When Jessica Chavez, a Lake Stevens mom of four with a keen eye for design, became interested in starting her own interior decorating business, she wasn’t sure where to begin. It was the summer of 2021 and people were still wary of getting together in person, but Chavez took a leap of faith and posted on her local moms Facebook page, offering a backyard dinner to anyone who would like to connect, network, and talk business.
“Twelve ladies showed up and it went really well,” Chavez said. “There were giggles and tears, celebration and inspiration, community and networking. It was apparent that the time had come where humans were ready to be together again.”
Unknowingly to Chavez, this spontaneous desire for growth and connection would lead to the beginning of BLOS, or Business Ladies of Society. While Chavez loved everything about that initial dinner in her yard, from the planning to the decorating to the hosting, she had no intention of doing it again. But after casually uploading some photos of the night, women chimed in, asking when they could expect the next get-together.
“I decided to do a second event and it was also great,” Chavez said. “So one event turned into two, two turned into three…and it’s just kept going from there.”
For the past three years, BLOS has focused on providing women in business with community and connection through various networking events and opportunities, ones that are always fun and engaging. In May, BLOS members learned how to create their own charcuterie boards from Smash Box Curated Grazing. Later in the summer, they celebrated BLOS’ three-year anniversary with a Flamingo Glam Birthday Bash. At these events, women within the organization are given the opportunity to share or showcase their talents while simultaneously marketing their business.
“Many women join because they know they’re coming to be with like-minded women, but I don’t think that’s why people stay,” Chavez said. “There is a comradery that comes with it. We are investing in each other’s lives.”
BLOS’ biggest event is their annual conference, hosting more than 150 women from all over the region. This year’s conference will be held at Hotel Indigo, Everett Waterfront from September 28-29. The theme is “powHER up” and features two days of networking, inspirational presentations, interactive workshops, vendors, and more. The keynote speakers will be Ellen Yin, who is Mrs. Oregon 2024, host of Top 10 Business Podcast “Cubicle to CEO” and Miracle Olantunji, owner of the women’s wellness community “Crunch & Brunch” and author of “Purpose: How to Live and Lead with Impact.”
Attendees will also get to choose from three breakout sessions featuring a talk from Erin Ennis, owner of Energy Exteriors NW, titled “Thriving Together: Community and Resources for Women Entrepreneurs” focusing on small business administration, grant opportunities, and different business associations, a course from Moni Giles, owner of Evolve with Moni LLC, titled “No Ugly Friends: Attracting R.A.R.E Friends That Don’t Frustrate Your Future,” in which you’ll learn how to retain friendships and relationships that support and grow your business, and a session from Megan Gillespie, founder of Olympia Boss Society, titled “Stepping Into Your Role as CEO” where she’ll explain why energy is key to productivity and ways to maximize it, along with strategic task prioritization and delegation and how to discover the kind of CEO you want to be.
Chavez said this event is not what women normally think of when they think of a business conference, explaining there’s no reason to underestimate Snohomish County when it comes to a large networking event. Her goal is to bring the same high level of energy that big city conferences offer while staying true to Snohomish’s hometown feel.
“This is not your mama’s business conference,” said Chavez. “It’s a whole experience, and no detail is overlooked.”
Those details, combined with the opportunity to encourage the women in her community, are what Chavez thrives on. Growing up as a cheerleader and then going on to coach her own daughter, Chavez explained that the whole emphasis of cheerleading is to be a team player and support the people around you – she views her role now the same way.
“BLOS isn’t about me or what I do,” Chavez said. “It’s about women getting their businesses recognized, giving them an opportunity to showcase what they do, their skills, and their strengths. BLOS is a place where you show up as your authentic self, help one another, and focus on community and connection over competition.”
For more information about BLOS or to purchase tickets to their upcoming conference, visit https://www.bloswa.com/'.
“BLOS isn’t about me or what I do, it’s about women getting their businesses recognized"