We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Beth Beck. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Beth, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
At MillHouse, we’re in the business of micro-economic development. We exist to enhance the earning potential of creative micro business owners – specifically women – though everyone can participate in our programming and events.
I often get perplexed looks from those who don’t get the concept. From the macro level viewpoint, they can’t conceive a world where this matters. Why would these women need attention or support? The “so what” factor eludes outside the observer, who may perceive a female artist or photographer or designer or writer conducting business as less than a blip on the economic radar – insignificant in the grand scheme. But, is that true? Let’s take a look at the data.
Economic impact of micro business owners:
According to a recent study by Economic Impact Catalyst, micro businesses make up 90% of all small businesses in the US, contributing to the strength and resilience of our communities.
Economic impact of women business owners:
According to the Wells Fargo 2025 Report: “The Impact of Women-Owned Businesses,” women-owned businesses increased by 19.5% between 2019 and 2025 (the years MillHouse has been in business), accounting for 39.2% of all US businesses with $3.3 trillion in revenue.
Economic impact of creative businesses:
The 2023 Bureau of Economic Analysis data indicates that arts and culture enterprises contributed 4.4% of US GDP – a total of $1.02 trillion infused into our economy. Arts and Culture in Texas added 2.8% toward the state’s share of GDP.
The women we support fall in all three categories, or some may feel they fall in between these categories – and don’t count at all. Though overlooked and often discounted, small and micro businesses are the bedrock of our economy. Creative business women, who are most often sole proprietors, can feel invisible. Yet, we believe as women rise (through increased earnings), so do our families and communities. The multiplier effect is evident with increased purchase power at the local grocery store, gas station, retail shops, entertainment, and real estate. These benefits may appear ripples rather than tidal waves, but the community is enhanced none-the-less – both economically and culturally.
At MillHouse, we offer women hope for a prosperous future where women flourish emotionally, creatively, and economically. We think it matters.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
MillHouse is a sisterhood of two nonprofit corporations. MillHouse Foundation, our 501(c)(3), incorporated in January 2019. MillHouse McKinney, our 501(c)(6) membership-based business league, incorporated in December 2019. Both organizations operate out of the gorgeous historic Cotton Mill in east McKinney. Art Director Dana Brock, Creative Director Aimee Woolverton, and I lead both nonprofits. I feel fortunate to work with such talented and dedicated women.
Our Mission: enhance the earning potential of micro and small business owners in creative fields to catalyze hometown hero stories. Our focus is women; however, everyone can participate in our programming and events. MillHouse Foundation manages festivals, markets, and collaborative events using our operating model, Artists Supporting Artists. Local artists step into leadership and, in doing so, set aside their individual business practices to direct and manage MillHouse events to support fellow creatives. We provide stipends as direct compensation to defray their loss of income.
Growing Hometown Heroes: We’re in the business of growing dreams, which translates into economic development. Though overlooked and often discounted, small businesses are the bedrock of our economy. Creative business women, most often sole proprietors, fall in this category. We believe as women rise, so do our families and communities. At MillHouse, we offer women hope for a prosperous future where they flourish emotionally, creatively, and economically.
MillHouse Foundation programming includes fine art festivals, artisan markets, mural & music festivals, and events we host as an organization, along with City-wide festivals and events that we provide leadership and collaborative participation in. We continue to expand our programming muscles as organizations reach out to collaborate. We love to co-create content that offers synergy between our organization and theirs. We’re pursuing several new initiatives for 2026: an official Cotton Mill Cultural Arts District designation with the Texas Commission for the Arts, adding an Ai-Art residency, and large art gallery exhibitions.
MillHouse McKinney is our creative community of small business women who can create with us during business hours Monday through Friday or snag an individual studio space which includes 24/7 access to our facility at the McKinney Cotton Mill. Our members meet with clients in a professional setting, sell their products and services, showcase their art, share expertise through workshops and events, and learn from other creative women. We’re now hosting multiday retreats in our facility, as well as out-of-the-box thinking tracks for organizations.
By the numbers: MillHouse Foundation
2019: 1 Summer ArtFest
2020: 1 Winter ArtFest, 3 open air Makers Markets, McKinney Art Studio Tour
2021: 2 ArtFests (Winter/Summer), McKinney Art Studio Tour (MAST)
2022: 2 ArtFests (Winter/Summer), 3 Makers Markets, MuralFest, Arts in Bloom, MAST
2023: 2 ArtFests (Winter/Summer), 10 Makers Markets, MuralFest Arts in Bloom, MAST
2024: 2 ArtFests (Winter/Summer), 9 Makers Markets, MuralFest, Postcard Art Exhibit, Arts in Bloom, MAST
2025: 1 Winter ArtFest, 5 Makers Markets, Community Chalk it Up, Arts in Bloom
By the numbers: MillHouse McKinney
2019: 1500 sq ft and five artists
2025: 15,000 sq ft footprint, 32 individual art studios, two photography studios, three changing rooms, workshop space, co-working suite, dedicated space for multi-day retreats, and three membership opportunities – ConnectBlock for coworkers; ArtBlock for artists, and LightBlock for photographers.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I could name many who poured into me, but three stand out who saw things in me I didn’t recognize in myself, and cared enough to draw them out.
My Daddy is forever my knight in shining armor. He was my joy, my confidant, my spiritual guide. He thought I was worth fighting for, and stood ready to jump into the fray on my behalf. His readiness to shield me gave me confidence to fight my own battles. He saw value. He believed I was worth the fight.
My high school band director, Mr. Lyons, saw leadership and took the time to call it out in me. I was drum major my junior and senior years. He took the time to teach me how to design band formations for football game half-time performances and encouraged me to create my own patterns. He taught me how to direct the band and lead them through formations. He delegated total authority to me on the practice field and during half-time performances. I was the only voice the band would hear. I was only 16, yet he saw a leader.
Humboldt Mandell, former NASA program manager who worked in the Shuttle, Space Station, and planetary programs, was one of my first bosses at NASA. I was a Presidential Management Intern in my first year at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). In my assignment with Hum, he let me shadow him. I sat with him in his office and listened to every conversation he conducted. I attended high level meetings with him; and absorbed process, personalities, and most of all organizational culture. He asked what I wanted to learn, then followed up with assignments to give me meaningful experiences in those areas. All the NASA JSC executives attended a required training in the mid-eighties, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. After attending the course, he said to me, “Beth, you know that book was written about you.” I had no idea what he meant, so I devoured the book. He saw me as highly effective.
My role at MillHouse is to call out greatness in the women who engage with us. How ironic that I’ve only listed men called out the best in me. They granted me a gift that keeps on giving. I’m honored to continue their legacy, and create new legacies in those around me who learn to believe in themselves.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
The word ‘NO’ can be the best, hardest, most worthwhile motivator for innovative thinking…after we suffer a bit with temporary disappointment.
One of my most transformational experiences with the word NO was two decades ago when my former boss Bill Gerstenmaier, the head of Human Spaceflght (now at Space X), challenged the team to leverage NASA’s unique capabilities to partner with equally unique organizations to create synergy – projects we couldn’t accomplish alone. Great idea! Love that! To underscore the challenge, he cut my budget in half. Womp. Womp. In hindsight, his NO unleashed my brain. He gave me permission to experiment and think outside the box – i.e. organizational boundaries.
Rather than contract out projects, which was the norm at the time, I reached out to counterparts at NASA and external entities to partner on avant garde, unconventional concepts. For example, in 2008, we partnered with State Department, USAID, and NIKE to create the award-winning LAUNCH.org program to connect sustainability-minded innovators and accelerate their solutions for our planet. In 2009, we worked with the NASA’s Technology Office, Mars team, Public Affairs, Capitol police, and others to strategically place Mars gigapan cameras to capture what has become the iconic image of President Obama’s 2009 inauguration day. This was just the beginning of many unconventional, nontraditional, and often award-winning projects.
A barrier, such as a two-letter word (NO) can be a catalyst to transform our thinking, if we let it.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A unique challenge we face as a women-owned business designed for creative women in business is best expressed by the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carrol’s Through the Looking Glass, when he said to Alice, “You used to be much more… muchier. You’ve lost your muchness.” Many women who walk into MillHouse have lost their muchness. They once had dreams and self-esteem, before life beat them down.
At MillHouse, we’re in the business of building muchness. It’s a passion project for me to help women believe in themselves and their innate value, and provide opportunities to explore and refine creative abilities of all types. Muchness + enhanced income opportunities — that’s what MillHouse is all about.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I would love my legacy to be stories of faith, hope, sunshine, and laughter. I can’t imagine one story, but hopefully unique stories of individual encounters we shared – each filled with laughter. Even the most embarrassing experiences are the ones we can laugh about the most. I imagine God giggling at ALL the times I’ve fallen on my face, yet I keep getting back up to try again. My goal in life: change the world. I may not achieve that bold statement, but hopefully I will leave a positive impact during my short imprint on time here on earth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://millhousefoundation.org, https://millhousemckinney.com, https://bethbeck.com
- Instagram: @millhousemckinney, @drbethbeck
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbeck
- Twitter: @millhousemck @bethbeck
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/millhousemckinney, https://www.facebook.com/beth.beck
Image Credits
Jamie House Photos and Dr. Beth Beck
