Melinda Metz bought the Minuteman Press on Willowcreek seven years ago and has not looked back. She started as a graphic designer 20 years ago and was able to work her way to buying the franchise. As the owner, she now gets to interact with a community she loves and do what she loves most. Metz also gets to lead an all-girl staff at the business.
“I love my job,” said Metz. "I don't know what I would do if I didn't work. I don't know how I'm going to retire.”
Metz has always been an artsy person who grew up loving to sew and decorate. In high school, she worked on the yearbook. She got her start in graphic design as it was becoming a more prevalent discipline. Taking the initiative to be ready for the future, Metz took classes to master the tools of graphic design. That initiative allowed Metz to become a graphic designer at Minuteman Press.
“I took classes at Valparaiso University for Adobe Illustrator and InDesign back in the ‘90s because they were new and upcoming programs,” said Metz. “Minuteman opened six months prior, and with the new skills that I gained, I applied for the graphic design job.”
Metz would have that job for 20 years until she purchased the Portage franchise. It was an ownership that began with $1,000 in the bank that would later blossom into today’s successful enterprise.
“I started with $1,000, and the last owner, Neil McLaughlin, was nice enough to let me take over the receivables a month before I gave him the money to buy the business,” said Metz. “He gave me the first month of my receivables, allowing me to take over the staff and survive.”
Metz and McLaughlin have had a great friendship and working relationship. By the time McLaughlin was ready to pass on the business, Metz had already become the face of Minuteman. She worked at the counter with clients and got local businesses what they needed. Becoming the owner was the next step for Metz.
“As he got ready to sell, he asked me if I wanted to buy it,” said Metz. “I jumped at the opportunity.”
On top of managing the business, Metz is heavily involved in the community. Metz is a nominated board member for the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce. Next year, she will serve on the executive part of the board. She is also passionate about being involved in A Positive Approach to Teen Health (PATH) and is a member of Kiwanis.
“I have always loved my community, so I try to help out in the best way I can,” said Metz. “I think that if everybody was as involved in the community, it would be a better place to live.”
For Metz, it is all about treating people the way that she would want to be treated. With her ownership of a small business, Metz has the freedom to treat her employees very well, including providing mothers the opportunity to still work while being a mom.
“I accommodate them if they need to take an hour off for a student-teacher conference, go watch a play or game, or go on a field trip,” said Metz. “As a mom and a business owner, I have to treat mothers the way I would have wanted to be treated when I was a young mom to be able to do things like that with my children.”
Outside of work, Metz enjoys cooking and seeing friends. She also enjoys spending time with her soon to be 10 year old grandsons.