Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (NIV)
The Ambiance team consists of four women who love the Lord, their families, and the community in which they reside. They strive to dedicate a portion of their time and talent to help those in need. Anne Nymark, co-owner of Ambiance, said “Our love for others comes from God’s love.” Loving others is exactly what Jesus teaches in the Gospels. “…‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:39, NIV). These hard-working women embody this Scripture in all that they do. They demonstrate how a person can effectively lead a balanced life, while actively participating in causes that are “near and dear to their hearts.” God has honored the love and help they have given others. The successful opening of Ambiance on October 1, 2010 is one of the many blessings God has given Anne, Juliet, Liz, and Jodi for their continued obedience in living out His plan.
Meet the Team
Liz Brewer has been in the mortgage business for 24 years, which is very different from her true passion of event planning. For the last 10 years she has volunteered and helped coordinate events for her church and various organizations. Liz shared, “God had me in training all these years…. God takes ordinary people and He does extraordinary things through us if we allow Him.” She is very involved with her community through the Greater Brandon Community Foundation (aka Brandon Foundation), the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, the Women’s Resource Center, and her children’s schools.
Jodi Chadwell earned her interior design degree in 1990, and after her three children started attending school, she returned to her passion for design. Jodi’s husband is a home builder (Chadwell Homes), and she has assisted many of the clients in the material selection process. “A lot of the clients wanted me to decorate their houses after doing the selections with them and [my business, Designing Spaces] grew from there.” Her design business has been referral based for the last eight years. She was nominated for small business of the year by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and served on the building committee for Bell Shoals Baptist Church’s major three-year renovation. Jodi is also involved with her community through the Brandon Foundation, LifeCare, American Cancer Society, and Leadership Brandon.
Juliet Wilks began her career in floral design in 1981 where she worked alongside a florist and learned how to design. From 1992-2004, she owned and operated her own store, Juliet’s Flowers. Juliet tried other career fields, but explained that floral design has always been where her heart is. She began working for another florist and was introduced to Anne. She is also an active volunteer for the Brandon Foundation.
Anne Nymark, like Liz, has a background in business. She has been the president of a successful accounting and tax firm, Professional Accounting and Consulting Services, for 28 years. Liz lovingly referred to Anne as, “Ms. Brandon,” because she is extremely involved in the Brandon community. Anne co-founded the Brandon Foundation over seven years ago. Anne explained, “The Brandon Foundation supports 54 registered charitable organizations and over 175 families.… I know in my own life, in order to feel whole and fulfilled, I need God, family, my business, and community involvement.” (To learn more visit: www.BrandonFoundation.com.)
God’s Path
These women have known each other for several years through church and volunteering for the Brandon Foundation. “We bonded working alongside each other,” shared Anne. The Lord helped each of them to recognize the talents and abilities in themselves and one another. Anne explained that she was not looking for another business venture, but she trusted and believed in Liz, Jodi, and Juliet. Anne began talking with Juliet about opening a flower shop, while Jodi and Liz discussed their desire to start an event planning business to help nonprofits. Despite different backgrounds, their “core values are closely related.” The Lord placed a yearning in each of their hearts to open a business together and incorporate all of their God-given talents.
God began opening doors. They found the perfect retail space at the charming Winthrop Town Centre in Riverview for reasonable lease rates. After talking it over with their husbands and through a lot of prayer, the women decided to take the leap of faith and open up shop. Juliet said, “It was like it was meant to be. It was very natural.” Liz added, “[Through] little things [the Lord] kept directing us,” and Jodi responded, “The fact that we can all share the overhead and we all have the synergy to work together just made sense.” Some people questioned why they would open a business in this economy, but as believers, we know that God’s economy is separate from that of the world’s. These women know that God led them to open Ambiance, and they believe He will help them make their businesses successful. There is no need for doubt or fear when you follow God’s path.
Ambiance
Ambiance is the melding of three business entities and as they put it, “One shop for all your floral, design, and event planning needs.” Jodi came up with the name “Ambiance,” which fit perfectly into their respective professions. Juliet explained, “We wanted our name to express what we are really doing [for our clients].” Each of their talents allows them to create a unique atmosphere specially designed to evoke a specific mood or feeling.
“Anne is our business-minded person,” Liz shared. “Even though she is not the silent partner, she’s the one behind the scenes who keeps us focused on the bigger picture, but also makes sure the business pieces are covered as well.” Anne and Juliet are co-owners of Ambiance Floral Designs, a full-service florist for any occasion, including weddings and other special events. They deliver in all of Hillsborough County. You can stop in to meet with Juliet for your next event, or visit their website to order fresh flowers for any special occasion
(www.AmbianceFloral.net).
Jodi operates Ambiance Design Boutique. When you enter the store, you are greeted with a beautiful décor of unique home goods and a welcoming atmosphere. Jodi decorates the store with items from vendors that she knows and trusts, and all these items are for sale. She also offers design services for homes, offices, and events, including the selection of furniture, accessories, drapery, lighting, linens, and more. When working with clients, “I’m really looking at their functionality, budget, and creative style so they get what they want” said Jodi. The store acts as a showcase to potential clients of how their home can look and feel. Jodi’s ultimate goal is to create the perfect ambiance within the home, office, or event that reflects the person or organization. Jodi shared this wonderful Scripture, which depicts what she hopes to accomplish in her work and what she shares with those who she teaches to decorate: Isaiah 32:18 (NIV) “My people will live in peaceful dwelling-places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”
Ambiance Events & Promotions is owned by Liz and, with her years of experience doing events, she has made numerous connections in the community. She is able to guide you through the event planning process and direct you to the best resources for your specific event. The Ambiance team can assist with galas, fundraisers, community events, real estate open houses, grand openings, corporate events, and – of course – weddings. Ambiance offers their services to nonprofits at a reduced rate. Liz shared, “That is where I’d like to focus my energies as I grow my event planning business. My goal is to help ministries raise money and [seek out] sponsors and allow them to do what they do best… run the ministry.”
Liz said, “Visually these women [Juliet and Jodi] are the creative side of [the business]. I focus more on the details of putting together an event. So we make a great team utilizing the skills of each other.” Liz, Jodi, and Juliet use the store front for consultations and planning. The women promote one another through their daily interactions with clients and customers, and they can uniquely offer the talents and resources of a prominent business woman, florist, designer, and event planner. It is a one-stop shop!
Keeping Him at the Heart of it All
These accomplished women endeavor to keep God at the forefronts of their lives, both personally and professionally. Jodi incorporates Christian, faith-based products in the boutique. Juliet shared that they all prayed together before the business opened. The prayer (led by a friend): “God, each person who walks through the door, show us how we can enrich their lives and do something good for them through Christ. Anybody that comes in, we want to extend ourselves in that manner.” Liz added that they integrate Christ in their daily lives and in their interactions with people. “Any chance we have, we try to share God in some way,” she said. “It’s interwoven in what we say, because it’s a part of the fabric [we’re made of].”
What are these intriguing women’s favorite Scriptures? Anne explained that her favorite Scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, which is the great Love Chapter. She added, “With love anything can be accomplished according to God’s will.” Anne’s love for others is quite obvious to all who know her, through her endless work in the community and the way she encourages those around her. Juliet remarked, “We would not be what we are today without Anne Nymark in our lives.”
Jodi stands on Psalm 18:2 (NKJV), “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Liz shared that her inspirational Scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 and said, “I don’t worry about tomorrow because I know that He already has plans, not to harm me, but to give me hope and a future.” Juliet’s favorite verse is Psalm 103:17 (NKJV), “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children.” These verses give insight into the hearts of these special women and partly explain their confident decision to follow God’s leading by going into business together, making it apparent that God is at the heart of it all.
Wise Guidance
Opening a new business can be tough no matter the circumstances. Each of the women contemplated the hardest part about being business owners. Liz shared, “Time management. It’s easy to get caught up in the newness of the business and allow it to consume my time when I still have to keep my relationship with God and my family first.” Jodi explained, “The hardest part is balancing the projects for my clients, having set hours at Ambiance, and making time for my family.” Balance in life is a typical goal for most people. How do these women effectively balance business, church, community, and family? Jodi responded, “I know I couldn’t possibly be successful on my own and I draw guidance and strength from the Lord.” Liz stated, “I have to make a conscious decision to grow [the business] slowly.… This is my second business, so I learned many years ago that to be successful I had to make time for each of [those] areas on a daily basis.”
Each woman said there are mistakes that can cause failure for a new business, one of which Jodi said was the inability to be flexible. “There are many aspects of the business that I have already changed and we have only been open three months!” Liz shared another potential cause of failure: “Not praying about starting the business first.” Approaching God in prayer about the decisions you make in business is vitally important. Anne stated, “Prayer is simply talking with God about each step we take.” Liz went on to say that failure can certainly come in her industry by taking on too many projects at once, so it’s important to keep God involved in every aspect of the decision-making process. Liz also explained that before a person can achieve success, they need to understand what it means to them. She said, “For me, having a business that provides financially, but still gives me the freedom to be a wife, a mom, and serve the Lord in ministry is success.” Jodi added, “To achieve success, you need to keep God in the driver’s seat of your business.”
These ladies shared some additional advice for people ready to make the leap into business ownership. “Follow your heart…” Juliet said, as she explained that sometimes it is not common sense where God is leading you. God will lead you by your heart. Jodi responded, “Pray for guidance daily. Make sure the desires of [your] heart match with His and … [you’re] not trying to get ahead of Him.” Anne shared, “First, ask God’s opinion, then build your management team.… Have a business plan [with] three months’ working capital.” And lastly, Liz said, “Pray and seek His face, because if it isn’t God, it will not succeed.”
Ultimately, God will never lead you astray if you simply follow Him. Glory!
To learn more about Ambiance, visit their store at 6120 Winthrop Town Centre, Riverview, FL 33578, or online at www.AmbianceTeam.com.
