News From Women's Business Council

The Women's Business Council - Southwest (WBCS) partners with national leaders and local WBCS members in providing a half-day conference dedicated to educational workshops to help you achieve new heights.

Workshops include:

The Art of WOW
Creating fiercely loyal customers who are also raving fans is the dream of every business owner. It really boils down to how you "WOW" your customer. Using business intelligence gathered from some of the world's most successful companies (like the Ritz Carleton,) Janus Labs and bestselling author Joseph Michelli, created the "The Art of WOW."

Brainworks

It's inevitable--our cognitive ability, or "mental sharpness" declines as we age. Brainworks, developed by Janus Labs and best-selling author, Heidi Hanna, PhD., discusses practical steps each of us can take to stay sharp as we age. Participants will learn how science has shown that elements of diet, exercise, rest, stress management, and social interactions have meaningful impact on our brain health.

HealthCare Reform Strategies for Employers

Employers will have a number of obligations and opportunities as the heart of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) is implemented in 2014. This session will guide employers through case studies and examples of how to minimize financial penalties associated with PPACA. You will leave with a complimentary PPACA Planning and Decision Guide that you can share with your Leadership Team to drive better strategies for 2014 and beyond.

Riches in Niches

If you're not unique, you'd better be cheap. A niche is a void in the marketplace. Niches are profitable with little or no competition. The marketplace no longer values a jack-of-all-trades. Customers want unique products that meet their specific needs. Tom Pryor, Director of UTA's Small Business Development Center will explain three methods to identify a profitable niche for your business.

Workshop participants can earn Continuing Education Hours (CEHs) that will be applied toward the Institute of Supply Management's (ISM) CPSM, CPSD, C.P.M. recertification and/or A.P.P. reaccreditation program requirements.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hyatt Regency DFW Airport Hotel, Terminal C
DFW Airport, Texas 75261

Are you interested in being a sponsor for this educational symposium? Learn about how it can benefit you!

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR WBE AMBASSADOR

LILLIE KNOX INVESTING FOR GROWTH AWARD

Can your business use $5000 you don't

have to earn or repay?

Dear WBEs,

This is the best opportunity you will have to upgrade your business, perhaps buy a new piece of equipment, or invest in educational training without having to use your own resources. Only you know the needs of your company and the sky's the limit. The Lillie Knox Investing For Growth Award is the best kept secret in the Southwest. All you have to do is submit your two page application by July 31, 2013, and you will be eligible to win up to $5000. Each year the WBCS awards much needed cash that you never have to pay back. Take advantage of this valuable opportunity that only comes around once a year. Complete the application and you could potentially receive up to $5,000 cash through the Lillie Knox Investing for Growth Award!

Good Luck.

Patricia Rodriguez Christian

President, ADP-LLC

WBCS Board of Directors' WBE Ambassador

We apologize that our links did not work in the last newsletter; we've fixed the links AND we're sharing even more award winners!

If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation to the Lillie Knox Investing for Growth fund, please call Flo Cox (817-299-0566 ext 203) with your credit card information, or mail a check payable to: WBCS, 2201 N. Collins St., Ste 158, Arlington, TX 76011

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Valerie Pelan, President of Integrated Focus, has been a member of the WBCS since 2006. She has served on numerous committees, most recently, she co-chairs the Niche Committee and is a member of the Certification Committee. She has given numerous presentations for WBCS.

Learn more about Valerie!

AUGUST DFW TABLE TOPICS LUNCHEON

Getting In and Getting the "Yes"

What a Deejay and Broadway Composer
Taught Me about Selling

For many people, the process of getting the "yes" - or making a sale - ends before it has a chance to begin, simply because they can't seem to connect with the decision maker, get a response from the decision maker, or keep hearing "no". And the sad fact is, they usually don't know why this keeps happening or what they can do about it.

According to Janet White, president of The JW Speakers Agency, the secret to succeeding sales is to change your thinking - about the sales process, your buyers and yourself. In "Getting In and Getting the Yes: What a Deejay and Broadway Composer Taught Me about Selling," you will learn:

Why "rejection" doesn't exist in business
How to turn a gatekeeper from an adversary into your ally
How your own fears, doubts, beliefs and self-imposed limitations are the real barriers to your success

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Brinker International

6700 LBJ Freeway

Bldg. C, CR Play Room

Dallas, Texas 75240

REPORT YOUR SPEND

There are just a few days left, don't forget to submit your Q2 2013 quarterly WBE-to-WBE spend or your corporate member-to-WBE spend.

By logging in to our website and visiting the Done Deals™

page, you'll see how much business has been done with WBCS WBEs.

BUSINESS INSIGHTS RECAP

"Studies show that on average men use 7,000 words in a day while women use 20,000." Marny Lifshen

Marny Lifshen, an author, speaker, coach and marketing communications consultant with more than 20 years of experience, presented on the male/female workplace dynamic at the July Business Insights held at the Addison Conference Center. Her presentation provided many "ah ha" moments as we all navigate the opposite sex in our professional and personal lives.

The conclusion is that we can all learn from one another. Do women build relationships as a form of communication? Yes. Do men tend to keep relationships "all about business"? Yes. The important take away is that neither is more effective than the other, but making a conscious effort to understand someones communication style is a powerful tool to utilize.

The food, provided by Brinker International was excellent and the conversation after was energetic and productive.Thank you to everyone who attended and made this event fantastic!

Did you miss this event? Don't miss out on another opportunity! Subscribe to our events page, so you never miss out again!

VERIZON WIRELESS
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARDS

Verizon Wireless is running a contest for small or medium sized businesses doing amazing things through wireless technology. Maybe you've increased sales, widened your market, streamlined processes- whatever verizon wireless has enabled your business to do, they want to hear about it!

Tell them your story for a chance to win $10,000!!!

This contest only includes six areas, Arkansas, Central Alabama, Southeast Louisiana, Central Texas, Tampa Bay and the Carolinas- so don't miss this opportunity!

Learn more about the contest, rules, and application process. Apply by July 31.

POWER OF PARTNERING

Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)
Compliance Workshop

Interested in government accounting practices and compliance with DCAA?

Mark your calendar for August 23, 2013 for the 2-day General Services Administration schedule workshop and DCAA Compliance. You can earn up to 7 continuing professional education credits!

Kevin Grimes, CFO Leasing, Inc. will lead the workshop where you will learn how to:

Establish indirect cost pools
Segregate unallowable costs
Create client projects
Create contract line item numbers
Generate custom reports
Modify existing accounting structure

Who should attend? Corporate accountants, CPAs, payroll personnel, and small business owners.

Learn about the event and register!

7th Annual
PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS®

International Women's Economic Summit

July 29-30, 2013

PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® is a business training and mentorship program for women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda. This program is implemented through three major components, In-Country Education, Leadership Development and Train the Trainer, which combine to create a continuing program to educate women, promote their business and leadership skills, build a strong public policy agenda in the women's business community and to help build stable democracies.

One of our Corporate Members, Northwood University, has participated in the Peace Through Business in the past. See what they have to say about the program:

"The Peace through Business Program® provides the foundation and dynamics of a global, free-enterprise society which indorses the mission statement of Northwood University. The students who participate in the leadership development classes are true visionaries and entrepreneurs."

Dr. Kevin Fegan, Northwood University, Texas President

It has been a pleasure to work with the Peace through Business Program® once again. Every year I feel I learn more about myself by meeting such wonderful and powerful women entrepreneurs.

Monica Hurtado, Northwood University, Marketing and Public Relations

TERRITORY NEWS

ALBUQUERQUE

Women Business-to-Business Roundtable

Join us on August 15, 2013, in Albuquerque to network with fellow women business owners and meet representatives from major corporations like BNSF, Railway Company and Honeywell, as well as government entities like Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base. They will share their engagement process and provide information on upcoming procurement opportunities.

You will have the chance to participate in multiple roundtable discussions and share information on your products/services throughout the morning.

The following community partners will be on hand to assist you with membership services and benefits:

Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
NAWBO
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) / SBA
WESST

Don't miss your chance to meet face-to-face with procurement professionals and open the door to future business opportunities.

Thursday, August 15, 2013
8 to 11 a.m.

Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown Hotel
2600 Louisiana Blvd NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

Register today!

TUCK EXECUTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

The application deadline is approaching for an incredible opportunity!

Complete the application and email it to tuck@wbenc.org by August 5, 2013 to participate in the 2013 Tuck-WBENC Executive Program, brought to you by IBM. It will be held October 6-11, 2013, at the IBM Dolce Palisades facility in Palisades, NY.

The Tuck-WBENC Executive Exchange Program is an intensive, five-day executive development program for WBENC-Certified Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs). It is an intensive learning experience that focuses primarily on increasing the competitive advantage and robustness of the participant's own business. Up to 50 WBE attendees will form a learning community that will continue to provide a source of support, expertise, opportunities and strategic alliances long after graduation.

2012 Tuck-WBENC Executive Program

In its tenth year, the one-week program continues to demonstrate a tremendous impact on WBEs and their strategic growth.

DONE DEALS™ STORY

Sue Abrams, president of Sue Abrams Productions announces a multi-year Done Deal with fellow WBE, Hopkins Public Relations.

After meeting at the WBCS businessWORKS! event this spring, Hopkins Public Relations has engaged Sue Abrams Productions in producing various videos focusing on a significant local plant modernization. This is Hopkins PR's first WBE-to-WBE Done Deal and Sue Abrams Productions' largest WBE-to-WBE deal in this region.

"We're excited about creating impactful videos that serve Hopkins PR's clients at events, for news releases, on websites and via social media," says Abrams.

ALL ABOUT AUSTIN

AUSTIN COUNCIL CONNECTION LUNCHEON

"RAMP IT UP"

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS
TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

To take your business to the next level, Darlene Templeton has developed a program, "Rapid Accelerated Motivational Plan - RAMP" that provides the process, system and structure to successfully handle those details and run the business.

At the close of the session, you will be ready to take immediate and decisive actions, and you will walk away with:

Clarity on what you really want in your business
Tips, tools and strategies to track and achieve your goals
A simple, repeatable and easy-to-implement process to grow your business

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Chez Zee American Bistro

5406 Balcones Drive

The Gallery

Austin, Texas 78731

WALMART - GET ON THE SHELF

Walmart Competition Gives Entrepreneurs the Chance to 'Get on the Shelf'

WBEs, there is still time... the deadline for entrepreneurs is July 31 to get on Walmart's shelves! Entrepreneurs, business owners and inventors can enter by submitting a video featuring their product at https://getontheshelf.walmart.com.

"We're calling on entrepreneurs and inventors from across the country to help us discover the next big thing. In return, Walmart is giving them exposure to millions of potential customers," said Joel Anderson, President and CEO of Walmart.com. "Get on the Shelf taps into the spirit of American innovation and gives our customers a voice in selecting the products that will help them live better."

Businesses and product developers can submit entries for products that complement the assortment of items sold on Walmart.com, such as electronics, home, toys and apparel. All entries will be screened by Walmart merchants, and then the public will be asked to vote on their favorite products later this summer.

For complete contest rules and submission instructions, please visit https://getontheshelf.walmart.com. To learn more about the innovative platform supporting this initiative, please visit http://walmartlabs.blogspot.com/2013/06/getontheshelf2013.html.