A message from Christine C. deRuiter, President:

This year has been a truly wonderful experience for me. Being President of WBO has been and honor and a privilege. I have enjoyed meeting so many wonderful women and have made friendships that I believe will be mine for many years to come. I have to commend the board of directors who have stepped up and done a fabulous job of making WBO a better organization to belong to. They have approved many changes and enhanced many of the benefits of membership. The new Marketplace on the website is something you have asked for year after year and now we have it. The list serve will come back in a better form as soon as possible. Eva Chiu at InfoAdvantage helps us keep all these technical issues in line. The Nellie this year was a terrific event, and received rave reviews, thanks to Kathy Clayton. I have really enjoyed working with the Nellie Candidates and Member of the Year candidates and look forward to seeing many of them at our luncheons in the coming years. Luly Yang our 2007 Nellie is delightful and a great representative for all of us at Women Business Owners. We had our first WBO member of the year award in conjunction with the Nellie and our winner Dena Levine encompasses all the attributes that we all aspire to. We have had terrific programs this year thanks to our program committee led by Kristi Mandt and expect more of the same for next year. We instituted the CEO Roundtable, thanks to Becky Cotter and expect to continue this event in the future as it was very well received. The board agreed to the Breakfast venue for networking in Bellevue and it has turned out to be a great event. It is well attended and the program is different and very interesting. It is a great addition to our After-hours program and Luncheon program. The Breakfast was proposed by the membership committee led by Rachel Eaton and Michelle Bomberger. Kelly Nolan has led the After-hours and Breakfasts with the membership chairs and they have all created fabulous events for us to attend. The education and mentorship committee, led by Karen Goodgame, who brought the BBG’s back in a big way, and Robin Gruber have made huge strides to give us opportunities at North Seattle CC, Antioch and Bellevue CC. Our sponsorship packet and membership packets have been revised and updated with a new cover design with the help of Sponsorship led by Kathleen Steele and the communications committee led by Rosemary Heckman. Our Philanthropic outreach committee, led by Jule Meyer has done a great job helping us to give back to the community through our Non-profit scholarship members. Every decision the board makes goes through Rosemary Reid who has been our legal council this year. Nothing happens at WBO without the dedicated response of Yvonne Gitchell and her daughter Ashley, our administrative support, and the first smiling and welcoming faces seen by guests and members alike. Behind the scenes Lauri Jordana edits the ads every month and keeps our presence out there in the public and Lindsey Martin Bass has been the editor of the Wire, helping you to stay informed. The executive committee has made this year so much easier for me. Susan Shoults our secretary and Debbie Leviton the treasurer have kept us all up to speed and helped us stay in touch with the realities of being a large organization. Our past president Charmel Bowden and our future President Joy Canova have both gone above and beyond in helping me to make sure we are representing your view and your wishes for Women Business Owners. My thanks and heartfelt appreciation goes out to each and every member of the board, who have worked so hard this year, and to all of you at WBO who have made my year at WBO a pleasure.

Thank you everyone and Happy Holidays to you all!

Sincerely,

Christine C. deRuiter

2007 President - Women Business Owners

Application for WBO Non-Profit Scholarhips Available Now and Due by December 8th! If you have a non-profit executive to recommend to the Philanthropy Committee for a scholarship for 2008, now is the time! Scholarship benefits have been extended and now include one year membersip, all lunches for free, and an opportunity to speak to a WBO luncheon audience as well as be spotlighted in a variety of ways throughout the year. We will select five non-profit recipients with a priority on organizations meeting the needs of disadvantaged women. We will also select three special events from among our scholarship organizations to promote and be involved in throughout the year. We welcome your nominations and ideas! For an application formor to submit your application, please email Philanthropy Committee Chair, Jule Meyer.

BBG's are forming!

For more information about Business Building Groups, please contact Karen Goodgame.

WBO Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is absolutely the best way to get to know other WBO members and get the most of your membership. Join one of WBO's Committees - there are plenty of ways for you to get involved by serving on a WBO committee or initiative.

A Warm Welcome to the Following New WBO Members:

CarolAnn Barrows

Specklace.com

I design and manufacture naturally beautiful and elegant eyeglass holder necklaces. I provide living wage jobs for women in my community on Bainbridge Island.

Dr. Shirley Blair

Healthy Body Healthy Mind

Our mission is to educate and demonstrate how health and performance is intricately interwoven with the body systems and mental dexterity. It is applicable for individuals as well as businesses in maximizing the potential of the workforce and minimizing health care costs.

Jennifer Collman

Savvy Solutions LLC

Paula Enguidanos

Seattle Immigration & Family Law Group, PS

Seattle Immigration & Family Law Group is a Seattle-based law firm that is committed to providing professional legal services focused solely on immigration, citizenship, and family law cases (divorce/dissolution).

LeeAnn Huggins

SmithBarney Citigroup

LeeAnn is a Senior Investment Management & Financial Planning Specialist serving business owner's investment and retirement needs since 1987.

Monica Legatt

Downtown Seattle Acupuncture

Licensed Acupuncturist Monica Legatt provides comprehensive health care using Traditional Chinese Medicine in her downtown clinic.

Maria Marsala

Elevating Your Business

Seeking high-quality, loyal clients? A former Wall Street trader, I help entrepreneurs and financial service providers use business plans to easily find, get, and keep those clients.

Carlanne McCrystal

TopDawg Travel

Make the most of your travel, time & money with TopDawg Travel. We find the best travel value & coordinate your travel needs. As your travel advisor, TopDawg Travel will help make your dream vacation, cruise or business travel easy & convenient.

Margaret Murphy

Bellevue Community College

Continuing Education Business & Professional Programs

Diana Paoletti

EmPower HR Consulting LLC

We help companies move beyond the 'tried and true' to consider new, innovative approaches to their human resource challenges. We bring you deep, varied experience and training. We work with focus and intention that deliver results that exceed client expectations.

Molly Peebles

Living Healthy Living Ready Inc

We provide emergency preparedness consultation for individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations. A comprehensive assessment of your preparedness level is made. We make recommendations and give you tools and resources for increasing your safety.

Tiffany Silver

Silver Accounting

Accounting

Angela Thompson

Safeco Insurance Company

Insurance

Charlotte Weigel

Magladry Weigel, PS

Founders of Magladry Weigel, P.S. have over 40 years of combined experience representing individuals who have been injured as a result of another's wrongdoing. We are aggressive advocates and offer compassionate counsel to our clients.

Joannie Parsons, Parsons Public Relations, 2007 Nellie nominee and WBO member Joanie Parsons is listed in November’s Seattle Magazine as one of Seattle’s most influential people.

Nancy S. Juetten, Nancy S. Juetten Marketing, will see her "Deadly sins of media relations and how to avoid them" newspaper column get a national debut on January 23, 2008 in the Small Business Professor column that runs in 400 newspapers across the nation via the Scripps Howard News Service. This will bring useful tips and information about do-it-yourself publicity success to business owners everywhere.

Maria Marsala, will be conducting “Build a Bigger, Better Business, Effective Strategic Planning on One Page, in One Day” for micro, solo, and small business owners in Seattle on December 7 and in Anacortes on January 16. Contact 360-271-8418 for more information or visit www.BusinessAndMarketingPlan.com

We all have a friend or relative who has been diagnosed with breast
cancer. Maybe even it is ourself who received that diagnosis. Well
on November 15th Jean Enersen of King 5 news reported that acupuncture
can help women with breast cancer in many ways, including fatigue,
nausea, and the general malaise that comes with cancer therapies. Contact Monica Legatt for more information on acupuncture treament.

Interested in a scholarship for your high school senior? AXA's AXA Achievement Community Scholarship Application is now available! Simply log on to my website: www.KathleenSteele.com and select "AXA Achievement Community Scholarship Application" on the menu on the left side of my website. Please feel free to share this information with your friends, family, centers of influence and clients.

Susan Elliott, RocketDog Communications, is excited to announce their participation in the “Girl Fest” event hosted by their long-time client, The Girl Scouts of the USA. A RocketDog client for over four years, The Girl Scouts of the USA asked RocketDog to create displays and promotional materials for their inspiring “Girl Fest” event at the Portland, OR Expo Center this December.

Jackie Fisher of Jackie Fisher Marketing & Media has been nominated for Puget Sound Radio Broadcasters Associations' "Radio Believer Award" . This award recognizes advertising agencies in the Seattle market who use radio advertising effectively to create winning results for clients. The award will be given on December 4th at PSRBA's Annual Holiday Party.

Kerry Rupp, Holiday Golightly launched her brand and newly designed website at the Crave Show on November 3rd and 4th. The company got picked up in the Seattle Times article about the show Holiday Golightly is an online travel planning service focused on girlfriend getaways. They hope to be sending women off on their first trips together in early 2008.

Rachael Eaton, Time Well Saved was recently featured in an MSN.com article titled “Drop and Give Me Focus” by Jean Weiss. The article accurately describes the difference between a coach and a therapist and is a wonderful Attention Deficit Disorder resource for your friends, colleagues and family.

Angie Roarty, formerly an Agency Recruiter with State Farm Insurance, is thrilled to announce that she is leaving the nest to spread her wings. Currently an Agent Intern, Angie will launch her own State Farm Agency on January 2, 2008 in Lakewood, Washington. The Angie Roarty Insurance Agency provides auto, home, life, and health insurance as well as financial services products. In the meantime, you can reach Angie at 253-948-8443. Watch for news of Angie’s open house in early 2008!

Maria Burrows, Human Resources, Inc.

Human Resources, Inc., a recruiting and staffing service, specializes in administrative, management, human resources, accounting, and skilled industrial placements. Our clients have the option between direct hire with a full money back guarantee or contract to hire with no additional fees at the end of the contract period.

HRI is committed to developing a partnership with our clients to support their growth providing them with the right candidates for their team. Our clients value our personal service, attention to detail, open communication and our commitment to educating them about trends in the employment market, retention techniques as well as how to create the competitive advantage to compete for the best employees. Kiss your staffing worries goodbye, call HRI!

November’s luncheon, with the lively duo Michele Lisenbury Christensen and Sara Harvey Yao, helped us all consider: Is Success Running You Ragged? In a candid and humorous tale of their personal quest for renewal, Michele and Sara shared how they learned to harness the elements of feminine and masculine power to find renewal. As year-end business wraps up, and festivities approach, it was a timely message.

Although we do not meet for a December luncheon, WBO committees and board members are hard at work planning for the new year. 2008 promises to be an exciting period for WBO as programs and initiatives reach for new heights. You may have heard that we plan to improve technology and web systems – just part of the useful benefits to members in the works. Be there in 2008!

Speaking of 2008, you will not want to miss our January luncheon, January 17th, when Luly Yang, our 2007 Nellie Cashman Award Winner addresses us. Luly is a talented couture designer, has been celebrated for her elegant and timeless bridal gowns and evening wear for women and men since opening her studio in 2000. For those of you who saw Luly speak at the awards gala in October, you know she is a person as lovely as her designs and her business is a reflection of equal quality.

Sincerely,

Joy Canova

2008 President Elect- Women Business Owner