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Andrea C. Silbert Rising Star Award
Recipient
Kim Lamothe
Greenlion Design: Gardens and Florals the Green Way
I grew up middle class in Tiverton, RI. My Dad was employed by the Naval War College and was an
example to me of professionalism and what it was like to succeed in the work force. My Mom, how-
ever, worked at a supermarket and drank...and not always in that order. And so, while I always had
innate horticultural talent, and dreamed of being able to say, “I have to meet a client,” the reality was
that by my mid-twenties I was living in a fourth floor apartment in a dingy neighborhood in Fall River, driving a beater for a car and working terrible waitress jobs.
In 2005 I heard about the Center for Women & Enterprise from a friend of a friend, and I went to CWE
in Providence to find out more. I got a partial scholarship to take the “Power-Up” course. Without the
scholarship I would never have been able to participate. I had literally nothing. The class taught me
how to write a business plan, develop my elevator pitch and directed me to a company where I re-
ceived a $1,000 loan which I used to buy some gardening tools and put a down payment on a truck.
One of the most exciting developments to come out of my CWE course, however, was meeting Alyn
Carlson. A graphic designer, Alyn talked to us about what it was like to start a business as a woman –
something that was so foreign to me – in a way that was encouraging and inspiring.
The Center for Women & Enterprise changed my life. Without it I would never have found the confi-
dence to believe in myself, to go from Kim with the green thumb to Greenlion Design: Gardens and
Florals the Green Way.
From CWE, I learned that the best marketing was genuine marketing, and that I could create a niche by being myself and caring on a
gut level about other people. Because of my logo and business card, developed in my class at CWE and aided by Alyn, my workload
increased and I was able to buy a better truck the next year. The backbreaking landscape work I was doing segued into more elite
horticultural work, and finally I was able to break into the wedding business.
Fast forward to the year 2010, when I was selected to be a Vendor Partner with
Longwood Events, a lifestyle company with four luxury event venues in New
England. I completed fifteen weddings this past year, and in the process learned
that what I need to manage this growth now is a shop with a cooler. It is practi-
cally unheard-of for a florist of my caliber (and I can say things like “my cali-
ber” now, thanks to CWE!) to not have a means of refrigeration. A cooler ex-
tends the life of the flowers that I procure and allows me to complete bouquets
and boutonnieres in advance as opposed to having to do everything immediately
before an event, which greatly increases my stress level and reduces the oppor-
tunities I am able to accept. It is to these ends that I would use the Andrea C.
Silbert Rising Star Award, as well as being able to afford to set up my own flo-
ral shop. Brides want to come see me in my surroundings, to see how I decorate
things. I can go to their venue but it doesn’t showcase my style. With a physical
location I could have a face to my business--rather than have it hidden in a ga-
rage (even if it is a very cool garage).
CWE is responsible for the existence of my business as well as for my changed view of me and my dramatically improved self-
esteem. Something I also learned from CWE was the importance of giving back. I am proud of my contributions to efforts such as
Singing Out Against Hunger. I have also been able to take on one bride per season who has pretty much no budget. Thanks to CWE
I know that all people need is an opportunity, and I am beyond grateful for the progress I have made to this point.
Kim Lamothe
www.greenlionri.com
www.greenlionweddings.com
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