Known as "The MicroBusiness Mom - America's MicroBusiness Expert, Gina Robison-Billups is a CEO, author, popular speaker, owner of multiple microbusinesses, and mother of two. She has walked the path of microbusiness ownership and knows what it's like to be strapped, struggling, alone, and ultimately successful in your dream of entrepreneurship.

After graduating from Loyola Marymount University, at 22 years old, Gina was literally, within one day, thrust into one of the most cut-throat industries there is – concert and casino entertainment.  In addition, it was the family business.  Gina's stepfather was diagnosed with liver cancer and needed someone to run his business – out of his seven children, he asked her.  It was a request she couldn't refuse.

This experience helped Gina understand what micro business clients experience in going to work every day - with no support of co-workers or a company "safety net". A few years later, she found out how much more complicated it is for women. After taking some time away from the family business to have my first daughter, she came back to work for the entertainment agency which was based in her mother's house.

It was quite a sight for the neighbors' eyes seeing Gina coming and going to work: juggling a walker, diaper bag, toys, purse, papers and, of course, a baby. Gina often states, "I looked like one of the circus jugglers my company represented. Before I even got to work, I was exhausted from taking care of the baby through the night."

At the same time, Gina and her mother were caring for her bed-ridden grandmother. With baby in the playpen and grandmother in the wheelchair, together they somehow managed to build one of the most successful entertainment agencies in Nevada that represented several casinos and grossed over a million dollars in annual sales.

 

A Letter from the Founder   As the mother of two amazing young women, I find myself every day compelled to reach out to the community in order to help women achieve their dreams. I am absolutely fascinated by the resiliency and courage of all women, especially women with children. My mother and grandmother were my earliest examples of women of courage, and are to this day my greatest inspiration. My grandmother was a survivor of World War II in Czechoslovakia, escaping Nazi concentration camps, immigrating from Germany with her five year old daughter, and making a new life in the United States without her husband by her side. He had to stay in Europe due to illness. My mother, was widowed at the age of 19, and was my family's sole caregiver and support. In an effort to spend more time with her children, my mother started a small business at which I helped at the young at of six. It was that experience that started opening my awareness as to why entrepreneurs seek the freedom of their own business. I credit my mother for inspiring my entrepreneurial spirit and my dedication to the issues of working mothers. After obtaining my degree from Loyola Marymount University, my entrepreneurial spirit finally had a chance for growth and with a partner I started developing a monthly visitors magazine for Northern Nevada. Unfortunately, all this was cut short when I had to make a life changing decision. My stepfather was diagnosed with liver cancer and needed someone to run his business. Rather than keeping the magazine, which had just received interest from a funding source, I chose to save the family business. My parents owned an entertainment agency, and literally within one day, I was thrust into one of the most cut-throat industries there is. This experience helped me understand what fellow home-based business clients experience in going to work every day - with no support of co-workers or a company "safety net". A few years later, I found out how much more complicated it is for business owners. After taking some time away from the family business to have my first daughter, I came back to work for the entertainment agency which was based in my mother's house. I was quite a sight for the neighbors' eyes every morning when I came to work, juggling a walker, diaper bag, toys, purse, paperwork and, of course, a baby. I looked like one of the circus jugglers my company represented. Before I even got to work, I was exhausted from taking care of the baby through the night. At the same time, my mother was caring for my bed-ridden grandmother. With baby in the playpen and grandmother in the wheelchair, together we somehow managed to build one of the most successful entertainment agencies in Nevada that represented several casinos in the state, and was, at that time, the only female owned entertainment agency in Northern Nevada. I realized what women go through balancing work and family especially when work is at home. At least 100 times a day I had to ask myself, "How do other women do all this?" The talents of working mothers quickly awed me.  In my research I found that many small business owners were women, and I wanted to work with other working mothers like me. I found that although there were many valuable resources on the Internet, there was nothing available in Nevada. It became clear that working mothers in Nevada were left alone without much direct support which is a frightening concept for any first time business owner let alone one who has to fit play group and feedings in between consulting sessions or product delivery runs. Since there was nothing available in Nevada for working mothers, I started the Moms In Business Network, a network dedicated to supporting and actively promoting working mothers. Its mission is to help all women create balance between work, family, and their personal lives. At first it was small and just started as a place where working mothers could network and support. It soon grew from small group of 15 in September 2001 to almost 200 in July of 2002, and over 1500 charter members and newsletter subscribers in December of 2002. Soon after its inception I was receiving emails and calls from all over the United States. I realized that working mothers were crying out for more, so she started developing the Moms In Business Network as more than just a place to meet, network, and find education and support. I am constantly developing partnerships with national and local companies to offer valuable benefits to members and in doing so found that the Moms In Business Network is the only association in the United States that provides working mothers benefits such as a monthly e-newsletter, health insurance, medical savings accounts, tax assistance, business planning consulting, banking and lending consulting, free advertising, educational seminars, a business grant program, and more. What is responsible for the tremendous growth of MIBN? It's simple?it's members are responsible. The power of women is shown in full force with the Moms In Business Network. All of our membership has grown exclusively from word-of-mouth. I know I'm the founder of the MIBN, but it really found me. Again, every day through the MIBN members, I am inspired by the power women have to make a difference in our world. MIBN has been created to help you make your mark and achieve the success and life you dream of. Please take time to review this site thoroughly. This organization was created for you. Enjoy! Best Wishes, Gina Robison-Billups National President/Founder The National Association For Moms In Business The International Association of Working Mothers