Member Profile: Women Entrepreneurs in Rotary
By Paul Quintavalla

It is true that most businesses are owned by men. But the number of women entrepreneurs is rising. Here are a few stories of Rotary women who took different paths to growing their own businesses. What did they have in common? They took risks, worked hard and believed in themselves. 

This issue profiles three successful women entrepreneurs in District 7450: Debi Friedmann, West Chester Passport; Andrea Fanfera, Ardmore Rotary; and Tammy Duering, Longwood Rotary. 

Growing from Scratch

Debi Friedmann was an art director with a major publication company when, two weeks before her wedding, she quit her job to become a self-employed graphic designer. She took a chance, and it worked.
 
Several years later, Debi invested her savings to create a printing and design business.  She believed she could prosper by bringing efficiency, variety, and flexibility to the marketplace. “My three core values in business are – Unleashed Creativity, Community Loyalty and Tail-Wagging Service.”
 
As a believer in community service, she often assisted the West Chester Rotary Club and was recognized as an Honorary Member.  In 2018, she was a charter member of the Rotary Passport Club of West Chester and was elected president for both 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Her first year’s goal was to double membership.  She successfully grew the club from 15 to 31 members. 
 
Debi takes part in her club’s monthly service projects and continues to participate in the West Chester Club’s Chili Cook-Off and Stockings for Soldiers. She recently joined the District 7450 Rotaplast International Committee and is waiting for her first overseas mission.
         

Growing by Different Means

Andrea Fanfera’s first enterprise came when she was employed in the medical industry. She ran a housekeeping business as a side line. “While coworkers went out to lunch, I went out to look at a job and write a proposal.” The business grew by word of mouth and its good reputation.

After nine years, she and a partner purchased a residential painting franchise with CertaPro Painters focusing on developing the Main Line clients. “I would attend three to five networking events every week.”

Andrea saw greater opportunities in private ownership and created Greenstreet Building and Design, which offers a wide range of home renovations, alterations, and custom home improvements. For large projects, Andrea operates as a general contractor and engages other providers. She continues to focus on the Main Line market where she is well-known in the community.

Andrea joined the Ardmore Rotary Club in 2015 and has served on various committees.  She was Club President in 2020-2021. Other titles have included chair of the club’s annual 5K run and its Grand 90th Anniversary Gala. In addition, she is the club’s ambassador to Ardmore's sister club in Tokyo, Japan.

Growing What She Loves

As a young single mom, Tammy Duering pursued a career as a computer support technician. But after several years with a major corporation, she turned to selling real estate. She had gone back to school and studied for a real estate broker’s license. Then she and her husband took a leap of faith, invested their savings, and took loans to purchase an existing RE/MAX office in West Grove.
 
“It was a big risk, and our finances were very scarce and difficult for a few years, but we worked through it and things turned around,” said Tammy. Self-confident and encouraged by her success, she again invested in the future by establishing a new RE/MAX office in Kennett Square. Later, she opened a real estate title company.
 
A member of the Longwood Rotary Club since 2009, Tammy has served on every committee and has held every office except secretary. Today, she heads up the Fundraising Committee and focuses on two ambitious projects. The first is the Grub Grab Great Rotary Restaurant Raffle, selling chances to win gift certificates to thirty restaurants. The second is upgrading their famous Annual Gala held in the Longwood Gardens Conservatory. It will take on an extravagant Great Gatsby theme with “all the trimmings.” Guests will be dressed in the “Roaring 20s” style and will dance to a twenty-two piece orchestra. It promises to be a memorable and magnificent occasion!