We love our fellow women business owners here in Southern California. Whenever possible, we like to share their stories with you. From Rockin’ Grandmas to Sales Gurus, we think their stories are inspirational.

Dona Eng is a great example, starting her own consulting and accounting service company for Property Owners. As if that wasn’t enough, she also started a nonprofit organization aimed at training women in her area of expertise in order to help list them out of poverty. WOW. Read more about her great story of “doing well and doing good” below.

Why did you start your business?

Eng Flanders Group Inc. started out as Yardi Consulting & Accounting Services Inc.  I have 30+ years of accounting and property management experience, and I love a challenge. I have always helped owners become more hands on and employees increase their marketability, and I’ve always taken great pleasure in helping someone find and reach their potential. Our company has grown to 9 employees, and we are soon opening an office in Portland.

You did something really unique by reaching out to disadvantaged women to train them. Where did that idea come from?

I founded Synergy Learning Center, a nonprofit that was devoted to helping people become more knowledgeable and marketable in Property Management.  I saw so many of my clients see their staff constantly turn over and knew with the right individual these could be jobs that would change a person’s life.  I was a single mom supporting 3 children, and I know how difficult it can be. When my oldest son was killed by a drunk driver, I knew that I had to do something more and help others in any way that I could.  We had the chance to change many people’s lives. Some of these people were homeless, victims of domestic violence and at risk of suicide.  They had hit rock bottom.  I still keep in touch with some of our students and it never ceases to amaze me to see how well some of our students have done.

What has been the outcome of these trainings you provided? 

Some of our students are still at the same job we helped them find.  Others are just continuing to blossom and grow beyond what I could have imagined.  It is with great joy that I stay in touch with some of these students.  I wish that the nonprofit could have continued to touch more lives.

What’s your best piece of advice for a woman in business?

Never feel that you can’t attain the goals that you set.  Set your goals as high as possible.  Reach out to others.  By supporting others, you continue to improve, learn, and inspire.

To learn more about Dona’s company, visit http://www.engflanders.com/.