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DOUG & JANET HOLM

September 16, 2009 12:35 am

EDUCATION: Janet graduated from high school in 1967 and took various administrative/secretarial courses.

Doug graduated from West Springfield High School in 1975, and studied business administration at George Mason University for two years. He became a financial consultant in 1977, and attained designations as Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow, registered National Association of Securities Dealers representative and registered Financial Consultant.

FAMILY: A daughter, age 34; son, age 24; and two grandchildren.

CAREER HISTORY: Janet did administrative work for the state of Pennsylvania, 1967-1978; branch manager for a local Pennsylvania bank, 1978-1983; executive assistant to president of Asset Management, 1983-1990; executive assistant to the president of J.D. Holm Financial Group, 1990-2007. Co-founder and owner/operator of Kolache House Bakery, 2007-present.

Doug was clerk of the House Banking Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, 1972-1977; representative/area manager of PennCorp Financial, 1977-1980; representative/area manager, Life of Virginia, 1980-1984; president/CEO, J.D. Holm Financial Group, 1984-2007; co-founder of Kolache House Bakery.

FIRST JOB: Janet: administrative work for the Pennsylvania state government. Doug: picking up sticks at grandfather's sawmill in Oliver, Ga.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? Janet: Enola, Pa. Doug: Springfield

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Janet: a mom, and I am very good at it. Doug: Mickey Mantle

HOW DID YOU END UP OWNING KOLACHE HOUSE BAKERY? Janet: I ran Doug's financial planning firm for 21 years and helped him chase his dream. I love to bake and cook, now we're chasing my dream.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DECISION YOU'RE WRESTLING WITH NOW? Janet: advertising and marketing expenses. Doug: Ditto, plus a lack of capital in a strained economy.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR JOB? Janet: We need more time to try new ideas. Doug: Additional hours to market/spread the good word about Kolache House Bakery.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB NOW? Janet: Working with the customers. Doug: Putting smiles on people's faces, and seeing them return.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? Janet: Our customers. Doug: Taking care of people. The gift is truly in the giving.

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO? Janet: If it isn't a "10," we bake it again. Doug: Every day is a GOOD day, just try missing one!!

WHO IS THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL BUSINESS LEADER YOU KNOW? WHY? Janet: Zig Ziglar, he taught me to be positive in all situations, no matter what. Doug: Zig Ziglar, he is the most pure, positive and powerful man I have ever known. I learned from Zig a very important life lesson: "You can have anything in life you want, if you will simply help enough other people get what they want."

WHO WAS YOUR MENTOR? Janet: My mother, age 90, who has a strong will, heart and energy. Doug: Zig Ziglar

WHAT BUSINESS BOOK DO YOU MOST RECOMMEND? WHY? Doug: "The Possible Dream." Isn't that where it all starts?!

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST CAREER ACHIEVEMENT? Doug: Helping and guiding thousands of people to financial success. My second career in "managing dough" remains to be seen.

WHAT'S THE BEST CAREER ADVICE ANYONE HAS GIVEN YOU? Doug: You can have anything in life you want, if you will simply help enough other people get what they want.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHERS TRYING TO ENTER THIS FIELD? Janet: Have more than enough capital, you never know. Doug: Know your Dough and NEVER give up. NEVER!!

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS? Janet: To get the Kolache House Bakery name out, so people understand how unique and delicious we are.

Doug: Build Kolache House Bakery to the point where we have additional units and are helping other people make a good living within our business. Ten units in the next five years.

--As told to Craig Schulin