Nearly every growing company realizes the importance of reaching out to others through donations,community service, partnership and more. However, in these economically challenging times many have had to pull back.

Kirt Manecke, President and Founder of Land Choices (Landchoices.com) has good memories of sharing picnic lunches with his mom, brother, and dog Herman, in a place with acres of beautiful rolling apple fields called Button’s Orchard.

"ONO Options Not Obligations Enrich Your Personal Life by Rethinking Your Financial Life," book launch, Author Marck Warnke

Angie Ruark, is a business owner with many gifts and talents. She networks them together to produce a growing business and blog.

Vicki Forster, went on a search to find a holder that was not big or bulky to take on those quick trips to the gym; however, she could not find what she was looking for; so she decided to make a water bottle holder that would also hold her keys and a few other things.

“The human body can survive for about thirty days without food. The human condition can sustain itself for about three days without water, but no human alive can survive for more than thirty seconds without HOPE, because without hope we truly have nothing.”

It’s been a great week with the beginning of the 60-in-60 series featuring one business owner each day. I send out a huge thanks to the featured business owners for the feedback, I love sharing your stories.

“Passion is the driving force; knowledge is the power behind any business. I have started numerous businesses over the years and have always been driven by a passion for the product, industry or people I would be working with.

“When you have a business that is a friend to the destiny of others, your own business will thrive!” Krista Dunk, Co-Founder Koinonia Business Women

In December of 2008, Start Up Nation named Pam’s Pantry one of the top 100 Home Based Businesses in the U.S. and they were also acknowledged in the Recession Busters category for their phenomenal growth in recession time.