History

The history of WBO began in December 1980 when Diane Norcross, then owner of Potomac Minute Maids, felt a need to discuss the ups and downs of entrepreneurship with another woman business owner. Across the hall in the same Rockville office building was Helen Hillstrom, who had started and operated Hillstrom Real Estate.

The two women got to talking and decided they were onto something important. They invited 10 other women business owners to join them for lunch at the Rockville Ramada Inn, and so Women Business Owners of Montgomery County was born.

Just as the original group came together to share experiences, problems, and most important, solutions, so we of Women Business Owners - now over 150 strong - continue to rely on each other and to reach out to new members for the sharing of resources, camaraderie, and support.

Founding Members

Montgomery College Scholarship
Since 1989, WBO has funded an annual scholarship at Montgomery College. The scholarship is given to a woman student selected by the financial aid office who has maintained grades at an approved level and has demonstrated financial need. Students apply for the WBO Scholarship through Montgomery College. [Scholarship recipients and their stories.]

WBO is represented in the following organizations and activities:

• The Women's Legislative Briefing, held annually in February and attended by hundreds of women from Montgomery and Prince George's counties. WBO supports the briefing with a donation and by sending a representative to the planning committee.

• Leadership Montgomery, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that educates and connects citizen leaders more effectively to improve our community. Individuals are chosen each year to participate in a full-year program. WBO is represented by Mary Kirby (Class of '94), Anne Sanderoff-Walker (Class of '96), Meredith Higgins (Class of '98), Bethany Portner (Class of '98), and Gayley Knight (Class of '03).

• The Committee for Montgomery, a coalition of 35 diverse community organizations committed to enhancing quality of life in Montgomery County through collaboration on legislative and other issues. WBO is represented by its President.

• The Council of Presidents of the Montgomery County Commission for Women meets three times yearly to foster communication among presidents of the many different women's organizations in the county. WBO is represented by its President.

In addition, WBO participates in volunteer service including the annual County Community Service Day in October, our President's Project and more such as the Montgomery County Women's History Quilt Project. See the WBO square in lower left corner of the quilt, created and sewn by members Jacqui Grothe and Joan Cranmer, which is on display at the County Commission for Women office.