Meet the Thriving Women Entrepreneurs in Castle Rock, CO

Rachael B Photography

As the popular saying by British author Kate Hodges goes, “Behind every great woman … is another great woman,” and that certainly rings true for the women entrepreneurs in Castle Rock, CO.

Small-business owners make up 85% of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce’s membership, and of those, many are women-owned businesses. 

With special programs and networking groups aimed at women entrepreneurs, the town has set women in business up for success. 

“Initiatives like Women of Influence and Women of the Workforce create opportunities for networking and support that allow women to thrive and contribute even more to the local economy,” says Stacy Garmon, Castle Rock Chamber president and CEO. “Castle Rock fosters an inclusive and empowering business environment, which is crucial for success and growth.” 

Courtesy of CR Chamber

Stellar Support System 

Women of Influence, created by the Castle Rock Chamber, is a quarterly luncheon series featuring speakers on important topics related to being a woman in business. The meetings provide networking opportunities and the chance to share invaluable insights, discuss key issues, explore solutions, and empower and advance women in their careers. 

Women of the Workforce, founded by two locals, Inger Hiller and Gina Anguiano, hosts professional networking events on the second Tuesday of every month at no cost to participants. Aimed at fostering and strengthening the relationships of Castle Rock’s working women, their events take place at local venues like yoga studios, salons, zipline parks and breweries. 

“We created Women of the Workforce to connect women in business and give them the opportunity to meet each other,” says Anguiano, race director of RUN to Change Lives since 2017. 

“We work hard to highlight local business and give them exposure instead of meeting in the same old office,” says Hiller, owner/ employing broker at NextHome Aspire Real Estate. “We do this to connect people.” 

Success Stories 

The list of women-owned businesses continues to grow. 

Minuteman Press of Castle Rock is owned by Mary Anderson and her husband, Greg, who are also the recipients of the Chamber’s 2024 Small Business Award. Mary is on the Castle Rock Chamber’s board of directors. Minuteman Press is a franchise chain of print shops offering products including business cards and signage. 

Dawn Gabriel is the founder and CEO of Authentic Connections Counseling Center, the host of the podcast Soul Care for Therapists and vice chair of the Castle Rock Chamber board of directors.

Backed by almost 20 years of diverse experiences in the mental health field, her current focus is managing the center and helping therapists around the country prevent burnout. 

Sarah Miles founded Milestone Tech, a technology solution provider whose competencies range from handling Fortune 100 technology refresh, data center and cloud initiatives to building software offerings like HP SmartStores.

She’s also a partner in Provision, an upscale speakeasy-style cocktail lounge that opened in 2020. 

Maria Kane launched The Skin Co. in 2004 after a decade-long career as a nurse.

After having her own family, she was inspired to help people age beautifully after visiting her doctor’s office for laser hair removal, and her medical spa was born. 

After a career in marketing, Jen Kaminski pivoted to full-time parenting, leading her to create the Instagram account Castle Rock Families, where she highlights all the family-friendly activities the area has to offer.

With 11,000 followers on Instagram and almost 4,000 on Facebook, Kaminski has established herself as the go-to for family fun in Castle Rock and beyond. 

A former high school Spanish teacher, Chelsea Husum, owner of American GPR & Coring, became an office manager for a commercial construction company and identified a need in the industry for a small company to do concrete coring, drilling and scanning for smaller developing companies. She loves doing business in Castle Rock and finds it welcoming as an entrepreneur and as a resident. 

“I adore Castle Rock. It has a small-town feel, and I often run into other small-business owners,” Husum says. “You get to be involved with people who care about the town and have a close-knit community where people are invested in what happens here. I saw a niche in my industry that needed my business, and it’s been well-received.” 

Celebrating Business Leaders in Castle Rock

The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce hosted its Winter Frost Gala, an annual gala and awards ceremony, in February 2024. 

“This signature event is held to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our members,” Garmon says. “It’s our honor to work alongside these businesses and organizations as they continue to make a lasting impression on the Castle Rock community.” 

The awards honor entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations and individuals who have made a significant impact through their work, whether by serving on a board, volunteering or acting as a community advocate. 

The categories and recipients for the 2024 awards ceremony are: 

• Large Business of the Year: CORE Electric Cooperative 
• Small Business of the Year: Minuteman Press and Union American Bistro 
• Nonprofit of the Year: Help & Hope Center 
• Citizen of the Year: Steve Peterson, Christian Brothers Automotive 
• Advocate of the Year: Erin Kane, Douglas County School District 
• Volunteer of the Year: Dave Uekert, Scheibe Agency Brightway Insurance 
• Ambassador of the Year: Rebecca Dunn, Dunn Financial Coaching