WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Mompreneur, Rebecca Matthias DREAM TO REALITY
W
ith a new baby, little money, but take care of, but a growing company that designers to offer a selection of exclusive
lots of determination and drive, was well on its way to success. What she designer fashion from names such as
Rebecca Matthias started a business from discovered was that unlike new mothers Joe’s Jeans, 7 for all Mankind, and True
scratch out of her home when she was of a generation earlier, women were stay- Religion to name a few. One look at the
only 28 years old. Today her company, ing in the workforce throughout their style pages of fashion and entertainment
Destination Maternity Corporation™, pregnancies. This revolutionary shift in magazines proves that A Pea In The Pod
has flourished into a multi-million dollar the workplace allowed Mothers Work to has become the leader in fashion-for-
maternity clothing empire and includes fill a market void by providing working ward maternity wear.
the retail outlets Motherhood? Maternity, mothers an alternative to the traditional, Rebecca Matthias is the Founder, Pres-
A Pea in the Pod?, and the ultra-luxurious dowdy maternity dress. Over the next ident and Chief Creative Officer of Desti-
A Pea in the Pod Collection™ within A Pea few years, despite a series of setbacks nation Maternity Corporation (formerly
in the Pod?. with managing accounting, sales, inven- Mothers Work, Inc.), a $560 million dollar
It all started when Matthias conceived tory, and financing, the company gradu- public company (Nasdaq: DEST) that
a dream of developing a successful com- ally took off. manufactures and sells maternity appar-
pany almost thirty years ago. With an What started with a line of business el through over 1,500 stores around the
entrepreneur’s spirit and being six maternity attire soon evolved into a full country and web business through
months pregnant, Matthias fastened an range of stylish clothing for every occa-
www.apeainthepod.com,
www.mother-
idea when she discovered the difficulty sion. Ranging from tailored skirt and
hood.com and
www.destinationmaterni-
of finding maternity clothes that were pants suits to elegant evening wear to
ty.com. A graduate of MIT, Columbia
suitable for the office. Realizing that comfortable chic casuals, these brands University, and the University of Penn-
many other professional women were in provide an extensive range of maternity sylvania, Matthias is a frequent speaker
the same boat, Matthias set about launch- wear for the lifestyles of today’s woman. to small business and entrepreneurial
ing a mail-order business selling mater- Many celebrities, including Jessica Alba, audiences. Ms. Matthias is the author of
nity clothes from home. With round-the- Selma Hayek, Mira Sorvino, Mariska Mothers Work (Doubleday), a book
clock assistance from her mother, father Hargitay, Cate Blanchett, Kate Hudson, about her experiences starting up a busi-
and husband, Mothers Work was born in Angie Harmon and other expectant stars, ness and her second book, 51 Secrets of
a small apartment in a residential have all been spotted wearing A Pea in Motherhood (That Your Mother Never
Philadelphia neighborhood. the Pod Collection. In addition to their own Told You). She is a mother of three and
The initial response was staggering. ultra hip collection, A Pea in the Pod Col- lives with her husband in Philadelphia.
Matthias not only had a growing baby to lection has partnered with contemporary PWM
SBA Honors Amanda Baltensberger For Outstanding Disaster Recovery Efforts
L
ast September heavy rains caused moral support. Weeks later, she threw a effort and a recognition of the contribu-
Indiana’s Little Calumet River to block party—complete with live music, tions they make to the recovery of their
overflow in Munster, damaging 1,200 food and games for the kids—to uplift communities,” said SBA Administrator
homes, many with eight feet of sewage town’s spirits. Karen G. Mills. “Amanda Baltensberg-
water filling entire basements. Once the Baltensberger also created an er displayed tremendous courage and
floodwaters receded, Amanda Baltens- “adopt-a-family” program, where local resourcefulness in the aftermath of the
berger—a mother of four, college stu- volunteers checked up on and support- flood, and she exemplifies the spirit
dent and co-owner of a printing busi- ed those still struggling to recover after one must have to rebuild after a disas-
ness—borrowed a golf cart, grabbed the disaster. ter like this.”
her best friend and prepared meals to For her altruistic and far-reaching More information about the disaster
deliver to the dazed disaster survivors. commitment to the recovery of Mun- assistance program is available at
In the days that followed, Baltens- ster, Amanda Baltensberger will receive
www.sba.gov/disasterassistance.
berger recruited 70 volunteers and set the 2009 Phoenix Award for Outstand- For more information about Nation-
up relief centers using borrowed tents ing Contributions to Disaster Recovery al Small Business Week, visit
and picnic tables. The centers became by a Volunteer.
www.sba.gov/sbw. PWM
clearinghouses for recovery informa- “The Phoenix Award is an acknowl-
tion, meals, cleaning supplies and edgement of an individual’s heroic Source: The U.S. Small Business Administration
www.professionalwomanmag.com PROFESSIONAL WOMAN’S MULTICULTURAL MAGAZINE 59
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