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Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan
Meetings on the Second Tuesday of the Month
at
The Quarter Bistro & Tavern, 300 S. Maple, Ann Arbor
(new location for 2010)
We are grateful to our sponsor:
Key Bank
We thank
The Quarter Bistro and Tavern
for their hospitality and look forward to holding our meetings at this location in 2010 .
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| Welcome New Members | |
Mary Light
Naturopathic School of Ann Arbor
and
New Life Energies Health Clinic
Martha King
Accounting Advantage
Rebecca Sposita
Law Office of Rebecca Sposita
Mary Burkhardt
Medication Safety Solutions
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| Our Sponsors |  |
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| To WBO Members and Guests,
Summer is here! As we officially welcome it in this Memorial Day  Weekend, I hope you take time to enjoy the beautiful sunshine! (Can you tell I'm a Sanguine/Expressive personality style?)
I hope that last month's WBO event gave you insight into your own and people's different personalities, and shed some light on how you can interact with your customers and clients at an even deeper level, and provide them with the information needed to make a decision about doing business with you in a way that communicates the most effectively to them.
If you would like some more information about this topic, you can check out "Four Temperaments" on Wikipedia, or google can point you to some very informative articles and videos too.
This knowledge has made the most difference for me in the way that I give information to others and in points that I bring up with my customers when I am talking about my products or services.
For example, if they are a Choleric/Leader/Powerful personality - I am concise and to the point. I make sure they have the information needed to make a decision on the spot.
If they are Sanguine/Expressive/Popular personality, I share about how their relationships can be impacted by what I have to offer.
If they are more Melancholy/Analytical/Perfect personality than I provide more details and have articles I get to them, so they get the information they need to make a decision, and I know that sometimes it takes a couple of interactions for them to make a decision
If they are a Phlegmatic/Amiable/Peaceful personality I share about the difference they get to make for others or how it can help their family.
Although this is not an exact science, I noticed that whenever we are in tune with our customer/clients needs, it makes a difference to them. How I see it is the definitions are not meant to put people in a box, but rather help us better relate to the people in our life. Thought I would share some food for thought!
On another note, if you are someone who enjoys WBO and would be interested in contributing to the organization, I am starting to look for people to be on the board for next year. Please let me know if you would like to be a part of a fun group of great women - making a difference!
All my best,
Theresia Radtke
2010 WBO President
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May Meeting Summary:Purses? Lipstick?
A clue to business practices and expectations of women? Believe it or not, Theresa "Tee" Thompson of Tea Time Events, gave us some clues to look for and suggestions for being more effective in relating to women in business.
Over 40 women and 1 man ( a facilitator for an event company for women) found themselves checking out the size, shape, texture and designer name of the hang bags in the room. Some were definitely a representation of the business styles or personalities of their owners. Many were close and brought laughter and knowing looks between attendees. (I am sure Totes by Tonya can make a bag to fit your style - just ask.)
If the purse isn't a clue, the lipstick shape is a sure give-away. My "flat topped" tube definitely had characteristics that applied to me. This brought some more grins !! We are all now more observant of the items we hold dear - our purses and our lipsticks or chap sticks.
Respectfully submitted by:
Secretary Lu Parsons of Keller Williams Realty |
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June Meeting Features:
Date: June 8, 2010
Time: 6:00 pm Networking and light refreshments
6:30 pm Program & Meeting
2010 Location: Quarter Bistro & Tavern
300 S. Maple Ann Arbor
Dues: $55 per year
Guests: $10.00
Speaker Topic: Women Business Owners Are Unique: What Does CEED, Center for Empowerment and Economic Development, Have to Offer?
Speaker: Pamela T. Smith, CEED The Center for Empowerment and Economic Development
Pamela T. Smith works for Women's Business Enterprise Council-Great Lakes an initiative for the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development, also known as CEED. Pamela received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Madonna University. After  working 30 years for a manufacturing corporation handing contracts and compliance issues, she retired and began a second career as the Certification Program Manager at CEED.
As the Program Manager, Pamela travels throughout the state of Michigan conducting site visits, attending workshops, facilitating meetings, and is actively involved with several outreach activities to inform women about the benefits of certification. After attempting to have a business of her own, she understands the need to know and understand what is required to have a successful business. With a desire to support and help women receive recognition as viable vendors, she is anxious to assist women-owned businesses to achieve their goals. |
| WBO Business Spotlight: Spread the Word
Feature Business: Totes By Tanya
An entrepreneur, Tanya Prill started her own company in 2005 in North Carolina. As owner of Totes by Tanya, she moved to Michigan and her business grew from there. Located in Saline, she has over 25 years of sewing experience. Totes by Tanya specializes in making custom handbags and totes for customers who want to design their own bag to suit their style and needs. With over 100 fabrics in stock, the customer can select the style, handles, pockets, and even jazz it up by adding trim or embellishments. The company launched its retail line of handbags in March of 2009, selling wholesale to high end shops and boutiques.
In November 2009, Tanya was the proud recipient of the Nancy Ray Founder's Award for WBO. This award is given to continually support entrepreneurial women who are starting their own business.
Totes by Tanya can be found on the internet at www.totesbytanya.com. The company also enjoys doing purse parties for small groups and events. For more information, email Tanya at contact@totesbytanya.com
Opportunities Available: June, July,
August, November & December
Would you like your business to be archived for all time? Email me @ lspensley@jwsservices.net with 2-3 paragraphs about your business and a jpeg photo. Submission deadlines are June 18, July 23 & August 20. Cost is 15.00 for the Spread the Word Spotlight. Please pay at the WBO meeting prior to your Business Spotlight month. |
| WBO Announcements:
1) WBEC - Great Lakes 2010 Corporate Connections
Registration Cost for all events: $50 for Certified WBE's $100 for all others
Events will be pre-registration only - due to limited space - no on-site registration is available
A Corporate Connections Networking event is an opportunity for individuals representing small businesses to make short sales presentations to large numbers of potential customers.
The Networking event is a series of six sessions where attendees are divided into groups of 9 people and seated at round tables. A timekeeper is designated and each person is given 3 minutes to speak. Corporate representatives are expected to introduce themselves, provide contact information and list the goods and services they are willing to purchase from small businesses. The individuals representing the small business provide the same contact information and also tell the people at the tables the goods and/or services that they sell to customers.
June 9th
2) June 10, 2010 Annual Meeting
This Annual Meeting celebrates our Chapter's 30th year, the Women Entrepreneurs' Year of Empowerment: 30 Years of Power, Progress, and Policy. Join us for networking and help us celebrate the beginning of a great NAWBO Greater Detroit year and help us congratulate the winners of the 2010 Chapter awards while welcoming our 2010-2011 Board of Directors. Click here for more information and to register.
3) Please be sure to check the NAWBO Website nawbo@nawbogdc.org for additional meeting opportunities.
4) Ronnie Payne wants to inform you of two additional monthly networking opportunities during lunch and dinner on May 28th from 11:30-1:00 and 6:30-8:30.
5) The Movement Center is offering a 10% discount package of 5 private or duet Gyrotonic or Pilates sessions with Trainer Wendy Holden for new Clients. This offer is valid through August.
6) Look for WXW's tent at Top of the Park on June 23 in Ann Arbor.
7) Carolyn Anderson-Fermann Organizing Consultant and Founder, Simply Organized Life is pleased to announce the following workshops (inks will take you to the Ann Arbor Rec And Ed Webstite):
"Tame the Paper Monster"
http://activenet13.active.com/aareced/servlet/registrationmain.sdi?source=adet.sdi&activity_id=21040
"Secrets of a Simply Organized Life"
Opportunities:
WBO Business Spotlight: Spread the Word
$15.00 will allow you the opportunity to spotlight your business to WBO members and also be archived in the WBO Newsletters for future reference. |
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In Closing..
For more than 20 years, the Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan has served the area's sole proprietors, partnerships, and LLCs with the opportunity to learn more about being a business owner through education, networking, referral and support at monthly meetings featuring an outstanding lineup of expert speakers on relevant business topics. We hope you will join us on the second Tuesday of each month at the Quarter Bistro and Tavern, 300 S. Maple Rd., Ann Arbor, MI to learn more about the organization, meet sister business owners, share your advice and knowledge and network with peers.
Join WBO next month for our meeting on June 8, 2010!
Sincerely,
Laura Spensley,
2010 WBO Communications Chair
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