EDITOR'S NOTE

The feminine factor

While discussing this issue of Seacoast Ventures with a theme of "Women in Business" with our writers, the comments went something like this:

"Why is this a subject that needs to written about today? Women in business is not something new or unusual."

"I don't think I would want to contribute to this issue. I think it's demeaning to women to single them out."

"The number of women who own businesses or have important corporate jobs continues to increase. That ought to be recognized."

"Well, it would be interesting to dig into the subject a bit to see where women do stand today and we could recognize some of the contributions they make to the Seacoast economy."

In the end, of course, the economics of advertising (yes, we do want to make a profit) came into the picture and you're holding the end result.

Women clearly are indeed a vital part of the Seacoast economy.

They own or run any variety of businesses, from retail to law to architecture to the arts.

Yet, there's still a lot of room for improvement.

According to the Center for Women's Business Research, Maine ranked 38th and New Hampshire ranked 39th in the number of privately held, majority women-owned firms in 2006, They ranked 50th and 30th, respectively, when it comes to the growth of women-owned businesses.

And, the median earnings of women in New Hampshire are only 72 percent compared to men, according to the Commission on the Status of Women. Nationally, women earn 76 percent as much as men. (Story, page 12)

Also nationally, 1 in 18 women owns a business and the number of women-owned firms with 100 or more employees grew by 44 percent between 1997 and 2000.

Seacoast women interested in starting or growing a business are fortunate to have the Women's Business Center located in Portsmouth. (Story, page 10)

The WBC offers a variety of training and education programs.

In fiscal year 2006, the WBC said it helped 79 women create companies that employed 108 workers and generated $3 million in revenues. It also reports having served an estimated 1,300 women through programs, counseling, referrals, mentoring, and inquiries via telephone and e-mail throughout the state.

On individual notes, Lisa DeStefano, founder of DeStefano Architects, is the subject of this month's Entrepreneur Watch. She talks about what it's like to work in her home town of Portsmouth, her projects and challenges. (Page 17)

Shaun McEachern, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Portsmouth, is At the Helm this month, describing what it takes to run the hotel and develop corporate and business accounts. (Page 4).

Natalie King and her sister-in-law, Lori King, are related to Stonewall Kitchen co-founder Jonathan King, but that's not the only reason they have their jobs of vice president of sales and marketing and chief operating officer. Both were businesswomen with backgrounds in sales and management, finance experience and degrees. (Page 7).

Women in business continue to play an important part of our economy. The outlook is that role will continue to grow.

Reach CAL KILLEEN via e-mail or 570-2243.