Featured Entrepreneurs

She’s a pioneer in her field, dedicated to restoring wellness in patients with chronic pain. We’re talking about Thuy Bowyer, owner of M. T. Wellness Clinic in Columbus, Ohio. In 1975, 12-year-old Thuy and her family fled Vietnam two days before the fall of Saigon. Overnight, they went from a nice home and a privileged lifestyle to the harsh life of a refugee. But hard work and determination turned Thuy’s life around. In 2004, she founded M. T. Wellness Clinic, a provider of medical restorative therapy. The following year she opened the M. T. Wellness Masters Center, an advanced training program for the profession. And recently she was honored as one of Central Ohio’s Twelve Outstanding Women Leaders for 2008 by the Women for Economic and Leadership Development. Clarifying Her Vision Filled with compassion, Thuy initially went into massage therapy to help relieve her mother [...]

She’s a problem-solver who’s passionate about design. We’re talking about Lisa Cini, owner of Mosaic Design Studio in Columbus, Ohio. Formerly the interior design director at Karrington Health, Lisa’s business now encompasses commercial interior design and project management, with clients in long-term care, hospitality, healthcare, restaurant and corporate. But becoming an entrepreneur was not her idea, she insists. “I was more or less presented with an opportunity that I would have been foolish to refuse,” she says. “The timing, access, funding and mentoring were all aligned—so I jumped!” Discovering Her Brand Leave it to a creative designer to have a keen sense of brand identity. From the get-go, Lisa knew that her mission was to improve quality of life by design. She chose “Mosaic” for her company name because it’s one of the oldest sustainable art forms in history, and it’s the combination of other [...]

Elizabeth Lessner is the owner of Betty’s Family of Restaurants in Columbus, Ohio, which includes a lineup of some of the city’s most-happening fun spots—Betty’s Fine Food and Spirits, The Surly Girl Saloon, Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails, and Dirty Frank’s Hot Dogs. As a business owner, Elizabeth is all about social entrepreneurship, civic engagement and connecting to the community and environment on a real level. She empowers her nearly 150 employees with the belief that every person can make a difference. That means hiring individuals, including entrepreneurs, musicians, artists and creative types, who understand the goals and mission of the company, but bring their own unique perspectives to the table. Elizabeth is also engaged in numerous philanthropic efforts for the neighborhood and community that support her restaurants. Along with her managers, she participates in boards and committees that address issues related to sustainability and [...]

Although fiercely independent, she’s a giver at heart. We’re talking about Sue Kinzer, owner of Paint Creek Computers, a computer repair and support service for small businesses and home users. Living in rural Ohio didn’t leave Sue much opportunity for career fulfillment. So, with two of her three daughters in high school, she decided to return to the workforce—on her own. “I got my first computer in 1989, and I couldn’t find anyone who would help me fix it without charging me an arm and a leg. So I had to learn to fix it myself,” she says. “I went to work for a small computer shop and learned as much as possible. A few years later, I bought the business and moved it just outside of my home.” Today, Sue helps many people fix their computers, while at the same time earning a living [...]