Influential Woman · Printing Marketing graphics

Wende Walker

Owner, Minuteman Press Hoffman Estates

Hoffman Estates , IL

1Award received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Degree Public Law Degree Paralegal Certificate Member Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Member Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee Member Three Women's Groups

Her Story

About Wende

I'm the owner of Minuteman Press in Hoffman Estates, and we celebrated three years in December, so we're about three and a half years in now. I'm also currently a flight attendant, and unfortunately we're the only major airline that doesn't have a union, so I make the same amount of money I did in 2006. After a while, you take a look at that and realize you should be in a different place this many decades into a career. I really don't want to work that much to make the money - you'd have to work so many more times and be gone pretty much 21 days of the month, and that to me is not a life. So I started this business basically so that I could see if we could replace my income and eventually my daughters, I have two daughters, could have a life. It basically came out of financial need. In my typical day, I do a lot of the networking and marketing. I'll come in, do the bookkeeping, write thank you letters and glad to meet you letters, postcards if I've met someone networking. If I have an event, I'll go to the event. I'm in three women's groups and on the board of directors for our Chamber of Commerce as well as on their membership committee. When I'm in the shop, I can do a bid if somebody comes in and wants a job, and I do a lot of finishing work - if the guys are overwhelmed, I can sit and do all the cutting and make sure it gets in the box and ready to go.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Wende

01What do you attribute your success to?

Honestly, God comes to mind to begin with, just my drive to keep going and not accept mediocre. I don't give up - eventually all the pieces will fall into place. When it comes to networking, I focus on making relationships. If you make relationships and you want to know about people, that usually opens up the door to either assisting them for their future and what they do, or vice versa. It's about that drive to keep pushing forward and maintaining high standards in everything I do.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

It's like a combination. Basically, don't give up. Eventually, all the pieces will fall into place. And when it comes to networking, you make relationships. If you make relationships, you want to know about them, and that usually opens up the door to either assisting them for their future and what they do, or vice versa. The key is to keep going and build genuine connections with people.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Keep going. With any small business, you have to make sure people know you exist - if people don't know, things don't happen. So you have to network yourself and find the correct people, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Just find the people that will help you get to where you want to be. It's about persistence, visibility, and not being afraid to reach out for support.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenges would be overseas companies that want to undercut you. Some of the larger companies don't have the small business mentality with communication, or quality - they get it done, yeah, that's great, but they don't have any heart in it. There's always that person who wants to undercut you, and things ebb and flow. You just kind of have to pay attention and keep going. For me, I'm looking for big pieces into our company - something that's consistent that wants products that I can provide, where we can work together and make it work methodically.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Ethics stands up number one. You have to be ethical. Tell the truth. Communicate. Don't hold back, because all of those cause controversy later. If you tell the truth - if you say this job will be done in two weeks and we get close to that mark and it's not happening, pick up the phone, call the client, explain. Ninety-five percent of the time, nobody's mad that you're late, they're mad that they don't know. I'm very big on ethics. In theory, there's enough work out there for everybody, there's no reason to try to cheat somebody out of something. It's just karma in the end. I also keep God first, family, and just try to be ethical and keep going.

Keep Exploring