Johns Creek Jungle

Originally published in the March 28 print edition.

Forward: Uncovering the untold stories of people who live in a community is one of the greatest pleasures of the publishing business. And there are many untold stories.

To be sure, we were only able to scratch the surface of the many, many stories of success to be found in The Creek. But from a harrowing escape from a communist country to joys of raising a family, the women of Johns Creek’s Jungle tell their diverse stories of success.

Bethany Bohanan - Mompreneur Helps Other Women Succeed
Bethany Bohanan, 41, is making a career helping other women tell their stories. For several years she has worked with local business owners, helping them with business promotions and development. After helping other women promote their businesses Bohanan began her own. She stared Y.E.S, an acronym for Your Essential Story.

"I believe everyone has a story to tell," she said. "For years I have helped my friends tell their business story. I help them get their story out, that is how you attract people."

Bohanan has helped clients design portfolios, and other business promotional tools to help build brand awareness and recognition.

"Unless someone knows your story, how will they know to support your business?" she said.

Bohanan believes that when business owners talk about their own circumstances, both personally and in business, they attract cliental.

"When they know your story, they will support you," she said.

Part of Bohanan's own story is her family. She along with her husband and two sons moved to Johns Creek seven years ago after her husbands job transferred them from New Jersey. She says she stays busy supporting her husbands career and raising her sons. A typical day for her was getting everyone out of bed and to school or work before running six to 22 miles in the morning.

"When I turned 40 I set a goal to run my first marathon," she said.

She ran in the U.S. Marine Corp Marathon, and continues to run daily. Afterward her run, she fills her time with everything from laundry, errands and promoting other women in start-up companies.

"I am very comfortable meeting new people, and selling things I believe in," she said.

She helps her clients promote and sell themselves.

"I feel involved in something outside of my family," she said. "It is important, personally, to have things outside of the house."

She says has managed to find a good balance between her family and her clients. "While I am involved [in my business ventures] I would never give up the things in the house – taking care of my family. It is all about a balance," she said.

Mother-Daughter Team Achieve the American Dream

One of Bohanan's clients is Salon Do Re Mi, an upscale full-service salon in Johns Creek which offers the latest in hair styling techniques and spa-like services. The operation is owned and ran by the mother and daughter team Doe and Harriet Lee. Doe came to the United States in 1980 to achieve the American Dream. In the late 1970s when she was just 18 years old, her mother put her on her on a boat to the Philippines to escape the communist regime of Vietnam.

"I escaped from my country," she said. "My mom just put me on a boat."

Doe left Vietnam alone, her family stayed behind.

"When you escape you have to go one at a time," she said.

For six days Doe traveled by boat with no food and no water. She described the ocean pitching of her small boat.

“It just went up and down, like this,” Doe motioned with her hands. “I thought I was going to die. I thought I would never see my family again.”

After spending 18 months in the Philippines, Doe came to the U.S. She had no money and spoke no English, she was also six months pregnant. She wanted to be a fashion designer but did not have the time or funds to go to fashion school.

"I always wanted to do something creative," she said.

Shortly after coming to America Doe gave birth to a girl, Harriet. After the birth of Harriet, Doe went to school to study cosmetology.

"I love people. I love to be around people and I love to do hair," she said.

She began working at a salon in Roswell. She eventually opened her own salon in Alpharetta, where she was a staple in the community for 13 years. But,just a few short weeks ago Doe took a brave step in opening her new salon in Johns Creek on the corner of Abbotts Bridge and Medlock Bridge roads. Now, 27, Harriet, Doe’s daughter, remembered back to middle school when she began spending her weekends at her mothers shop. She started as an assistant, sweeping up hair and shampooing clients when they came in. After graduating from high school Harriet went to Georgia State University to study business, but she found herself scheduling her classes around her mother's salon.

"I just went to school to study something. You never know what we want to do right away," she said. "I was scheduling around work, while most students schedule work around class."

After graduating from college Harriet began an apprenticeship with her mother before receiving her cosmetology license. While some might view a mother/daughter partnership as challenging Harriet says working with her mother is motivational.

"She inspires me, challenges me," said Harriet. "I was born here, but for her to come here and have not known anything, no money and not speaking English, [that is amazing]."

The daughter’s eyes fill with tears when she speaks of her mother. She says she and her mother make a great team, with Doe's hair expertise and Harriet's legal and business knowledge. "

It is a partnership," Harriet said. Doe says that at first she thought it would be difficult entering into a business with her child.

"She is such a sweet girl, she helps me with the salon and makes things easy," she said.

Harriet understands that working with a parent is not the average work setting.

"The fact that she is your mom—you can't get away with anything; you can't call in sick to work," she said.

But she is proud of her mother and the efforts they have made. Their previous salon in Alpharetta was 1,300 square-feet, but their new salon is 7,000 square-feet and boasts a full range of hair, nail and spa services.

"We went bigger. I found a spot where I could have more clientele and bring my clients with me," she said.

Doe said she is most excited to see her clients transformed by a new cut, color or style.

"I love to see people before and after. We make people feel better," she said. "If they look good they feel good."

Harriet says she has watched her mother develop great relationships with her clients, and many of them have followed her to her new salon.

"It is important to build relationships with people. We are in an environment so personal. You have to get to know your people," she said.

Bethany Bohanan has been a client for seven years, and has helped Doe and Harriet with marketing.

"I have never met a woman more determined with such a strong work ethic. Her work is her life," said Bohanan.

Bohanan said that Doe listens to her clients and helps them find the right style.

"She spends a great deal of time with them," said Bohanan. "When you walk into her salon you are at home."

"I try to find styles to suit peoples lives. I ask them to tell me what they do and how much time they want to spend on their hair and I help them choose a style," she said. Doe’s success in Johns Creek is a far cry from her harrowing boat road from Vietnam.

Building Relationships on the Courts

Sandy Shaw, 52, has taken to the court to make friends - the tennis court, that is. For 12 years Shaw has been making friends and competing with the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA).

"I have met a lot of people through tennis," she said.

Shaw plays in a Thursday League with a group of ladies who she says have not only taught her the sport, but discipline, too.

"You have to practice, and if you play doubles you have to learn team work," she said.

Shaw initially joined the tennis team as a way to make friends. Now she says it has taught her about her own strengths.

"I love tennis. I love playing doubles. When you've played with someone else you learn about their strengths, but you also learn about your own," she said.

Several years ago Shaw was on a tennis team coached by a man named Jonathan, a consultant recently retired from IBM. The two hit it off, and have now been married for nine years.

Shaw has worked her way up to captain for her team of 14 women, and her husband is still the coach.

"I think for a lot of women that wouldn't work – their husbands coaching them. For us it has worked out really well," said Shaw.

Off the tennis court Shaw helps her husband in his consulting business. She often accompanies him when he travels to visit clients around the country.

"I listen and take notes and keep his schedule straight. I am his eyes and ears," she said. "I sometimes notice things he wouldn't see."

Shaw is also involved in her church, the Unity Christ Center in Suwanee.

"I help out wherever I can. If [the church] needs something I always do what I can," she said.