For women business owners in Parker, the Parker Chamber of
Commerce has a group specifically for them.
The Parker Chamber Women’s Forum is a networking group for women
members of the Parker Chamber of Commerce that meets once a month.
But in reality the group is much more.
Suzanne Swenson has been a member of the Parker Chamber Women’s
Forum for more than five years. She has a Mary Kay business, a
consulting firm and is a member of the Pinery Country Club. She
said over the years the forum has not only helped her businesses
but has been like a support group. The women work with one another
to help build each other’s businesses while becoming friends at the
same time.
“We brag on each other and we talk about the needs of our
businesses,” she said. “It’s a great way to meet other women. You
end up becoming personally involved with the other women’s
businesses because we all are close.”
Around 55 women attend each monthly meeting, but the number
continues to grow. Swenson said women not members of the Parker
Chamber are welcome to attend a meeting to learn about the group.
If they are interested the group will then ask the to join the
Parker Chamber of Commerce.
“We always have guests at the meetings,” she said. “It’s great
to see new faces each month and learn about other businesses in
Parker.”
Members of the group also support one another by shopping
locally. Swenson said because the women learn so much about each
other and the businesses, they tend to buy locally rather than at a
less expensive franchised business.
Swenson said the group is not trying to exclude men from the
group, but believes women need a group exclusive for them because
women have certain challenges in the business world as women that
men do not have.”
“It’s hard to describe the relationship that the women have with
each other,” she said. “We have created bonds that are easier to
emphasize with women rather than men.”
For more information on the Parker Chamber Women’s Forum contact
the Parker Chamber of Commerce at 303-841-4268 or visit www.parkerchamber.com.
