"It's a place where women are embraced and grow to be the best that they can be."

Michele Hoskins is owner and founder of Michele Foods, Inc., a multi-million dollar company that produces Honey Crème Syrup, Butter Pecan Syrup, and Maple Crème Syrup, as well as other fine food products. The company’s products can be found in more than 10,000 food stores nationwide, including Stop & Shop, Super Wal*Mart, Albertson, Kroger, Publix, Super Target, Cub Foods, H.E. Butt Grocery, Jewel Foods, Safeway and Dominick’s Finer Foods. Michele was awarded the 2002 “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Women’s Foodservices Forum. Her success has been legion.

But it is only two decades ago that Michele was just starting out, and she had nothing except her dreams and her great-great-grandmother’s secret recipe. When she first came to the Women’s Business Development Center and met Hedy Ratner, the Co-President at the WBDC, Michele was a single mother of three daughters, and she had lost the day job that was to support her through getting her business off the ground. It was a crucial time in Michele’s life, when the encouragement of a woman like Hedy could make or break her spirit.

Hedy’s counsel and advice proved invaluable. Hedy literally held Michele’s hand and they went to the Thompson Center together, where Chicago’s city government is housed, and Michele was certified as a minority- and woman-owned business by the City of Chicago. Hedy’s guidance also helped Michele put together her first business plan.

Today, Michele says that any woman who wants to start a business should go to the Women’s Business Development Center. It’s “a place where women are embraced and grow to be the best that they can be."

Twenty years ago, an ex-school teacher and single mother had children to support, a secret recipe, and a dream.  SWEET EXPECTATIONS:  Michele Hoskins' Recipe for Success (Adams Media; Hardcover; October 12, 2004) by Michele Hoskins is an inspirational and emotionally charged story showing how the power of family, faith, and self-determination can transcend even the darkest days...and lead to sweet, sweet success.