Throughout the month of March, the CAN BE Innovation Center is proud to celebrate Women’s History Month by highlighting its female clients. In this short Q&A, we sat down with one of our incubator tenants, Lisa Bittorf from Pure Beaver Hat Supply, to reflect on her journey and what it means to be a female entrepreneur.

For those who might not know your story, tell us who you are, what your business is, and why you became an entrepreneur.

My name is Lisa Bittorf and I am part of Pure Beaver Hat Supply. Two years ago, I made a life-changing decision to retire from my 36-year career of working with young adults at Job Corps to pursue a small business partnership.

Pure Beaver Hat Supply is a hatter supply house for all of your hatmaker needs – we supply the absolute best materials that can be purchased through our website or by contacting us directly. We are also a training facility that helps teach new or established hatmakers the craft of hatmaking or to help them brush up on their skills and learn proper techniques of particular procedures.

In this partnership, I use my skills to run most of the behind-the-scenes work that is involved when running your own business, such as the office and accounting portions. I have also designed some of my own hat creations! I have always enjoyed wearing and looking at the different styles of each hat so I look forward to continue doing so as well.

In what ways do you think being a female entrepreneur has influenced your approach to business?

As a female entrepreneur you must make sure that all the work gets done, no job is beneath you. You wear many "hats" to make sure that everything is in place and your customers are happy and satisfied. It’s important to let your skills excel so that your business can as well.

What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs just starting out?

My advice is you don't have a chance to be successful in your own business unless you take that chance. Have a plan, know what your expenses are to run your business, and find out what funding options are available in your area. There are going to be good days and bad days during the process; focus on those good days and what you like doing, that is why you are in your own business!

Can you recommend another local female business leader you shop with, look up to, or would like to promote?

Patti Lesko, owner of Chicks & Goats Trading Post.

For more information about the CAN BE Innovation Center, or starting a business within the Greater Hazleton Area, visit canbe.biz or contact Nico Makuta at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..