TheMommyForce CEO searches for venue to hold nonprofit seminars

By Erin McClary
C & G Staff Writer

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Macomb Township mother of three Tracy Kaye is doing her part in sending an important message to business owners around the state: Don’t forget about the untapped workforce of stay-at-home moms.

And she’s sending a similar message to moms: You can do it.

Now, Kaye, 42, is reaching to the public to push her lifelong message into the hands of those who need it. Her company is called TheMommyForce and its mission is this: “To empower stay-at-home mothers with diverse occupations and backgrounds, and provide opportunities for them to help themselves grow personally and professionally while raising a family by connecting them with businesses outsourcing work.”

The youngest of five raised by a mother who spent most of her time on the assembly line to make ends meet, Kaye experienced a childhood and adolescence filled with personal and traumatic struggle. After graduating in the bottom third of her high school class, she decided it was time for a change.

That’s when she met her husband. And a few years later, she started a family of her own — and eventually she achieved undergraduate degrees in general business in marketing. Kaye, CEO and founder of TheMommyForce, is now a stay-at-home mother herself who spends her spare time helping around the community.

As of late, she’s put her heart and soul into the company she said took 42 years for her to get the strength to establish. Kaye is currently waiting for her nonprofit status to come through and promises to “never, ever charge a stay-at-home mom to connect” with her network of professionals willing to help.

“It’s always going to be free to them,” she said. “This is going to give a strong hint to businesses that they’re overlooking a hard-working labor force.”

Through TheMommyForce, stay-at-home moms looking to get back into the workforce can attend several seminars throughout the year designed to help them gain the knowledge needed to obtain jobs.

Professional speakers have signed on already to show mothers how to write effective résumés and cover letters, manage time, conduct mock interviews and discuss women’s health.

Washington Township stay-at-home mom Jamie Drwencke said it’s important to “brush up” on the skills you’ve left behind to raise a family before getting back out there and into the workforce — especially in a struggling economy.

She said as a stay-at-home mom wanting to earn extra cash, she definitely plans to attend TheMommyForce seminars.

“It’s a great opportunity for stay-at-home moms and businesses alike,” Drwencke said. “If you’ve been out of the workforce awhile, things change.”

So far, Kaye has the speakers: representatives from Best Buy to help mothers learn computer and Internet skills and help set up e-mail addresses; Madeline Kowall, a world-renowned résumé writer from cambridgeresume.com; Rick Iserman, a Franklin Covey sales manager at the Somerset Collection, to speak about time management and give away free planners; Charlie Graham, board president of Dress For Success; and Beth Bock, general manager of Lifetime Fitness. Total Health Care Fitness has also donated five one-hour massages to give away at the seminars.

“It would definitely benefit anybody, no matter how long they’ve been in and out of the workforce,” said Drwencke.

But Kaye is still looking for a venue to hold her seminars until she officially receives her nonprofit status. Once she gets that, she hopes to hold her venues at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library.

Volunteers would also help her out. Anyone interested in getting involved, helping her with TheMommyForce Web site, donating a venue for three to four hours, or catering a seminar would be helping a much-needed cause in the community, she said.

“If it weren’t for companies like this, women wouldn’t know what to do,” said Kaye. “If you’re going to be a stay-at-home mom, you’ve got to stay connected. Go online, help your child with school projects.”

Kaye’s company is dedicated to helping mothers get into the workforce, and from their own homes, too. 

“No mother should be forced to choose between her children or her livelihood,” she said. “What happened to me in the past made me stronger. It made this company.”

To inquire about TheMommyForce, visit the company Web site at www.themommyforce.com.

Those interested in donating a venue or volunteering can call Tracy Kaye at (586) 723-1151 or e-mail tkaye@themommyforce.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Erin McClary at emcclary@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1118.