Turning a passion into a thriving business takes more than just talent—it requires vision, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to growth. In our community, four women have done just that, transforming what they love into successful careers.
Amy Nielsen, one of the founders of Spenga, built a fitness brand that’s redefining the industry. Margie Janes turned her love of storytelling into a published author’s journey. Dr. Lauren Mansell empowers women through pelvic floor therapy, advocating for better health. And Shelby Koester, alongside her daughter, creates handcrafted jewelry that tells a story.
Their journeys prove that with dedication and heart, passion can become profit—and purpose.
SPENGA is a unique workout that combines the three pillars of fitness—cardio, strength, and flexibility. Each session includes 20 minutes of cardio on spin bikes, 20 minutes of strength training with TRX straps, dumbbells, battle ropes, and body weight, and finishes with 20 minutes of yoga flow, leaving you stronger in more ways than one.
Founded by Amy Nielsen and Heather Ruff, SPENGA began in Mokena and has now expanded to over 60 studios nationwide. This June, the Mokena location celebrates 10 years of changing lives, building community, and giving back. SPENGA has also partnered with Well-Choices, a holistic nutrition therapy service, and launched its first studio with red light therapy.
Amy’s advice for women wanting to start a business? “You have to be ready to go all in and put in the work. Being a woman is kind of like a superpower! It won’t be easy, but when the idea is brought to life, the juice is worth the squeeze.”
Amy’s passion isn’t just for herself—it’s for her incredible team and the hundreds of members she sees every week. “Helping people become the best version of themselves is the biggest success I’ll ever accomplish.”
Margie Janes has always been a writer, starting her novel series at just thirteen years old. "I didn’t anticipate sending my story out into the world," she recalls, but encouragement from friends and a chance encounter with local author Shirley Guendling helped her take the leap. With Shirley’s guidance, Margie found an editor and publisher, leading to the release of True Companion, an Amazon best-seller, followed by its sequel, True Promise.
Margie’s biggest lesson in publishing? "Your novel isn’t going to sell itself." The hard work of marketing, connecting with readers, and promoting her books at events requires constant effort and passion. She also faced challenges finding time to write amid life’s demands, but once her children were older, she carved out the time to focus.
Her advice to women entrepreneurs: "Connect with others who share your ambitions" and build a plan. Looking ahead, Margie has big dreams—creating a third book in her series, producing audiobooks, and even writing a children’s series. She hopes her books bring enjoyment to readers and inspire others to chase their dreams, proving that everyone has something valuable to share.
Dr. Lauren Mansell's decision to open Chez Therese Specialty Therapies stemmed from a desire to bring high-quality, specialized care closer to her community. "I worked at academic centers downtown, paying for parking just to treat patients from the south and west suburbs," she explains. Realizing there was a need for accessible specialty care closer to home, she made the bold decision to leave hospital care and open her own clinic, a move she’s grateful for every day.
One of the biggest challenges Dr. Mansell faced was navigating the business side of things. "I love being a clinician, but a business person I am not," she admits. Learning the ins and outs of running a practice, from legal matters to accounting and finding the best team, was a steep learning curve, but she tackled each obstacle head-on.
Chez Therese is making a significant impact on the local community by providing affordable, high-quality specialty care. Patients can access the same treatments they would get at an academic center but at a fraction of the cost. "It’s three times more expensive to receive the same treatment at a downtown academic center than it is at my clinic," she shares, making healthcare more accessible to everyone.
Shelby Koester's passion for jewelry began over 20 years ago when she took a local bead class and became instantly hooked. "I’m visually inspired," she explains, often drawing from nature’s colors and shapes for her designs. What started as a way to make jewelry for her small wrists blossomed into a business as people admired her creations. "I hope to empower women to feel confident and beautiful with my handcrafted pieces," she shares.
One of Shelby's biggest challenges was balancing motherhood with her business. She kept things small until her kids were older, allowing her to dedicate more time to Whimsy Beadworks. Through her business, Shelby also gives back, supporting causes like NAWS animal rescue and Special Spaces Chicago. She donates portions of her sales to these organizations and enjoys teaching jewelry-making classes to both kids and adults.
Her advice to women starting a business? "Find what you’re passionate about and turn it into something profitable." Looking ahead, Shelby is excited to expand her reach, with her designs soon to be sold at two new stores. She's also hoping to see her jewelry on TV after gifting pieces to Rihanna and the show Only Murders in the Building. It seems the outreach is paying off- Whimsy Beadworks' soleil necklace has now been on worn on 2 seasons of the hit Netflix show, Virgin River!