MENTORING EVENT SEPTEMBER 16, 2010

7:30 Registration

Program: 8:00 am – 9:30 am

Location: Eagle Crest Conference Center

DETAILS COMING SOON!

It’s going to be even Bigger AND more Awesome.. and it’s still Free

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival will be starting soon, and this year the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw is going to be there again!

On June 23rd we are welcoming you, your family, and fellow WXWers, out for some summer fun. We’ll be under the tent from 6:30pm to 9:30pm where there will be some delectable nibbles & munchies as well as a cash bar for adults 21 and over (ID required). Then at 10pm the movie “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” will begin.

The Summer Festival has lots of activites planned for the evening, so along with reconnecting with familiar WXWers, and meeting lots of new ones, here’s what else is planned…

Family friendly fun @ Top of the Park …
6:30-8pm KidZone (hands-on activities)
6:30pm  Wizard Night
6:30pm  Rachael Davis Band taking the stage (musical performance)

Adult activities @ Top of the Park …
8:00pm Harper taking the stage (musical performance)
10pm Film feature “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”

For more information on Summer Festival directions & weather updates for the event visit: http://www.annarborsummerfestival.org/

(Did I mention that all of this is FREE?!)

Additional, food will be for sale by a variety of local vendors.  In addition, there will be a cash bar at our tent for the over 21 adults (ID required).

Thank you to our sponser

What’s Cooking

Carrie Hensel and Debra Power, Co-Founders and Co-Presidents of the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw have received the prestigious award for Women in Business Champions. The Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw is a volunteer-based group, which runs educational and networking programs for businesswomen. WXW has helped women find jobs, create connections, generate referrals and make friends. This award would not have been possible without the support of all the volunteers and WXW attendees.

Participants in the fastest growing organization of women business leaders in Washtenaw County will soon be talking at WXW’s premier event on May 21, 2010. Over 300 businesswomen will attend to hear a panel of women business leaders, take part in dynamic exchanges, workshops and lively networking.

Be a part of this successful event by becoming one of a limited number of sponsors. Each sponsorship will connect you directly to hundreds of women decision makers, build awareness for your business, and provide relationship-building opportunities both at the event, through WXW’s website and other marketing efforts.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Pam Palmieri at 734-439-0354.

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WXW Forum 10 – Now We’re Talking

Date:   Friday, May 21, 2010
Time:  8am -7 pm
Location:
Kensington Court
610 Hilton Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Cost:
$75.00 early bird registration through May 1, 2010
$95.00 registration fee starting May 2, 2010

WXW is hosting its dynamic, fun-filled, all-day forum for women business leaders. The day-long event provides an interactive and lively experience with regional speakers, workshops, breakout sessions, and networking activities. Our mission is to engage the business community and work through the common issues women business leaders face in their efforts to grow and improve their companies.
This year we are offering our third annual conference.  After feedback at last year’s May conference, WXW attendees told us they wanted “more, more, more!” So this year we are doubling the number of workshops you can attend. In the morning, we’ll host intensive and interactive 2-hour workshops facilitated by amazing local business leaders, who are prepared for your burning business questions. Then, we’ll hear from a panel of the region’s leading business women. After lunch attendees will then have the opportunity to choose another workshop and one of eight different breakout sessions. And finally we’ll wrap up with a happy hour that includes wine, food, music, and the best networking opportunities in the state.   We expect 300 attendees from the Ann Arbor area, Southeast Michigan, and Northeast Ohio.

WXW Forum 10 Agenda
8-8:30am Registration & mingling
8:30am Welcome
9-10:45am Jump Start! Morning Workshops
11-12:15pm Panel of Women Business Leaders
12:30-1pm Lunch & Announcements
1:15-3:15pm Keep It Going! Afternoon Workshops
3:30-4:30pm Exchange Sessions 4:30pm Wrap-up
5-7pm Happy Hour

MORNING WORKSHOPS – (Choose 1 while registering)

CREATING YOUR DREAM BUSINESS: REACHING FOR THE SKY WITH YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND
By: Debra Christein, SpiralSynthesis & Ellen Abramson, Uof M Dept of Orthopedic Surgery
Did you ever get excited about a vision for your company and then watch it get lost in the distractions of everyday life?  Or  lose its luster and become “just more work”?  At this workshop, you will explore how to keep your vision alive and create a pathway of concrete steps to bring it to fruition.  You will leave the session with a draft of your personal vision, clear metrics to define success in reaching it, and the steps you’ll take on the pathway to manifest your dreams.

CHARTING YOUR CAREER PATH: FLIGHT PLANS NOT FAIRY TALES
By: Michelle Seyfarth, Seyfarth Diversified Strategies,   Lynda Meeks, Girls With Wings & Theresa Whiting 
Just where do you think you’re going? And how are you going to get there? In this session, participants will engage in an interactive exercise of charting your career: from the past, to the present and into the future. Connect with and hear from three women with non-traditional perspectives of navigating the highs and lows of piloting your own true course. Participants will leave with a renewed vision and plan for their individual career choices.

CONNECTIONS THAT WORK: STRATEGIC NETWORKING AND PARTNERING
By: Shannon Beeman, MI-SBTDC &  Megan Crosbie, Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce
Networking can help you to find the right employee, partner, or otherwise expand your business horizons. But in a room full of likely looking people, how do you focus your efforts and make your precious time more valuable? And what do you say to “the one” contact you need to make? The key to networking is taking the initiative and refining your conversational skills. Participants will leave this session with a list of steps they can follow to network like a pro and build their bank of business relationships.

WHAT’S YOUR STORY? USING YOUR STORIES TO INFLUENCE AND CONNECT
By: Beth Stoner, Delta Possibilities, LLC & Lorri Johnson, Monarch Consulting Group, LLC
You have been moved, inspired, informed and influenced by the stories of amazing people. With rapt attention you drink in the details, ride waves of emotion, discover common truths and when the story ends find yourself changed. And thinking perhaps, I could never do that. Yes you can. In this workshop, you will explore the art and practice of organizational storytelling including two types of powerful leadership stories that can help you to build trust, credibility and influence with your audience of one or one thousand. You will leave with a fully developed “who I am” or “who we are” story, the tools to identify, develop and position a suite of stories, and the confidence to wield this ancient leadership tool from boardroom to blog.

GETTING OFF THE GROUND WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
By: Denise Murray, Briarwood Mall  & Ashley Lewis, Briarwood Mall
You hear it everywhere you go: you’ve got to be in social networking and social media! So why haven’t you taken the plunge? It’s ok! Come on in, the water’s warm. We’ll take you on a tour of the major social sites, learn what to get out of each one, and avoid the pitfalls. Sure, it is time consuming and often one can get side tracked, but if you want to be proactive in the hunt for new clients, maintain current clients and rebuild relationships with past clients, social media is a great, free, easy way to network with people already engaged with your product or service. Participants will leave the session with a completed workbook to use as a guide as they set up and use their social media profiles.

Making it Click: Attract New Customers With Pay Per Click Advertising 
By: Meaghan McCann, Search Ad Marketing & Carol Kamm, iSold It on eBay
Disappointed that your website is nowhere to be found on search engines? Frustrated by blowing your profits on ineffective advertising?  Tired of feeling like a victim of traditional advertising methods?  It’s time to take control of your advertising!  In this fun, energetic and informative session we will cover the benefits of advertising on the Internet.  You will assess and determine if your website is ready for pay per click advertising.  You will learn how to create, organize and maintain a pay per click account.  You will gain understanding of how to measure your results, and you will leave the workshop armed with a campaign ready to implement on the Google AdWords program.  Bring your laptop!  (not required)

Panelists include:

Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D.
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Michigan
CEO, University of Michigan Health System
On May 11, 2009, Dr. Pescovitz became the first female Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Michigan and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Michigan Health System. In this role, Pescovitz is responsible for the leadership and management of the Health System, which includes the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers, the U-M Medical School, clinical services of the U-M School of Nursing, and the Michigan Health Corp., the legal entity that allows the Health System to enter into partnerships, affiliations, joint ventures and other business activities.

 As CEO of one of the nation’s leading research institutions and a network of hospitals that is one of a few in the country – and the only one in Michigan – to be listed on the U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll 15 consecutive years, Pescovitz is responsible for oversight of a $1.8 billion operating budget and a Medical School with more than $300 million in NIH funding. She leads a number of major initiatives, including developing the 174-acre North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) into a national – even international – research hub and opening the new C.S. Mott Children’s and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital in 2012.

Prior to taking the U-M post, Dr. Pescovitz had an extensive and successful career serving as executive associate dean for Research Affairs at Indiana University School of Medicine, president and CEO of Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and interim vice president for Research Administration at Indiana University.

Dr. Pescovitz is a nationally recognized pediatric endocrinologist and researcher who has published nearly 170 papers and received numerous awards for her research and teaching. She has served as president of the Society for Pediatric Research, the nation’s largest pediatric research organization, president of the Lawson Wilkins (North American) Pediatric Endocrine Society, chair of the March of Dimes Grants Review Committee, and a member of the Ad-Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding, the board of the Hormone Foundation, the board of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI), and the board of the Children’s Miracle Network. Her awards and honors include a Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health, being named one of Modern Healthcare’s 2009 Top 25 Women in Healthcare, recognition as one of Crain’s 2009 “Women to Watch” and nomination for Modern Healthcare’s list of the “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare.”

Kristi Mailloux, President, Molly Maids
Kristi Mailloux was named president of Molly Maid in 2006. A 17-year veteran of Molly Maid, Inc., Kristi brings a franchisee-first attitude and high energy to her position. Those traits translate to results; in fact, consumer sales during Kristi’s leadership have reached record highs. Kristi’s career path has included several executive positions at SBI including President of 1-800-DryClean and Vice President of Operations for Molly Maid. She also served as Vice President of Operations of Service Brands International (SBI), leading franchise operations for all three brands.

Kristi graduated with honors from the University of Michigan. In 2003, she was selected as one of Crain’s Detroit Business’s prestigious “Top 40 Under 40” executives in the state of Michigan. Kristi is also actively involved with the International Franchise Association serving as a mentor for their “Women in Franchising” program, and has also assisted with various workshop panels and round tables.

Kristi lives in Brighton, Michigan with her husband and their two children and they also own and operate a Mr. Handyman franchise.

Diane E. Ward, Chief Executive Officer SE Michigan Red Cross Blood Services
American Red Cross Southeastern Michigan Blood Services CEO
Diane E. Ward became chief executive officer of the Southeastern Michigan Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross on May 1, 2003. She joined the American Cross in 1987 working in various Human Resource roles, including North Central Area human resources director.  In 1999 she was named director of donor services. During her tenure in that post, the region’s collections grew from 180,000 units to 225,000.  Prior to joining the American Red Cross  Ward held various human resources roles in health care, service, and manufacturing organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology from Wayne State University and a master’s in business administration.

Moderator – Mary Morgan, Publisher of the Ann Arbor Chronicle

Mary Morgan is an award-winning journalist and publisher of The Ann Arbor Chronicle, an online local news publication that she and her husband, David Askins, launched in September 2008. The publication – at www.annarborchronicle.com – is known for its in-depth coverage of local government, as well as features about people and events in the Ann Arbor community. She is a regular on the weekly Lucy Ann Lance radio show on WLBY-1290, and is a frequent panelist and public speaker.

Previously, Mary worked at The Ann Arbor News for 12 years, as opinion editor, business editor and columnist writing on local business issues. Before joining The News in 1996, she was an assistant business editor and technology reporter for the Rochester Business Journal in Rochester, N.Y. She has a master’s degree in linguistics from Indiana University, and has taught English as a second language in the Central African Republic as a Peace Corps volunteer and later in China at a medical university.

AFTERNOON WORKSHOP -(choose 1 while registering)

BEYOND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: EARNING CUSTOMER LOYALTY
By: Debra Power, Power Marketing and Research & Kandi Jurek, UMHS
Good customer service is the cornerstone of every business. But customer loyalty is the ultimate goal. During this workshop you’ll learn how to track customer service throughout your businesses at each customer touchpoint; discuss customer expectations and how to meet and exceed them; gain customer trust; and create customer loyalty. Participants will leave the session with a clear plan for implementing a customer service and loyalty plan for their business.

SELL LIKE A GIRL!
By: Carrie Hensel, Inner Circle Media & Denise Roberts, SalesPartners
For many women, selling is nearly as scary as skydiving; but if you don’t get comfortable with selling, your company won’t survive. Despite what you’ve been taught, you don’t have to be a “power seller” who delivers a convincing pitch. When you sell like a “girl,” you are friendly, open, truthful, and nurturing which encourages your prospective customers to bond with you and share the reasons why they may or may not need your product or service. In this workshop, you will learn to tap into your “girl power” and use it to your advantage in sales. You’ll learn a process or “script” to help you guide prospective customers through the sales qualification process. In pairs, you’ll practice asking probing questions to determine if your product or service is a good fit for your prospects needs. As a group, we will do a lot of role playing, so you can practice techniques and respond to real life sales situations. Participants will leave the session with a completed workbook to use as a guide for their future sales endeavors.

BECOMING A GURU: BE KNOWN AS THE EXPERT YOU ARE
By: Jenn Cornell, Jenn Cornell PR  & Diane Sheldon-Ku, Proquest
Have you ever wondered how people get picked for panels, interviews or how news outlets find their experts? No matter what kind of business you are in, your own expertise is a powerful marketing tool for you, your product, or your organization. You’ll leave this workshop with a plan for defining your area of expertise, sharing your expertise when and where it counts, and leveraging your new role as a guru to the max!

SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BUSINESS: TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
By: Marisa Smith, The Whole Brain Group & Nicole Burguess, MS&L Worldwide
If you’ve been using social media for a while, but want to learn more about how to use it to reach your business goals, this is the workshop for you! This advanced workshop is for people who are already familiar with popular tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter but don’t have the time to spend hours every day keeping things updated. Participants will learn how to maximize their efforts by using time-saving tools, developing a defined strategy, and coming up with metrics to measure their success.

RIGHT PEOPLE, RIGHT PLACE: BUILD A GREAT TEAM IN DIFFICULT TIMES
By: Kristen Storey, University of Michigan & Deb Clark, Tenneco
Successful teaming is important, but especially during economically challenging times like these when your group’s bench-strength (collective talents and contributions) matters most. The most saavy leaders invest in strengths and surround themselves with the right mix of people in realizing their organization’s success. In this session we’ll explore what a strengths-based approach to building teams is and what the four major domains are to building a strong team. You will work with the concepts, practical tools and strategies that can help begin to leverage and maximize each of your team member’s talents. You’ll leave this session with a stronger sense of your own strengths and the resources and tools for how to begin to build the bench-strength of your team.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF SO YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS
By: Wasentha Young, Peaceful Dragon School & Denise Anne Taylor, Competitive Advantage, Inc.
Enrich your lifestyle by learning relaxing and revitalizing techniques for your mind and body. During this session, we will discuss the “Three Process Tools” that help us to change and regroup.  We will also experience several styles of gentle movement and stretches, meditation, and self-acupressure (light finger pressure and massage) techniques that promote the intrinsic vitality of peace and harmony.  Listen to top tips and strategies for finding balance from a woman who owns a business and juggles everyday family life and beyond.  Learn eating, fitness & stamina-building strategies that will help you reinvigorate yourself and be ready to take on whatever life throws your way!

Join WXW and meet acclaimed winemaker Laurence Feraud on for a wine-tasting happy hour and Networking event.

Date: Friday, May 7, 2010
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Registration begins at 4:30 pm
Location: Ann Arbor Art Center
Cost: $16.00

Laurence founded Domaine du Pegau with her father in 1987, and has more than doubled the acreage of the family business.  The vineyard produces 7000 cases per year of Châteauneuf du Pape, ninety percent for export, and 18% to the United States.  Attendees will hear Laurence speak about her experience as a woman in a male-dominated field; ticket price includes hors d’oeuvres and a taste of Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Rouge 2008, Selection Laurence Feraud.  21 and over please.

The WXW is delighted to take advantage of this opportunity to meet Laurence Feraud.  Laurence is visiting Michigan to serve as an Honorary Chair for the Ann Arbor Art Center’s Wine Fest 2010.  You can learn more about Laurence, and other events where she and her wine will be featured, at: http://annarborartcenter.org/wf2010/

It’s OK to Be the Boss – How to be a manager and leader who helps your team thrive

These days our companies are trying to do more with less. We have fewer employees trying to do more work in less time. For your team to run at top speed, they need you to be an effective boss, mentor, and leader all wrapped into one.

But sometimes as women business leaders, we worry that “being the boss” means our team members will perceive us as overbearing, domineering, or even dictatorial. Because we’re afraid of being “bitchy,” we hesitate to take charge, give direction, track performance, or correct behavior.

Unfortunately, your team will never be truly successful until you accept your responsibility to be their leader, coach, motivator, and manager. It’s OK to be the boss! In fact, it’s critical to the success of your workplace and your company.

During WXW’s March 18th event, we will tackle this tough topic with practical advice and many opportunities to share ideas. The event will start with an interactive panel of three local business women who have learned to embrace their role as boss and are now leading their teams to success.

Then join us for our patented Exchange Sessions to talk about managing your own team effectively, creating a productive environment, and being the kind of boss that attracts and retains high performing employees.

Panelists include:
Terri Barlow, Vice President of Sales and Marketing atThomson-Shore, Inc.

Terri Barlow is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Thomson-Shore, Inc. (www.thomsonshore.com), a book manufacturer located in Dexter, Michigan serving the trade, religious, professional, and university press markets. She has worked in book manufacturing since 1984 and has been at Thomson-Shore since 1991. Over the years she has held various management positions before to moving to sales in 2002.

Her belief: “The Golden Rule”.
Her practice: “As close to the Golden Rule as she can get.”

Terri and her husband live in Dexter. She has three daughters and four grandchildren (with two more on the way scheduled to arrive this summer).

Megan Torrance, President at TorranceLearning

Megan began her career by designing & implementing changes to processes, teams and technologies…which almost always created a need for training and communicating with people throughout the organization, and all around the world. This is where TorranceLearning began to take shape. TorranceLearning is an elearning design & development company, located just outside Ann Arbor in Chelsea, Michigan. They partner with their clients’ subject matter experts to develop online training that is both engaging and effective. The team has produced courses on everything from how organic soy crisps are made, to CRM software, to spinal cord injury assessment, to marketing sustainability benefits, and the list continues to grow. The entire team is committed not only to delivering outstanding work to clients, but also creating a top-notch work environment based on trust, flexibility, compassion, and fun. (When we are happy, we are creative and efficient.) TorranceLearning is a Washtenaw County Waste Knot member, and has offset their annual carbon output through TerraPass. Visit the TorranceLearning team online at www.torrancelearning.com.

Dr. Kay Woodiel, Director of Diversity & Community Involvement at Eastern Michigan University, Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University

Kay is the Director of Diversity and Community Involvement and a tenured Associate Professor of Health Education at Eastern Michigan University.  In her current position, she supervises 9 professional staff, 4 graduate assistants and 40 student employees and volunteers.  Before coming to EMU, she enjoyed two previous careers, an Athletic Director and Coach at the university level and a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.  She believes that a work environment should be productive, cohesive, and fun.  She also values the teaching component of her role as the leader in these three professions. 

WXW Book Club:
Meeting: March 24th
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Nicola’s
Westgate Shopping Center
Jackson Av. & Stadium Blvd.
2513 Jackson Av.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Anyone who mentions the WXW bookclub when purchasing It’s OK To Be The Boss, will receive 10% off the book. Books will also be available for purchase at the workshop.

Other Related Reading:
“The Girl’s Guide to Being a Boss” by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio
“Lead the Boss: The Subtle Art of Managing Up” by John Baldoni

WXW Book Club: SPECIAL AUTHOR APPEARANCE

Making Peace with Your Office Life by Cindy Glovinsky

Meeting: April 14,2010
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Nicola’s
Westgate Shopping Center
Jackson Av. & Stadium Blvd.
2513 Jackson Av.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Anyone who mentions the WXW bookclub when purchasing It’s OK To Be The Boss, will receive 10% off the book. Books will also be available for purchase at the workshop.

Register Now

EVENT SPONSORED BY:

LOCATION SPONSORED BY:  

SPEAKERS COSPONSORED WITH:

WOMEN IMPACTING PUBLIC POLICY

FIND YOUR VOICE IN PUBLIC POLICY

DATE: February 12, 2010
TIME: 3:00 PM- 6:30 PM
LOCATION: EAGLE CREST CONFERENCE CENTER (Attached to Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti Eagle Crest Resort) 1275 South Huron Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
COST: $35.00

 Main Event Registration still available, Free procurment event sold out

If Women Business Owners were their own country, we would be the 5th largest GDP in the world! We have a strong collective voice that impacts government and public policy at a local, regional, and national level.

At WXW and WIPP’s (Women Impacting Public Policy) event, attendees will hear stories and lessons learned from a panel of well-known women who’ve held government positions.  The panel which includes Jennifer Bisceglie, President of Interos, Nicole Nystrom, CEO of Midwest Strategy Group, Debbie Dingell, President of A2 Strategies, and Shannon Garrett, Great Lakes Regional Director of The White House Project will be moderated by Mary Kramer, Publisher of Crain’s Detroit Business. 

After the panel, Barbara Kasoff, President of WIPP, will discuss how business women can become involved and politically active.

Attendees will then decide on their area of interest (energy, environment, procurement, local government, etc.) and attend interactive sessions with legislators and public figures.

Finally, we’ll wrap up the event with a happy hour full of hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and stellar networking…

** JUST ADDED! FREE Pre-Event Workshop: “An Introduction to Federal Procurement”**  (SOLD OUT)
(Offered from 2pm – 3pm before the main event)
Federal Contracting presents offers a tremendous business opportunity for women business owners to expand their business. In this special seminar you will learn if the Federal Government buys what you sell and it will help you understand what you need in order to navigate through the process. We will discuss registration on the CCR, how to use research tools and the importance of teaming.
NOTE: You can attend just the workshop for FREE, or just the main event for $35, or both events! Please select the appropriate ticket type above to help us plan for the right number of attendees at each.

Agenda:
PRE-EVENT WORKSHOP (SOLD OUT)
2:00 – 3:00: FREE Pre-Event Workshop: An Introduction to Federal Procurement — JUST ADDED !!
MAIN EVENT (Registration Still Open)
3:00 – 3:30: Arrival and Registration for Main Event
3:30 – 4:30: Panel Discussion – Mary Kramer, Moderator (Crain’s Detroit Business)
4:30 – 5:00: Speaker – Barbara Kasoff, President of WIPP
5:00 – 6:00: Breakout sessions (Healthcare, Access to Capital, Procurement, Taxes + more!)
6:00 – 7:00: Cocktails, H’ors D’oeuvres and Mingling
NOTE: You can attend just the workshop for FREE, or just the main event for $35, or both events! Please select the appropriate ticket type above to help us plan for the right number of attendees at each.

SPEAKER AND PANELIST BIOGRAPHIES

SPEAKER: 
Barbara Kasoff
The President and CEO, and Co-Founder,
of Women Impacting Public Policy, Inc.

Other companies that she has owned and managed are Voice-Tel of Michigan, the fourth largest voice messaging company in the United States, Voice-Tel of Central Michigan, and Voice Response Corporation, a telemarketing and database marketing company. Barbara also opened and developed Voice-Tel of Australia, a company with 11 offices throughout Australia and New Zealand for the Voice-Tel franchisor. Altogether, she has been a business owner and corporate executive for 20 years, and has successfully sold three of her four companies.  

For many years, Barbara has been an active supporter for small businesses, and women and minorities in business in particular. She continues this work both nationally and internationally. She has linked together thousands of small business owners  with her voice messaging network, enabling them to communicate directly with one another to improve their businesses, learn of programs, opportunities and appointments in the communities, improve the climate of entrepreneurship, and play a part in public policy making. Her efforts to unite various organizations, has enabled small business owners to share information with each other, learn from one another, and become better informed in economic and political issues.

Barbara was named on October 15, 2007 to the National Women’s Business Council for a Federal appointment of a 3 year term. In addition, Barbara currently serves as Co-Chair of the National Global Trade and Technology Board of Directors, whose mission is to help reverse the long standing trends in balance of trade deficits by making the task of finding, selling and delivering US products and services into global markets as simple as doing business next door. She is also a media resource for the White House Project and has been recently cited as CEO of one of the top 3 most powerful non-profits in Washington, DC.

In addition, Barbara has previously served as President of The National Association of Business Owners in Detroit, Vice President of Public Policy for the national NAWBO organization, SCORE and on various community Boards, including: Detroit Edison Community Relations Board, Forgotten Harvest, International Institute and Majority Business Initiative. Barbara has served on the national Board of Directors of the Women’s Leadership Forum for the Democratic National Committee and served as the Small Business Chair for Kerry for President.  She has helped develop new and closer relationships with the US Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Centers, Department of Commerce and local, national and international corporate leaders. She also advises for the Committee for Working Families for Wal*Mart. Barbara has served as a Delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business, was an invited delegate to President Clinton’s Midwest Regional Economic Summit and was the recipient of the State of Michigan Women in Business Advocate of the Year in 1995.  

Barbara and her family now reside in San Francisco, CA.

 MODERATOR:

Mary L. Kramer
Publisher

Mary Kramer was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and had 16 years of reporting and management experience at daily newspapers before joining Crain’s Detroit Business in April 1989 as editor.

Crain’s Detroit Business (CDB), which was launched in February 1985, covers business news in the five-county metropolitan Detroit area. Circulation is 30,000, with an estimated readership that brings the total readership to nearly 140,000 people each week.

In 1990, Mary was named associate publisher and was named publisher in 2005, responsible for sales, circulation and editorial operations.

In 1994, she was named a vice president of Crain Communications Inc.

Active in a number of personal and professional organizations, Kramer is a former president of the Alliance of Area Business Publications, a national trade association for regional business publications.

She is the first woman to be elected president of the historic Detroit Athletic Club. She holds honorary doctorates from Grand Valley State University, Alma College and Eastern Michigan University.

Her previous daily newspaper experience included editing positions at the Kalamazoo Gazette, Grand Rapids Press, Ann Arbor News, Greenwich (Conn.) Time, and Buffalo (N.Y.) Courier-Express.

PANELISTS:

Jennifer Bisceglie 
President Interos

She has more than 17 years of supply chain management experience in software companies and global distribution companies such as Manhattan Associates, Nine West Shoes (now Jones Apparel), and American Eagle Outfitters. Her team specializes in providing supply chain risk mitigation to help federal agencies optimize their programs and operations. Her clients include U.S. Navy, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Customs and Border Protection and other government contractors such as ManTech.

She serves on the Executive Logistics Council for National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and is an active member of Women in Defense (WID), Women Construction Owners and Executives (WCOE), and Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO). In addition, she is a founding member of The American Small Business Coalition (ASBC). She served on the Board of Directors and as Awards Chair for the International Society of Logistics Engineers (SOLE) from 2006-2007.

She is the recipient of Enterprising Women’s 2009 Enterprising Woman of the Year award as well as Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business award. She is a National Founding Member of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors, sits on the Board of Advisors, and is the National Chair of the Instant Impact Grassroots Committee. For her work with WIPP, Jennifer received the 2007 President’s Award.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from West Virginia University. Jennifer is a sought after speaker on Federal Government contracting as well as small business concerns as they relate to Federal legislation.

Debbie Dingell
President of A2 Strategies
Chair, Manufacturing Intiative
American Automotive Policy Council

Debbie Dingell is an active civic and community leader in both Michigan and Washington, D.C. and is a recognized national advocate for women and children. She recently completed a more than 30 year career at General Motors as a senior executive, where she headed the GM Foundation and public affairs.  Mrs. Dingell is now the chair of a new initiative on manufacturing.

Mrs. Dingell is also a national Democratic strategist, a member of the Democratic National Committee and has chaired numerous political campaigns.  She currently chairs several boards, initiatives and committees and sits on numerous cultural, health, social services and civic boards in both Michigan and Washington, D.C. Much of her recent work has been focused on ethical issues and social responsibility as it relates to government and business.  Last year she co-chaired One United Michigan, which sought to preserve and support affirmative action programs in Michigan.   A known “bridge-builder,” she continues to promote and lead efforts toward greater understanding among the Detroit area’s Mideast community.

 As a respected, bi-partisan voice, she is a regular contributor to the Fox News Channel, MSNBC, co-hosts “AM I Right” on the Detroit Public Television station, and is a regular roundtable Panel participant on WDIV’s “Flashpoint” as well as several other local media programs in Michigan and Washington, D.C.   She is included in Washingtonian’s 2009 100 most influential women in Washington, DC and Detroit Crain’s listing of the 100 most influential women in Michigan.

Mrs. Dingell is married to Congressman John D. Dingell of Michigan.

Shannon Garrett
Great  Lakes Regional Director
The White House Project

 A native of Holland, MI, Shannon returned home in 2008 after spending more than a decade building her political, legislative and legal skills in Washington, DC and Minneapolis, MN. She is committed to amplifying the political voice of underrepresented constituencies, and has a particular passion for advancing women’s leadership and civic engagement. To pursue these goals, Shannon has worked in a variety of government and nonprofit settings, including the Office of Congressman Sander Levin, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Alliance for Justice and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

In her work with The White House Project, Shannon will invite and equip Michigan women of all political parties to run for office at all levels of government.  In the fall of 2009, Shannon received the Edison Award from the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids, recognizing her extraordinary leadership in innovation over the past year.  Shannon graduated from Alma College in 1994, earned a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2004, and is currently a member of the State Bar of Michigan.

Nicole Nystrom
CEO of Midwest Strategy Group

Prior to founding Midwest Strategy Group, Nicole G. Nystrom served as the Michigan Lobbying Director of the Government Policy Department for the law firm Dykema Gossett. In this position, Nicole lobbied before the Michigan legislature, regulatory agencies, and the Executive Office specializing in issues involving appropriations, economic development, state contract procurement, energy, financial services, health care, and education.

Before joining Dykema Gossett, Nicole was employed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as the Vice President of Legislative Relations. Nicole worked with the Governor’s office and the legislature on the passage of economic development, community development, and travel/tourism initiatives, as well as various business tax issues. Nicole also worked hand in hand with prominent businesses throughout the State building coalitions to support, and successfully pass, business legislative priorities. Nicole has held the positions of Director of Legislative Affairs, Director of Community and Constituent Relations, and Treasurer while working for the Assistant Senate Majority Leader and Majority Floor Leader. Nicole also served as the former clerk for the Senate Committees on Financial Services and Gaming and Casino Oversight.

Nicole received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Theory and Democratic Law from James Madison Honors College at Michigan State University and has completed Strategic Planning and
Implementation Courses from the University of Michigan Business School. Nicole is a frequent presenter in the Tomorrow’s Political Leader’s Program, a branch of the Institute for
Public Policy & Social Research at Michigan State University, and serves on the Boards of various professional organizations, some of which include the Michigan Political Leadership Program, the
Children’s Trust Fund, and Michigan State University’s Spartan Child Development Center. Nicole has been honored by being inducted as a member in The Metropolitan Who’s Who Registry.

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