Jessica Meyers
Char Magaro
Is it something in the water—or the air?
Or just maybe, there’s a certain spirit in this community, a spirit of diversity, appreciation of culture and support.
For the second straight year, a Harrisburg woman has been selected to receive the Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year honor from the district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
In May, Jessica Meyers, owner of JEM Group, a downtown-based construction firm, received the 2015 award. A year earlier, restaurateur Char Magaro was presented with the 2014 award.
“For the same city to win in the same category two years running does seem a bit like lightning striking twice in the same spot. It’s certainly something for Harrisburg to be very proud of,” said Tony Leta, director for the SBA’s Eastern Pennsylvania District Office. “Harrisburg firms have definitely been successful in winning these awards.”
The awards are given each year by Leta’s office, which covers 40 counties, totaling 727,000 small businesses. Award criteria include the firm’s staying power, growth in number of employees, innovativeness of product, response to adversity and contributions to community-oriented projects, to name a few.
“It was so gratifying that the huge struggle to make my vision manifest had been recognized,” said Magaro, owner of Char’s at Tracy Mansion on N. Front Street in Midtown. “I likened this project to trying to fly a kite with a thousand strings without any wind.”
Meyers was delighted that her firm was recognized for a focus on building quality buildings, creating jobs and benefiting the community economically.
“For us, it’s great recognition for my team of our hard work and dedication for what we’ve given to the community,” said Meyers, who accepted the award in one her firm’s recently completed projects, the new Susquehanna Art Museum in Midtown Harrisburg. “It’s nice to have that formal recognition.”
Meyers, who began JEM Group in 2003, said that she chose Harrisburg as a home for her business due to her history in central PA and the revitalization she witnessed happening in the region, such as the restaurants along N. 2nd Street.
“I began my career working in the city. I was really able to see the revitalization and development from early in my career,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of that, not only by building buildings but by personally investing in the city.”
Meyers was nominated by Melissa McLaughlin, director of business finance at the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, for her ability to break down barriers and stereotypes to conquer the construction industry. McLaughlin also recognized her energy, professionalism and community-mindedness as she served as a role model for female entrepreneurs in the community.
Indeed, mutual support among businesswomen is a core strength in Harrisburg, said Meyers.
“Harrisburg is really fortunate to have so many great women leaders and entrepreneurs. We are just flush with a lot of talent,” she said. “There is an openness in Harrisburg and in our region and a willingness to recognize talent and leadership regardless of whether someone is a man or a woman. It’s a great place for women leaders or entrepreneurs to grow a business.”
Other Harrisburg businesswomen agree. The co-owners of Stash Collective point to the city’s spirit of entrepreneurship and community support as major contributors to their success over the past two years.
“We see the Harrisburg small business scene as being very supportive, positive and growing, with businesses always looking for ways that they can boost each other up through cross-promotion or simple word of mouth,” said co-owner Jen Merrill. “It’s an inspiring time to be a business owner here, and we hope to see more and more women taking the leap to work for themselves.”
To underscore their success, Stash Collective last month moved into new, larger retail space at the corner of Walnut and Court streets downtown.
When Meyers was asked what advice she gives to women daydreaming of launching their own business venture, she responded that women shouldn’t be overly risk-averse.
“Don’t be afraid to take chances and step outside of your comfort zone,” she said. “If someone told me I’d own my own business—let alone a construction business—19 years ago, I would’ve thought they were crazy.”
Meyers also suggests spending time on personal and professional development and surrounding oneself with the right people who will be honest when giving feedback.
“Be visible. Get out there and get involved in the community,” she said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to spend time with organizations you’re passionate about. People will also know who you are and know what you’re capable of doing.”
Recognizing talent regardless of gender is something that the Stash co-owners also see within their business, one in which people presume that it must be difficult for three women to work together.
“We do, quite frequently, field questions and comments assuming that, because we are three women, it must be, in some way, hard for us to work with one another,” said Merrill. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
She added that each partner brings unique strengths to the business, and they try to use those strengths as effectively as possible.
“We see it as a major perk that, after over two years of owning the business together, our friendships with one another have continued to grow,” she said.
