Bonnie Kelly & Teresa Walsh
Co-Founders of Silpada Designs 
Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh's inspiring climb from stay-at-home moms to running a multimillion dollar jewelry company is proof that you can do something you truly love and make a successful career out of it. Bonnie and Teresa turned a passion for sterling silver jewelry into a business that provided them financial freedom and family flexibility—a goal for many women trying to juggle a career and family. They had no idea their chance meeting would ultimately redefine their lives and impact the lives of thousands of other women with similar dreams.
A Fateful Meeting Leads to Fashion Dreams
Bonnie and Teresa are the co-founders of Silpada Designs (silpada.com), the largest and fastest-growing sterling silver jewelry home party company in the United States and Canada. They met when the oldest of each of their three children started first grade. Fatefully, Bonnie and Teresa both signed up to be room mothers and became the best of friends. After chatting about how they could earn a little extra cash, they tried a few new business ideas. They had a lot of fun, but it wasn't until they each took $25 from their grocery fund and pursued their passion for sterling silver jewelry that they really began to love their "jobs."
Bonnie and Teresa started designing their own jewelry creations and hosting fun parties in their friends' homes. Quickly, one party led to another, and, it wasn't long before the girls at the parties started telling them, "You look like you are having so much fun. We wish we could have your jobs!"
Basement-Born Business Makes Dreams Come True
By 1997, Bonnie and Teresa could see their business potential went beyond dress-up parties. With a deep breath, they took the biggest risk of their lives and launched Silpada Designs out of Bonnie's basement.
Immediately, Bonnie and Teresa designed a collection of exclusive, handcrafted .925 sterling silver jewelry (the highest-quality sterling silver available), created their first catalog, and invited long-time customers to become the first independent Silpada Designs representatives. In 2008, Silpada launched its first international venture in Canada.
Bonnie and Teresa have gone from designing jewelry for their girlfriends and clients to designing jewelry for more than 3 million customers. Silpada has risen to success as a business run by women, for women, in one of the few industries that truly allows women to "have it all."
With every party, Silpada Designs continues to build on Bonnie and Teresa's original vision of empowering women by offering a stylish and rewarding way to make their dreams reality...while most importantly, always having fun!
