Within the Arvada community, many amazing women innovatively head successful businesses while balancing busy family and personal lives. This month, we are spotlighting 10 local women who are making a difference by sharing what they are passionate about, what and who inspires them, and why they believe it is important for women to take on leadership roles.
Lori Abbey, Founder/Real Estate Agent, The Abbey Collection at Compass
Real estate agent and founder of The Abbey Collection, Lori Abbey, knows the importance of keeping a great balance in life. “My team and I are really fun people who have a good time, but we're very professional, and experienced, and we take our craft seriously,” she shared. “With everything we do, if there is a best practice and better way to do it, that’s what we do.”
One of the things she loves most about her career in real estate is the ability to prioritize family amid business. “Although my schedule isn’t super flexible, I can schedule important family activities and then schedule my meetings around them,” shared Abbey. “I stay very busy, but it’s nice to be able to keep family time as a priority.”
Early in her career, Abbey had several female mentors to guide and encourage her. Now, she provides that same support for those growing their careers. “A lot of the women on my team are single moms or relatively young and I want to give them the same opportunity that somebody gave me,” she said. “I want to help them achieve the level of success that is important to them and be all that they want to be.”
Dr. Candace Canerdy, Acupuncturist, Inspired Wellness Center
For Dr. Candace Canerdy, working with patients is the culmination of a lifetime of interest in the human body, medicine, and art. “I love interacting with people and seeing that just as no two fingerprints are the same, no two humans are the same,” she shared. “I also love to see the shift happen when someone begins to heal, and oftentimes, that happens fairly quickly.”
After attending art school in college, Canerdy still felt the pull of Eastern philosophy and medicine and the multidimensional aspects of the mind-body-spirit connection. As a result, she went back to school and earned her doctorate through the Integrated Studies Program at Pacific College of Health and Sciences before joining the team at Inspired Wellness. In light of her own journey, Canerdy encourages women to be bold and pursue their goals and dreams.
“In my opinion, it’s super important for women to step into their power as the divine feminine and to embrace those gifts of healing, love, strength, and power,” she said. “So keep being inspired, find those little parts that you’re passionate about, and embrace those parts of yourself.”
Keri Fox, General Manager, Luke’s, A Steak Place
Keri Fox enjoys being part of the 30-plus year legacy that is the family atmosphere at Luke’s. “I love connecting with our regular guests, watching their kids grow, celebrating special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries with them, and getting to know people who keep coming back because it’s their favorite restaurant,” she shared.
She also appreciates the professionalism and support demonstrated by the entire staff. “For many of us, the service industry is our chosen profession and we take our jobs seriously,” she said. “We’re a very close-knit group who help each other out and our team is family. I really love that about my job.”
Fox has several strong female influences in her life who inspire her to be confident in her role as a woman in the business world. “I was raised by my mother and my two grandmothers who were all very independent women and leaders in their fields,” said Fox. “Pat McGrew, who owns Luke’s along with her son Jonathan, is also an inspiration. She’s in her 60s, stays busy, travels abroad frequently, and runs a business. It’s phenomenal and something to aspire to.”
Dr. Ana Haupt, Board Certified Oral Surgeon, Avos Dental Specialists
Whether the procedure is simple or complex, Dr. Ana Haupt enjoys giving each of her patients a fresh start and a beautiful, pain-free smile. “I love the transformative aspect of not only getting people out of pain but also giving people new confidence,” she shared.
She also enjoys the medical aspect of what she does daily, not solely the cosmetic. “I like thinking through how the full body relates to the mouth, the communication between diseases, and problem-solving ways to get people out of pain that also solves issues that correspond to their whole body,” she explained.
As a wife, mother, and professional, Haupt understands the challenges of balancing multiple roles, but she still believes that women have so much to offer in the business world as well as within the family. “Women are very detail-oriented and have an innate sense of compassion,” she said. “I feel like those particular qualities make for very good business owners who can run successful businesses. I believe that we, as women, owe it to future generations to keep pushing the envelope and to open up doors so if someone wants the opportunity to do something, they have it.
Dr. Julie Henderson, Chiropractor, New Dawn Chiropractic & Acupuncture
Dr. Julie Henderson finds joy in working with patients to achieve healthy, fulfilling lives by treating subluxation, which is the misalignment of the vertebra in the spine. This misalignment causes a disruption between the brain and body, and it blocks the ability of the brain to help the body to heal.
“We're not the typical chiropractic office that focuses simply on neck and back pain. For us, it is about teaching people to do something different to be better versions of themselves,” she explained. “It’s amazing watching the miracles that happen in the office every day. When people get adjusted, it makes their bodies work better so they heal from things that they never would have thought possible.”
Like many other women business owners, Dr. Henderson pursued her passion which, in turn, became a career. “Women don’t open businesses necessarily for the income, but for the ability to help other people, and I think that is inspiring,” she said. “I love that Arvada Lifestyle is putting an article together with all of these strong, powerful women … that’s how I see the women on this list, as strong, powerful women who aren’t afraid to take chances.”
Katie Kessler, Co-Owner, Real Estate Agent, The Carroll-Kessler Team
An Arvada native and third-generation real estate agent, Katie Kessler and her husband, Jordan, continue a family legacy of serving people and being part of their real estate goals. “We love the real estate portion of what we do, but what matters most are the relationships created with the people we help,” she shared. “We are so appreciative of those who welcome us on their home journey where they start as clients and by the end, they are friends.”
Following in the footsteps of her parents who provide inspiration and support, Kessler wants to encourage others. “As a business owner and a mother, I want to set an example for my children and other women that they are capable of achieving greatness no matter what their adventure may be,” she said. “It’s important to give it your all, always be a kind person, surround yourself with the right people, and challenge yourself on a daily basis.”
Kessler also encourages people to live life with a purpose greater than oneself. “Every day is not promised and how you live your life matters,” she added. “Your daily choices, actions, and how you treat people are important. A true simple act of kindness can go a long way.”
Liz Matovina, Business Manager, Arvada Flooring + Interiors
Liz Matovina works in a company predominately run by women, yet she understands the balance of everyone working together in pursuit of a common goal: Creating beautiful spaces for people to enjoy. “Women have a lot to offer and have been in the background for quite a long time observing what’s going on in the business world,” she said. “We have the ability to multitask and to see things from a more compassionate perspective, but Arvada Flooring + Interiors only works because of all the people who are involved.”
“We all have a very important function and work as a unit to assist people in realizing their dreams and visions,” Matovina said. She also advocates investing in future generations, and as she enters the “twilight season” of her career, she said has shifted her focus more towards pouring into her family, which includes seven grandchildren.
“I think that the more support the younger generation has from the older generation, and the more we make ourselves available to them, they become better people,” she shared. “It’s important to teach them how to maneuver in the world, especially balancing a life with God, family, and work. I think that’s the best investment one can have in the community.”
Jenny Mears, Owner, Arvada Barre
Through group fitness, Jenny Mears found an outlet for her passion for providing a welcoming and empowering place for women to experience community. In 2023, Mears took over ownership of Arvada Bar with the aim of taking the business to the next level. “It has been a little hidden gem,” she said. “We're really trying to showcase what we have to offer and bring this type of community and connection to women in Arvada.”
People commonly ask if Arvada Barre offers a class for beginners. “Although there is not a beginner class, we always provide modifications for those who have not done barre before,” she explained. “We try to hone in on what is needed for each individual to help them train and feel good about themselves in a safe and accepting environment.”
Mears also actively advocates for women following their calling. “Women can do anything,” she shared. “I think women in today's society have so many challenges, but we are meant to thrive! So to be able to have a safe place for women, where they can look forward to coming and being with all of us here and our amazing team, there is nothing like it in the world.”
Loren Naftz, Owner/Baker, Rheinlander Bakery
In 2021, Loren Naftz and her husband, Luke, took on the responsibility and honor of continuing a 60-year delicious legacy of the Rheinlander Bakery. Naftz, who enjoys working with her hands, creates traditional European and American-inspired pastries and goodies, including delicacies that are vegan, dairy-free, and sugar-free to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy a treat.
One specific tradition Naftz continues at the bakery is the family-oriented atmosphere. “Our kids are around the bakery a lot,” she said. “Maro and Ed Dimmer, the previous owners, felt very strongly that women should not be pushed out of the workplace because they have kids. When my first son was born, they were dedicated to restructuring my responsibilities so that he could come to work with me a few days a week. So, customers have been able to watch him grow up and help out around the bakery.”
As a female business owner, Naftz hopes she is an encouragement to others by showing that women can balance family and business. “There’s still a lot of inequity in society worldwide,” she shared. “So it’s important for younger generations to see women stepping up into leadership roles and blazing the trail to set those bars a little bit higher.”
Alyssa Rossi, Owner, AdiLuna Boutique
Three words that resonate with Alyssa Rossi are connection, community, and creativity. All three are front and center in her recently rebranded AdiLuna Boutique in Olde Town, which has expanded to include unique clothing and gift options from local vendors in addition to items for babies and children. “I hand curate a variety of women's clothing, jewelry, artwork, ceramics, plants, candles, and unique gift items,” shared Rossi. “The vibe emulates my style, but also that of the community, because so much of it is locally handcrafted.”
Rossi, who is also a local realtor, enjoys being part of the movement of women-owned businesses. “I think women have a unique ability to foster strong community connections and create change,” she said. “There is something about the energy and vibe that women-owned businesses offer to small communities like Arvada, and providing a space for local artisans to share their creative and unique handcrafted items helps create a stronger community connection.”
She knows that being a business owner can be challenging but finds encouragement from the community and in the power of positive thinking. “It always comes down to your attitude, how you approach every day and each situation,” she explained. “Approaching things with positivity, and always remembering that a smile goes a long way.”
