A message from Joy Canova, President:

Last month WBO revealed our new Mission Statement: “Women Business Owners propels resolute women entrepreneurs to embrace their fullest vision of success.”  How will Women Business Owners accomplish its new charge?  A fair question.

First of all, this mission will never be finished.  Oh, we will feel like we are walking the path of accomplished business owners.  However, here’s wishing that we will always see a distant hill to climb and the quest is never completed, for the journey contains the success and joy.

That said, we are in pursuit of goals and need some landmarks to find our way.  Enter: Women Business Owners Guiding Principles.  Here are the first two principles and what they mean to our members:

1. “WBO cultivates a high-standard forum for diverse voices, topics, and perspectives that provide a source of pride and status for our members.”

We strive to bring the widest, richest forum of ideas and information to our programs and events.  In pursuit of these ideals, members can take pride in affiliation with an organization that sets the bar high for itself.  We would also have WBO’s name convey professionalism and open doors in the business community for our members.

2. “We define success by the private aspirations of the independent business owner, be it based on a grand or modest enterprise.”

Women are particularly qualified to bring fresh interpretations to the meaning of success. Success may be based on monetary gain and size; however, new models of accomplishment are often enriched with ideals such as life balance and freedom to pursue other adventures.  Our members are dedicated to their businesses with earnest intent, yet recognize that the image of success is a varied and personal concept.

We hope that you will join us as we continue to grow and cultivate our values.  It only requires your enthusiastic participation and contribution to a body of women that already values your uniqueness.

Sincerely,

Joy Canova

2008 President - Women Business Owners

Microsoft Small Business Summit

Register for the Small Business Summit and you could win* a $2500** Response Point™ system. We’re giving away a Response Point™ system every day of the Microsoft Small Business Summit. View it online March 24 – 27, 12-4 PM EDT/9 AM-1 PM PDT. Get tips, tools, and advice from leading small business experts like Kellogg Professor Steven Rogers, John Jantsch, author of Duct Tape Marketing and many more. Register.

*No Purchase Necessary. Must be 18 years of age or older, small business managers and/or owners with 1- 49 employees, within the 50 United States and District of Columbia. Offer ends 3/26/08. See full rules. Void where prohibited by law.

** Based on suggested retail price.

WBO Mailing List

BBG's are forming!

For more information about Business Building Groups, please contact Penelope Bell .

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:

Dr. Catherine Darley

The Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine
Dr. Darley provides natural treatments for sleep disorders, including insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep deprivation, and others.  Treatments used include behavioral and light therapy, botanical medicine, and therapeutic nutrition.

Michele Keeffe

BuzzBee Company

We are a strategic marketing consulting firm that helps technology companies position, market and sell technology products and services to their enterprise customers.

Jill Kremer

Kremer Music

Kremer music produces relaxation music. Relax to the elegant sounds of the CD 'Somewhere Else'. The music can be used as background music for commercials, work videos or the CD can be part of a spa gift basket.

Lori MacKenzie

Supporting Member

Sandy Walsh

RE/MAX Center

Residing in Seattle, on Capitol Hill, and selling throughout Seattle & Bellevue; Sandy is well positioned to find homes for her buyers and buyers for her listings - and she can do the same for you in your next real estate transaction.

Ashley Clark CEO of Callahan Concierge has demonstrated environmental leadership and a strong dedication to the Seattle community. Callahan launched their Green cleaning service in June 2007, in response to the community's growing environmental awareness and demand for a healthier lifestyle. Callahan's Green cleaning was featured in the Puget Sound Business Journal for their innovative environmental efforts, in August 2007.

Dianne Cumberland, owner of Personal Training Team, Inc. in Redmond has just launched her second company, Custom Fitness Systems. Custom Fitness Systems specializes in creating personalized home fitness centers, which includes design, equipment supply and installation and in-home personal training.

Susan Elliott of RocketDog Communications is pleased to announce that they have recently completed the design and development of a robust integrated marketing campaign for Woodstone Credit Union in Federal Way.  The multi-media campaign features Woodstone’s new Loan and CD Promotion, and includes direct mail, flyers, internal posters and signage, along with print and online advertising.

CFA Northwest Mortgage is proud to announce that its president, Carolyn Frame, has achieved recognition as one of the top 200 loan originators in the United States for 2007. This will be the fifth consecutive year that that Carolyn has been included in this list of top performers in the mortgage industry.

2007 WBO Member of the Year Finalist Nancy S. Juetten (www.publici-tea.com) has been invited to speak at the 4th annual Women in Business Forum in Bellevue. More.

Heather Ladd, State Farm Agent in Seattle, was elected to the Board of Directors for the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce for a three year term beginning in 2008 and running until 2010.

Maria Marsala, of Elevating Your Business,  has been working with fellow WBO member Nancy Owyang, of Eye2Eye Graphics who has updated her visual brand including an new identity package, speakers kit, CD covers and website.

Heather Ladd

State Farm Insurance

Heather is a State Farm agent providing insurance and financial services to the Greenwood/Phinney neighborhood of Seattle and beyond. She and her staff pride themselves on their affect in the community, and relationships with its members. As the insurance provider for many of the local businesses in the area, you can often hear Heather saying "Our goal is to help others prevent financial devastation and achieve their dreams". Providing this for her own community shows her commitment to this goal, and her clients see that.

Kelly Nolan

FS Financial Strategies

Kelly R. Nolan is a Financial Advisor, providing clients with compassionate guidance and distinctive customer service to compliment the financial planning team at FS Financial Strategies, LLC.  Kelly is dedicated to educating clients, both individuals and couples, on investing, protecting, and planning for their future whether they are far from retirement, approaching it, or already retired.  Kelly believes in giving back to organizations that have positively influenced her life, therefore she is proud to serve on the Board of WBO.  Please visit her website to learn more.

February’s luncheon featured Lori Richardson of Score More Sales speak on The Power of One.  We enjoyed how Lori engaged us in the discussion of how single affiliations can bloom into larger opportunities.  Oh, and let’s not forget the fun purse auction for charity (Family Services) Lori conducted.  Holly Hayes, of PrimeLending, was our luncheon sponsor and shared some important distinctions of fact and myth in the current mortgage industry.  We were also honored to hear from RuthAnn Howell of Family Services for our Philanthropy Spotlight.  We encourage our members to check out the important work they do and support them in their mission.

Would you like to have your advert in The Wire?  It’s easy.  Submit your entry to our Marketplace.  All postings are repeated here as an added benefit.  Please support our member’s events and offerings and see Marketplace postings for details:

• Women, Money, and Identity - A Financial Empowerment Workshop for Women, facilitated by Penelope Bell.  Seattle date is July 12th.

Sometimes we hear, “Why does WBO talk so much about our Nellie Gala and Nellie winners?”  Find the answers in a new event we are launching called the Nellie Fireside Chats.  These venues are small, intimate settings for purpose of conversation on a more personal level.  Here, you find how much we all have in common when we set to accomplish a dream.  The first Nellie Fireside Chat features Mimi Kirsch, 2004 WBO Nellie Cashman winner.  Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm.  The Ruins * 570 Roy Street, Seattle.  $75 per person (Proceeds will benefit the 2008 Nellie Gala).  More details will be coming your way soon.

Sincerely,

Joy Canova

2008 President - Women Business Owner