Cathy Gonsalves, CGONSA Web Design
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Name: Cathy Gonsalves
Hometown: Bennington, Vermont
Current Residence (City, State): Orlando, Florida
Education: Certified Webmaster, Florida Institute of Technology. Graphic Design foundation courses. Registered Nurse, University of Vermont.
Professional Background (brief, please): Started up, own, and operate my own web design studio since 2000. I specialize in
Boutique E-commerce, hip design, and character illustration. Practiced as a Registered Nurse for over 20 years prior to this.
What you wanted to be when you grew up: My only memory is of not knowing for sure. My father suggested I go to Nursing school. In High school I was always carrying a camera around.
What you are: a web designer and digital illustrator
Brief Summary of your Start Up: Took foundation courses in graphic arts, and then went to Webmaster school. In 2004 stopped practicing as a Nurse and went to full-time Web Design. In 2006, one of my websites was an official honoree of the 10th annual Webby Awards, signifying an outstanding level of work.
Company Website? http://www.cgonsa.com
What inspired you?
My mom taught creative thinking, and heavily involved us in arts and crafts as children. We were well rounded from drawing to sewing, to “way out there†creative solutions. I swear my mom invented faux painting as we found her high on the ladder throwing the sponge at the kitchen ceiling one day, paint dripping down her arm, unable to wait for my father to do it any longer.
In my twenties, I had testing done confirming I was meant to be an artist not a nurse.
How long have you been in business? Since 2000.
How did you fund it? By keeping my job as a Nurse and having an online studio.
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? Yes, my mom as my childhood inspiration. My dad, and husband as an entrepreneurs. My husband is my day to day mentor.
Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? No
Current Business Challenge? Time management.
What are you doing about it? Working harder.
Favorite motivational quote: Related to my business- Your success is my success.
Family? Married, no children
If so, how do you balance family and business? Husband is involved. I work from home.
Favorite book? That is very easy, Inside the Statehouse, Lessons from the Speaker, by Ralph G. Wright (my dad).
What do you do to relax? Go on vacation. We love sailing. But to tell you the truth, when I am deep into my work creating, I am relaxed.
What do you want to change most about your world? I haven’t made a big enough difference yet, I want to do something astounding to help people in need in my lifetime. Something out of my comfort zone.
What are you most proud of? First, my husband. He really is that special, and second my business, and my clients success.
What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Persistence. Don’t give up. You must love what you do.
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? Oh that’s a secret!
If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Sapphires, just the right color like my engagement ring.
Would you be interested in being a Fairy Godmother to another woman entrepreneur? (I am working on a secure system to do this, any ideas?) sure, my time it limited. I can’t do a lot of everything but would love to do a little of something where I do enough to make a difference. Maybe some type of forum where you need to register and login. Would need to think about this.
What business subjects would you feel comfortable mentoring in? How to go about starting a website especially the what not to do, since many of my referrals are from clients who have made mistakes, paid twice and sometimes three times for the same thing, wasted a lot of time and money. Horrific stories.
Would you be interested in going to lunch with other women entrepreneurs for a “networking tea party� Sure, again not too much time.
