Special
Features / January 2008
Sharing her "Leap of Faith"
 Andrea Griffith
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Environmental consulting, positioning mapping, natural and cultural resources work sounds like men’s work, but for Andrea Griffith it is the perfect work for her as a woman and mother.
Her business is now three years old. She worked for an engineering firm for five years and had a baby. She didn’t want to go back to work after the baby was born, so she decided to start her own business, Semaphore Hills Associates, LLC. “I had fully planned to go back to work after the baby was born, but when it came time, I just couldn’t. I contacted several of the project managers that I knew and asked them if they would consider using me as an independent contractor. They said ‘’yes. It was an emotional ‘leap of faith’ starting my own business and being a new mother. I didn’t know if I could do it. I was really scared.”
She began by starting on the necessary paperwork needed to start a business in West Virginia. She filed with the Secretary of State. After finishing all the paperwork to make her business official, then she started on the huge task of applying for DBE (Disadvantaged Business Entity) status with the state of West Virginia. “It was a huge application and long process. It took me about two months to get all the paperwork together to file my application, but I knew that I needed this designation to do the work through I wanted to do.”
Having gone through the process of filing to start her own business and filing for the designation as DBE, Andrea offers this advice to others. “First, realize there is no perfect time to start your own business. Keep good records. Keep your family finances separate from your business finances. Make sure that everything that is related to your business – checking account, savings account, certifications, taxes, etc. is completely separated. Don’t use or borrow any money from your husband.”
Angela said that, “Women who are thinking about being in business for themselves, should at least give it a try for one year. Remember, Donald Trump failed a few times in his career. If you are working in a male dominated field, just remember to do what is right. Run the business as a business should be run and don’t worry about what other people say. Another thing I would recommend is to spend the money for your own domain name and website.”
Beginning with an AAS degree in Business, a BA degree in History from the University of Charleston, and a MA degree in anthropology from George Washington University in Washington, DC, Andrea’s career developed over time. Today, she works mostly for the WV Department of Transportation as an Environmental Consulting ensuring that there are no endangered species or endangered vegetation on work projects.
Andrea Griffith is the owner of Semaphore Hill Associates, LLC in Charleston, WV and is a designated DBE business in the state of West Virginia specializing in environmental consulting. She can be reached at 304-389-1164 or by email at: agriffith@semaphorehill.com.
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