Monthly Archives: March 2010

The Women Business Owners organization is holding its annual business convention starting September 30^th, 2010; a three day, two night celebration of women and their businesses being held in Napa, California at the Marriot Napa Valley Hotel and Spa. This year’s theme, “Renewing Your Business and Your Spirit” focuses on the need for hardworking women in business to take time for themselves, to renew their spirit which will renew their businesses.

The WBO business conference offers women business owners the opportunity to renew both their businesses and themselves through hands-on workshops with guest speakers, keynote speaking events, Napa-style networking events and more, all based on their own personalized schedule. Attendees can choose their attendance level which may include wine tasting at local vineyards and rejuvenating spa treatments.

It’s easy for women business owners to feel overwhelmed between running their businesses, taking care of their families and handling everything involved in their personal lives. The WBO business conference offers women the perfect opportunity to slow down and enjoy the fruits of their labor, while pampering themselves and connecting with other successful women business owners. While relaxing and networking, attendees will also be learning new ways to rejuvenate their businesses; breathing new life into their businesses and themselves!

So what are you waiting for? Don’t you and your business deserve a little rejuvenation? Early bird registrants will save $100.00 off the registration price if they register before June 1, 2010. So act now!

For more information and to register for the Women Business Owners business conference log onto:  http://womenbizowners.org/conference/ Seats are filling up fasts, so don’t wait!

We have two Junior Achievement events planned for Money Week Houston 2010. Both of which are “JA Days” whereby all 5 lessons are taught back to back in one day. Each volunteer will be matched up with a class for a day, so you will have a great opportunity to get to know your class over the course of your visit. Volunteers will begin teaching at 8:30; JA Days typically last until 2:00.

Each volunteer receives a kit of materials including the volunteer guidebook that outlines each lesson for the volunteer. Preparation is very easy, and teaching is even easier. For the amount of effort volunteers put into JA, they truly get so much back knowing they impacted the students’ lives. They have an online training program that can prepare you on the materials, and you can complete this on your own time.

Volunteers who might be interested in teaching a class for Junior Achievement should fill out the attached volunteer form and forward it to Kyle Stables at kstables@jahouston.org. He’ll get you everything you need from there. Also, please let Kyle know if you have any questions about the program. Thank you for your consideration, the students really do appreciate their volunteers!

April 20:

Lakewood Elementary

2^nd grade

April 21:

Kaiser Elementary

1^st and 2^nd grade

Kyle Stables

Operations Manager

Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas

2115 East Governors Circle

Houston, TX 77092

Phone: (713) 682-4500 ext. 254

Cell: (713) 452-0403

Fax: (713) 682-8238

Lorin Beller Blake

It is 2010 and the ‘in thing’ right now is Twitter! Are you tweeting? If not, you are missing the power of this new medium….. so, for our first 2010 Lorin & Friends call I want to introduce you to my Friend, Colleague, and Big Fish: Rachael Bender.

Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM EST(1CST/12MST/11PST)

Cost: FREE for the 1st 100 to Register
Includes: 60 Minute Teleclass
Where: Your Desk!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE

As always, Lorin & Friends is FREE however, we ask that you register for the tele-discussion and after you do, we will send you the dial in information for the call.

So grab an afternoon tea, coffee, water with lemon or margarita! (did I say that!?) And we’ll meet you there! Will you join us?

Rachael Bender

Rachael Bender was recently named ‘A Surging Twitter Superstar’
by a Washington Post writer

CEO of Bender Consulting, a technology and internet consulting firm which specializes in high-end websites and online marketing, Co-Founder and Vice President of BlueSuitMom.com and former Executive Producer of Mom Talk Radio. Rachael will share from her vast range of internet marketing and social media strategies, creativity, web design and technology experiences.

Rachael will help us learn how to:

• Understand the Power of Twitter
• Grow your network from your desk!
• Create meaningful relationships with clients, vendors, media, etc.
• How to use Twitter to get new Business
• How Big Fish is using Twitter to network and support each other

Big Fish Nation is a community of successful women business owners. We have a social network site that is private just for our Big Fish Community. Our philosophy? We feel strongly about utilizing hard core business skills with a spiritual approach to success. In other words, it is not just how we go about designing a marketing plan it is just as important who we are ‘being’ when we implement our marketing plan. We want women to have a genuine smile on their face at the end of the day; satisfied in their work and life. How do we do this? We offer programs that combine both one-on-one coaching with teleclasses; live interactive teleclasses. The combination is exponentially valuable.

BrandNotes

Insights into branding, behavior & social media

March teleseminar:  “5 Brand Strategies to Connect with Women”

A live, 1-hour interactive session that includes a 30-page workbook

Did you know that women want to be “connected with,” not “sold to”?  And since a woman’s Highest Personal Value is establishing and nurturing relationships, she’s more likely to engage your brand if you attempt to develop and nurture a relationship with her.

During this engaging live 1-hour interactive teleseminar, you’ll discover gender-specific behavioral insights that’ll enable you to tweak your communications to connect with the most powerful consumers in the country – women.

You’ll discover . . .
·  Words and phrases that motivate her
·  Shapes and colors that resonate with her
·  Why storytelling is so important to her
·  Developing a relationship through collaboration
·  Emotions and how she makes decisions

Click here to read a complete description of this session.

We’re conducting this teleseminar on (all times are EST) . . .
Wednesday, March 10th at 2pm
Wednesday, March 17th at 2pm
Wednesday, March 24th at 2pm
Wednesday, Marcy 31st at 2pm

Click here to register.

Girls For A Change

Girls For A Change has invited you to the event ‘GET INSIDE THE OUTSIDERS – JOIN THE MOVEMENT’ on GFC Action Network!

To join Outdoor Nation and become an Outsider, simply visit www.outdoornation.org. During registration, mention you were referred by Girls for a Change!

http://girlsforachangeactionnetwork.ning.com/events/event/show?id=2211736%3AEvent%3A16224&xgi=3MlvhxqfsD2Z7T&xg_source=msg_invite_event

The National Association of Professional Women is an exclusive network for professional women to interact, exchange ideas, educate, network, and empower.  NAPW members enjoy a wealth of resources and services dedicated to the enhancement, empowerment and promotion of their careers.

NAPW provides seminars, podcasts, webinars, keynote speeches, educational tools, and fosters career development skills that enable our members to achieve personal and career success.

Women can network with other women, research, and review and uncover new opportunities providing them with the exposure to grow their careers.

The NAPW provides a global platform for women to voice their opinions and share their thoughts on family, economic and political issues that affect us. The NAPW supports and endorses a diverse syndicate of charities and nonprofit organizations focused on women’s issues and child wellness.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide the most exclusive and advanced forum for members to find like-minded women to create innovative social, professional, and business relationships.  We provide our members knowledge and information about varied industries and professions and generate the opportunity for our constituency to interact, exchange ideas, educate, network, and empower.

Thriving in the New Economy

WPO 13th Annual Conference

April 22-24, 2010

Ft. Lauderadle, Florida

FOR MEMBERS:
The Hospitality fee is charged to cover the cost of food and beverage served during the conference. Please note, the cost of food and beverage is subsidized by the corporate sponsors.

Hospitality fee before March 22, 2010 at 5 pm EST (required for members and non-members): $325

Hospitality fee after March 22, 2010 at 5 pm EST (required for members and non-members): $375

FOR NON-MEMBERS:
Non-members who attend need to pay both the Hospitality Fee and the Registration Fee of $550

Please note: Non-members who attend the conference can apply the $550 Registration Fee toward member dues if they join the WPO within 60 days of the conference.

Total fee for non-members: $875 (before 5pm EST March 22) or $925 (after 5pm EST March 22)

Register at their conference website.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

TIME: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
EVENT: ZENITH GROUP ROUNDTABLE SESSION
OPEN TO: Zenith Group Members Only

Thursday, April 22, 2010

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
EVENT: Conference Registration

Corporate Focus Groups and Pre-Conference Sessions – TO BE ANNOUNCED

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
EVENT: WOMEN PRESIDENTS’ ORGANIZATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
SPONSORED BY: WPO
OPEN TO: By Invitation Only (breakfast and lunch to be served)

TIME: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
EVENT: WOMEN PRESIDENTS’ ORGANIZATION ANNUAL MEETING
SPONSORED BY: WPO
OPEN TO: All members and Chapter Chairs ONLY

We are pleased to annonce that this year’s conference will be emceed by: Roz Abrams, Journalist, New Anchor and Broadcasting Personality

TIME: 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
EVENT: OPENING SESSION
SPONSORED BY: UPS
Welcome and Introductions:
Marsha Firestone, Ph. D., President & Founder, WPO
Introduction of Board, Platinum, Zenith and International Members
Introduction of Chapter Chairs:
Susan Diamond, V.P. of Facilitation and Chief Learning Officer, WPO

TIME: 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
EVENT: ECONOMIC FORECAST – One WPO member from each of the four continents will speak about their businesses and outlook for the upcoming year.
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TIME: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 pm
EVENT: KEYNOTE ADDRESS – PROFESSOR NEELI BENDAPUDI, Ph. D., Professor of Marketing and Director, Initiative for Managing Services Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University
SPONSORED BY: Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TITLE: CUSTOMER APOSTLES
DESCRIPTION: In the new economy, the most powerful marketing technique is delivered by your unpaid salespeople: the customers who love your business and act as your apostles. In this session, you will learn how to strategically assess your customer engagement and learn what drives WOMP or “Word of Mouth Power.” You will also gain practical tools to drive customer acquisition and retention.

TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
EVENT: OPENING RECEPTION – WESTIN BEACH RESORT – Poolside
SPONSORED BY: American Airlines, Denihan Hospitality Group and Prudential
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TIME: 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
EVENT: DINE-AROUND DINNERS – WESTIN BEACH RESORT
HOSTED BY: Miami Chapter Members
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

Friday, April 23, 2010

TIME: 7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
EVENT: Morning Exercise
SPONSORED BY: Jazzercise
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
EVENT: Buffet Breakfast
SPONSORED BY: GlaxoSmithKline
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
EVENT: Conference Hall Exhibit Opens
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
EVENT: CyberCafe Opens
SPONSORED BY: Dell, Inc.
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TIME: 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
EVENT: Greetings & Introductions
HOSTED BY: Marsha Firestone, Ph.D., WPO
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TIME: 8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
EVENT: KEYNOTE ADDRESS – PROFESSOR REBECCA HENDERSON, Senator John Heinz Professor of Environmental Management, Harvard Business School
SPONSORED BY: Foley & Lardner, LLP
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TITLE: STUCK
DESCRIPTION: Professor Rebecca Henderson will explore the dynamics that lead many organizations to fall into overload – and to get “stuck” as a result. She will outline some of the techniques that firms can use to climb back into balance and suggest that mastering them may be a powerful source of competitive advantage.

TIME: 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m
EVENT: WORKSHOP SESSIONS
(Workshops will be repeated in afternoon. See below for workshop titles and descriptions.)
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REVIEW ALL WORKSHOP TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS.

TIME: 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
EVENT: Luncheon
SPONSORED BY: Sam’s Club
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TIME: 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
EVENT: KEYNOTE ADDRESS – MARSHALL GOLDSMITH, best-selling author and Executive Coach and FRANCES HESSELBEIN, Chairman and Founding President of the Leader to Leader Institute / formerly the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for the Management of Non-Profits; former CEO, the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. (1976-1990).
SPONSORED BY: Cisco
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

TITLE: TRANSFORMATION: THE IMPERATIVE OF THE FUTURE
DESCRIPTION: Dr. Goldsmith will interview Ms. Hesselbein about the lessons she gleaned as she transformed the Girl Scouts from an organization on the brink of irrelevance to a thriving, significant enterprise during her thirteen years as CEO. At the time of her departure, the Girl Scouts enjoyed the highest membership in its history, triple the number of minority members, with the greatest diversity, inclusion and cohesion in its history. Q&A Session to follow.

TIME: 2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
EVENT: BREAK

TIME: 2:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
EVENT: WORKSHOP SESSIONS
OPEN TO: ALL attendees

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REVIEW ALL WORKSHOP TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS.

TIME: 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
EVENT: CHAPTER CHAIR & SPONSOR SESSION
SPONSORED BY: WPO
OPEN TO: Chapter Chairs and WPO Annual Corporate Sponsors Only

TIME: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
EVENT: PLATINUM GROUP MEETING SESSION
SPONSORED BY: WPO
OPEN TO: By Invitation Only

TIME: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
EVENT: NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
HOSTED BY: WPO
OPEN TO: ALL new members

TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
EVENT: American Express OPEN (sm) 50 FASTEST GROWING WOMEN OWNED / LED COMPANIES IN NORTH AMERICA
SPONSORED BY: American Express OPEN (sm)
VENUE: The Ritz-Carlton, Ft. Lauderdale
OPEN TO: ALL attendees and registered spouses/partners.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

TIME: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
EVENT: Buffet Breakfast
SPONSORED BY: AT&T
OPEN TO: ALL attendees and registered spouses/partners.

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
EVENT: Conference Exhibit Hall Opens
SPONSORED BY: WPO
OPEN TO: ALL attendees and registered spouses/partners.

TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
EVENT: CyberCafe Opens
SPONSORED BY: Dell, Inc.
OPEN TO: ALL attendees and registered spouses/partners.

TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
EVENT: KEYNOTE ADDRESS – JEAN CHATZKY, Best Selling Author & Financial Expert
SPONSORED BY: The Principal Financial Group
OPEN TO: ALL attendees and registered spouses/partners.
TITLE: TO COME
DESCRIPTION:

TIME: 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
EVENT: BREAK
OPEN TO: ALL attendees and registered spouses/partners.

TIME: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
EVENT: CLOSING PROGRAM – SALSA AWAY YOUR STRESS – FEATURING THE SALSA MIA DANCERS
OPEN TO: ALL attendees and registered spouses/partners.

TIME: 12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
EVENT: CLOSING SESSION AND RAFFLE
SPONSORED BY: Avis
OPEN TO: ALL attendees and registered spouses/partners.

The Women Presidents’ Educational Organization (WPEO) is a regional affiliate of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s premier third party certification organization for women owned businesses. The mission of the WPEO is to create increased access to business opportunities for WBEs. Our programs develop skills and knowledge for WBEs, advocate in the public and private sectors, foster relationships between WBEs, corporations and the government, and provide certification services.

WPEO provides full service third party certification to women entrepreneurs in the New York, Northern New Jersey (including Princeton and points North), Southern Connecticut and the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas. WPEO is incorporated in the state of New York and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information see the website at www.wpeo.us or call (212) 688-4114.

Criteria for the winners of the Outstanding Corporation and WBE awards include efforts in support of women business owners and the women’s business community, creative problem solving and/or innovation, Done Deal™ participation, and overall commitment to the mission of the WPEO; “opening doors for women business owners.” The Advocate is selected by WBEs based on the following criteria: involvement with WPEO, significant contributions to WPEO, contributions to women owned businesses. The Presidents’ Award winners have gone above and beyond in their service to the WPEO, and are selected by the President and Founder, Marsha Firestone, Ph.D.

The WPO is headquartered in New York City and currently boasts over 82 active chapters and over 1500 members across the US and in Canada. There are two primary membership options: Chapter and Member-At-Large. Each chapter meets monthly, consists of 10-20 women presidents/CEOs/Managing Directors/etc, and is moderated by a professionally-trained facilitator. Chapters are not permitted to have more than one business in the same industry represented. At-Large Membership is created for women whose schedules make it impossible for them to commit to monthly meetings, or for areas in which the WPO does not yet have a chapter.

Recent Statistics:
Our members have an average of
- $13 million in annual revenues
- 97 employees
- 20 years in business
In total, the current aggregate represents:
- $14.5 billion in annual revenues
- 106,000 employees
- 22,000 years in business

Money Week Houston

You may want to consider the opportunity below to provide the community with information about your efforts to educate Houstonians on financial issues or your financial products and services. There is also an opportunity to provide presentations on financial topics during the festival.

Houston READ Commission is gearing up for The McGraw-Hill Companies Financial Fitness Festival, a free event filled with money management activities open to the entire family, on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Houston Public Library.

We invite you, or a representative from your company, to join us as an exhibitor in this fun, relaxed event, in which Houstonians receive information on how to buy a home, save for college, plan for retirement, and learn valuable money management strategies in what can be a very confusing economic time.

With your participation, you will be able to reach hundreds of Houstonians to promote your company or organization at no cost by setting up a booth from which you will share printed materials and explain your company’s services with attendees. Most importantly, you will be doing a community service by educating Houstonians on financial issues and solutions.

Serving as the finale of Money Week Houston, The McGraw-Hill Companies Financial Fitness Festival will not only offer exhibitor information on Houston’s financial institutions, but it will also offer intimate financial seminars throughout the day, in which speakers give presentations on their topic of choice. Please indicate if you would like to give a seminar on the registration form attached.

Please complete and return the attached form by e-mail (ann.criner@houread.org) or fax (713-640-8202) to secure your participation.

Houston READ Commission:
Enriching the lives of adult Houstonians and their families by helping them achieve their full potential through literacy, and to contribute to a workforce that will ensure a strong economy and a promising future for Greater Houston.

What We Do for the Community:

• Operate Demonstration Learning Centers that offer basic literacy skills, pre-GED, GED and English as a Second Language courses;
• Provide free literacy training for tutors and instructors at our new Demonstration Training Center at Denver Harbor;
• Forge public/private sector partnerships to sponsor literacy programs and public awareness activities;
• Track the progress of literacy program participants to measure effectiveness of services and help students achieve their goals;
• Maintain a central database on literacy services to identify neighborhoods and groups in need of programs;
• Raise needed resources to support and coordinate literacy services in Houston;
• Maintain the city-wide literacy helpline to place students and tutors in programs; and
• Advocate to local, state and federal agencies and the business community to enhance awareness of the literacy problem in our state and nation.