W.I.S.E. Annual Luncheon: From Passion to Profit: Women Building Businesses in Our Community

Sherri Sarrouf:
Sherri Sarrouf is the founder of SLS Fitness in Lowell, MA, which she opened in 2010 and has grown into a thriving 18,000-square-foot wellness center. Driven by a passion for helping people feel their best, she has created a welcoming, community-focused space offering a wide range of training, from strength and conditioning to yoga, boxing, and metabolic training, which she was among the first to bring to New England.

Beyond SLS, Sherri expanded her vision of whole-body wellness by opening Dragonfly Cafe, a 100% gluten-free café designed to support all lifestyles and dietary needs. SLS also offers specialized programs for seniors, Parkinson’s patients, pre- and postnatal clients, and cancer survivors, and corporate and community wellness programming bringing wellness directly to businesses, community centers, and schools in the Merrimack Valley.

With over 27 years in the industry, Sherri’s impact reaches far beyond the gym. She is the founder of Fitness For a Cure, a community-driven fundraiser that has raised over $10 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her dedication to giving back has earned her numerous honors, including the Boston Celtics Heroes Among Us Award and St. Jude’s Volunteer Group of the Year.

At the heart of it all, Sherri’s mission is simple: to create a place where people feel supported, empowered, and at home in their wellness journey.

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Eileen DeChaves:
 

Eileen DeChaves is the founder of Old Mill House Coffee, a cozy, community-driven café built from tenacity and creativity located in the heart of Chelmsford center. After two decades practicing as a Physical Therapist in long-term care, she co-founded a local artisan shop in 2018—only to face its closure during COVID in 2020.

Instead of walking away, Eileen took a significant entrepreneurial risk, reimagined the space, and in October 2020, opened Old Mill House Coffee.

What started as a leap of faith has evolved into a vibrant destination offering more than just a great cup of coffee. Old Mill House Coffee is now a vibrant hub known for its expertly crafted latte flavors, thoughtfully curated collection of local artisan goods, large-scale markets featuring 50+ artists, and a mobile coffee trailer that carries the Old Mill House experience wherever it goes.
 

Always evolving and full of infectious energy, Eileen is a recognized force for creativity and community building in Chelmsford. Her constant innovation ensures that you never know where she'll pop up next!