Women in Business, Maricopa’s newest support group

Maricopa Women in Business is a relatively new group in this community. In fact, their second meeting was held on Tuesday, August 2, with approximately 15 women in attendance.

The group’s founder, Christine Freeman, has lived in Maricopa for a year. Freeman, of Keystone Residential Lending, had worked from home until recently. Her new office is on West Papago Road.

Christine Freeman, whose original idea sparked the formation of Women in Business.

“I had not had the opportunity to meet other women in the community. I wanted to do networking and contribute to the community at the same time,” Freeman explained. “I was hoping other women would feel the same way.”

“If it wasn’t for Scott Bartle and inmaricopa.com, there wouldn’t be a Women in Business group,” added Freeman. “The Open Forum was a great place for our group to initially come together.”

“Our group exists 100% because of inmaricopa.com’s forum,” indicated Kimberly Diedrich, one of the new group’s members.

Freeman posted her idea for the group and then was surprised and excited with the response. Other women who own their own businesses or support their husbands’ businesses in Maricopa are welcome to join.

The group will be meeting monthly. Presently they are working on a mission statement and plans for a booth at Founder’s Day on October 15. Their goal is to provide networking, business tips and suggestions as well as support for one another. They also plan to do both a fall and spring community service project such as the Adopt a Highway program or school volunteerism in Maricopa.

In addition to the general purposes for the group, new friendships are being formed. Diedrich’s pet sitting business is called Home is Where the Hound Is. Kristen Carr, originally from Torrance, California, and now residing in Chandler until the family’s home in Maricopa is finished, is also a pet sitter. Her business is called Well Minded.

Kristen Carr (left) and Kimberly Diedrich, both in the pet-sitting business, became friends through the group.

The two women met when Diedrich posted her interest in the Women in Business group on the forum, indicating that she was doing pet sitting. Carr responded. Now they have become personal and family friends as well as friendly competitors, sharing referrals and ideas.

If you are a Maricopa woman who would like to get to know and network with others in business, contact Christine Freeman by email. You can also go to the special Women in Business category on inmaricopa.com’s Open Forum.