Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background, where you're from, and what you do?

I'm Bethany Taylor Winzenried. I'm from Meeteetse, Wyoming—probably very few people have heard of it. It's by Cody, which is near Yellowstone. I got into this program because of the Wyoming Women’s Business Council (WWBC), which offered a scholarship for women to join WP Rockstar.

I have a little bit of a background in web design. In college, I worked with Microsoft FrontPage on a project for our honors program. Then during COVID, my massage and yoga studio had to close due to a mandatory statewide shutdown. The governor offered scholarships to go back to school through our community colleges for high-demand programs. Since I already had a bachelor’s degree, I chose a certificate program in web design and development.

What did that certificate program cover?

We learned some HTML, CSS, and WordPress.com—but not WordPress.org. It was basic, but it gave me a good intro. However, once my massage business picked back up, I set the tech stuff aside.

What brought you back to web development now?

My husband’s job lets us travel a lot—at least a month in the fall and again in the spring. I felt kind of guilty just relying on him during our trips. I can’t massage everywhere we go because I'd need licenses in each place. It just isn’t feasible.

So I started thinking, “What can I do to make money while we’re traveling?” Web development seemed like an amazing opportunity. Plus, massage is physical work, and I’ve had some elbow pain. If I got injured, I’d need something else I could fall back on—maybe I can still pack a keyboard!

Where are you in the program right now, and how has it helped so far?

I’m in the marketing section now. I haven’t started the coding modules yet, but even what I’ve done so far has helped a ton—especially with my massage business. I’ve refreshed my website, started using Canva more, and improved some of my automations with tools like Calendly and HoneyBook. It’s also made me think more about business strategy and marketing, which I hadn’t updated in years.

Has the program helped with your confidence?

Absolutely. One of the biggest things I’ve gotten from WP Rockstar is confidence. I now feel like I can figure things out on my own. I don’t have to rely on someone else to update my website or help with tech stuff. That’s huge for me.

Have you started offering services yet or done any client work?

I haven’t officially launched a business yet. We're traveling for over two months right now—Florida, then Europe, then Australia—so I’ve paused business-building while we’re on the move. But I did have someone from our town hall reach out. They're doing a website project with high school students and asked me to help out. It was really fun, and it made me realize there’s interest and need for these skills, even in small communities.

Once I’m back and more settled, I plan to dive into the next modules and launch a site. But right now, it just wasn’t the best time to fully launch.

What’s it like running a business in such a rural area?

Meeteetse has about 300 people. We’re 30 miles from the next town, which only has 10,000 people. We don’t have a grocery store, bank, doctor, or pharmacy. We rely on each other a lot—asking who’s going to Cody or Billings to pick things up.

That lifestyle has shaped my approach to business. I’m more flexible. We deal with things like cows getting out, bad cell service, and weather delays. I think that will influence how I run my web design business too—probably with a bit more grace and understanding.

We are getting fiber optic internet soon, which will help a lot!

What’s been most inspiring for you so far in the program?

Honestly, seeing all the different things people are doing—especially the women in the program. There’s someone from Barbados doing amazing work, and it really opened my eyes. Growing up in Wyoming, I thought you could only be a doctor, lawyer, or teacher if you had an education. This showed me how much more is possible.

What advice would you give to someone else in a small town thinking about learning digital skills?

Just do it. You’ll never regret having the skills, even if you don’t end up using them right away. I’ve been surprised how much I remember and use from the web design program, even when I think I’ve forgotten it. And it’s not just about learning WordPress—you learn how to run a business, you gain confidence, and you connect with a supportive group of women.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I haven’t taken full advantage of everything WP Rockstar offers—I know there’s more I could be doing. But even what I’ve done has been worth it. The community is amazing. People are so willing to help each other, whether it’s with coursework or client work. I try to spend time there instead of doom scrolling social media. It’s a really supportive place.

Also, I’m very grateful to the Wyoming Women’s Business Center for the scholarship. I wouldn’t have joined otherwise, and it’s already made a big impact on how I think about what’s possible for me.