Need help? Look no further than the Rye community and hire local.

By Georgetta L. Morque

Need help? Look no further than the Rye community and hire local. That’s the philosophy behind Ann’s Network, www.annsnetwork.com, a new website that serves as a directory of service professionals who live in and around Rye.

Rye resident Holly Malkasian Staudinger started the site, and after a year of work, it’s up and running with nearly 50 professionals from more than 25 fields. “We have tutors, lawyers, bookkeepers, decorators, health and wellness experts, art consultants, and much more,” said Staudinger. “The feedback has been wonderful.”

Named after her middle name, Ann, the site serves as a resource for businesses and individuals looking to hire local professionals to fill their needs. Consumers can view a professional’s listing and contact that person directly.

While Ann’s Network is open to men and women, the majority of the professionals are women. Many are mothers who took time off from the corporate world to raise children and have started businesses based on their former work or have launched second careers. “Many women want the flexibility to be with their families and being an entrepreneur, although time-consuming, allows that flexibility,” said Staudinger, a mother who transitioned from a corporate career in fashion and retail to an entrepreneur working as a certified yoga instructor, French tutor and editor. She also ran an artisan cooperative in Byram.

Enthusiastic about the site’s potential, Staudinger says Ann’s Network is a community-based venture that supports Rye residents and taps into the talent that’s right here. “Rye has an incredible pool of women and men who are talented, professional, educated, and creative. There’s comfort in knowing that these professionals are your neighbors, members of your community.”