Great businesses aren't built alone. 

Successful entrepreneurs need peer networks to test ideas and navigate the natural ups and downs of business ownership. For four Greater Cleveland business leaders, those relationships began at the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) and deepened with the founding of the Cleveland chapter of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO). 

“When you get involved in an organization like COSE, you gain the opportunity to both contribute and learn,” said Jeanne Coughlin, president of the Coughlin Group Inc. “It opens doors to meaningful relationships, new perspectives, and a trusted network you can rely on as you grow your business.” 

Coughlin launched the Cleveland chapter of WPO in 2006, with Bonnie Matthew, Kathy Tatman and Liz Crosby among its founding members. All four were first connected through COSE, where they built the relationships that would later evolve into a long-standing peer advisory group. 

“I started my business in 1993 and the first thing I did was join COSE,” Coughlin said. “That’s been a longtime journey. I think it’s important for any small business owner to find their network—people who are like-minded and willing to share their experiences.”   

Coughlin also previously served as chairman of the board of COSE and is a current board member along with Matthew. 

In addition to COSE, WPO provides an environment where women business owners can openly share experiences, challenges, and insights. As an international organization, WPO connects leaders across industries. 

Matthew, owner of Food for Thought, said the WPO process has shaped how she listens and learns, both professionally and personally.  

“You can help other people and be a part of something,” Matthew said. “That’s what, in my mind, both WPO and COSE do—they allow you to give back and help others.” 

Cleveland’s WPO chapter officially launched in the fall of 2005, with its first meeting held in early 2006. The group meets monthly with a total of a dozen women. Now, in 2026, the chapter is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Members recently marked the milestone with a group trip to the Azores. 

Likewise, for Tatman, owner of the D’Amore Tatman group, the prospect of getting together with a group of women business owners every month was exciting. The group strives to have 100% attendance at its monthly meetings. Tatman is consistently one of them.  Members show up each month with an update on their business and personal life. When the group hears from everyone, they choose a member to roundtable. Working together, they ask clarifying questions to help better understand the issue and then share real life stories from their own businesses that relate in some way to the roundtable topic.   

Coughlin believes the group’s longevity is rooted in its deep commitment to one another. 

“We have a process and a guiding principle which says that the members of the group should be as important to us as our biggest clients,” she said. “That, combined with the structure of the meetings, is what keeps people engaged and coming back.” 

The group’s strength lies in its ability to transcend industries, focusing instead on shared leadership challenges and opportunities. 

“Women come together and talk about challenges that are relatable across the board,” Coughlin said. “It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in—that’s the magic of the group.” 

For Crosby, an attorney at Schneider Bell and longtime member of both COSE and WPO, the value of these networks is both practical and personal. 

“When you get into an association or a business group, you have an opportunity to share what you do well,” Crosby said. “It opens worlds of networks—and hopefully clients and customers—and gives you a trusted group to turn to.”