Our Vision and History
Maya Nadeem
President | 2026-2027
A Legacy of Women Supporting Women
For more than 40 years, Women Business Owners of Montgomery County (WBO) has been a driving force in the growth, empowerment, and success of female entrepreneurs. We believe in women supporting women, and we practice it too!
Through networking, education, and support, WBO helps members reach their business goals. Our members rely on each other, share resources, and offer camaraderie along the way. Whether that is through a webinar or social event, our members have immediate access to other female business owners to support their entrepreneurial journey.
WBO is comprised of women entrepreneurs from all ages and backgrounds, led by a volunteer-run Board of Directors. We are building upon our 40-year legacy as we continue to be a resource for women business owners in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Take a look at our early beginnings and see how we’ve grown over the years.
Our History: A Legacy of Women Supporting Women
Women Business Owners of Montgomery County began in 1980 when Diane Norcross, owner of Potomac Minute Maids, walked across the hall of her office building.
Diane was facing entrepreneurial challenges and reached out to another female business owner—Helen Hillstrom of Hillstrom Real Estate—to brainstorm. Helen’s office was across the way from Diane’s and the two women put their heads together to discuss the unique struggles they faced as women in business in the 1980s.
Soon, they realized that other women needed the same support and resources, and they invited 12 other women business owners to join them for lunch. That lunch was the first official meeting of Women Business Owners of Montgomery County.
Now, more than four decades later, the landscape of female entrepreneurship has changed dramatically. But there is still a need for women to support each other in business. WBO continues to provide its members with educational seminars and networking opportunities that help businesswomen in Montgomery County, Maryland grow and thrive.
Original Members:
Lynn Clark, Conference Specialists
Sharon Fountain, Performance Development Corporation
Helen Hillstrom, Hillstrom Real Estate
Diane Norcross, Potomac Minute Maids (Founder)
Former WBO Presidents
- Laura Labovich – Career Strategy Group 2024-2026
- Heather Archer – Training de Jour 2023-2024
- Regina DeMeo– Law Office of Regina A. DeMeo 2022-2023
- Doris Barber – The Mikayla Group, LLC 2020-2022
- Kristin Michel Rodriguez – Symphony Financial 2018-2020
- Jamie Kent Hamelburg – Press, Dozier & Hamelburg, LLC 2016-2018
- Wendy Howard – WH Consulting 2014-2016
- Naomi Abrams – Worksite Health and Safety Consultants, LLC 2012-2014
- Susan Potter – Press, Potter & Dozier, LLC 2010-2012
- Carolyn Bruna – Caregiving Consultants 2009-2010
- Laura Levengard – Starpower Fitness 2008-2009
- Michelle Bender – Bender Financial Advisors, LLC 2006-2008
- Chiquita Sorrells – Caitlin Enterprises, LLC 2005-2006
- Gayley Knight – Connecting Links Web Strategy/Consulting 2003-2005
- Jina Etienne – Etienne & Associates, LLC 2002-2003
- Julie Lenzer Kirk – Applied Creative Technologies, Inc. 2001-2002
- Susan Hlesciak Hall – Integrity Ink, LLC 2000-2001
- Donna Miller – Business Research & Intelligence, Inc. 1999-2000
- Hope Barnett Cohen – Employee Benefit Plans 1998-1999
- Bethany Portner – Portner Design Group, Inc. 1997-1998
- Meredith Higgins – Resources for Professionals, Inc. 1996-1997
- Eleanor Mayfield – The TSW Group 1995-1996
- Anne Sanderoff-Walker – Anne’s Curtain Calls, Inc. 1994-1995
- Andria Artist – Dress for Success, Inc. 1993-1994
- Mary Ann McIlraith – Maximum Potential International 1992-1993
- Lynn Fishman – The Insurance Store 1991-1992
- Kathleen Canal – The Canal Agency 1990-1991
- Lynn Clark – Conference Specialists 1988-1990
- Hilary Lavine – Lavine Media 1987-1988
- George-Anne Fay – Fay Associates 1985-1987
- Diane Norcross – Potomac Minute Maids (Founder) 1980-1985