Jennifer Witmyer
Jennifer Witmyer is a dynamic entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Archwood Soapery LLC and Filthy Vegan, where she designs and manufactures clean, ingredient-conscious personal care products. Originally on a path to pursue dermatology in Southern California, she relocated to Pennsylvania for a more affordable cost of living and eventually shifted her career focus after raising a family and facing a personal health challenge: a thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2016. This pivotal moment inspired her to scrutinize every ingredient in her own life, ultimately fueling her passion for creating natural skincare and haircare products.
Since launching her business, Jennifer has built a reputation for authenticity and quality, growing her company rapidly through word-of-mouth and practitioner referrals. Within a year of starting Archwood Soapery, her products gained multi-location wholesale placement in Whole Foods, an early milestone that validated her formulations and approach. She remains deeply involved in every aspect of her business, from formulating and pressing bars to testing product stability and providing private-label services, ensuring that all products are free from artificial dyes and harsh preservatives.
Jennifer balances her entrepreneurial endeavors with family life, raising five children while managing a hands-on manufacturing operation. Her professional philosophy emphasizes resilience, practical expertise, and service to others, and she has been recognized for her work through features in national retail outlets, television segments, and profiles such as Voyage Pennsylvania. As a woman-owned business in progress, Jennifer continues to inspire through her commitment to clean, effective products and her ability to transform personal challenges into entrepreneurial success.
• Woman-owned small business certification (in progress)
• College in Southern California (incomplete - did not complete medical school path to become dermatologist)
• Featured on Women in Power TV show (airing later in 2025/2026)
• Featured in Voyage Magazine Pennsylvania
• Greater Reading Community
• Woman-owned small business certification (in progress)
• Provides products to people with cancer
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my genuine love for people, my curiosity, and my ability to build trust and connections with those around me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to focus on how I can help others, not just on my own accomplishments—being a helper and serving people is what truly builds trust and success.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be authentic and trustworthy—know your stuff, back up your words with actions, and always follow through on what you say.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My biggest challenges are for scaling, finding land to expand. I have an employee, and I trust her more than myself - she was my boss when I worked in corporate America. Now I need industrial equipment, and I need land, and I need to start expanding. This year, I'm planning on electing as an S-Corp, which means I will no longer be viewed as a sole proprietor. That means I will be getting a paycheck, and I will be able to give my employee a steady paycheck. I also would like to find land and build a new building that is just made for me, where I don't need to alter things because that takes a lot of time.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value people who have had a hard life, and if they've taken lessons that they've learned from those hard times. I like people like that. They seem to appreciate everything, and they're smart in different ways than if you've had an easy life. Those are my favorite people.