WPBA Blog 

Kelly McCarthy has spent her life in motion. With 36 years of teaching and nearly 30 years as a studio owner, she’s built Ignite Dance Company into a full dance training facility serving ages 2 through adult, plus a thriving summer camp program. And she’s not slowing down. Her second location opens this February, expanding her vision into a space that will offer dance classes for children and adults while also serving as a community hub for birthday parties, glow dance events, and corporate and private celebrations.

Her studio has recently received the ADCC Studio of Excellence Award twice, a national recognition that reflects the standard she holds herself and her dancers to every day. For Kelly, excellence isn’t about trophies. It’s about confidence, discipline, and helping young people grow into strong future leaders.

Kelly McCarthy with Ignite dancers

Before joining WPBA, Kelly says networking often felt isolating. She had been active in the community for years, but lacked the kind of referral support and collaboration that helps a small business truly thrive. That changed when she found WPBA. Today she describes it as a real support system. She sees other WPBA partners referring her business and showing up strong to support her events. WPBA partners take classes, donate to her fundraisers, and volunteer their time. They don’t just network with her. They stand behind her mission.

That support has created a ripple effect. Through the relationships she’s built, Kelly has been able to expand scholarships for underprivileged children and donate her own time to support other partners and their causes. Her goal moving forward is to collaborate with more children’s organizations so dance can reach kids who might never otherwise have the opportunity.

Kelly McCarthy is always cheerful at Ignite and WPBA events

She’s also passionate about changing perceptions of her industry. Dance can sometimes be provocative and carry misconceptions, but Kelly is firm about her standards. Every class is age appropriate and designed to protect children while building confidence and leadership skills. Safety and empowerment come first. Always.

What surprises people most about Kelly is that outside of the studio, she is a Halloween and roller coaster fanatic. High energy clearly isn’t just part of the job. It’s part of who she is.

When asked what she values most from WPBA, her answer is simple: the connections. Not just business referrals, but genuine friendships she deeply cherishes. And judging by the way her community rallies around her studio, those connections are helping Kelly do what she does best: lift others higher, one dancer at a time.

Connect with Kelly here...

After 10 years in the bookkeeping industry and one year running her own business, Nicole Atwood is most proud of something that doesn’t show up on a spreadsheet: the relationships she creates with her clients.  Nicole Atwood didn’t build Beachy Keen Bookkeeping around numbers → she built it around trust. She understands that handing over financial information can feel vulnerable, especially for growing businesses. That’s why she leads with education, clear communication, and small steps that help business owners feel confident instead of overwhelmed.

Recently, a client told her, “Even though we met not that long ago, I feel like I know you and trust you.”

That moment captured exactly why Nicole does what she does.

When she first joined WPBA, Nicole was looking for the right network of people who shared her values and were invested in the same community she calls home. What she found was more than simply networking. Through WPBA, she connected with accountants, fellow business owners, and referral partners who understood the importance of collaboration. Those relationships opened doors and created opportunities to help businesses transition smoothly and stay financially organized year-round.

Nicole believes bookkeeping isn’t just something you scramble to finish at tax time. It’s a tool for clarity, planning, and smart growth. When small businesses understand their numbers, they make stronger decisions, create jobs, and strengthen the local economy. Her long-term goal is to build a business that not only supports her clients but gives her the ability to give back freely with time, resources, and care for the community she lives in.

Nicole volunteering and speaking at WPBA events

What she loves most about WPBA is how personal that impact feels. It's not distant charity. It is neighbors helping neighbors, families supporting families, and a network that remembers the individual stories behind the need.

Nicole’s work helps business owners breathe easier. And when local businesses feel steady and confident, the entire community grows stronger.

That ripple effect is exactly what WPBA is built for.

Connect with Nicole here