Lisa Carmichael
For Lisa Carmichael, community isn’t an abstract idea. It’s the engine behind everything she builds. As a fractional chief marketing officer (CMO), she has learned that her greatest impact comes from helping others step into their own potential. “The more I help people, the bigger difference it makes for me, for them, and for my family,” she shared.
That contribution-first mindset didn’t come easily. For years, she worried about overgiving, about people picking her brain or leaning too heavily on her time. It took a conscious shift to move from protecting her energy to embracing that helping others is where she feels most aligned.
Launching her fractional CMO business clarified what she has to offer: strategy, structure, and a trusted partner for small businesses that want to rise above the noise. Many of her clients are entrepreneurs caught in the daily grind. They’re running operations, serving customers, juggling countless tasks, and marketing inevitably falls to the bottom of the list. Lisa brings a fresh lens, stepping outside their day-to-day to identify gaps, strengthen brand presence, and build systems that create lasting momentum.
Her community leadership deepened even further with the Glass Ceiling Foundation, which she describes as “eye-opening and awakening.” It showed her she could reach people on a deeper level, helping them find confidence in their voices and their business goals.
For Lisa, legacy isn’t about what happens years from now. It’s about what she builds in the present moment with the people right in front of her. She meets clients where they are, giving them a clear process, a thoughtful plan, and the reassurance that they don’t need to figure everything out alone.
To support local entrepreneurs, she offers a free 30-minute strategy session through her website, helping business owners pinpoint their marketing gaps and chart a path forward. It’s a path that keeps them connected, confident, and rooted in community. Learn more at https://lisarcarmichael.com/.
Tracie Munce
When Tracie Munce and her business partner opened Eagan Arms Public House, she knew she was building a landing place. What she didn’t yet know was how deeply it would shape her sense of community in the south metro area. Most of her network had been rooted in Minneapolis through Merlin’s Rest, and moving into a new community meant starting over socially. “All of my friends were at least a phone call away or a plane ride away,” she said.
Then came a message from local entrepreneur Lisa Carmichael, asking if Tracie would consider hosting gatherings for female business owners. Tracie calls it “an answer to my prayers.” The idea aligned perfectly with her desire to surround herself with powerhouse women who were also seeking connection. From that first gathering, she felt something shift. She began meeting women who were committed to growth, authenticity, and lifting each other up—exactly the environment she wanted to cultivate.
Today, those gatherings have become a meaningful part of Tracie’s life. She shows up not only as a business owner, but as a woman dedicated to her own personal evolution. Her goals reflect that commitment. She speaks openly about her plan to live to be 120. It’s not as a whimsical idea, but as a mindset focused on nourishing her mind, body, and spirit. She’s learning to trust her instincts, pursue her dream of moving to Europe, and surround herself with people who encourage her to live wholeheartedly.
For women new to Eagan, Tracie has a simple message: Just show up. Step into the room, even if you’re nervous. “Once you're in the room, know that you belong,” she said. The community of women gathering in Eagan is built on curiosity, empathy, and celebration. Every woman has a story, and they want to hear yours, too.
Nichole Munce
For Nichole Munce, business and community have always been intertwined. Her first venture, Merlin’s Market, was born during the isolation of COVID. It was a time when people were desperately craving comfort, familiarity, and the flavors that reminded them of home.
Requests started pouring in for Merlin’s Rest favorites like pasties and minced pies, especially from former Minnesota residents who had moved away. “People find connection in food,” Nichole explained. “In the dishes their grandma used to make.” What began as a way to ship a few treats quickly expanded into a robust direct-to-consumer business. Today, thousands of minced pies reach customers each year, with California and Tennessee leading the way.
That experience lit a new spark. In 2024, Nichole began imagining a business she could call entirely her own. It combined creativity, problem-solving, and her knack for helping others succeed. By January 2025, Embers & Ash Co. became official. The business started with stationery, then evolved into wedding and event favors, keychains, magnets, tote bags, apparel, and more. Each expansion came from conversations with customers and fellow small business owners. Nichole listened, adapted, and created with intention.
What drives her isn’t the pursuit of huge profits; it’s the joy of connection. She loves partnering with fundraisers and community events, helping people find exactly what they didn’t know they needed. Her work allows her to express her creativity while giving back with one custom piece at a time.
Nichole sees every day as an opportunity to stretch, grow, and learn. “If I didn’t learn something new today, then really, what did I do?” she said with a smile. That continuous curiosity has become her business philosophy and her personal compass.
Whether she’s shipping a family’s favorite holiday treat across the country or creating keepsakes for a local event, Nichole sees her work as a way to connect people. To their memories, their celebrations, and most of all, to one another.
Just show up. Step into the room, even if you’re nervous. The community of women gathering in Eagan is built on curiosity, empathy, and celebration. Every woman has a story, and they want to hear yours, too.