Gymboree, Yoga Studio founder to share her story at chamber event

Think Gymboree and picture children in colorful clothing jumping, climbing, laughing, painting, blowing bubbles, dancing and learning.

Think Yoga Studio and picture agile women and men in yoga classes with sculpted bodies contorted into amazing postures.

Now think Joan Barnes. She is the San Francisco entrepreneur who founded both businesses and painstakingly built them into empires, large or small, and later sold them.

Along the way, long hours, seven-day work weeks, the frenetic pace, a lot of juggling and responsibility, plus struggles managing an eating disorder, took a toll in Barnes' life.

On Wednesday at the Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond, Barnes will talk about her entrepreneurial legacy and triumph over struggles at the Greater Richmond Chamber's Extraordinary Women's Exchange.

Barnes' story is one that many women might identify with, and her journey to success is a testimony of her strengths, said Stephanie Phillips, program director for the chamber series.

The series will feature one extraordinary woman with an inspiring story to share during each quarter. Want to ask Barnes a question for her speech? Post it at http://www.Twitter.com/GRCwomen.

The exchange event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and includes a reception lunch.

Register at http://www.grcc.com or call (804) 783-9368. The cost is $30 for chamber members, $35 for non-members, $45 for walk-ins. -- Iris Taylor