Caroline Taylor
Jody Wagner
Before making it to her office each morning, Caroline Taylor, says good morning to each person in her clinic. “There is a balance when you own your own business,” Taylor says. “You can’t do it without the love and support of people who make your business work everyday.” Before she decided to open her own full-service occupational healthcare facility in 1995, she was a nurse herself. This leaves no stone unturned in servicing the more than 1,200 local businesses in the Hampton Roads area. Providing top-of-the-line occupational services, Taylor’s team of 16 provides everything a small business needs to be OSHA compliant as well as consulting, wellness, clinical and training programs to give employers superior healthcare for their employees. The mix of clients breaks down to about 80 percent commercial, and 20 percent state and federal. “I have the best employees in all of Hampton Roads,” Taylor says, reflecting on some who have been with her for more than 14 years. In terms of company growth, Taylor and her team have developed a medical software system that her company and their clients use to manage their government healthcare requirements. In the past year, revenue growth has been 30 percent. “We keep our finger on the pulse of growth,” Taylor says. “I look at the support my employees need to keep customer service at the highest level. We monitor surveys twice a day and celebrate victories.” Outside of work, Taylor involves herself extensively the community around her, recently accepting the position of president of the South Norfolk Civic League. She is also involved in women’s groups such as Women In Defense of Greater Hampton Roads and the Executive Women International, expressing that these groups help support and recognize capabilities and talents in other women. “When you get to a level of professionalism, you’re looking to support other women-owned businesses and give back, so you can be that person they can turn to,” Taylor says.
We’ve all heard the adage: “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” If you are Jody Wagner, you try 53 times until you get the perfect recipe for ideal caramel corn. Today, one of her best-selling popcorn flavors is Recipe 53. The journey to Recipe 53 began when she and her husband went to their son’s graduation from Northwestern University. Both Northwestern alums, the two recalled a caramel corn shop located around campus and stopped in for a visit. Jody Wagner then asked the question, “What’s wrong with Virginia Beach? We need something like this here!” “My husband looked at me and said, ‘If you feel that strongly about it, then why don’t you do something about it?’” Wagner remembers. “So, I did!” Wagner now has a storefront location at Virginia Beach Oceanfront, as well as an 8,000 square-foot facility where popcorn is prepared to ship all over the country. Her popcorn is also on sale at a growing number of retailers, such as Farm Fresh and Ukrops. One of her favorite pastimes in owning the business is becoming a part of beach memories, and seeing repeat customers bring popcorn tins purchased in the store back for refills. When asked about the challenges that women business owners may face, Wagner explains, “When a woman owns a business, it’s considered a hobby – especially in the food industry.” She challenges this stereotype by consistently coming up with new ideas and adding to her inventory. She shows no signs of slowing down, either. In the upcoming three years, Wagner hopes to continue filling out her line of college popcorn, and tap into the wedding and corporate clients market. To handle this output, she plans to hire a director of operations and have enough work to require three shifts, increasing her ability to provide more jobs. Regardless of how much the business grows, Wagner reflects on a time when corn syrup used for the caramel corn was purchased in one-gallon jars. “Now it is purchased in 55-gallon drums!” she exclaims.
President, Taylor Made Diagnostics Chesapeake
Owner, Jody’s Popcorn Virginia Beach
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