And now.. from a mentee! It isn’t so intimidating to be successful

It isn’t so intimidating to be successful

A part of the The Green Bay Packer Mentor- Protégé Program established in 2011 to pair emerging minority- and woman-owned companies (protégés) with established, knowledgeable, and committed companies (mentors) that can provide exposure, appropriate training, resources and experience not readily available to the protégé companies.

The Packers and AFF Research, LLC, administrators of the Mentor-Protégé Program, are committed to the continuing success of the program and to the community of businesses that benefit from it.

After working as a graphic designer for 10 years, which included many hours of sitting and staring at a computer screen, LeeAnn Laes of About Body realized she had very bad posture.

“The chiropractor said I had the spine of a 70-year-old woman,” said Laes. “The doctor sent me to physical therapy.”

A good friend had recently graduated from massage school and needed business cards, so the two traded services. Laes saw the benefit of massage and decided to change her career.

After that Laes attended Blue Sky School of Massage and graduated with a degree in medical massage. Laes began her company, About Body, to provide people with massage therapy. “I saw the need and went for it,” said Laes.

About Body, LLC primarily does Neuromuscular Massage Therapy. “We also do postural analysis and corrective exercise to help people correct the soft tissue or muscle deficit problems. We do cancer, pre-natal and post-mastectomy massage. We use aromatherapy as well as salves,” said Laes.

Laes applied for The Green Bay Packer Mentor-Protégé program because her business was in a state of growth and she hoped this program would give her the guidance she needed. “I had many different aspects of being a business owner to learn,” said Laes, “From being a one person business to having many people on staff.”

Laes mentor is Julie Musial with The Growth Coach and because of Musial’s help Laes has stayed focused on growing her business. Musial gave her new ideas and tools to use and continue to grow.

From the program, Laes hopes to continue to keep the connections she has made with other business. “I still have a lot of growing to do and can always use the guidance,” said Laes.

About Body, LLC is going into a new building and will expand into two other areas in Green Bay. Laes has gained contracts with schools to help students get internships through her business. Also, Laes is working with NMT Midwest Inc. to help students become certified in Neuromuscular Massage Therapy.

As a protégé, Laes believes The Green Bay Packer Mentor-Protégé Program is important because it gives single or small business owners an opportunity to grow their business and have experts around them at all times.

Laes has two children and three grandchildren with another grandchild on the way. She enjoys the outdoors, especially kayaking adventures around the U.S. and she enjoys the journey of being a business owner and the profession of massage.

Written by Claire Westlie, DPACC Intern 2012, St Norbert College Student 

The Growth Coach, Green Bay, Wis. and Door County Interiors and Design, Egg Harbor, Wis.; Wiplfi, LLP, Green Bay, Wis. and IProcureDirect, Green Bay, Wis.; Wiplfi, LLP, Green Bay, Wis. and Bowman Performance Consulting, Shawano, Wis.; Score, Green Bay, Wis. and Key Elements Healing Arts Center, Green Bay, Wis.; and Strategic Management Associates, Green Bay, Wis. and Sabamba Alpaca Ranch, LLC, De Pere, Wis.