They say that behind every great man stands a great woman. That's all well and good, but this month, we want to shine a light on women that are standing up for themselves. Meet the women who mean business, even when business is closed during a pandemic. They need our support now more than ever.
Dana Loveland, D.D.S.
Kearney Dental and Highland Dental
What's your mission?
I am a dentist at Kearney Dental and Highland Dental. Kearney Dental is a new office that opened just a little over a year ago. There are a lot of smaller towns surrounding Kansas City north with very little access to dental care, so we just wanted to bring a closer option for that growing area of Missouri. Highland Dental is an established practice in Liberty, MO.
What has been your biggest challenge this year?
Going through the COVID-19 pandemic has put a halt to our daily routine. We are not the only business impacted by the pandemic, but it has been a trying time. On the bright side, our team remains healthy, and this time off has allowed us to take a break from the past year of continuous work and will refresh us for when we can return to work full time again.
Given a free Friday night, what's your plan?
Friday nights are usually dinner date nights at my household. I don’t know why, but we usually end up going to a Mexican restaurant. Something about chips and salsa after a long week just makes sense.
Danielle Kohler
American Family Insurance
What's your mission?
I am an Agency owner for American Family Insurance, Danielle Kohler Agency LLC. I was in the process of finishing up my Business Management degree and was very interested in Real Estate. Even as a small child, I loved houses and loved the thought of working for myself. While in college, I started working in an agency as a customer service representative, and from that experience, I knew I would love to be a business owner and do it on my own. So that’s what I did.
How have you risen to the challenge of the stay in Place order?
I, along with our two team members each work from home. We can answer calls just as if someone is calling our agency. We can do zoom/skype calls to review quotes. We have electronic signature options for our home, auto, or life insurance; therefore, we don’t have to meet in person.
Who are your teammates?
My team starts with my Husband, Darnell Kohler. He supports me in what I want to do, and I appreciate that! I have two children, my son Kayden is nine and my daughter Kember is seven. I love to be able to show them the tools it takes to succeed in life--Have a positive attitude, work hard, love what you do, and it's easy, and be around and work with great people. My agency currently has two team members, Jessica and Tom. Without my team members, I wouldn’t be able to run the agency successfully, nor would we be able to grow.
Mindy Hart
An entrepreneur with PR Chick, Expressive, Eureka Lawns
What's Your Mission?
PR Chick is a full-service PR firm, providing counsel and services to businesses and organizations on anything that impacts how the consumer sees their business.
Expressive is a dream 30 years in the making. As a musician and artist, I always wanted a place of exploration and expression. Kathy Ragan (my business partner) and I had the same dream, and we leaped. We provide art and music classes, private lessons, individual sessions, parties, jam sessions, rehearsal spaces, and even recording for vocal, instrumentals, or podcasts. We do a lot in a small space!
Eureka Lawns- My husband and I own this business together. Of course, I am just the back office in this one, and he gets to be the one interacting with the world.
Where are your favorite places to dine in the Northland?
Paul and Jack's Tavern is our "Cheers." Just order an Amberite or a Cheesecake Shot and Prime Rib on the first Friday of the month. Sakae Sushi in Parkville is my favorite sushi place in town. I've known Sam for over 20 years, and it is amazing!. Tasty Thai is another guilty pleasure- Gra Pra Nua and Thai Beef Jerky just make me happy- or Chicken Pho! Lastly, American Fusion Cafe. I just let Chef Tito decide and am never disappointed. He even taught me to make ceviche!
Andrea Drum
Relax and Revive Massage Therapy
What is your mission?
We offer custom massage therapy to everyone of all ages. We are passionate about massage and believe in the healing power of touch and the many benefits that it provides. We focus on pain management, relaxation, self-care, and educating our clients.
What has been your greatest challenge?
The COVID-19 pandemic has been overwhelming. Being a small business with one employee that relies on me and not knowing what to expect next is scary. We are staying healthy and positive and ready to be there for our clients ASAP. On a better note, my greatest triumph is being voted GOLD in the Best of the Northland category of massage therapy for 2019! We are very proud and honored to have received that, especially only being in business for one year at that point.
Where is your favorite place to dine in the Northland?
I am a foodie. My husband and I try to have daytime dates once a week and try different places to eat. Our favorite is Mexican food. There are tons of great places in the northland, but hands down La Costa downtown on the square is my favorite place to eat.
Sandra Zuercher
Crepe KC
What's your mission?
My family and I grew up on Romanian crepes. My mom would always whip up a batch for any occasion. She is the most generous and hospitable person I know; she always made sure no one left hungry. We would have this huge stack in front of us and everyone around the table just talking and enjoying each other's company. After moving to the Northland, we wanted to keep that atmosphere going, so Crepe KC is because of her, my mom.
What been your greatest challenge and triumph this year?
So far, the greatest triumph we've had this year is the response to our opening. We were (and still are) just overwhelmed with the love and support from this community. We've grown so much faster than we expected, and we're so excited to keep growing and serve our community. We had to close the shop for a few weeks due to the mandatory stay at home order, but we wanted to make sure we were protecting our staff and the people around us. It was difficult to close during that time, especially having just opened in January this year.
What's your favorite leisure activity in the Northland?
We love taking our kayak up to Smithville Lake when the weather is nice or just playing a round of disc golf on their course. And some of our favorite places to dine in the Northland are Gyro Grill Cafe, Hammerhand Coffee, Hawaiian Bros, and Mr. Le's sushi.
