Juanita Werling was born on February 3, 1952 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was one of five children. At the age of two, her parents left her and her siblings with their grandparents. Her early years were difficult. Her childhood was not traditional. They moved from home to home constantly. When her older sisters were old enough to start their lives, they moved out of their grandparent’s house as soon as they could. Juanita followed, running away at the age of fifteen.
At this time, she entered the workforce. Working as a waitress, she was able to provide for her own apartment and became self-sufficient. Even through all of this, she completed her education.
During this time, she developed several valuable characteristics that defined her and her life. These included her work ethic, independence and loyalty. Her work ethic was nothing short of a daily search for excellence. Her strong sense of independence developed from her early years of taking care of herself convinced her that there was nothing she could not accomplish. Her sense of loyalty was unmatched. If she believed in you, she would be at your side and help you work through any problem you would encounter.
Juanita married at nineteen and had two sons. She re-entered the work force in 1981, and worked for several businesses at various positions. She was always striving to learn and improve. Her thirst for knowledge was never satisfied. She had a relentless perseverance and the ability to forge ahead. In 1984, Juanita was named one of the Outstanding Young Women of America. In the early 90’s she was named Business Woman of The Year.
In 1998, she took the position of Executive Assistant to a partner at an accounting firm. It was here that she developed her passion for assisting women in business. She saw the additional hurdles that many women in business encountered. She helped them with her entrepreneurial spirit, encouragement, knowledge, time and money.
Juanita lived her life with passion, constantly giving, constantly loving and constantly being loved. She was a sister, mother, wife, friend and business woman. These are the relationships that formed the rich tapestry of her life. She had an enormous heart filled with passion, compassion and empathy. Her life was purpose driven, imbued with integrity, logic and love. She had that remarkable ability to make everyone feel special.
Juanita left this world as an extraordinary woman of grace, style and competence, on November 21, 2009.
It is with this legacy in mind, that the Juanita Werling Foundation was formed.