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The road to Roaring Women was paved in chocolate bars. Cheryl met Mandie in February of 2005 at a Women’s Show. At that time, Cheryl was the owner of home business and looking for guidance and support that so many home and micro businesses need.
Cheryl McCabe grew up in Merlin, a small town near Chatham, Ontario. As a young adult she became interested in educating children and attended Sheridan College in Oakville. It was there that her desire to help special needs children get the education they so desperately needed was nurtured. She graduated from the “Children, Our Challenge” program in 1984. After college she moved to London Ontario while her husband attended the University of Western Ontario.
Over the next few years they moved from there to Winnipeg and back again- following educational pursuits. “There was a time in my life where I did not live in one place for more than a year” she laughs as she tells me.
During their first stop in London, Cheryl worked full time as a Developmental Service Worker but when they started their family she turned her skills to an educational setting and worked as an E.S.L Educational Assistant in an elementary school. When life took them to Winnipeg, she pursued the role of stay at home mom and continued that role until their daughter entered school. She is full of energy and optimism - refreshing qualities in the high stressed world we live in.
Cheryl is familiar with sales. She attempted to sell Kirby vacuums early in their marriage. 'Attempted' being the operative word, she never sold one and when her boss said she was a ‘professional visitor’, Cheryl said ‘goodbye.’
Later home with both children, she moved on to sell Park Lane/Lady Remington Jewellery through the direct sales method. This was more successful, sometimes even being the top seller in Ontario. This came to a natural ending when they moved to Waterloo, Ontario so her husband could accept a teaching job at the University of Waterloo. She never imagined that she would one day own her own business.
After 3 years of busier city life, Cheryl and her husband moved the family to a local small town. They settled in Wellesley, ON and have called this place home for 9 years. Although employed full time for the Catholic School Board as an Educational Assistant working with special needs students she and her neighbour brainstormed the idea of Candy Covers, personalized candy wrappers, the business that brought her to the Woman’s Show in search of education and support. They had run the business together for almost 3 years and Cheryl had became the sole owner in 2002.
Upon joining Roaring Women in 2003 Cheryl set out to introduce herself to as many members as possible. “That is what drew me to Roaring Women. The opportunity to meet like minded business women.” As Cheryl’s business knowledge grew and her desire to help other women in business she accepted the role as Regional Director in Waterloo.
Over time, Candy Covers lost the excitement that it once had held. One of the important lessons Cheryl had learned through Roaring Women is that you need passion to pursue your dream and her passion for Candy Covers was waning. She still loved reaching out to other women in business, welcoming them to Roaring Women and being sure that they knew all that a membership has to offer.
This is where she discovered that as one door closes another one opens. Roaring Women was starting to experience fast growth and needed assistance to help with the organization. Cheryl accepted the role as Trainer of Regional Directors. “This is one way I can give back to an organization that has so much knowledge and support to offer. I am in touch with women across Canada and helping give them the tools to be successful with their chapters.”
Who knew that the faithful encounter with Mandie Crawford in 2005 would have lead Cheryl to be a leader of others? Certainly not Cheryl, but she is thankful to be able to step up to the challenges and encourages all women to pursue their passion and to be open to change if it crosses their path.
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