FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES ARE PROVIDING A GROWING OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN. THE AMERICAN FAMILY BUSINESS SURVEY FOUND 24 PERCENT OF FMAILY BUSINESSES HAD FEMALE CEOS OR PRESIDENTS, UP FROM 10 PERCENT IN 2002. AND 31.3% OF FAMILY FIRMS INDICATE THAT THE NEXT SUCCESSOR WILL BE A FEMALE. NEARLY 60% OF ALL FAMILY FIRMS HAVE WOMEN IN TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM POSITIONS.
AND SPEAKING OF FAMILY, CHERIE AND BRIAN LOWE OF GREENWOOD INDIANA ARE GIVING INSPIRATION TO OTHER FAMILIES WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH DEBT. SIX YEARS AGO, THE COUPLE OWED MORE THAN $127,000 IN STUDENT LOANS, CREDIT CARD BILLS, AUTO LOANS. BUT IN APRIL 2008, THEY ADDED EVERYTHING UP AND DEVISED A PLAN FOR HOW TO CHIP AWAY AT THE DEBT. IT TOOK NEARLY FOUR YEARS, BUT THEY’RE ARE NOW DEBT-FREE. CHERIE, WHO HAS GIVEN HERSELF THE NICKNAME “THE QUEEN OF FREE,” DOCUMENTED THE COUPLE’S QUEST ON HER WEBSITE, AND IS WRITING A BOOK, SLAYING THE DEBT DRAGON TO BE PUBLISHED THIS FALL. FOR MORE ON THESE STORIES AND MUCH MORE SIMPLY HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE www.workingwomanreport.com
