Women-owned businesses make up approximately 39 percent of all U.S. firms, and employ millions of workers, with recent data indicating around 10 to 12 million jobs are supported by women-owned businesses. October marks National Women in Small Business Month, and the Community News Brief is proud to feature numerous women who own and/or lead small businesses within the region.
To commemorate 2025's National Women in Small Business Month, the Brief contacted nearly 20 business owners, operators and/or leaders. Those who responded will be shared in upcoming issues.
Macomb Medical Group of Macomb: Dr. Mary Kathleen Lockard, How long have you owned/operated your business?
I have been a self-employed pediatrician in Macomb since 2004.
What is your business' specialty/focus?
We are a pediatric clinic. We see children in clinic from birth through high school graduation. I also see pediatric patients that are admitted to McDonough District Hospital, and I attend high-risk deliveries at MDH to provide resuscitation and stabilization of critically ill newborns. I care for normal newborns and high-risk newborns, including many premature babies, in the MDH nursery. In clinic, we see patients for a wide range of issues including well child care, mental health, injuries, and sick visits.
Why did you open your own business?
When I first came to town, it was the norm to work in private practice, so it seemed like the obvious choice. Now, most physicians in the area are employed by the hospital or larger groups. I have always enjoyed being my own boss.
What did you do before you opened your business?
Before I opened my pediatric practice, I was learning to be a pediatrician! This meant that I did four years of college, four years of medical school, three years of pediatric residency, and I also stayed an extra year to be a chief resident. I went to school from age 4-29 in order to be a pediatrician.
How did you learn this trade/business?
I got no training in medical school or residency on running a business. I was self-taught, and I was not afraid to ask questions.
I received a lot of help from people in the local medical community and from McDonough District Hospital and the Physician Hospital Organization (PHO) here. I knew going into private practice that I would have to be an expert on medical coding and billing, and for the first twenty years of practice, I reviewed every single EOB (explanation of benefits, which insurance companies send to providers and to patients to explain what amounts are paid and owed for services rendered) that came through our office. I pride myself on not only providing excellent medical care, but on also knowing exactly how to document, code, and bill for the work I do. I belong to a national group of pediatricians who are in private practice, and we collaborate on issues that affect many of us. Insurance companies are constantly trying to underpay me for my work, and I have to remain vigilant to be able to be paid appropriately.
What's your favorite thing about owning your business, and why?
Biggest challenge(s)?
I love being able to work with my own employees.
We tend to have staff stay here for a long time, and we develop close relationships.
To celebrate my 20th year in practice, I took my staff and their families to Costa Rica for several days to celebrate.
I also like to be able to set my own policies and rules for my clinic. If there is an issue, I am ultimately the one in charge.
Some days and weeks and months it can be challenging to keep up with everything, between my first work priority (my patients) and my other work-related obligations (keeping track of finances, overseeing clinic operations, being medical staff president, and attending meetings and dealing with issues at the hospital).
How do you set yourself apart from others who might be doing the same thing? Did you feel as if you were treated differently as a female seeking to own a business?
We strive every day to treat our patients with kindness, patience and dignity.
We know our patients’ families (and sometimes can draw out multiple branches of their family tree). We remember patients’ illnesses, family stressors, hobbies and successes.
We have a large number of children come through the office daily, so we are always aware of illnesses that are going around in our communities, and on our sports teams and at our daycares. For example, last year I noticed an uptick of a distinctive cough illness in one school, and was able to identify it as pertussis, which allowed us to alert the local health departments and spread the message about pertussis in surrounding communities. When I had identified several kids with pertussis, this made it more obvious that it was spreading through classrooms and sports teams and families, and we were able to have a heightened suspicion for pertussis and catch cases early, which hopefully helped the outbreak to be shut down and thus protected infants in our communities, who are always at highest risk for death from pertussis.
As is the case with most women, I have felt looked down upon many times over the years and have been assumed to be weak just because I am a woman. I’ve learned to stand up for myself over the years, though. I know I am intelligent and capable and hardworking, and I know I treat people well and give them excellent care. I have come to understand that it is okay that not everyone likes me or agrees with me, and this does not diminish my worth.
Goals for the business?
I want our practice to continue to be at the forefront of pediatric medical care. We need to remain busy enough to be profitable and provide well for our employees and their families, while retaining the personal touch of a small private practice.
Advice to women who want to start their own business?
Look for resources to guide you. Join groups of like-minded individuals for collaboration and support.
Never stop learning. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you don’t know something.
IPI Wealth Management: Julie Anne Pickett, co-owner How long have you owned/operated your business?
I've been a co-owner since 2015 What is your business' specialty/focus?
Financial advising, wealth management and retirement planning.
Why did you open your own business/how did you get started?
I started out in an admin position and was promoted to office manager. I became a licensed advisor in 2006 and business partner in 2015.
What did you do before you opened your business?
Before I was the office manager I worked as a day care teacher while raising my children.
How did you learn this trade/business?
Through on-the-job training as I watched and learned from the other advisors in the office.
What's your favorite thing about owning your business, and why?
I really enjoy helping people reach their financial goals and showing them and guiding them towards a successful, financially secure future. I developed a Basic Financial Literacy seminar and a Women's Seminar to educate young people on basic strategies which I really enjoy teaching.
How do you set yourself apart from others who might be doing the same thing? Did you feel as if you were treated differently as a female seeking to own a business?
There were very few female financial advisors in the area when I got my license. I think I was one of two in Macomb. There were a few times when people assumed I was the admin when they walked in the building and were surprised to find out I was one of the advisors, but I have also had many women reach out to me because they specifically wanted a female advisor as they feel that women listen and communicate differently and they didn't feel like they were being 'heard' by their male advisor.
I am not sure how or if I have set myself apart from the other female advisors in the area. I try to stay true to myself and build a connection with a person so a relationship can develop over time. I enjoy people and getting to know their stories and I think that comes across during the process of building that relationship.
As the business has grown, our team has also grown. We now have an additional partner in Quincy with team members in that office that assist in serving our clients and we are currently actively looking to have another associate advisor in the Macomb office.
Advice to women who want to start their own business?
Take a chance on yourself, surround yourself with a strong support team and lean on your tribe when you feel overwhelmed.
