I met Tammy Wilhoite for the first time a couple of weeks ago over a lovely cup of coffee. We chatted about our lives and my renewed membership with ninety-nine girlfriends. As the conversation was winding down, she asked how I felt about writing a Member Spotlight. I thought about what I would say to all my new Girlfriends about myself and my renewed desire to join. Here’s what bubbled up for me.
I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My father owned property in Reno and my mother built a bed and breakfast on the central Oregon Coast. During my younger years, I was a professional Can-Can dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris. I worked for Club Med teaching snorkeling, I opened an aerobics studio in Eugene in the mid 80’s and yes, I wore leg warmers!!
In my mid-twenties, after a serious running injury, I decided to head back to college to become a physical therapist. When I graduated 7 years later, I moved to Austin for two decades.In the early 90’s, the entrepreneurial seed planted by my parents sprouted. I opened a PT clinic, remodeled a bunch of homes, and had a baby girl. In 2008, I designed, built and operated a boutique hotel in Austin called Kimber Modern.
Being the entrepreneurial type is exhilarating and scary, starting your own business is scary, the fear of failure is super scary, financial ruin even scarier. But there's something that drives you to pursue your ideas, your dreams, your passions…
The humans who have the fighting spirit, the grit, the resilience, the determination and the heart to start their own businesses and risk everything are the people I admire the most beyond measure. The small non-profit organizations that are applying for grants and trying to make a difference in this world, for the better, are my heroes.
By renewing my membership, I pledge to be engaged and involved in the application and voting process and to learn as much as possible about the people and organizations that are applying. An award of $100K is a game changer and such an immense honor.
Additionally, the prospect of meeting many of you, in person, is very exciting to me. Being part of a like-minded women’s giving collective, that’s so impactful and critically important, truly fills my soul.
Kimber Cavendish