Why we really like Laura-Lee from Curves

Sault Ste. Marie's Laura-Lee Gilbert is being announced today as one of four winners of Northeastern Ontario Influential Women Awards.

The owner of the Sault's Curves for Women fitness centres will be be recognized this afternoon at Algoma's Water Tower Inn.

Other Sault finalists for Influential Women Awards included Sandra Gaetano from RBC Investments, Donna Hilsinger from Algoma's Water Tower Inn, Carmella Novello of Travel Masters, Susan Koprash, from Hi-Tec Security and Investigations, Pat Ross-Slomke of New North Greenhouses, Mary Ellen Szadkowski, from ZAD Consulting Inc., and Dr. Cecile Somme and Bernice Glew from the Huron-Superior District Catholic School Board.

The following winners will be announced in a ceremony starting at 1 p.m. today, sponsored by Northern Ontario Business magazine:

The other winners

Leslie Fields - Public Sector Karen LaCasse - Exporting 2005 Kathryn Antonio - Private Sector

All about Laura-Lee

This year, Laura-Lee Gilbert got a very special birthday present.

Gilbert (shown above with stars her clients have earned) was told on March 29 that she won an award for being a positive influence on her peers.

Gilbert is the owner of both of Sault Ste. Marie's Curves for Women fitness centres and today is receiving the Northern Ontario Business Young Entrepreneur award in the Northeastern Ontario division of the Influential Women Awards.

Gilbert employs 12 people to serve about 1,800 members at the two Sault locations.

When she opened the Queen Street location in May of 2001, she had to resort to some very creative financing because bankers didn't believe a business like Curves could succeed in the city.

'No banks believed that Sault Ste. Marie needed another gym'

"When I first got started, no banks believed in the program," Gilbert said. "No banks believed that Sault Ste. Marie needed another gym."

"Four years ago there were only about 1,000 locations world-wide," she said. "We weren't internationally well known."

"Now there are 9,500 locations worldwide in 30 countries and now there are commercials [featuring real Canadian Curves members] and all kinds of websites," she said.

Gilbert persevered and opened her first location four years ago last week.

Sent to new locations around the world

She's also been recognized by Curves International for her special skills. "I was hired six months into my business as a mentor through Curves International," said Gilbert.

Curves International sent Gilbert to new locations all over the world when they opened, to help owners get their businesses up and running well.

Gilbert was so good at it that Curves International named her as one of about 100 special project mentors.

Crisis at home

Two years ago, she was on the brink of opening other locations of her own in other communities, but a crisis in the Sault location brought her back to rebuild.

"I just let go of all my other territories and came back because I believed this is my dream and I'm not going to let it go," said Gilbert. "I still had the faith in this business and I didn't want to disappoint them [her clients from Sault Ste. Marie]."

Gilbert said she was highly motivated to drive the business back to a state of success because it fulfilled her three criteria for a cause she believed in.

"It satisfied my need and desire to help people, especially women," she said. "It allowed me to grow, diversify and use all my inner talents and it was something I was proud of and had a passion for."

Learned about Curves from her sister

She said she first learned about Curves from her sister and thought the program and its ideals were a perfect fit for her and for other women in Sault Ste. Marie.

So she refused to let the disbelief of banks stop her from starting one up at home.

"If you just do a career for money, it's going to be hard work for you," she said. "If you do a career because you actually believe in it, you can live it, feel proud to help others and it becomes easy."

60 pounds too many

As a mother of a three-year-old who had just left her husband and had about 60 pounds to lose, Gilbert had a lot of insights to share with her brand new clients when she opened Curves on Queen Street.

"I had struggled with my own weight and my own self-esteem issues," said Gilbert. "I'd always had this yearning for a place that I could go and feel comfortable."

"When I first opened I didn't know if I would have the money to pay my wages but I knew that I wasn't the only woman that needed this kind of facility, and they came!"

"It's not just about weight issues," she explained. "It's about health, it's about self-esteem, it's about self-worth. I mean lots of women just need a friend, support, something to let them feel recognized so that they don't feel invisible."

Reunited with husband

Four years later, Gilbert has met her weight-loss goals, managed her self-esteem issues, brought her business from the brink of a major crisis to a significant improvement and happily rediscovered a loving relationship with her husband.

And just when Gilbert was starting to wonder what new challenge she could conquer, the Influential Women's Young Entrepreneur Award was put in her hand.

"I think winning this award is going to open doors for me," said Gilbert. "I'd really like to do something to encourage other young people."

Young entrepreneurs

Gilbert said she's ready to take her message to young entrepreneurs who may be sitting at home wondering what to do with their lives.

She wants to tell them to take a chance on themselves and their passions.

"If you believe in it, just do it" said Gilbert. "What have you got to lose but to go back to where you were when you started?"

*********************** Official write-up from the Influential Women Awards

Laura-Lee Gilbert, owner of both of Sault Ste. Marie's Curves for Women fitness centres, displays the entrepreneurial traits of a successful business owner having forged her own financing when she couldn't find help from traditional sources.

As a single mother who's work background included waitressing and working in retail for companies, Gilbert emerged as a savvy business owner who currently employs 12 at two of her business locations in Sault Ste. Marie.

Since 2001, this young woman has made a mark for herself in a competitive market that continues to explode.

Many financial institutions didn't see the need for another fitness centre in the Sault, despite her best efforts to explain Curves' unique mandate as a safe, non-intimidating place for women to exercise at their own pace and hopefully become comfortable with their body image again.

So, with a personal loan from a friend and virtually all of her savings, Gilbert rolled up her sleeves and started her foyer into the business world.

Now she's made a mark in Sault Ste. Marie, and all the Northern area has flourished with Curves.

North America, in fact, is now sold out. If you want a new Curves, you have to go to another country.

"I look at Sault Ste. Marie, and I see everyday success stories, women regaining their self-esteem and learning to love who they are," says Gilbert.

This young entrepreneur exemplifies Northern entrepreneurial spirit.