A message from Christine C. deRuiter, President:

Feeling the Fall changes in the air?  Does your business volume change with the season too?

Plan now to utilize seasonal lulls to your advantage.  For instance, set aside a block of time to investigate new technologies for your business.  Or, you might hire a consultant to review your marketing plan; maybe get a web designer to update your website.  If your work life and personal life has been out of balance this year, find a life coach.  Perhaps reviewing your insurance is something your have been putting off.  Take the small moments and make them fruitful.

The point is – you will be well served by working “on” your business when your find letups in the day-to-day grind.  The best news?  You can find all the help you need among the membership of Women Business Owners. Check the membership roster by professional/industry.  Also, begin a routine of previewing our new Market Place for your needs.  It’s a great way to support fellow members and build stronger connections for your business.

Here’s another idea: plan your social events to reconnect with clients and colleagues you have neglected during your busier times.  Whether it is at the Nellie Gala, a holiday party, or even a coffee date, spending time with people important to your business can be satisfying and promote longevity in the business world.

Enjoy the cooler air and shorter days – its great thinking weather.

Sincerely,

Joy Canova

2007 President Elect- Women Business Owners

Application for WBO Non-Profit Scholarhips Available Now! 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 form, please email Philanthropy Committee Chair, Jule Meyer.

Who’s In Your Wallet?

Over 10 million people became victims of identity theft in 2006.  And they’re not just in your wallet – they’re in your computer, in your medical records, and in some cases in your mortgage, banking, and credit card records. In October, we’ll be having Rob McKenna speak at our luncheon about identity theft, giving you advice on how to stay out of the path of an identity thief.  But what happens if you turn into a victim?  On average, it takes 175 hours to clear your good name. Who has time for that? And where do you start the cleanup process?  The WBO now offers memberships through ID Theft Assist, at reduced WBO-member rates, to make sure you stay protected. ID Theft Assist helps you through the process of clearing your record, actually doing the work for you. In addition, you’ll have access to your credit report and score any time at no charge, the system will monitor your credit in “real time”, and will e-mail you within 24 hours of pertinent information hitting your credit report. More. 

BBG's are forming!

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

The Program Council invites you to attend their next meeting on October 16th to discuss programs for 2008.The meeting starts at 11:30 at Kristi Mandt's office on Capital Hill and includes pizza and salad. Please RSPV to Kristi Mandt.

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:

Teresa Hildebrandt

Teresa M. Hildebrandt, MSN, LMHC

Advanced Practice Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse & Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Over 24 years experience providing psychiatric/mental health care for individuals, adolescents and families who are experiencing a wide variety of behavioral & emotional problems, concerns and issues.

Anne Lavine

Johnson Stone Countertop

We are your full service stone fabricator, specializing in natural and engineered stones, located and serving the Pacific Northwest. With over 20 years experience in the industry, Johnson Stone Countertop is the South Puget Sound's premier stone fabricator.

Anne Lindsay

Anne Lindsay Photography

Anne Lindsay Photography creates breathtaking images for a wide range of clients. Whether you need a work of art for your home, or images for a book or magazine publication, Anne Lindsay Photography will meet and exceed your needs.

Carol Loe

Carol Loe, DDS, PLLC

Comprehensive Aesthetic Dentistry

Leasa Mayer

CRG Events

Whether you are planning a conference, product launch, sales meeting or incentive program your coorporate event is important to us. We have over 25 years of experience. Our approch is to understand the goals of your event both for you and the attendee. We focus on the details so you can enjoy the event. We offer event management, registration, housing, creative & web services. Your event is safe in our hands.

Stacy Pacheco

Carol Loe, DDS, PLLC

Comprehensive Aesthetic Dentistry

Kristen Marie Schuerlein

AFFIRMAGY

Graphic design & marketing services. Specializing in logo development, brochures and other printed collateral and packaging.

Luly Yang

Luly Yang Couture

Kimberly Arrington has just opened a new business-  Clutch, an upscale handbag boutique located at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel.

Cheri Baker, Emergence Consulting LLC, will be presenting on “Change Management for HR Professionals” at the Snohomish County Human Resources Association luncheon on October 11th in Everett. More.

Lindsey Martin Bass, AXA Advisors, is thrilled to announce she has received the prestigious CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) designation. After passing the rigorous certification process, Certified Financial Planners are held to a higher standard of ethics, education, and conduct. It is an honor to be in this elite class of financial professionals.

Tina Christiansen, copywriter and owner of Write as Rain, recently learned that the Laird Norton Tyee credibility handbook earned five 2007 print media awards from The Communicator. They were given the Award of Excellence in the following categories: Business to Consumer brochure, Capabilities Communication, Company Overview, Communication Campaign, and Marketing Promotion. Christiansen was the content developer on the project. The piece was designed by Belyea. 

Dress for Success, invites you to attend -

Closet Treasures Sale 5th Annual Benefit for Dress for Success, Seattle

Location: Emerald Heights, 10901 - 176th Circle NE, Redmond, WA 98052

Preview Sale: Friday, October 26, 2007 ~ 4pm-8pm, Wine, Hors d’oevres, Silent Auction; Tickets are $35.00 at the door.
Sale: Saturday, October 27, 2007 ~ 9am-3pm (free admission); Quality, gently-used designer clothing and accessories at consignment store prices. Bargains throughout the day!
How to Donate: Your tax-deductible donation of high quality and designer clothing and accessories (gently worn or new) are being accepted on:

• Saturday, 9/29, 10am-1pm, YWCA downtown at Dress for Success Seattle,1118 - 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
• Saturdays, 10/6 & 10/13, 10am -1pm, American Mini Storage, 17520 NE 70th Redmond, WA 98052.

Susan Elliott, RocketDog Communications, is thrilled to announce a partnership with Microsoft’s MSDN Academic Alliance to develop a new marketing campaign for the Global Student Download project. The MSDN Academic Alliance is an innovative new vehicle for college students to download essential software tools, free of charge. RocketDog is excited to provide the creative concepting and brand development for this unique and inspiring project.

Lorraine Howell, owner of Media Skills Training, heads back to the Big Apple in October.  She will be coaching the top five finalists in a nationwide entrepreneur contest sponsored by Forbes.com. The five contestants will be pitching their business ideas to an expert panel in New York City on October 18, and Lorraine is helping them prepare. The day of coaching and the final presentations will be videotaped for the Forbes.com website. Stay tuned!!!

Deborah Read, of ErgoFit Consulting, Inc., was awarded the Special Service Award for her extraordinary time and effort dedicated to the Puget Sound Human Factors & Ergonomics Society thus far in her Presidential term. Deborah Read also was a speaker at the first annual Trucker Wellness Seminar Sept. 25, which was affiliated with the Governor’s Safety & Health Conference. She wore her fitness hat rather than her ergonomics hat, as she presented exercises drivers can perform on the road.

On October 10th, Stacey Romberg, Attorney at Law, will be a featured speaker at the King County Bar Association’s Solo and Small Practice Section meeting, regarding Ethical and Practical Issues with Flat Fee and Hourly Billing.

Kristen Marie Schuerlein, AFFIRMAGY, October marks the launch our initiative to raise money for breast cancer research and education. More.

Kathleen Steele, CFP®, CLU, ChFC of AXA Advisors and Robin Gruber, CDFA of FSFinancial Strategies, LLC are being featured on Q13 Fox News on October 5th at 10:30pm. They were invited to participate in interviews regarding the Family Love Letter and 5 Wishes, respectively, after Lara Yamada of Q13 visited the WBO luncheon in July.

Danielle Villegas, CLTC from New York Life Insurance Co. has earned the distinction of Five Star: “Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager”  and will appear in the November edition of Seattle Business Magazine.

Annie Doczi, Annie Doczi, MA, LMHC

"Therapy is a partnership with the goal of health and wellness. Therapy happens successfully when people work together to discover and solve problems, learn something new or heal pain.” With beautiful simplicity, a former client, and gifted writer, describes the work that is now my business. After 20 years in the public sector, in January 2007, I stepped up to the entrepreneurial challenge of private practice. Now I have the freedom to focus on children and families struggling with trauma and other difficulties. In addition to individual and family therapy, I also work as a ‘child specialist’ with teams of allied professionals assisting families in Collaborative Divorce. My office is centrally located and I welcome email inquiries. 

Dr. Afia C. Menke, Cottage Clinic

My name is Dr. Afia Menke. I am a Naturopathic physician and founder of Cottage Clinic. Our clinic features a wide variety of complementary medical providers working together with you on your healthcare challenges. Our providers specialize in homeopathic, environmental and physical medicine, holistic nursing, acupuncture, massage therapy, wellness programs, holistic skincare and medicine management. Most insurance companies will cover your visits. Cottage Clinic provides you with the most outstanding contemporary healthcare available while creating a loving and respectful environment. Patients and staff work together with you as a team, combining knowledge and skills for excellent treatment plans and results. I have spent years developing this unique environment so you can be heard and nourished. You will feel educated and empowered to heal with the help of our well qualified team.

September’s luncheon with Jean Thompson of Seattle Chocolates delighted us with her “Lessons Learned in Growing my Company.”  Do we get it now?  Growth comes from the problems we face and finding the lesson in them. October’s  luncheon is a topic that promises to be just as informative – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, discusses the problem of identity theft, what he is doing to protect consumers and businesses in Washington, how citizens can protect themselves, and what to do if you fall victim to an identity thief.

The WBO “Market Place” is Live!  The Market Place is a forum for members to publicize their businesses on our website. The advertisement fee is nominal, which is used to cover the costs of the service. As members, you can view other member’s announcements, products and services, promotional events, and seminars and workshops. Ads will appear on the website only, and will not come to you via a push email, a courtesy many of members have requested. So, go to the Website and sign up for your ad today.  It’s easy.  And don’t forget to check out other’s postings; it’s a great way to support your fellow members.

See you at the Nellie.  Have your ticket and all ready for an elegant evening?  If not, get one now.  October 11th will be life-changing for one special woman.  Yes, the nominees are all winners in our eyes….. Yet, past Nellie winners report that the honors are long-lasting.  Be there to celebrate the power of women in business and search for those qualities you can emulate in your own goals for success.

Sincerely,

Joy Canova

2007 President Elect- Women Business Owner