Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/256387
In 2003, after jobs at different companies, the two came back together to launch an entre- preneurially oriented investment bank, AGC Partners (AGC). AGC is headquartered in Boston with satellite offices in New York, Menlo Park, Minneapolis, and London. This unabashedly hard-working twosome leads a team focused on providing financial advi- sory services to technology companies – from software and digital media to tech-enabled services and mobile communications. Dee Dee Antonelli and Jill Blondek met 15 years ago when Jill worked for Dee Dee as a personal trainer in Dee Dee's Future Shapes personal training business in Newton Highlands. Four years ago they purchased the personal training business operating out of the Fitness Club for Women in Wellesley. In both locations the business partners train young athletes up to octogenarians – with a focus on health and injury prevention for every age group. And the fourth pair of partners, Beth LaSala and Monica Shelton Reusch, developed their close friendship over hours of volunteer work for their sons' school. After becoming empty nesters, the two joined forces once again, but this time to start ChappyWrap, LLC. Their high quality, cotton-blend jacquard-weave wrap blankets are available in over 40 copyrighted designs from their website, through retail stores, and at consumer events. The Best-Laid Business Plans… Beth and Monica didn't set out to go into business together. The two attended a conference at Babson's Center for Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership, each looking for inspiration to reenter the corporate work- force. After the conference they came up with an innovative idea – launching an online job-sharing registry. A Harvard Business School professor's cautionary advice that they should not expect to earn rev- enue from the site for several years left the friends looking for alterna- tive business opportunities. 130 W e l l e s l e y W e s t o n M a g a z i n e | s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 business left: Ben Howe and Maria Kussmaul of AGC Partners; right: Beth LaSala and Monica Shelton Reusch of ChappyWraps P H O T O S B Y M A U R A W A Y M A N "mutual respect and trust" 128-134_WWMa14_Business_partners_v2_business 2/2/14 12:30 PM Page 130