Married co-workers balance personal and professional lives
Feb. 16, 2001
by Kirk Kern
IBLV Managing Editor
When James Woodrow and Michele Tell decided to start Preferred Public Relations together on April 1, 1999, the bond of being business partners just wasn't enough.
Two weeks later, they got engaged. Within six months, they were married.
Woodrow and Tell say they are perfect partners for a small business. Each share the same focus vision for the company and have a commitment to its success.
"There's a certain synergy between us." Woodrow said. "A sense of communication."
Like most couples, Woodrow and Tell bring different strengths to their business and each play key roles in its success. Woodrow handles the day-to-day operations of the company. Tell serves as company spokeswoman, implements public relations plans and sells service to clients.
So far, the formula has worked successfully in the highly competitive public relations field. In 1 1/2 years, the company has grown from just Woodrow and Tell to five on the payroll and they've already moved from a home office to their second professional office.
"Opening any new business takes a lot of work," Woodrow said. "Being able to focus on many things at once. The background for a small business entrepreneur make them a breed in themselves."
Dr. Joel Mishalow, a clinical psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist, doesn't see couples working together as being something that will lead to conflict.
"I see it sometimes, but it's infrequent," said Mishalow, who has practiced for 18 years. "But the couples need to communicate effectively since they're going to be spending a great deal of time together."
Mishalow said the same things that will keep any couple together – resolve conflicts, communicate effectively and be sensitive to each other's needs – are even more important to spouse/business partners.
"In some ways, it will benefit a marriage by both being in the same career path and having similar goals, "Mishalow said. "Working toward the same aspirations and living their goals. That leads to a greater sense of teamwork and camaraderie."
Chris Meehan and wife Brenda have run their special events company, Meehan and Associates, together for six years. They too are a good match as business partners.
"It's worked out great," Chris Meehan said. "We have a successful business. I'm the left brain, she's the right brain. She's the one dreaming up what we can do."
The Meehans started their business after the Northridge, Calif., earthquake in 1994 destroyed the Redkin facility, where Chris Meehan worked as vice president of sales for the United States. The company wanted Meehan to relocate to New York, so he decided to quit and move to Las Vegas to open his own business.
"We moved here as a quality of life issue," Chris Meehan said.
Brenda Meehan has a background in event management and Chris Meehan's strength is sales. Their company, which consists solely of the husband and wife team, produces large community events.
Chris Meehan said the key to a successful marriage/business partnership is patience and making sure business isn't the only topic of discussion.
"It's hard not to overly discuss business," Chris Meehan said. "Between being parents and working all the time, you have to make sure you do things to take your mind off work.
"When you get really busy, working 16 to 18 hour days, it gets rough."
Mishalow said couples need to make a concerted effort to not discuss work, particularly at social settings.
"You have to separate work and play," he said. "Invariably what happens is couples that work together go out and still discuss work. The conversations are not around other things that promote intimacy."
Woodrow and Tell often work long hours, but they find another positive to being married in this aspect of their career. "If we worked in the same field for different companies, we wouldn't see each other at all," Woodrow said. "It works because we enjoy working together."
But doesn't every couple need some space? Tell said the nature of the business and the roles they play give them plenty of autonomy. "We have separate offices and we spend a lot of time apart during the day," Tell said. "I have my clients. James has his clients. We spend time together, but we're not together 24 hours a day. We each have separate agendas. We still have new things to share with each other every day."
There's also an understanding of each other's responsibilities that may not come with spouses working in different careers.
"We work seven days a week, between eight to 12 hours," Tell said. "That's the nature of the business and it makes it easier to be married because there's an understanding between us."
"If there's a 5 a.m. news show opportunity for one of our clients, I'll be there. If there's another opportunity in the 11 p.m. news, I'll be there too."
There is a negative however. "It makes it hard to take a vacation," Tell said. "We're the principals in the company and you often want at least one principal hanging around. But we're not going to take separate vacations."
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