Michelle (L) with Christa Donohue (R) at Supermom Celebration 2013.
Many of you may remember Michelle Burdiss as our 2013 Supermom Winner and for good reason – she’s the mom to five (5) children! And both her mother and her husband nominated her and wrote great letters about her busy life. Imagine how busy she must be with kids, a home, a husband – and a job.
Yep – that’s right. Michelle is an accomplished photographer and you have an opportunity to see some of her incredible work on display during December, 2013. Her work is displayed at The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe’s Midlothian location for the very first time.
When I caught up with Michelle, she had her hands full for sure. She was in the middle of the living room with her 6 year old who was reading to her 5 year old – and her 10 year old was helping watch her 15-month old – while she was helping her 8 year old with multiplication. (It made me tired to write that sentence!)
So what did she have to say about that? “Geez!! …I am so excited that this is all working out and I am proving to my children that you can do what you love and make it happen all while raising 5 children. Yay!!”
Michelle is very excited about having her photography on display and she’s gotten lots of great feedback and sales. Here’s what she had to say about the experience the first day she walked into the Farmhouse:
“Today we were able to take the kids to The Urban Farmhouse Market & Café‘s Midlothian location to see my photography on display for the first time. It’s really neat to be able to share that with them, to be able to show them that you can pursue your dreams even if you are busy raising 5 children! (I didn’t have to wait ’til they were older, as originally planned)…. Such a kind staff, great food and products!!! I swear if I lived closer, I would go there all the time!”
Buy a Print and Save 10% for Richmondmom.com Readers
Photography by Michelle Burdiss Photography
Michelle is also excited to offer Richmondmom.com readers a chance to purchase prints at a discount. Anyone who mentions Richmondmom.com gets 10% discount on her pieces. She mostly displays nature photography but in a variety of forms. Framed art, canvas, wood, and metal prints, as well as notecards are available.
Hmmm….sounds like a great holiday gift idea to me!
Hurry to The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe in Midlothian because her work is only on display there during December. Watch for her around town though – she’s sure to be in high demand. And she will be the featured artist in April at the Shockoe Farmhouse location.
About Michelle (by Michelle):
“If you know me, you know I LOVE photography. My favorite places to photograph are on the side of the road, out of the way, overlooked types of places. My favorite things to photograph are flowers, interesting bugs and spiders, trees, nature of all kinds and more. Of course I love to photograph my children but for the most part, they will not appear in my photo art that is within this page. [I] hope you enjoy and if you would like to purchase anything – all photos can be made into nearly any type of art, stationery, you name it – let me know. Mostly nature photography BUT people in nature as well…I can customize wall art, stationery, books, home decor, mugs, puzzles, etc. etc. etc.”
Visit Michelle’s Facebook page at this link.
Ingrid Vax
Spurrier Media Group is a creative media shop founded by Donna Spurrier in 1996 to bridge the gap between media strategists and creative teams when working on advertising campaigns. The company’s all-female staff includes some of the most talented and experienced media planning/buying professionals in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“Women are smart and creative, and if we want to excel in our careers without having to sacrifice our precious and limited time with our families, then it’s imperative that we find a company with a healthy balance of required excellence in work performance and flexibility for the family,” said Donna Spurrier.
In order to attract and retain top caliber employees, Spurrier Media Group fosters an environment where working mothers can have both a successful career and a fulfilling life outside of the office. Early on, the firm established a number of family-friendly policies and amenities to ensure a satisfying work/life balance for all team members. These include flexible work hours, advanced technology for remote access computing, and even a yoga studio in their soon-to-be-built downtown office.
Several of the talented women at Spurrier Media Group shared their stories with Richmondmom.com:
JENNIFER WALKER, Media Planner/Buyer: “With today’s technology, it’s very easy to work remotely without missing out on helping my girls with their homework after school. Having this flexibility not only eliminates a lot mommy-guilt, it also inspires loyalty because I know I’m a trusted employee. Taking conference calls on the couch and checking emails while at my girls’ activities are my ‘normal’…and I love it!”
Emily Baldridge
Jennifer’s husband, Zach, commented on the impact that his wife’s daily routine has on family harmony. “It’s great to see Jennifer happy and productive in her career, which carries over at home,” he said. “Spurrier Media Group really walks the talk about work/life balance and, as a Dad, I’m very grateful.”
ANGIE ALEKSA, Digital Media Planner/Buyer: “Like many working moms, I struggled with the balancing act between work, home and family. I worried each day if the part-time sitters would show up or call in sick. But that daily stress ended when I joined the team at Spurrier Media Group. Now I can easily switch hats from ‘working mom’ to ‘mom.’”
Jennifer Walker
© Marissa Bowers, 2011
EMILY BALDRIDGE, Financial Director: “Spurrier Media Group provides remote access to my office computer so I can continue working from home when necessary. This is an invaluable resource when I need to be home with a sick child. Coming back to work after being home with small children was a daunting concept, but Spurrier Media Group has created a culture of support and respect that has made the transition easy and completely worthwhile.”
DEB BRAME, Media Planner/Buyer: “As a longtime employee of Spurrier Media Group, I’ve always been proud to work for a company that places a strong emphasis on family. I’m blessed to spend one day a week working from home to take care of my greatest joy—my granddaughter.”
INGRID VAX, Director of New Business Development & Agency Relations: “I’m a single-mom and also manage SMG’s satellite office serving the DC market. The flexibility offered by Spurrier Media Group is wonderful. I can be on email and phone calls from anywhere at any time. That allows me to focus on growing our client base and our agency business while at the same time focus on my son and his needs. It’s the best of both worlds.”
It’s obvious that Spurrier Media Group empowers team members to be their best selves, both at home and at the office.
“I’m so proud of all the amazing women at Spurrier Media Group, “ states Donna Spurrier. “They inspire me every day!”
You can find them at their website or also on Facebook. What a great place for Richmond moms and grandmoms to work!
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Kate Hall
The 4th Annual Women’s Conference is Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Richmond Marriott Downtown and it’s a day filled with great speakers and lots of valuable information. If you’re an entrepreneur, mompreneur, or just interested in what’s going on in the world of business, health, and social media, you’re going to love this conference! The event is free to all participants.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Doors Open at 8 a.m.
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Richmond Marriott
500 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 22319
Hosted by Senator Mark R. Warner, VCU Medical Center, Virginia State University and Virginia’s Community Colleges.
And there’s one more BIG reason you may want to attend. Our own Kate Hall is a panelist on the topic of social media! Who better to talk about optimizing social media for your business than the Richmondmom.com founder?
Putting Social Media to Work for You
Facebook is great for staying in touch with friends and sharing pictures. You get all your news from Twitter. But do you know how to unlock the full potential of social media and put it to work for you? This session will share best practices for maximizing social media – an important platform for networking and showcasing your professional profile. The content you post every day is building your personal brand – make it count! A strong personal brand online is an important factor for potential employers and clients. Join our panelists to learn the best way to use different social media platforms to your advantage.Moderated by Addie Bryant, Office of Senator Mark R. Warner
Latryce Noel, Public Relations & Marketing Specialist, Virginia State University
Judi Crenshaw, Communications & Marketing Manager, Virginia Council on Economic Education
Kate W. Hall, Founder/Writer Richmondmom.com
Kendall Morris, Founding Partner, Create Digital
You will also enjoy hearing from Mary Foley, Emcee, Author and Radio Host, along with other great speakers. Click here for the full agenda.
Fun and engaging topics include information on:
- Your Financial Roadmap
- The Affordable Care Act & You
- Create Your Next Job…Become an Entrepreneur!
- Make Shift Happen
- Ages & Stages: Women’s Health & Happiness
- Women as Agents of Change: Rising to the Challenge of Building Community
- And much more!
It’s an inspiring day for women that you don’t want to miss. Click here for details and take advantage of this free conference to get your creative juices flowing and create the life you’ve always wanted!
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All Fired Up is a fun place to work and play! Now hiring!
All Fired Up is hiring an individual to become the store manager for the Carytown studio and it’s a great place for moms to work. Check out the job description below and if you’re interested, give them a call. Be sure to tell them you heard about it on Richmondmom.com.
Job Opening
All Fired Up, Richmond’s Original Paint Your Own Ceramics Studio, is seeking a highly motivated, outgoing, entrepreneurial, creative individual to become the new store manager at its flagship Carytown studio!
Since 1996, All Fired Up has enabled and encouraged customers of all artistic levels in creating beautiful art pieces and wonderful memories within a relaxed, fun atmosphere. The Carytown store manager will lead the store’s operations, staffing, customer satisfaction, product quality, financial performance and team development. Best of all, the manager will help his or her team create a welcoming environment for children and adults to reach their full creative potential.
Key responsibilities
- Plans, identifies, communicates, and delegates appropriate responsibilities and practices to store sales associates to ensure smooth flow of operations.
- Demonstrates a calm demeanor during periods of high volume or unusual events and manages smooth transitions thereafter to keep store operating to standard and to set a positive example for the store team.
- Displays a “customer comes first” attitude by training and holding partners accountable for delivering legendary customer service.
- Drives the implementation of company programs by developing action plans and directly motivating and instructing the store team to implement them to meet operational and organizational objectives.
- Manages with integrity, honesty and knowledge that promote the culture, values and mission of All Fired Up.
- Actively manages store sales associates by regularly conducting performance assessments, providing feedback, and setting challenging goals to improve partner performance. Manages ongoing partner performance using performance management.
- Uses all operational tools to plan for and achieve operational excellence in the store, including the daily planner, the daily and monthly sales reports, the employee schedule and the party schedule.
- Communicates clearly, concisely and accurately in order to ensure effective store operations.
Job requirements
Qualified candidates will have progressively responsible retail experience (with two years of management experience), strong communication and organizational skills, and a passion for art. Candidates are expected to meet the minimum requirements including:
- Ability to manage effectively in a fast-paced environment
- Knowledge of supervisory practices and procedures
- Knowledge of computer/POS register
- Organization and planning skills
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Strong customer-service skills
- Knowledge of sales and marketing techniques
- Team-building skills
- Strong leadership skills
- Ability to plan and prioritize workload
- Ability to handle confidential or sensitive information
- Constant talking, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word
- Ability to comfortably and confidently serve children and parents
Physical requirements
- Constant standing/walking
- Occasional stooping, kneeling or crawling
- Occasional pushing, pulling, lifting or carrying up to 40 lbs
- Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps
- Frequent, careful handling of ceramic pieces
All Fired Up has a magical atmosphere where memories are made. The right individual will become part of an exciting, creative and fun family. The manager position is full-time salaried with paid time off. If you are interested in scheduling an interview, please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected].
All Fired Up is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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Do you love helping others? Are you an expert when it comes to taking charge and paying attention to detail? Is it fun to help women select clothing and accessories that flatter and offer the ultimate in comfort and style?
Then you will love this job opportunity with Hip to be Round, Richmond’s premier high end maternity boutique. They have offered a diverse selection of exceptional quality apparel and accessories for the expecting mother since 2005. They are currently searching for an energetic and conscientious Sales Associate who is capable of growing into keyholder/assistant manager position.
The starting schedule involves working 20 to 25 hours per week in the upscale and convenient Carytown location. The right individual will become part of an exciting company that offers a challenging and rewarding work environment. This is NOT a seasonal or temporary position but is an opportunity to grow and advance with the company through hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm.
Job Requirements
Interviews will be scheduled for candidates who are team oriented, customer focused and enthusiastic. Candidates are expected to meet minimum requirements including:
- Ability to reflect the fashion of the store in personal appearance and presentation.
- Accountability for personal actions 100% of the time.
- Positive and upbeat attitude when helping expectant mothers find clothes that celebrate their changing bodies and make them feel great.
- An eye for merchandising and creative product displays.
- Extraordinary attention to detail.
Upscale Richmond maternity boutique hiring for key position.
Qualified candidates will have a minimum 2 years of retail experience, strong communication and organizational skills, and a desire to contribute valuable input to our team. They should be comfortable and competent to perform the following tasks:
- Actively sell and assist customers
- Build customer base and compile customer info
- Learn product details to provide expert advice
- Monitor inventory to achieve “zero” shrink
- Meet sales goals
- Effectively switch gears when retail conditions require placing customer attention above all other priorities of the business
If you are interested in scheduling an interview, please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Take advantage of this opportunity to work for an upscale shop in Richmond and enjoy your job every day.
Hip to be Round is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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If you’re looking for a part-time position where you can work from home for a company with a great reputation, you’re in luck, Richmond. Capital One is hiring, and the time to apply is now. Capital One boasts many accomplishments including DiversityInc 2012 Top 50 Companies for Diversity.
Work at Home for a Fortune 500 Company!
Capital One® is looking for part-time Work-at-Home Customer Service Agents inCentral Virginia.
The Premium Servicing team focuses on rewarding and engaging premium customers by providing them with consistently high-quality service experiences. The goal: to resolve customer issues in a single call through a customer-first culture, premium rewards, and exciting choices.
This exciting part-time servicing position allows agents to work from home for a company that Fortune named one of the ”100 Best Companies to Work For.”
Responsibilities:
* Fielding inbound calls from premium customers
* Answering questions, handling customer concerns, and providing an unmatched customer experience through one-call resolution
* Promoting continued customer loyalty to Capital One
Perks of Working Part-Time from Home:
* 401(k) retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement available immediately
* Eligible for paid time-off benefits along with medical benefits after 6 months
* Great pay for part-time with monthly bonus incentives
* No dress code and no commute-save money on clothes and gas!
Basic Qualifications:
* High school diploma, GED or equivalent
* Two years customer service experience or at least six months work-at-home/virtual-working experience
Preferred Qualifications:
* College degree
* Small business experience
* Knowledge of the financial and credit industry
* Ability to troubleshoot basic computer issues
* Excellent grammar, verbal, listening, and questioning skills
* Strong decision-making ability and detail focus
* Self-motivated and able to operate autonomously
* Capable of working through changes and challenges to achieve desired results
* Passionate customer service advocate
* Strong time management and multitasking skills
Learn more and apply now, visit www.capitalone.com/careers: Search keyword “Part Time Customer Service Coordinator”
Capital One is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. They promote a drug-free work environment.
If you require an accommodation to apply for a U.S.employment opportunity, please contact Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102.
Capital One is an advertiser of Richmondmom.com
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Mom’s Treehouse is HIRING and you may be the perfect fit!They are hiring for two positions:
1. Babysitting Coordinator – They are looking for an amazing, outgoing, organized, driven person to become our new Babysitter Coordinator! Some responsibilities include:
- Ensure that staff coverage is provided for all classes where childcare is offered.
- Establish best practice expectations to provide consistency within the childcare room.
- Communicate effectively with clients, childcare providers, and staff about childcare services that are offered.
- Learn the Mindbody online system and assist in the documentation of clients’ registration/attendance records.
2. Stroller Strides Fitness Instructors - They are looking to hire outgoing, dynamic, fit-minded instructors! You will need to hold a national certification for group exercise or personal training or be willing to take the 2-day Stroller Strides certification course. You also will need to have attended at least 2 months of Stroller Strides classes on a regular basis. If you are interested, please email [email protected] for more information.
Mom’s Treehouse is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
Do you know someone looking for a part time opportunity with a great company? Kinsale Insurance Company may be the place!
We are looking for candidates to fill part time positions within underwriting services. These roles will be focused on submission clearance. The successful candidate will have solid data entry and computer skills and be a fast learner. Previous exposure to insurance desired. They must be available for training in the office for one week between the hours of 9am - 12pm. Once trained and performing independently these team members may be able to work from home between the hours of 12pm to 5pm. 
Candidates will need to supply their own PC that meets our standards (below) and be available for up to 25 hours per week.
System Requirements:
PC with Windows xp or Windows
- Remote desktop (Under accessories)-we can provide this program if necessary
- 1 gig of memory minimum but 2gig best
- 2 monitors OR
- a 27 inch monitor that has enough space to have 2 browser windows open
- Virus program – we will provide this program
MAC Mini, Mac Pro
- Remote desktop -remote access program.
- 1 gig of memory minimum but 2gig is best
- 2 monitors-Mac mini has the capability (Use VAG and HDMI ports) OR
- A 27 inch monitor that has enough space to have 2 browser windows open
- Virus program – we will provide this program
Interested candidates should apply at: http://jobs.kinsaleins.com
Kinsale Insurance is an advertiser of Richmondmom.com.
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A great place to work!
Richmond moms are creative, inventive, entrepreneurial, motivated, resourceful, energetic, and diverse. That makes them the perfect people to sell great services to local businesses.
If you’re in the market for a new adventure or a part-time sales position with a growing company that offers fantastic ways for moms and dads to save money, then you’ll want to know more about the current openings at KidsDineFree.net. With the programs they offer, it’s easy to sell the benefits to local restaurants and businesses.
KidsDineFree.net offers families plenty of ways to save money every week. When famil
ies eat out at least once each week, savings add up with the KidsDineFree options. A family can save as much as $60 or more in a month by eating at participating restaurants.
KidsDineFree.net is still searching for great opportunities to increase savings and attract more restaurants and businesses to help Richmond families save. They offer great savings for families — and it’s great opportunity for restaurants because they attract families with paying adults — what a win-win situation!
If you’re interested in an innovative company as a sales professional, contact KidsDineFree.Net by calling Heather Johns at 804.378.5437. Be sure and tell them you heard about it on Richmondmom.com because we just love seeing our moms succeed at everything!
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We’re so excited to announce that the sequel to our book, Richmond Rocks, is underway, and our fabulous illustrator Knox Hubard will be working on one of the toughest elements–the gorgeous illustrations—over the next several months.
In the meantime, this is the prime time to start getting Richmond Rocks into the hands of parents for the holidays, and teachers for their classrooms!
–Help us make a connection with a local school to book a reading and orders for signed copies of Richmond Rocks (they’re $12.95 + tax). We read from Kindergarten to Grade 5, adjusting the presentation from a simple reading to speaking about the writing process.
–Book order forms are circulated prior to us coming in to read, and we sign the books that day so children leave school that day with their signed copy–or we can hold it with the teacher if it’s a holiday gift.
–You get 20% of pre-tax book sales (this is taxable income), the school receives the other 20% (or you can donate the entire 40% to the school, it’s up to you!)
It’s that simple. We want to reward moms for helping us circulate our book into the community! Contact us at [email protected] for more details.
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