Andrea Villeneuve
Going virtually to the great beyond!
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Living in the age of technology - exploring takes on new meaning. In the words made famous by the series Star Trek "to go where no man (or woman) has gone before", many of us became the new explorers. No longer are we exploring our worlds from the outside in - but instead from the inside out.
The knowledge of the 'great beyond' often starts right in our own homes - connected to a virtual universe by a small machine we call the computer. Andrea Villeneuve is one of those explorers.
“Our company started as Spelunking Web Design because our first client compared being on the Internet to being in a big, dark cave. And we came to be the explorers. Our relationship with this client developed into web design and way more – he’s our client to this day”.
Andrea’s husband, also a spelunker who loves exploring caves, does all the technical work at SWD and Andrea does the sales, admin and just about everything else. “It’s a good balance – we both focus where we need to”.
“Because our start-up was slow, we both had to take other jobs – he at night and I during the day, in order to have time for our own company PLUS time for our family”.
“Never feel bad about doing what needs doing to find your own balance”, suggests Andrea. “As our business grew, we became self-supporting and we had family time too because we were self-employed”.
“The reason we chose this life together is so our kids could have parents at home and still they could see the adult work ethic first hand”.
Andrea is dedicated to promoting a focus on children. She’s been on the Board of Directors of Earl Grey Children’s Centre for the past 16 years; she’s on the Board of Directors for C.A.P.T. Inc., Children Are People Too, Inc. and she volunteers 1 day a week at her son’s school, supervising the chess club there.
As well, Andrea is an avid networking businesswoman. She’s in her 2nd term as chair of the Commerce Business Club, where she’s served for the past 7 years, and she’s a member of the Women Business Owners of Manitoba.
“Volunteering is a very, very important part of my time – for my family, community and business.”
Andrea came to Roaring Women in part due to Winnipeg Regional Director Lew Bayer. “Lew’s business partner, Karen Mallet, went through the Self Employment Assistance program at the small business startup company where I worked. I approached Karen and Lew to discuss how our company services might be a benefit to them and like many of our clients, we have developed a wonderful long term professional relationship. They have been our clients since 2001.”
“When Lew told me about the new Roaring Women chapter having its inaugural meeting in February 2008, I looked at the website and thought this group really encompassed what I’m looking for in both information availability and connecting with other women.”
Written by Marcia Barhydt
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