http://laramieboomerang.wy.newsmemory.com/?special=The+Year+of+Wyoming+Women
Looking at work-life balance, facing entrepreneur fears and bringing women to the table
By Jordan Achs
jachs@laramieboomerang.com
Amy Surdam has co-owned Stitches Acute Care Center with her husband, Dan Surdam, since 2010. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, she also serves in the Wyoming Army National Guard as a nurse practitioner.
After campaigning to be mayor of Cheyenne in 2016 and coming in second place, she served as the aeronautics administrator for the state to help bring better air service to Cheyenne and Wyoming. In addition, Surdam serves as a mentor for women through her work with the Array School of Technology and Design and Breakthrough 307.
What in your life led you to become a business owner in Laramie? Did it ever seem unobtainable?
Dan is from Laramie, born and raised, and it just seemed like a good market (for an urgent care). It was really natural because we’re both health care providers and, (after that), none of the other endeavors we’ve done have seemed as intimidating. We’re involved in a lot of things, and I think that’s very common for entrepreneurs. Once they do that one scary thing first, then the other stuff gets easier and easier.
What role do you think women’s suffrage plays in your success or the success of women in general?
I think before, women weren’t always looked at as valued partners at the table. The more we talk about women’s suffrage, and the more we talk about opportunities for women and include women in executive roles and decision making roles, the more value we’re seeing that women can add.
Do you think society still has things to learn about women as leaders?
Balancing the traditional role (of being a woman and mother) with a leadership role is really difficult. I think men in leadership and in general haven’t fully embraced the dynamic that women have to balance, so I feel like sometimes women can’t and choose not to go as far in our careers as we could because we view it as a sacrifice (to our families) … We have a long way to go with work-life balance, not just for women, but men who also want to be more of the caregiver and who want to play more of an equal role in that part of their lives and families.
What would you want to say to all the young women growing up in Wyoming today?
I would say the only thing stopping you is yourself. You can do anything you put your mind to if you work hard enough and choose opportunities and embrace opportunities that are going to force you to grow — as scary as those things might seem at the time — because there will always be value in the lessons that you learn.
