Women’s Business Network of Frederick

Meet Our Board Members

Michelle

Casey

Dawn

Laura

Lois

Kim

Tina

President

Michelle Rankin

Owner & Certified Loan Signing Agent, Victory Closers

Michelle is a native of Frederick and has lived here her entire life. While living and working in her community she is given the opportunity to serve others through her work, knowing she makes a difference.

Michelle is the Owner and Publisher of Stroll Landsdale – a private, monthly publication for the residents living in the Landsdale community in Monrovia, MD. She loves connecting businesses with the neighborhood and creating relationships based on word-of-mouth and trust. If a business wants to reach this affluent community, she can help. In addition to the publication there are great social events bringing the residents and the business sponsors together for a chance to further genuine connections.

In addition to the publication, Michelle also owns Victory Closers – a company she started in July 2020 during the pandemic. She is a professional and personable Certified Loan Signing Agent. She brings value to her industry by providing clients with a positive, error-free experience. She specializes in real estate documents, having a strong understanding of both loan and title documents as well as settlement procedures. At Victory Closers, the goal is to “Help Clients Cross the Finish Line”.

Prior to Victory Closers, Michelle spent 7 years as a Marketing and Community Relations Manager for a large multi-state car wash and quick-lube company. She has also owned and maintained her own health and life insurance business.

Michelle has a strong passion for her community. She has been a member of the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek for 17 years, having served on their board many times as well as being the Volunteer Coordinator for Frederick’s Oktoberfest. She is also the chairperson for the club’s Ft. Detrick recognition program.

Michelle enjoys hiking and biking with her best guy Wes and their dog Joker. She loves to travel and always has her suitcase packed and ready to ‘hit the road’.

"Make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it"
Edward W. Bok

Vice President

Casey Clark, MBA, MA

Owner, C3 | Founder, Amplified Change

Casey, a Frederick native, is an Entrepreneur who’s passionate about helping others. As a Growth Strategist and owner of C3, she challenges clients’ thought processes and behaviors to improve the function and success of their business. Clients love her relatable approach and are inspired by her ability to imagine what could be. Additionally, Casey founded Amplified Change, a nonprofit focused on helping children with adverse experiences heal through art.

Casey earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and MBA from Argosy University, Washington, D.C., as well as her Masters in Health in Wellness Coaching from Maryland University of Integrative Health. Her education and diverse experience help her implement practical strategies to help businesses grow better so that they can make a bigger impact in their communities. 

Personally, Casey enjoys her self-proclaimed title of ‘food critic’ and enjoys different restaurant experiences as she travels around the world. You can always count on having a great discussion about restaurants to try and neuroplasticity – one of Casey’s favorite topics!

"Everything that is created begins in the mind."
Ruth Fishel

Secretary

Dawn Hipsley

Owner, Tripoint Administrative Services

Dawn is an 18-year resident of Walkersville, where she lives with her husband and their two sons.  Over the years, she has worked with several organizations in Frederick County to give back to the community.  She enjoys spending time in the beautiful outdoors that the Catoctin and surrounding mountains have to offer.
 
In 2017, Dawn launched Tripoint Administrative Services, an Administrative Services company.  While her professional background was in the insurance industry, Dawn has much experience in offering administrative support.  As an Administrative Coordinator, she works with networking organizations, as well as, Chambers of Commerce.  Tripoint Administrative Services is very excited to branch out to help more businesses meet and exceed their goals.
"Being a strong woman is very important to me. But doing it all on my own is not.”
Reba McEntire

Membership Chair

Laura Beall

Financial Advisor with Hummingbird Wealth

As a single mother for 13 years, Laura learned the importance of taking control of her financial future.  After 25 years in the Banking Industry, she decided that it was time to share her knowledge with others.  In 2013 she followed her heart and became a Registered Investment Professional.

Laura takes a holistic approach when working with clients and develops a road map to pursue your goals.  Whether the goal involves building wealth through investing, planning for a comfortable retirement, or protecting your estate, she will listen to your goals and help develop and update the plan that works best for you.

Background, Education and Community Service

  • Financial Professional starting in 1998
  • Registered Investment Professional since 2013
  • Series 7, 66 and MD Life/Health Licenses
  • Associates Degree in Business Management
  • Member of Locust Grove Church of the Brethren
  • Member of the Glade Valley Lions Club
  • Member/Ambassador of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce
  • Member of the Women’s Business Network of Frederick
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Eleanor Roosevelt

Special Events Chair

Kim Wilson

Owner and Integrative Life Coach, Rise Ignited LLC

Kim is an entrepreneur who has a deep-rooted passion for helping others individually and collectively in community.  Through a mind, body, heart, and soul approach, Kim helps women ignite their rise to their higher selves. She helps those who feel imprisoned by trauma and pain understand their own empowered bio-individuality in a way that elevates them to the abundant, purpose-driven life they desire.

After experiencing and living her own “pain to purpose” journey, Kim gained the wisdom, resources, and tools to not only take back her health and life but now helps many others on their own resilient rise. 

Kim earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Townson University. After graduating college, Kim became a Montgomery County police officer, where she later sustained an on-the-job injury and medically retired from the police department.  This path of chronic pain led her down a healing journey and a deep-rooted discovery of holistic and integrative wellness. 

Kim is a certified coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  She is also a Reiki practitioner and certified trauma-informed yoga teacher.  She helps others nourish, heal and thrive in all aspects of life.  Primarily offering services through one on one coaching, group programs, yoga, retreats, and speaking events.  Rooted in community, Kim is very active in community organizations, volunteer work, and giving back.  She also enjoys connecting others in our community and beyond.

Kim was raised in the area and currently resides in Frederick.

In her spare time, Kim enjoys cooking farm-to-table foods, gardening, working out, shopping at local farmers’ markets, and being in nature. 

 

 

"And just as the Phoenix rose from the ashes, she too will rise. Returning from the flames, clothed in nothing but her strength, more beautiful than ever before."
Shannen Heartz

Programs Chair

Lois Pruitt

Owner, Frederick Basket Company

Hi, my name is Lois Pruitt and I’m the owner of the Frederick Basket Co. Being from a small farm in Pennsylvania, I was taught self preservation and hard work at a young age. Since gaining ownership in 2016, we’ve grown in sales, staff, clients, and have opened a new corporate gifting production facility. Even as the self proclaimed “Boss Lady”, the business would not be where it is without the work of my excellent staff to make a business dream come true. My goal is for the business to grow in clients over the coming years, and have a legacy brand for me and my family.

The success of my business would be nothing without the local community of Frederick. I want the  people to view The Frederick Basket Co. as a locally owned, woman owned business that has integrity and provides a small town feel with big results. We want to provide these big services to corporations and local businesses; Providing customers with respect, treating them as a friend and making the community better is my mantra.

When I’m not at work, I like to relax with my dog Milo and taste-test expired products from the store. Being a mother of two sons, Gage and Gavin and having my husband, Matt always keeps me busy.

"If life is like a box of chocolates, I'll pair mine with a glass of wine."

Member At Large

Tina Brockett, MS, CNS, LDN

Owner & Integrative Clinical Nutritionist, Encompass Integrative Wellness

Christina Brockett (Tina), MS, CNS, LDN is a board-certified, licensed dietitian-nutritionist and founder of Encompass Integrative Wellness, LLC which is focused on providing personalized nutritional counseling and coaching services to optimize health, and where necessary, address dysfunction and disease. Her approach is rooted in the belief that everyone is different and therefore their strategies should be equally as unique. Tina works collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and help them develop real, sustainable change. In addition to her one-on-one work, Tina created the Real Integrative Institute which offers self-paced and facilitated nutritional classes designed to empower participants to live healthier lives.

 

Tina earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business from the University of Maryland as well as her Masters in Nutrition and Integrative Health from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She is a professional member of the American Nutrition Association, a member of The Institute for Functional Medicine, and Vice-President of the Frederick County Healthcare Coalition.

 

Since relocating to the Frederick area in 1999, Tina embarked on different ways to give back to the community. She has worked with Justice and Recovery Advocates providing nutritional and integrative health programming for nearly 7 years, worked as a volunteer with Mission of Mercy as well as Team Hope, and most recently coordinated the Dig Pink event for Tuscarora High School to support The Side-Out Foundation.

 

In her spare time, Christina LOVES to play with food in her kitchen, finding ways to enhance existing or develop new recipes. In addition, you may also find her working out or reading a good book… you may say she has a bit of a book problem! During most of the year, however, weekends are spent traveling with her husband to watch her daughter play volleyball or visit her son at college.

 

"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike."
John Steinbeck