November 2008
Leading Ladies
By Caroline Mues www.writebrainthinking.com
Connect With Success
In today’s economic state, many women leaders and entrepreneurs seek answers and encouragement on how they can progress their business beyond the times. This November 17, come and enjoy the opportunity to speak to three of Michigan’s top women of influence. Find inspiration and insight on topics such as:
How they became successful and maintained that status.
How to thrive professionally in a down market.
Defining and becoming an influential business leader.
What these women do to stay focused.
Exclusive Panel Featuring Athena Award Winners
Marge Byington-Potter, recipient of the 2008 Athena Award, is well known for devoting her time and innovation to both the public and private sector of Michigan's growth. As Director of the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership, however, Marge goes beyond advancing Michigan's level of transportation importance. She takes time to remember her Grand Rapids roots, which are established seven-generations strong. Marge serves the Community through various organizations such as the Grand Rapids Public Schools Advisory Committee, Progressive Women's Alliance and the West Michigan Academy of Music for Girls.
Likewise, it is refreshing to discover Beverly Wall's impressive trek of business success was inspired by her upbringing in rural Michigan. As the 2003 Athena Award recipient, Beverly continually pursues professional self-improvement and perseverance. This has not only carried her forward as CEO of Languages International Inc. it has gained her titles such as one of the, "Most Influential Women in West Michigan," by two Grand Rapids publications and to be part of the Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification Committee Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC.org).
Our third and final addition to our Panel will be Bonnie Miller, 1998 Athena Award recipient, who exhibits a steady list of influence, excellence and community service. Now retired from a 37-year management career in commercial banking, the industry allowed Bonnie to embrace the challenge of breaking down stereotypes which persistently hindered progress between banker and customer. Bonnie’s legacy goes further as she undertook significant satisfaction in seeing many of her protégés rise to officer level positions of responsibility at United Bank as well as in many other organizations.
Join AWE and this motivating blend of experienced women business owners for career, education and networking opportunities.The panel will last about 45 minutes (roughly 15 min each person) and a Q & A at the end about 15 +/- minutes. If you have a particular question you think would be beneficial for our AWE members, please let the membership committee know!
This evening is the culmination of our Membership Drive for 2008. If you know of anyone who should be invited to join AWE, please let me know and I will send them an invitation and membership packet.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Suzanne Knight at suzanne@121pct.com or 616.891.6952.
Anyone who joins or renews that evening, or from now until Nov 17th, receives a free meeting coupon, to be used for any meeting except our AWE Conference in January.
So Hot, She Sizzles
By Elaine Eldridge www.yourwordswork.com
That bright blur you noticed in mid-October was Floriza Genautis zipping around the state receiving awards for her outstanding contributions to Michigan’s business community, particularly her support of diversity in business.
On October 14 Floriza was honored as a Diversity Business Leader at the Troy Marriott by Corp!, Michigan’s largest business magazine. Corp! describes a Diversity Business Leader as “an individual who is a diversity role model or top officer of a minority-owned business.” As owner and principal founder of Management Business Solutions, which is a certified Women Business Enterprise and Minority Business Enterprise company, Floriza fits both these definitions. Floriza will be among the 56 state diversity winners who will be profiled in the magazine's Salute to Diversity issue.
After Troy, Floriza’s next stop was Novi, where on October 17 she was announced as the 2008 Role Model/Mentor of the Year by the Michigan Women’s Business Council. This award is bestowed on one outstanding MWBC role model/mentor each year, someone who “has gone above and beyond to support the Michigan Women’s Business Council and its members with time and effort.”
Both the Corp! Diversity Business Leader award and the MWBC’s Role Model/Mentor award are statewide honors. Floriza has been recognized locally as well by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. She was an Athena Young Professional nominee for 2008 and was also named as the Chamber’s 2008 Minority Business Advocate of the Year.
Statewide and citywide, Floriza is hot!
Floriza sizzles in AWE’s corner of town, too. Floriza contributed to the development of this year’s AWEsome hours, and she is responsible for getting us into hot spots like Naya’s for little or no charge. Floriza also arranged for our free use of the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan for our monthly WIN lunches (which is also great for AWE’s budget!). In her short time as Programs Chair she has brought a number of guests and new members to AWE.
What does all this mean? It means that as a role model and business owner, Floriza works hard to make certain that “business as usual” is a thing of the past. And that means that thanks are in order as well as congratulations, because we all benefit from her efforts.
In addition to her work with AWE, MWBC, and the GR Chamber of Commerce, Floriza is active in the Asian Professional Organization; the BLEND (Business Leaders Linked to Encourage New Directions) Advisory Committee; the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce; the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development; the Asian Victims Relief Fund; and Inforum. Floriza also helps with educational activities for Women Business Enterprise and serves in the Women Business Enterprise National Council on the certification committee.
You can visit Floriza’s website at www.mgmtbsolutions.com
AWEsome Women at Work:
Your AWE Marketing Committee
Hundreds of books have been written on marketing, and if you google “marketing definition” you’ll get almost a million hits. But the general idea is that marketing is the ongoing process of using a variety of strategies and tactics to identify, attract, and retain clients or customers. Our “customers” are women business owners like you who are—or who may be—AWE members.
Led by graphic artist Connie Sweet of Connection Graphics www.connectiongraphics.com, AWE’s Marketing Committee has been hard at work this year promoting AWE in print and on the web. Connie’s contributions include not only leading and coordinating the committee’s efforts, but contributing her artistic flair to AWE products that go out to our members and represent us in the community. Connie created the designs for the Member-to-Member booklet and Sponsorship Packets. In addition, this newsletter, the ads you have seen and the 2007 Pathways to Success Conference marketing materials were all work donated by Connection Graphics.
Unfortunately, Connie’s successful business is taking her away from us. Changes and new opportunities at Connection Graphics require her to step down after serving as Marketing Chair for a year and a half. With an average time commitment of 10 hours every week devoted to AWE Board and Marketing Committee activities, Connie recognized that she needed the time to concentrate on her business. This edition of AWE’s newsletter is the last newsletter Connie will design, and October was her last month serving as Marketing Chair. Thank you, Connie, for your able leadership!
Other members of the Marketing Committee include Elaine Eldridge, Lisa Vongphachanh, and Caroline Mues. “I’m sorry to leave the committee because it’s been a pleasure working with this group,” says Connie. “We’ve worked well together, and everyone always had great ideas at our monthly meetings.”
“I promise my clients that I’ll help them make their words work hard,” says Elaine Eldridge, owner of Collaborative Writing & Revision www.yourwordswork.com, and she brings that hard-working attitude to the Marketing Committee. Her expertise and passion for putting life and personality into every message (plus her editing skills on articles that others submit) have made our print presence more lively and readable. In addition to her newsletter articles and website announcements, Elaine revised the June survey and wrote AWE’s advertorial for the August MIBiz.
Both her professional experience and education allow Lisa Vongphachanh to offer a wealth of creative and knowledgeable ideas for organization events and trade show promotions to the marketing committee. In her work as the Marketing/PR Coordinator at Gillis Family Chiropractic www.gillisfamilychiropractic.com, Lisa is responsible for creating and implementing an annual marketing plan, and she designs all advertising materials, schedules activities, and conducts screenings. With a BBA in Marketing from Davenport University, Lisa has also read more than a few of those hundreds of marketing books!
Caroline Mues, owner of Write Brain Thinking www.writebrainthinking.com, describes her business as a “copywriting and graphic design department rolled into one.” She offers her small-business clients both custom web content and client-centered marketing. Caroline’s marketing skills in print and web applications, as well as her willingness to jump in and assist with details and research in public relations announcements for AWE events, make her a welcomed member on the marketing committee.
This group’s commitment and broad professional expertise have made it a valuable resource for creating the new AWE image in the community. These AWEsome women have helped make the new event promotions and member newsletter and announcements stand out in members’ minds and attract new members to AWE.
Changes to Bylaws Approved
Changes large and small to AWE’s bylaws were approved unanimously at the October 27, 2008 WIN lunch.
The most significant changes involve AWE’s governance and management. The six standing committees designated in the earlier bylaws have been abolished (these six committees were leadership development, communication, technology, membership, programs, member at large, and public relations).
Now, the bylaws state that for each fiscal year between four and six standing committees will be specified, and chairs for each standing committee will be appointed by the President. The chairs of the standing committees are full voting members of the Board. This flexibility will allow the Board of Directors to respond to the AWE’s changing needs without having to seek a change to the bylaws every time a standing committee needs to be created or deleted.
A vote by 2/3 of the active members in good standing who cast a ballot will be required to change the bylaws and articles or to remove members of the Board of Directors.
Other changes: the bylaws now refer to the organization as AWE instead of the Alliance; voting can be conducted electronically; the fiscal year is January 1 through December 31, but the calendar year, including dates of service for Board members, runs from July 1 through June 30; honorary memberships may be renewed annually by the Board of Directors; and the annual meeting will be held in May instead of November.
Highlights of the proposed changes and the full text of the bylaws and all recommended additions and deletions were emailed to members on October 9, 2008. The full text of the amended bylaws will be sent to AWE members in November.
President's Corner
What does it take to be a “Leading Lady”? At this year’s Athena Awards luncheon, where AWE had a table, I was truly inspired to learn about the passion and courage the nominees are committed to daily. 2008 Athena Award winner Marge Byington described how it takes many supportive people in her life to help her reach her goals.
What does your support system look like? Is AWE a part of this support system? If not, are you making the most of your AWE membership? AWE supports its members through education, connections, and leadership. Get involved and connect with the many talented members available to support you. October’s meeting was an example of educating our members; we learned how changes in technology are available to help us be more efficient. Be sure to attend the November dinner meeting to learn more about how to make the most of your membership and for discussions by Athena Award–winning “Leading Ladies” Marge Byington, Beverly Wahl, and Bonnie Miller.
So this month’s challenge is for you to review your support system. Is it working for you? If not, what changes are needed?
I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.
Sincerely,
Kim Schwamberger
Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs, President
Membership News
NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS
This month we would like to welcome two new members and congratulate one returning member. The new members are:
Brooke DeGraaf, our renewing member is from Compass ll, Inc. Compass II is a leading provider of intermodal and truckload brokerage transportation. They have contracts with all major railroads, steamship lines, and trucking companies. Compass II is a female owned business and currently holds certification as a “Women Business Enterprise National Council” and as a “National Women Business Owners Corporation” to help you fulfill your company’s supplier diversity needs. Compass II was founded in 1995 and is based in Grand Rapids, MI. Give Brooke a call or email at 616.453.1144 or www.compass2.net
Tina Hooper, Hooper Printing. Established in 1992 Hooper Printing has grown steadily. The operation is currently located in Lowell, MI. They provide excellent quality, pick up & delivery, 1 to 4 color printing, graphic design, full service copies and much more. Contact Tina at 616.897.6719, or toll free at 800.456.0148; or online at www.hooperprinting.com
Marnie Johnson, President & Owner of Talk It Up Wireless. Her company, a Sprint provider focuses on wireless phone service along with high speed wireless internet options for consumers and business clients. Sprint also provides numerous corporate discounts. Contact Marnie at 616.225.3730 or talkitupwireless@gmail.com
Andrea Keating is a new member from Glen Morris & Associates. This full service insurance agency provides insurance for both commercial and personal use. Contact Andrea for more information at 616.361.3400 or Andrea.Keating@gma-insurance.com
Amy Saunders-Ferriell, Human Resources
VP of Human Resources at the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
475 Lake Michigan Dr. NW - Grand Rapids, MI 49316 USA
Phone: 855-9642 or asaunders@grymca.org
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President's CornerMembership News
2008-09 Board MembersKim Schwamberger President Beverly Mapes Vice President Deanna Fridley Secretary Kathy Heintzelman Treasurer Floriza Genautis Programs Coordinator Connie Sweet Marketing Coordinator Suzanne Knight Membership Coordinator 2008 Aligned for Success Submission Deadlines
December - by November 18
January - by December 16Advertisers, sponsors, member news announcements, and article submissions please email awe president. AWE WEST MICHIGAN
MISSION STATEMENT:
To be the premier organization promoting the success of women entrepreneurs through educational resources, leadership development, and networking connections.
Layout and design of Aligned for Success by: Connection Graphics
www.connectiongraphics.com
Floriza Genautis of Management Business Solutions
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