From my first Flint as the newest member of the Stoke team, to helping cultivate an event that means so much to me - the inspiration and dedication surrounding each FlintConf is palpable. This year marks my third FlintConf and I can't help but feel a surge of gratitude and nostalgia for the growth and transformation these years have brought. Not just me, but the event as a whole. Join me (Mary) in reflecting on the two FlintConfs I helped bring to Denton as we approach FlintConf 2024.
In the heart of Denton, Texas, Stoke stands not only as a coworking space but as a beacon of empowerment and support for entrepreneurs. As a woman-owned and operated business, uplifting women entrepreneurs has been particularly important to our mission. Let’s take a look at the history of Denton’s favorite coworking space with one key theme: women supporting women.
Taushey Sias is the CEO and Founder of Taushey’s Vocal Lab, a premier vocal coaching resource offering lessons to both aspiring and seasoned singers across diverse musical genres. Taushey brings a wealth of expertise to her one-on-one sessions, where she collaboratively explores each student's strengths and growth areas. Taushey's approach fosters an open and healing platform for students to express themselves confidently. Her mission is to instill self-belief, guiding individuals to trust their innate talents and hard work on the path to personal success. Keep reading to learn more about Taushey and her business in her cohort story.
Katherine Waddell is the owner of and creative force behind Faul Magic. Faul Magic is a Denton-based brand that got its start crafting inclusive art with a cheerful aesthetic, but recently Katherine has pivoted their business to include Digital Marketing and Accessibility Consulting. A graduate of Dallas College, Kat launched Faul Magic in June 2022 to reshape narratives around invisible disabilities and neurodivergence. Originally envisioning a nerdy business wear line, the brand evolved to express Kat's experiences as a nerdy, queer, and neurodivergent individual through captivating art. Faul Magic challenges societal notions of laziness, embracing authenticity and creativity.
Connie Ligus is the Chief Creative Officer and Owner of Yellow Rose Paint Party. Painting has been her lifelong joy, evolving from a personal retreat to Yellow Rose Paint Party – a mobile paint extravaganza rolling through Texas and beyond. She’s blending art, laughter, and (sometimes) a bit of spilled wine to create unforgettable moments. Balancing roles as a mom, wife, and independent business owner, she’s turned her passion into a company. Read on to learn more about Connie and Yellow Rose Paint Party in her Cohort story.
From her roots in Grenada to the flourishing food scene of Denton, Latoya's culinary adventure is a story of passion and perseverance. As the proud owner of a thriving food trailer Groovy Chicken and Waffles and T's Table Catering Services, she has transformed her love for cooking and baking into thriving businesses.
From her roots in Grenada to the flourishing food scene of Denton, Latoya's culinary adventure is a story of passion and perseverance. As the proud owner of a thriving food trailer Groovy Chicken and Waffles and T's Table Catering Services, she has transformed her love for cooking and baking into thriving businesses.
Madison Newman is the founder and artist behind Found & Forged Design Co. and a self taught brand expert. She build brands that are handcrafted and intentionally created to showcase your businesses values, and unique offerings; building you a tribe of adoring fans, and increasing your profit. Read on to learn more about Madison and her business.
Christina Barrientos is the owner and founder of Heartstone Creative. Heartstone Creative is the soft-skill training solution for young adults and entry level positions for small businesses. They’re closing the gap between long-time employees and entry level workers by providing scenario-based learning to help meet business expectations. Read on to learn more about Christina, her inspiration, and her business.
Stoke works to support and empower entrepreneurs, and one of the ways we are able to accomplish that goal is partnering with the Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) at Texas Woman’s University. We offer the AccelerateHER incubator program in partnership with CWE. Administrators Heather Gregory, executive director of Stoke, and Tracy Irby, director of the Center for Women Entrepreneurs, selects a cohort of women business owners through an application and interview process and then equips them with education, tools, and resources to grow their businesses.
La Catrina Creations truly came into being from an entrepreneur’s spirit: Anna Montes was looking for something that she couldn’t find out in the world so she decided to make it herself. Starting with having an artistan make sarape stoles, La Catrina Creations has grown so much so that Anna needed to build a warehouse! You can learn more about Anna, her inspiration, and her work in her AccelerateHER cohort story.
Marcia is the solution to your math problems! Or those that your family members in school or college might be facing. She helps simplify math and has developed a unique method of handling individual students’ ways of learning. Read more about the incredible and important work that she does in her AccelerateHER cohort story.
When you step foot into Salted Sanctuary, you’re delighted by the sights, smells, and on event nights, sounds of Kimberly Bien’s brick and mortar shop. Her carefully created products bring joy to so many people’s lives. Read about her background, work, and business in her AccelerateHER cohort story!
Cindy Thurk is the founder and CEO of CM Promotions. She is a vibrant and supportive member of the third AccelerateHER incubator program, offered in partnership between Stoke and the Center for Women Entrepreneurs at Texas Woman’s University. The energy and expertise that she brings to the table is unmatched. Cindy spent some time answering questions about her work, process, and inspiration for our AccelerateHER Cohort Stories series. Read on!
Since 2020, each fall, Stoke and TWU team up to offer several women-owned businesses the opportunity to focus on developing their businesses through a five-month incubator program that provides hands-on workshops, resources, mentorship, and more. Weekly workshops are purposefully ordered so that each member of the cohort has a solid starting point in the program and can make specific goals for their personal and professional outcomes from the onset.
“During her career at Dell and HP, Holly Michael won many awards. She was recognized as a top performer and identified as key talent countless times. But, the award she values the most was being recognized as a Volunteer of Distinction at Dell. This is an international award that highlights the top 20 volunteers each year at Dell.”
Radha Patel is based out of Dallas, TX and has been married for 12 years with 2 kids and a dog. She founded a personalized matchmaking company for South Asian singles in the US solely on the idea that she wanted to keep parents out of the process but quickly realized they are often the driving force behind timing & choice.
