A Des Moines entrepreneur whose businesses include a women’s business networking group is the 2024 U.S. Small Business Administration Women’s Business Champion of the Year for the state of Iowa.
Erin Huiatt is the owner of Des Moines Fathera website she purchased in 2015 that offers advice, ideas, events, activities and suggestions to parents in central Iowa. She is also president of the networking group, FemCity Des Moinesthat promotes the achievements of women by providing them with tools, resources and connections to succeed in business.
“The SBA Iowa District Office is honored to recognize Erin Huiatt as an inspiration to professional women throughout central Iowa,” Iowa District Director Jayne Armstrong said in a news release, adding, “She is truly making a significant difference in the Iowa small business community,” Armstrong said.
On her website, Huiatt describes herself as a businesswoman, community leader, author, mother and wife.
Huiatt, who grew up in the Des Moines area, said that since taking over the Des Moines Parent website, he has grown from 1,000 Facebook followers to more than 21,000, with about 90,000 page views per month. The site is free and generates income through the sale of advertising, which she says has been her biggest challenge.
“We have such a large community and I’ve spent a lot of time making those connections with ‘the advertisers,'” he said. “They’re very loyal and trusting of what I have to say or share and how (the website) works.”
Author, organizer, planner
In addition to her businesses, Huiatt is the author of “100 things to do in Des Moines before you die” and launched the Des Moines Beyond Business Conference in 2022. The conference attracts women business owners and professionals throughout central Iowa for a day of personal and professional development, including educational sessions, guest speakers and networking opportunities, according to the SBA press release.
Huiatt also sits on the boards of directors of the Des Moines Children’s Museum and Grimes Chamber & Economic Development, is a certified postpartum doula and author of “TThe postpartum plan workbook.She was a finalist for the Inspiring Women of Iowa Character Award and winner of the FuseDSM 2022 Rising Star Award.
Huiatt was nominated by Tricia Rivas, owner of Trixie’s Salon & Spa in Des Moines.
One of the projects he has coming up in 2025 is a printed directory of indoor places for families to visit.
“They will be indoor places for families to visit, maybe like family restaurants. Really family-centered places,” she said.
As president of FemCity Des Moines, Huiatt said the organization seeks to help women learn to make a living from activities that began as personal interests.
“A lot of these small businesses started as a hobby and they want to know how to get out of the hobby mentality and turn it into a business,” he said.
Like many businesses, large and small in Iowa, attracting and retaining good employees is one of the key challenges FemCity Des Moines members face, Huiatt said.
“I think women are looking for support and similar backgrounds and stories from other people that they can learn from and that’s what FemCity offers,” Huiatt said.