her business and is breaking past the one-million-dollar mark. According to Forbes, only 2% of women owned businesses break the one-million-dollar mark. Ashley was looking for other business owners, specifically women, who could relate with her when she was introduced to the local Tampa Bay chapter of The Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
The Entrepreneurs Organization is a global network of entrepreneurs with 157 chapters in 48 countries. It was created for both men and women business leaders to enhance their businesses and learn to balance their personal lives. Ashley has been a part of the Tampa Bay chapter for about a year and a half. She began her membership as the Integration Chair and as of July 1 she will become the Forum Chair.
The forum experience for members is “the heartbeat” of the organization. It allows a place for diverse entrepreneurs to speak freely and share their experiences and in return gain support from other entrepreneurs. Learning how to communicate her successes, struggles, and questions to other entrepreneurs has helped her engage and connect within The Entrepreneurs Organization.
Not only has she been able to connect and network within the organization, she has learned how to look at her life as a whole. There must be work life balance and owning your own business can make that balance difficult. The Entrepreneurs Organization recognizes that common struggle and strives for their members to become fully well rounded in their business and personal life.
The Entrepreneurs Organization of Tampa Bay currently has about 25 members and their goal is to add two more forums to the chapter. They are looking to add to their chapter and always encourage local entrepreneurs to join.
For more information, find information about events and the process to membership by visiting their website.
