Women at the Helm 2015
RACHEL EINBUND
Principal Attorney at the Law Office of Rachel Einbund, Esq.
The passage of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011 marked the end of one battle, and the beginning of many others. Rachel Einbund understood that from the start, and it's what led her to create her own legal practice, focusing on marriage-based green cards, work visas, domestic abuse victims and family-based immigration, to name but a few of her many specialties. Einbund, a graduate of NYU and New York Law School, prides herself on taking clients from all over, and on her belief in religious, political, gender and sexual freedom. In addition to running her own firm, she mentors law students; holds free workshops on the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) immigration policy; writes about immigration issues on her firm's blog, The LORE Review; and does pro-bono work for minors and unique cases. (She’s registered as a marriage officiant, too, as if all that weren't enough to keep her busy.) For her dedication to the law and our community, Einbund has received numerous honors: Just this year, the National LGBT Bar Association named her one of America's best LGBT lawyers under 40 and The International Women's Leadership Association called her a Woman of Outstanding Leadership. We here at GO simply call her "amazing."
Meet 16 dynamos who are true models of success
LAURA J. KLOOSTERMAN AND LK WEISS
Co-Founders and Owners, Bowline Co.
Laura J. Kloosterman and LK Weiss have a simple motto for their business: “Bow ties for every outfit, every day, and every body.” As owners of Bowline Co., they sell unique, gender-neutral, and handcrafted bow ties in a wide variety of styles, “from rustic cabin life for the forest enthusiasts to graceful nautical for the coastal chic. These unique ties aren’t simply for formal wear and special events,” the couple say on their website, “but to [also] add a touch of personal flavor to your everyday functional outfits for all occasions.” Kloosterman and Weiss run Bowline in addition to working other jobs—Weiss is “The Portland Designer,” doing design work for major brands, while Kloosterman is a nanny. Their business is inspired by Maine—a number of ties are upcycled from clothing with a distinct Maine flavor, while materials and hardware are sourced from Maine when possible. They suggest other business leaders invest in a good website and photography. (“It will pay off in the end. Trust that.”) They also suggest being both patient and determined. “It takes a LOT of consistent and aggressive work to achieve visibility and recognition, [but] anyone with a single good idea and a strong passion for getting it out there can succeed. We aren’t reinventing the wheel here; we’re just raising the bar.”
