Executive snapshot: Patricia Thompson

Profession: Owner of The Valley Soap Co., an online retail mail-order business she operates from her home.

Pastimes: Reading, particularly mystery novels and medical thrillers.

Favorite TV shows: ‘‘I enjoy ‘Lost,’ ‘Ghost Hunters,’ ‘24,’ ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ and ‘Medium’ — all recorded, as I have limited time and need to pause it and come back. I like drama with a twist.”

Community involvement: A member of On Purpose Networking for Women in Lutherville, ‘‘which provides a great outlet for new ideas and opportunity to connect with other women who share similar issues for small business owners.”

‘‘I have worked with the American Red Cross from Baltimore for the last two summers, providing several hundred gift bags for their health fairs. I would love to continue this part of my business.”

Favorite vacations: ‘‘I have traveled extensively throughout the U.S. New York City is always great for plays and other performances and, of course, the great restaurants. I have visited several islands and love Aruba — a very relaxing and beautiful location.”

What she did before starting The Valley Soap Co.: ‘‘For a number of years, I have been a business and technical consultant. Most recently, I worked for Chevo Consulting LLC in Rockville, where I provided consulting for government agencies. I still provide some consulting on a part-time basis for Chevo.”

How she started the soap company: ‘‘I have always been a person who enjoys crafts and creating gifts for family and friends. With a strong desire to participate more actively in my small children’s lives, this was a natural direction to take.”

Her company’s goals: ‘‘I focus on products that comfort people: candles, towels, neck wraps, etc. One goal is to try and develop an outlet for products made by women or women-owned companies. Many of the products I use are made by women - from my hand-sewn items from women to my new line of soy candles. I also work with a local artist who paints on glass for jars I fill with bath salts. I am always looking for people locally who can help by sewing my products in their homes on a project-by-project basis.”

On connecting with women in other countries: ‘‘One of the first companies I worked with, Nature’s Weave, is a member of the Fair Trade Commission, which gives opportunities for disadvantaged women from the Philippines to provide ... nature bags made from the Abaca plant, a renewable product. More recently, I have been working with Aura Green, a small business in India with a similar concept.”

How she finds products: ‘‘Finding products is easy. Finding the right products is the hard part. A good number of product samples cross my desk on a daily basis. Understanding trends and being able to purchase products related to those trends is important.”

How she plans to keep growing in Frederick: Frederick has the advantage of drawing not only local residents, but visitors from other metropolitan areas. I am currently working on a marketing campaign to target local businesses. My long-term goal is to open a local shop, potentially a type of co-op.”