Woman business owners have a vital part of the thriving Morgan Hill downtown
By Victoria Attanasio
Leap! Shine! As a woman business owner in Morgan Hill, those are two words I hear a lot.
I had the dream after 15 years in real estate to do something more with my experience and love of all things house and home. But it takes more than an entrepreneurial spirit to make it happen. It takes drive, experience, and a tribe of amazing boss babes.
Melissa Murphy, the immediate past president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, owns and operates Murphy’s Mercantile with her sister, Honie. Melissa and her mother, Gayle Richter, made our downtown shop home for Amaré Real Estate. Soon after the ink dried on our lease, Melissa encouraged me to join the MHDA board. We are looking forward to chairing the Wine Stroll event April 25.
Tracy Ulery, owner of the Jewel Box downtown for more than a decade, agrees. “Not only have I been given great opportunities to participate in charity and community events, I have also had amazing mentors and great friendships.”
I have been meeting several local woman business owners during the past seven months, and it is clear we are a sisterhood and share the same dreams. Kristi Holbrook, owner of AR Workshop on Depot Street, sums it up perfectly. “I have always had a dream of opening my own business. I attended an AR Workshop in another city and fell in love with the quality time, creativity and trendy home decor this business offered and wanted to bring it to downtown Morgan Hill. I knew it was a risk as a first time business owner and mom of two, but pushed fear aside and went for it. I have met many wonderful women and love the support I get from them. I couldn’t be happier I took the leap.”
For those of us who took the leap, we know the future is bright in our very special town. On March 6, we will celebrate International Women’s Day with a mixer at Amaré Real Estate. There will be an opportunity to network and share your business with like-minded women and to support one another. Woman business owners have and will continue to be a vital part of the thriving Morgan Hill downtown.
Victoria Attanasio brings more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience to her real estate brokerage. A Southern California native, she moved to the Bay Area 20 years ago and she and her husband, Gino, have lived in Morgan Hill for 19 years.
