Friendships Forged in the Neighborhood Foster Successful Businesses in the Community Sip & Shop – Tasting and Shopping Showcase at Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich will feature more than 25 local businesses.
Roseann Benedict and Nancy Carr met almost 20 years ago when their youngest children were in nursery school. After years as stay-at-home moms they’ve taken their talents from PTA and other volunteer activities to local business pursuits, and they’re not alone.
Greenwich is home to a vibrant community of moms who met on playgrounds, sports sidelines and school committees before starting their own ventures. Just as they taught their children the value of cooperation and teamwork these women are supporting each other to make everyone more successful. As parents who have volunteered in the past and continue to do so, these moms also realize the importance of giving back to the community.
With this in mind, Roseann and Nancy created an event to bring together and foster the business ventures of these moms they’ve met along the way. Products and services from bourbon, wine and food tastings, cigars and home décor to men’s and women’s fashions, jewelry, accessories, artwork, salon, beauty products and more will be featured.
Through the event, the organizers also hope to raise money for a local charity that supports gene therapy research to fight cancer – a disease that’s touched too many of their friends.
Born and raised in Greenwich, Roseann chaired the North Mianus Pow Wow, served on the executive board of North Mianus Bulldogs Football, Eastern Middle School and Greenwich High School PTAs. She’s currently president of the Riverside Association, board member of At Home in Greenwich and is founder and president of Social Seniors at St. Catherine’s. Roseann and her husband, Scott, raised three sons in town.
Nancy moved to Greenwich in 1992 with her Greenwich-native husband, Brian, when they were expecting their first child. She has chaired the North Mianus Book Fair, served on the executive board of North Mianus and Eastern PTA’s, and was a board member of Greenwich American Legion Baseball, where she developed the Hits and Heroes Campaign to provide college scholarships for the children of military personnel who died on active duty since 9/11. Nancy created websites for local youth sports organizations and Greenwich High School Athletics and continues to manage the GHS Athletics site. She and Brian raised a daughter and two sons here.
Roseann, the first to break out on her own, earned her real estate license in 2006 and now enjoys success as a top realtor at William Raveis Real Estate. Nancy drew upon her retail and marketing background and started her business this year as an independent personal stylist with J. Hilburn custom menswear.
Over the years, Nancy and Roseann have known children’s classmates who have been diagnosed with cancer and this spring yet another joined that list. After serving as a land volunteer for the first time at the Swim Across America Greenwich – Stamford event in June, Nancy was eager to do more. She reached out to her entrepreneurial mom network; the women were instantly on board to be a part of the showcase. Michele Graham, part of this network of working moms knows first-hand how important these organizations are. Her daughter, Nicole was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia almost four years ago while she was at Greenwich High School.
“Anywhere and anyone who can help support the breakthrough research through Swim Across America and our local beneficiary ACGT is making a huge difference in helping to find a cure. The Showcase is a wonderful and creative way to have a good time, be introduced to local mom-trepreneurs businesses, and defeat cancer,” said Graham.
Some of the businesses owned or represented by local moms include:
Beautycounter – Traci Gwodz, Emilie Chang Ho
Flamenco USA – Lindsay Stafford, Cristina Ventosa
India Hicks – Linda Saleeby
Parfums de la Bastide– Alison Leigh, Theresa Plavoukos
Sax Accessories – Christine Sax Stotesbury
Stella & Dot – Erin Conlon
Taconic Distillery – Carol Ann Coughlin
Therese Custom Designs – Terri Bernstein
W by Worth – Julie Faryniarz
Admission is free. No denim is permitted.
Innis Arden Golf Club 120 Tomac Avenue in Old Greenwich
Wednesday, July 27
6pm to 9pm
