March 2013

President's Message

By Charisse Witherspoon

President, NAWBO Chicago

President/CEO, Witherspoon Marketing Group

Some things still stick. March is a time I regularly enjoy thinking about sixth grade Shakespeare discussions (“Ides of March” ), the NCAA basketball series and retail sales for spring, the last two often referred to as March Madness. March 31 ends the first calendar quarter of 2013, reminding us that 25% of this year already is behind us. We are reminded our city celebrates Pulaski Day. We hope the winter weather will go “out like a lamb.” And, of course, we acknowledge and embrace International Women’s Day and Women‘s History Month.

Use March to explore and encourage proud and engaging progress among women. Attend events with a plan to learn and contribute. Make referrals. Listen to and encourage the aspirations of a student. Sponsor something or someone. Then pay attention to your opportunities and results.

March also gives us, as city and suburban residents/business owners/ taxpayers, time to do more homework regarding the high-profile candidates and the lesser known trustees, commissioners and others whom we will support and select for the April 9 general election. If you are one of those voters who works down a list thinking, “I don’t know these people,” you can change that. Visit the websites, listen to the speeches, gauge the support for and from women voters. How does that person affect your business? Has he/she heard from you? (If not, pick up the phone.)

Watch environmentalists and others who show us how to "think globally and act locally" And if you go shopping, keep remembering to “shop NAWBO first.”

See you at our Salute to Women Leaders reception March 27!

All the best,

Charisse

Annual Membership Drive

Starting March 1 - April 30 NAWBO will be running its annual Membership Drive. During the drive prospective NAWBO members will receive a $25 discount on membership dues.

Our theme for this year's drive is “NAWBO Taking You Further."

NAWBO taking you further to explore new opportunities. Opportunities to help you sustain and grow your business through exchange of best practices, learning and development, and connections with other women business owners. Find the information you need to run a business that stands out from the competition.

NAWBO taking you further for access to government and corporate procurement. NAWBO provides venues for women business owners to ask questions, trade ideas, and develop practical solutions to the sticky issues you face every day.

NAWBO taking you further to add your voice to improve the current business environment. NAWBO advocates for legislation that will help your business grow. NAWBO empowers members to get involved in our nation’s decision making process.

Are you facing a road block? Come to NAWBO for directions. Members will motivate you to create your own unique new map.

Share in NAWBO’s community – share your story with a woman who’s been there done that. It’s all about empowering connections and supportive relationships between women on common ground.

NAWBO is the nation’s oldest and most respected organization for women business owners. As a NAWBO member you add 9,000 women business owners nationwide to your personal network.

Chicago Area NAWBO is the largest chapter within our national organization. Thirty percent of our chapter members own businesses with annual revenues greater than $1 million – compared to just 2% nationwide. NAWBO Chicago members collectively have $1.15 billion in annual sales and employ 10,000 employees. These are impressive statistics.

I’d like to share with you what’s going on within NAWBO Chicago. And if you are a member who would like to become more involved, this is a really great time to join a committee. Click here to view our committee list.

Prospective Member Wine Events

NAWBO Chicago is hosting three fabulous FREE wine events in March that are geared towards attracting prospective members, so call your women business owner contacts and invite one and all. And by all means come and join them in a toast!

Network with NAWBO Board of Directors, Leaders and members
Learn important information about the new and improved NAWBO Chicago
Meet Chicago Arthritis Foundation Executive Director and Women Leaders
Learn how CAF is working hard for women
Enjoy mixing and mingling with members and guests
Be entered to win a FREE airline ticket

Thursday, March 7

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Susan Jacobs Morgan, Holland & Knight

131 S. Dearborn St., Chicago

Click here to RSVP

For more information or to RSVP for one of the other dates, please click on the links below.

Wednesday, March 13

Thursday, March 21

6 Steps to Changing Your Business

What are the basic steps to start your journey to contracting with the public and private sectors? What internet sites do you need to sign up on, what administrative preparation do you have to make, and how do you build those necessary relationships? There is a simple formula for the process! Join Marc Violante, Director, Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Center and Julie Savitt, President, AMS Earth Movers, Inc., as they show you how.

Tuesday, March 12

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Wintrust Financial Center

9700 West Higgins Road

2nd Floor Conference Room, Rosemont

(Free and ample parking available in adjacent lot)

Click here for more information.

Be YOU, Magnificently!

Access More of Your True Potential in Business and Life

Valencia Ray, M.D.

"Who do you think you are?" Your answer will impact every area of your life and is actually essentially created by "autobiographical memory" in the brain - that can limit your true personal and professional potential and can be changed. Dr.Valencia Ray will share why and how this happens, and steps to take to begin to change these stories that could be contributing to feelings of stress, "doing" too much and "dis-ease".

Tuesday, March 19

8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Naperville Bank & Trust Community Room

555 Fort Hill Drive, Naperville

Click here for more information.

Save the Date

NAWBO Chicago Networking Reception: Salute to Woman Leaders

Wednesday, March 27

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Barnes & Thornburg, LLP

1 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 4400, Chicago

Click here for more information.

Allstate 2013 Supplier Diversity Exchange

Allstate Insurance Company hosted its fifth annual Supplier Diversity Exchange on October 5, 2012 in alliance with Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The theme of the event was: Compete. Win. Grow.

Thirty-five diverse companies attended, each participating in multiple one-on-one meetings with Allstate staff and/or prime supplier representatives responsible for purchasing goods and services.

(View photos from the Exchange) In addition, there were two panel discussions moderated by Dr. Melvin Gravely II, Ph.D., Founder, Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking. During the first panel discussion, Allstate's procurement professionals shared key insights on what they are looking for in partners and how to make the right impression to get in the door. The second was focused on ways to sustain key supplier status and strategies for exceeding customer expectations and developing strategic partnerships once a bid is won. (View videos from the panels and comments from executives)

Launched in 2008, the Allstate Supplier Diversity Exchange was created to provide an opportunity for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender community to build relationships with Allstate and Allstate's prime suppliers. It offers a forum for guidance as well as insight into the procurement world of large organizations. While attendance at this event does not guarantee business, 103 attendees have had the opportunity to compete and 64 have won business. Since the launch of the Exchange, nearly thirty percent of Allstate's $1.5B diverse spend has been with exchange attendees.

The date for the 2013 Allstate Supplier Diversity Exchange has yet to be confirmed, however, if you are interested in participating, please click here to submit your company's information. We will send you a link to the application site when it opens this summer.

The application process will assist in determining which applicants will benefit most by attending the Exchange. However, due to limited seating, not all qualified applicants can be accommodated. The application will be available in the third quarter 2013. If you would like to be notified when the application is available, please click here to submit your contact information.

A new feature this year, resulting from previous feedback, will be quarterly webinars. The learning series is designed to help suppliers increase their knowledge of how to do business with large corporations, specifically Allstate. Click here for a webinar schedule, descriptions and registration links.

Business Accelerator Program

Building Your Marketing Plan

It's early in the new year — the perfect time to create or update your marketing plan. Want to get the most out of your marketing strategy? Knowing your business' identity is essential to virtually any marketing plan.

In this webinar, Michelle Lanter Smith discusses the steps to developing your business identity, along with five secrets to successful marketing.

Click here for more information and registration.

Connections Corner

NAWBO members are making business-generating connections every day. Find out who’s making connections at NAWBO’s Connections Corner.

Help propel women entrepreneurs into economic, social, and political spheres of power and shop NAWBO first! These members did. Read these recent examples of NAWBO members doing business together:

Big Buzz Idea Group was the January Featured Business of the Month at BankFinancial’s Lincoln Park Branch, 2424 N. Clark Street. Big Buzz displayed their literature and provided a delightful basket of toasty warm beverage treats, with a Big Buzz mug, for raffle to other BankFinancial customers. Big Buzz Idea Group was also featured on the bank's website for the month with a link to their website.

Bobbye Cochran of Bobbye Cochran and Associates helped BankFinancial’s Lincoln Park Branch celebrate "Love Your Pet Day" on February 20. Bobbye supplied her Lincoln Bark branded dog treats and kitty sprinkles for gift baskets that will be raffled off to two lucky BankFinancial pet-loving customers!! This is the second time Lincoln Bark and BankFinancial have partnered—last year’s winners of the dog photo contest gobbled their treats down!

It’s your turn! Take advantage of this free PR opportunity to share your NAWBO connections. To submit your story, please contact Michele Katz of Advitam IP.

See What NAWBO Is Doing For Members - Did you know?

... NAWBO's looking for leaders?
It is that time of year again to nominate leaders for Committee Chair and Board postitions. You can nominate yourself. The nomination deadline is March 15. The Form and information about this process can be found on the NAWBO Chicago website.

... NAWBO benefits come with wine?
NAWBO Chicago has arranged for three, fabulous, FREE wine events in March that are geared towards attracting prospective members, so call your women business owner contacts and invite one and all. And by all means come and join them in a toast! Click here for details.

... NAWBO's offering discounted ticket prices for its biggest event of the year?
NAWBO Chicago's premier event celebrating achievement is coming up. Celebrate with us on May 7 at the Westin. Buy your tickets by April 12 to receive a handsome discount! Click here to purchase online.

Submitted by NAWBO member and Chair of Member Benefits Michele Katz, Founding Partner of Intellectual Property law firm Advitam IP, LLC; feel free to direct questions about membership benefits to Michele.

Members In The News

Congratulations to Sweet Endeavors for being featured in the February 25, 2013 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times. Sweet Endeavors, a Schaumburg-based luxury chocolate shop, was one of a few swoon-worthy products set to land on the doorsteps of celebrity nominees the day after the 85th Academy Awards.

(Read the full article here)

A big thank you to Merili Seale and Kara Cenar of Bryan Cave, LLC . Merili and Kara spoke to students at Gage Park High School about a law practice, entrepreneurship and trial work. They both practice intellectual property law/litigation and have handled many exciting cases including Music Copyright, trademark cases and technical patent cases.

Victor Harbison, teacher, quoted "Wow, thanks so much Ms. Cenar and Ms. Seale! You made all my colleagues jealous that I was able to get such cool guest speakers."

Thank you so very much for outreaching to a group of students that do not get to hear about careers and possibilities as much as they need to! It is the mission of NAWBO Chicago's NGO (Next Generation Outreach) Committee to have our wonderful and talented members speak and interact with young people to empower them and to share our stories with them.

NAWBO Member Directory