Name
Ashley Hines
Where do you live?
Benton Harbor
Company or Organization
Benton Harbor Community Development Corporation (BHCDC)
What is your job or role there?
Executive Director & Founder
How do you think that Bold Women of Business demonstrate being bold?
Bold Women of Business demonstrate being bold by relentlessly pursuing their goals. They operate with integrity, are not afraid to speak truth to power, and live knowing they are enough. Bold Women also demonstrate being bold by knowing when to rest.
Bold women are often defined by a number of descriptors. Please choose from the following descriptors to produce the top three that you would say most exemplify your personality?
Risk Taker
Courageous
Valiant
Strong
Please provide an example of when you feel you were at your very best in taking action on the job or in your role.
When I started the Benton Harbor CDC I was working full-time in another state with a company I had spent the past 10 years building a successful career with. I launched the BHCDC as a volunteer with the belief that if we did the work, we could better our community. I spent 1.5 years living between two states to drive our work forward. My belief in our mission ultimately led me to walk away from my career to move back home to run the BHCDC full-time. I was able to work with my employer on an exit strategy, prep my team, and help hire my replacement. At the time, I remember being extremely comfortable and at peace with that decision. I’m happy I took that leap of faith.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened on your road to success?
Continuing the story from the previous question. Quitting my job for an unpaid position at a nonprofit and gas shoots up to almost $5 a gallon. Life is humorous!
Who most inspires your personal drive for success every day?
I’ve had many dynamic women who’ve not only inspired me throughout my journey but allowed me the privilege to learn and grow under their tutelage. Now, my personal drive for success is inspired by my community. Realizing my current work is a lot bigger than me is humbling, yet exciting. It motivates me to push forward.
What is your best advice to women in Southwest Michigan looking to succeed, as you have, in business?
Never be afraid to start over and look like a beginner. Keep learning and become a student of your craft. Success is relative, but no matter how it’s defined for you, it won’t happen overnight. Enjoy the journey. Know who you are, what you’re about, and what you stand for.
What does your selection to the ranks of the Bold Women of Business from Moody on the Market mean to you?
I’m grateful for the recognition. Kudos to Moody on the Market for creating space for “Bold” women to be celebrated and not censored.
