Nine months ago Debra Power and I sat down for lunch together and discussed the need for a business group for women growing successful companies in Southeast Michigan. We’d heard from local women business leaders that, while there are many business organizations for women starting small businesses or sole proprietorships, there aren’t any groups specifically for women whose companies are in the growth stage. That’s when we came up with the idea for the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw, an organization for women who are building strong companies. We formed a planning committee of 10-12 brilliant business women who decided that the WXW would fill a unique and shared need. We would build a new organization that is…

• INTERACTIVE – We’ve all attended too many events where a speaker or panel talks at the audience. Often they preach business theory, and rarely do they share real stories about their own failures, successes, and lessons learned. The WXW promises that attendees will have the opportunity to
  meet each other, share stories and struggles, and work together to find solutions. By the end of each WXW meeting, attendees will feel like they’ve made real connections with like-minded women.

• OPEN – At WXW meetings, attendees choose the direction and content of the event. Questions, ideas, goals, dreams – all are encouraged in an open, warm, welcoming environment.

• FUN – Let’s face it, as women leading booming businesses, we spend a lot of time at work. We may often feel isolated, like we’re sometimes the only ones driving the business. It’s important that we (the Boss Ladies and Women In Charge) have a place where we can have FUN, connect, laugh, talk
  through issues, and be ourselves.

With the support of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, the WXW is building a buzz and attracting high level sponsors. and Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dykema have signed on as Premier Event Sponsors. These sponsors will benefit from increased visibility to women business owners, entrepreneurs, and decision makers.

The WXW was started in conjunction with the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce. WXW’s founders, Debra Power and Carrie Hensel, are members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, and realized that an organization like the WXW would fill a unique need for Ann Arbor’s women business leaders. The Chamber
immediately embraced the mission and vision of the WXW and has provided immense support through staff assistance, marketing, and promotion.

The WXW kick off event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2008 from 1-6 PM at Kensington Court. Here’s a draft of the agenda:

• 1:00 - 1:30 PM: Registration and networking
• 1:30 - 1:40 PM: Welcome and Introductions
• 1:40 - 2:30 PM: High-Powered Panel - Stories from Women Business Leaders
• 2:30 - 2:40 PM: Break
• 2:40 - 4:00 PM: Break Out Sessions
• 4:00 - 4:30 PM: Report Outs & Wrap Up
• 4:30 - 6:00 PM: Happy Hour

Our goal is to have an interactive meeting where participants will first hear from a panel of women who’ve successfully built companies, sustained company growth, led strong teams, and have many tales from the trenches. Common questions, struggles, and issues covered by the panel will then become the initial talking points for break out sessions where participants will be able to openly talk, brainstorm, debate, and collaborate. After we’ve worked up a thirst from all the brainstorming and dialog, we’ll have a lengthy happy hour where attendees can make stronger business connections.

Did you hear the buzz ? A group of women business leaders has created a new organization for women business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders. We think there’s a huge need in our community for an
interactive organization that helps women grow booming businesses.

Women in Washtenaw County are starting and growing businesses at a spectacular rate. Statistics from the Center for Women’s Business Research show that for the past two decades majority women-owned firms
in the US have grown at around two times the rate of all firms (42% vs. 24%). Today women-owned firms account for 41% of all privately held firms. Women-owned companies and women executives in Washtenaw County are contributing greatly to our local economy. They are also redefining the workplace, our local business culture, and previous notions of business networks.

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What do local women-owned firms need?

Women-owned companies and women executives in Washtenaw County need an organization that is driven by and responsive to their unique needs. They need an organization that helps them get started, grow, evolve, and become long-term, viable, vibrant businesses. They need an organization that helps them navigate the business world by providing resources, education, events, and opportunities for networking,
connections, and collaborations.

The Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw seeks to fill the needs of women-owned firms and women executives, so those women can do what they do best: create ideas, jobs, business partnerships, booming companies, and make vital contributions to the strength of the Ann Arbor region.

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WXW Mission - Why do we exist?

The mission of the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw (WXW) is to organize, encourage, support, educate, and strengthen the businesswomen in our region by providing a venue for business connections, skill-building, professional support, and growth.

The WXW is a volunteer-driven program of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce. Events are fee-based with Chamber members receiving a discount similar to the current Morning Edition and Networks framework. In addition, we are supported by local sponsors.

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WXW Vision – What do we want to become?

In 5 years, the WXW will be the premier organization for women in business in Washtenaw Country. Because the women of the WXW are a connected, collaborative, supportive, and unified group, they build
strong companies, attract national and global business, and bolster our local and regional economy.

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WXW Goals - What do we want to accomplish?

• Provide a venue for networking, referrals, and relationship building.
• Conduct interactive, participatory events where meeting content is driven and created by the
  participants rather than fully planned by a group of organizers in advance.
• Connect, support and assist women business owners, entrepreneurs, and decision makers in establishing and achieving their business goals.
• Lead advocacy efforts to support the best interest of women business owners, entrepreneurs, and decision makers.