Women in Business 2011: Summer Riney

In addition to serving as vice president of marketing at Premier Rehab Physical Therapy, where her husband is the owner, CEO and a physical therapist, Summer Riney recently started her own marketing firm targeting the health care industry.

BT: How did your career evolve to get you to where you are today? Riney: My initials before I got married were SNL, and I was convinced that those letters also stood for my goal in life Success In Life. I started my career with marketing in the health care industry 12 years ago. Three years ago I switched my career into work as vice president of marketing with my husband's and my company, a privately owned physical therapy practice, Premier Rehab Physical Therapy. Our company has since expanded to two locations, and patient volume and revenue have tripled. I saw the statistics of how my marketing was helping the company grow, and I have mapped out campaigns that will help any private practice physical therapy clinic grow. I also have decided to take my product and knowledge to open my own marketing firm, SNL Marketing, which is geared toward the health care industry. My goal is to help other companies promote with purpose.

BT: What is challenging about running your own business? Riney: The hardest thing for me is turning off my mind and work. I love what I do so much that I think about it most of the time. I often wake up in the middle of the night with a new idea for promotion, and it's not uncommon for me to start working at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning on a new idea. I'm constantly thinking about work, even if I'm not actively working at that moment.

BT: What do you find most rewarding about what you do? Riney: It's rewarding knowing that I am doing something with purpose and seeing the growth of a company and improving its condition. I also love to see the end products of materials that we have created.

BT: What is it like working with the person you are married to? Riney: Depends on what day you ask me (just kidding). It is actually the most rewarding experience ever. We have very similar outlooks on life, work ethic, family life and helping others, so it's fun! We complement each other well. Dennis is definitely the businessman, and I am the creative person. As I was writing this, he walked into my office and asked me on a lunch date, and I think to myself, how awesome is this?

BT: What advice would you offer other women about how to balance work and family obligations? Riney: I would say that it can be done. You can follow your dreams and have a wonderful family. The key to our family is organization and knowing that my family is always first. I have two daughters, Emma, 7, and BreAnn, 3, and they are precious girls. I am fortunate because I am able to schedule around all my girls' activities to make sure I can make the most of their time growing up.

BT: What community organizations/causes are important to you and why? Riney: Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau; I am the vice president. This club's mission is to advance the status of women. I love the mission of this club, especially as a female business owner. I became heavily involved in the U.S. Wounded Soldier Foundation four years ago. Premier Rehab now hosts an annual golf tournament to raise money for this organization. My daughter Emma is in Girl Scouts, and I am now the assistant leader. I'm also active in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce.