farragutpress

Local business women discuss challenges they’ve faced

Women in Business series: Part 2 of 3

August 27, 2025 by Michelle Hollenhead

Women worldwide are increasingly owning and leading their own businesses, with Farragut more than reflecting the trend.

Area women entering the business arena come from a variety of backgrounds, but all have seen the need for specific goods and services and faced their share of challenges — some completely out of their control.

How Laura Ash overcame economic downturn

Laura Ash, owner of Laura Ash State Farm, had been in business a scant 18 months when the 2008 economic crash hit.

“Opening any business is risky, but [the crash] made it a little harder to market things other than car insurance at the time,” she recalled, noting, overall, “insurance is a very competitive career, which is always a challenge.”

However, Ash looked “for ways to set [the business] apart” specifically “with our attention and service to our customers.”

That focus has served her well in the years since, as she marks nearly two decades of success with a company she came to know initially as a client.

“I knew their philosophies around being a ‘good neighbor’ and I wanted a long-term career with a company that cares so much about their customers,” she said, knowledge which led her to establishing her own long-lasting client connections.

“I love those relationships we have with with our customers, and helping them when they need us most!,” Ash added.

She also cited the importance of teamwork and mentoring those who might take on business ownership in the future.

“I have enjoyed having a team with me that can grow and take on their own challenges and hopefully become agents one day on their own,” she said. “I have had the privilege of mentoring people on my team who have entered the agency career path and some who have gone to work for State Farm on the business side.

“I will never hold anyone back, and it makes me feel good to help people get into their dream positions.”

Ash said as a “proud mom of two Tennessee volunteers,” she also sees her business, in a way, as a third “child.”

“I don’t leave for the day until anyone that needs me, hears from me,” she said. “Owning your own business is like taking care of a baby,” she said. “It’s 24/7, but it is so worth it!”

For women thinking of owning their own business, Ash advised, “You can do it all! I feel like women are pulled in a lot of different directions, but it’s important to have your own goals and know you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”

Cancer strikes business partners just starting out

Euphoric Cheese Shop owners and long-time friends Amy Burritt and Cheri Intveld not only started their business model on the foundation of the Covid pandemic, but both also faced near simultaneous breast cancer diagnoses.

“Starting a business is a leap of faith and has its own inherent challenges just to make all the decisions and get the doors open,” Burritt said. “For us, we had the added challenge of dual cancer diagnoses — I was recovering from surgery while we were still in the planning stages and then six weeks after we opened, Cheri was diagnosed.”

Both persevered personally and professionally, with Burritt recently celebrating five years cancer-free, and Euphoric Cheese Shop expanding next door to its West End Center location by adding Sparrow Wine Bar two years ago — which had its own challenges.

“Construction required us to close the cheese shop longer than expected,” Intveld noted.

The long-time friends had a dream to open their own business for many years before deciding on Euphoric Cheese Shop, then the pandemic crystalized their business model.

“While we were in the dreaming phase, Covid was happening, and it emphasized the importance of spending time with people you love, and we saw that cheese and charcuterie were this great way for people to connect,” Intveld recalled. “We both have experience in the gourmet food world and have always appreciated the creativity and diversity within food.”

Also, “Cheese became a thing because Amy’s parents owned a cheese shop in Asheville and she learned from them and really enjoyed the experience and thought it would be a great fit for Farragut.”

They were right.

“We’ve really been blessed with a community that has come up around us,” Intveld said. “It’s been fun to get to know people, [and] be part of their routines and celebrations.”

In turn, “we try to use our business as a way to serve the community,” she added. “We do fundraisers to support different non-profit organizations [such as Breast Connect], and we also try to support and work with other small local businesses to help keep our community strong.”

In their case, they both see that being women in the business world has contributed immensely to their success.

“Our mission is to love everyone who walks through our doors,” Burritt said. “I think if you can impact one person’s day by taking the time to listen and care, that effect is multiplied when they go back out the door and leave feeling heard and loved.”

“There’s more than one way to run a business, and oftentimes the feminine traits of caring and service can be undervalued; but in our business it’s a high priority and I think that’s part of why we’re successful,” Intveld added. “When you embrace who you are and the strengths you have, you find greater satisfaction in operating your own business and hopefully find success.”

As far as advice for women thinking of opening their own businesses, Intveld suggested: “Build a support community for yourself of people of whom you can ask questions, in different areas of expertise, like taxes, legal issues, construction, HR. Do as much of the work ahead of time as you can with creating your vision, having a business plan and knowing what your mission is. Scouting other business that do what you want to do is a great way to learn. We visited a lot of other specialty shops and cheese shops to help us craft our vision.”

Overall, “know that you’ll encounter obstacles,” Burritt said. “Just keep moving forward and use your resources to create solutions so you don’t get stuck.”