Whoever said a mother can’t have it all — a happy family at home and a successful career — must not have told that to Crista Tharp.
The Kokomo mother of eight and owner of Tharp & Associates, an event-planning company, recently was voted one of the top 200 leading moms in business in StartupNation’s 2009 Leading Moms in Business competition.
According to a press release from StartupNation, winners were selected and ranked according to public votes accumulated from January to March 2009.
Tharp said several of her kids were in her office when she received the e-mail letting her know she was 51st on the list.
“The kids were jumping around the room all excited. It was really neat to share that with my kids,” Tharp said.
She said she was happy to earn the recognition.
“It’s really nice being recognized for things you do and for things that you do well, especially by my clients and friends and family and people who went out of their way to vote for me.”
Tharp said more than 10,000 moms were in the competition, so she’s pleased to be in the top 200.
Rich Sloan, co-founder of StartupNation, said more than 600,000 votes were cast in the competition.
“Moms across America were honored in this year’s ranking, showing that they’re capable of starting and running successful businesses while managing to balance family, career, home and self,” he said.
Tharp hopes her success inspires other mothers.
“That is one of my main goals, to tell women this is exactly what they can do, they can go for whatever they want. I have eight kids. Yeah, I’m tired, but everything works. I want it, so I go for it.”
She said some people believe having a family means a woman has to sacrifice career success, or that if a woman chooses to pursue a career, she will have to sacrifice having a family, but she’s showing otherwise.
“I’ll tell you, having that cake and eating it, too, that’s awesome.”
Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at (765) 454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.
Local News
Business owner, mother honored
Crista Tharp among ‘Leading Moms in Business’
- Local News
-
-
Entire U.S. 31 corridor now under contract
Every segment of the 13.1-mile, U.S. 31 Kokomo Corridor is now officially under construction.
-
Northwestern to graduate 130 seniors
Peyton Hite ended her last day in high school by going home and washing sheep.
“It’s part of living on a farm,” she said, with a laugh.
-
Drugs, cash seized, four arrested
Police from four agencies seized heroin, pills, syringes and cash, and arrested four people this week after a raid on a house on East Street, according to police reports.
-
Lafayette job fair expects Kokomo hopefuls
Organizers of a Lafayette job fair next week are reaching out to Kokomo residents looking for work.
-
Deputy prosecutor facing two charges
A Howard County deputy prosecutor will face two drunken-driving charges in connection with a traffic stop in Cicero.
-
Governor honors student
A Northwestern High School senior achieved a milestone Thursday when he became the first Indiana student ever to win both of the state’s top science awards.
-
Taylor considering staff reductions
A decline in enrollment has forced Taylor School Corp. to consider staff reductions, but the board won’t vote on the issue until next week, officials said Thursday.
-
Schools among top 20 in Indiana
Three area schools were ranked among the top 20 in Indiana this year by U.S. News and World Report.
Tri-Central Middle/High School, Eastern Junior-Senior High School and Tipton High School all made the list, which was an evaluation of 379 high schools across the state.
-
Library starts iPad rental program
Apple can’t make enough iPads to satisfy demand, but the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library now owns 15 iPad2 units.
Thursday, social media-conscious library patrons scrambled to borrow the tablet computers, on the first official day of the library’s iPad lending program.
-
Gov. names NW student 'Mr. Science' for 2012
Tyler Barnes becomes first Indiana student to be named Indiana's Top Young Scientist and Mr. Science.
- More Local News Headlines
-
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
