The Shadow
Local entrepreneur Annette Comer, owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics and Day Spa in Covington, is launching a worldwide podcast.
The show will have weekly episodes that release each Monday starting Monday, June 29.
The podcast is titled “Achieve and Thrive” and has been in the works since December 2019.
The podcast will reach a worldwide audience and will be available on 11 major podcast directories, including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, Pandora and iHeart Radio.
“This podcast creation was a labor of love meant to elevate women leaders all across the world,” Comer said.
“Achieve and Thrive” shows women how to have a life and business free of distractions and interferences; how to become women leaders who are untouchable.
On the “Achieve and Thrive” podcast, Annette will be joined by best-selling author and authenticity expert Aileen Castellano.
Those listening to the podcast will discover how current research combines with timeless wisdom for a leadership style that unlocks an individual’s highest potential.
From effective communication, self-confidence, self-awareness and alignment of thoughts and emotions, listeners get the tools, strategies and insights needed to take risks, accomplish big goals and succeed in business and life.
Comer is currently president of Enterprise Excellence Inc., a global consulting, teaching and coaching company.
In addition, she owns four additional companies which include real estate, consulting and the retail store front here in Covington.
Even though she has a diverse background in corporate business, Comer is an entrepreneur at heart.
She started her first business selling Tupperware at home parties as a way to pay for her college education when she was 20 years old.
She expanded her entrepreneurial skills in 1989 by buying a national cosmetics franchise and she opened her first store front in downtown Covington, which celebrates 31 years in business this year.
Very early in her entrepreneurial activities, she defined a business model that creates a strong sustainable business and used it to open a second franchise location in Lexington in 1997 which was sold in 2005.
While sharpening her entrepreneurial skills, Comer worked for a Fortune 500 company from 1980 to 1998 in a variety of positions.
During this period, she was awarded two United States patents for packaging materials and was the first female to manage a U.S. production operation for Hercules, Inc.
In 1998, Comer left her corporate career.
She established an international consulting business focused on building successful business platforms and has helped clients all over the world.
In 2001, she and her brother purchased a 48-year-old electrical services business and expanded its offerings to include communication and security design/installations as well as high-end security product line.
The company grew 150 percent within the first two years and the customer base grew to include many Fortune 500 companies.
In 2008, they sold the business.
Having spent 18 years in a corporate environment in areas of research, market development, engineering, production and management coupled with 31 years of being a successful entrepreneur, she understands what it takes to be a successful in business, and she understands what it takes to successfully reinvent a business to compete and survive long term.
In 2007, Comer received a Global Executive MBA degree from the University of North Carolina, an innovative program which allowed her to study business in six countries over four continents.
Prior to her MBA, she received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Over the years, Comer has proven herself a seasoned communicator by writing articles for a variety of magazines and newspapers including the Virginian Review’s “Beauty 101” series.
She has conducted workshops for such clients as Clemson University, University of North Carolina, Film Pack, Tappi and The Retail Manufacturing Association.
Comer has also served as the keynote and conference speaker in many different industries that range from the high technology based chemical industry to highly regulated food industry to consumer-based industries.
In 2007, she released the book “RESCUE ME! How To Save Your Sanity When Things Go Wrong,” a book about how one can build and sustain a successful business based on international truths and proven strategies.
The book reached the best-seller list shortly after its release.
In 2010, Comer was recognized as Woman of the Year by The National Association of Professional Women.
In the last 5 years, Comer’s focus has turned to developing strong women leaders and has become known as a women leadership expert.
She founded The World’s Greatest Women Academy which teaches women how to become savvy business leaders who play the game of business to win without losing their authentic selves.
The worldwide release of the “Achieve and Thrive” podcast is another extension of her teaching platform as she strives to prepare women to step forward as powerful leaders.
Comer said, “‘Achieve and Thrive’ is one of many programs to be released this year to help women leaders become untouchable. I am so excited to be able to share my wisdom and experiences with the local women as well as those across the world. I invite everyone, men and women, to check out the ‘Achieve and Thrive ‘podcast upon its release on Monday.”
In her spare time, Comer is a fitness enthusiast who loves adventure.
She is a certified scuba diver, a yoga instructor, and an enthusiastic hiker and mountain horseback rider.
Her husband, Keith, a civil engineer, is Comer’s business manager and consulting partner.
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Annette Comer, owner of Merle Norman Cosmetics and Day Spa in Covington, will be launching “Achieve and Thrive” Monday, a podcast designed to elevate women leaders worldwide. It will be available through various podcast providers. She will be joined by author Aileen Castellano. (Photo Courtesy Annette Comer)
