When Jo Ellen Soesbee opened Reliable Repairs, it was tough for her to get taken seriously in the home improvement business.
“I’m in a field that’s mostly men, so I don’t get the same respect,” she said. “When I would go to meetings to meet with construction people, they would just ignore me.”
The Pasadena woman had to be persistent in her mission, constantly networking and talking to those in the renovation and repair trades to prove she knows what she’s talking about.
On Sunday, Soesbee will be recognized by those who know what it’s like to be in her shoes.
She will be one of five county business owners honored in Adelphi at the state’s third annual Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise Awards, which recognizes 100 of Maryland’s most outstanding minority and women business owners.
Soesbee, who is MBE certified, is starting to see attention being paid to her business. Surrounding herself with other female owners has helped her stay positive and focused.
“When I first said we were going to do this, people kind of laughed,” she said. “I think it’s hard to convince people that I’m serious about it.”
Soesbee picked up another business in January to help women in similar positions. She is now a consultant for Tomboy Tools, which manufactures tools ergonomically designed for women and donates part of the proceeds to breast cancer.
Tools come in pink, complete with pink tool belts and cases.
Soesbee hopes to do some community service with Tomboy Tools.
“I want to work with women who are owning their first house or victims of domestic violence and getting back out on their own,” she said.
Logo from Tomboy Tools