November  2012
 
SSWBN Newsletter:
The Compass 

Greetings!  

 

Thank you for  subscribing to the SSWBN Newsletter.  Our mission is to provide you with Contacts, Coaching, Collaboration, Community.

 

Let us help you grow your business!
See our Events Calendar here.

 

Financial Tip of the Month
Cheryle Brady Featured Business headshot
Cheryle Brady 
Ameriprise Financial
 

Consumers' Retirement Confidence Needs a Boost

The dos and dont's that will help you prepare for retirement

  

As baby boomers near retirement, many are discovering that they aren't yet financially prepared to leave their careers. Moving from a full-time job to a life of travel, volunteer work and time spent with family and friends may seem like a natural next step. For those who are still determining how they'll fund their retirement, however, cutting the strings of employment may not look so appealing.


... Read more here.

 

Cheryle A. Brady, is a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., in Quincy, Massachusetts. She specializes in fee-based financial planning, and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 25 years.  Contact Cheryle at:
 
Ameriprise Financial Services,
859 Willard Street, #300, Quincy, MA 02169-7482.
Telephone: 617 691 2167
Executive Director's Column

 

Katie Howard
Katie Howard
  

Dear Members and Colleagues:

 

 

Thank you, members, for helping to spread the word about SSWBN! Our October Membership Drive was a success, as we signed up 31 new members and an additional 29 current members renewed. When the Network grows, your network grows.

 

 

Congratulations to Women Business Achievement Award winners Marylou Sandry of Marylous Coffee and Toni Eaton of Old Colony Hospice and Palliative Care.  

 

 

The award winners were chosen out of 20 nominees, all who exemplify SSWBN's commitment to helping other women grow and develop professionally. We celebrated Marylou and Toni at an award breakfast in October and were able to thank them publicly for contributing to the progress of women in our community.

 

We also got to reconnect at the breakfast with last year's award winner, Dr. Corlis McGee, president of Eastern Nazarene College.

 Marylou and Toni

 

Marylou Sandry and Toni Eaton

Photo by Marylou Sullivan Old Colony Hospice & Palliative Care

 

Thank you,

Katie

 

781-696-9901 * [email protected].

Dedicated to the success of our members through Contacts, Coaching, Collaboration, Community - our mission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Message from the President

 

Terri Martini 2012
Terri Martini

 

 

 

October's Membership drive was a great success! With the additional discount day added on November 6th, the Network increased its membership by 31 new members and 29 renewals!

 

My personal and professional success has not been achieved solely by my hard work. It has been with the help, direction and support of the SSWBN. Four years ago I was laid off and not sure if I was going to lose everything. The support I received from the Network helped me build my confidence and eventually buy the company I had started working for. I am thrilled to belong to such a strong network -- and one that is giving constantly!

 

 If you are not a member, please reach out to me. I can give you a multitude of reasons why you should be! If you love what you do and love supporting

others in what they do, reach out to me: I am committed to your success. We see time and time again that giving it your all doing something you love has such great rewards, for not just yourself but for all those around you!

 

Are you a member and would like the extra attention that comes from sponsoring an event? This is highly effective way of reaching out to the audience and giving them specifics on how you can help them in their business while they are helping you in yours!

Would you be interested in sponsoring through a breakfast, lunch, after-hours, or educationally? We have several options and several price points that can help you shout your name from the rooftops!

We also have some other ways of sponsoring through this newsletter if you are hesitant on the public speaking part of sponsoring. Of course, we also have members in the Network who work on helping businesses with such things. If you would like a referral just ask! We are here to help!

Terri

 

[email protected]

http://www.frontstreetgourmet.com 

 

 

 
About the Law - Barry Gordon, GMO
 
Barry Gordon 

Art
 

If you are looking for a lawyer who will represent you and will work with you to focus on what is important, and one who does it zealously, then call me, Barry Gordon.

Here is my philosophy:

Tell the people who bring bad into your life that you have to separate from them as much as possible - or maybe even totally. Turn your focus to people whom you care for, and who care for you.

If you think something went wrong in any of your relationships - try and fix them. Ask each person in the relationship if she or he wants to work with you or prefers to move on.

Think about forgiveness and clear up your past. Ask people what you can do better. If you cannot do anything better, or you do not think it is worth it, or you do not want to, move away. Just move away.

Take a deep breath, take control over your life and move away.

If you are planning to move away or planning to rebuild your relationships call us before you sign any paperwork or make any agreements!

We want to be your lawyers. Are we right for you?

 Barry

Barry Gordon

Gordon, Mond & Ott

(617) 786-0800. 

 

RKL AssociatesSSWBN Connections

 
Kristen Ford Hernandez 2012
Kristen Ford Hernandez
 

 

Hello Members,

 

I hope you all fared well with Hurricane Sandy. Our network is a great place to find companies when you have any damage to your home. From insurance agencies to home improvement companies, we are a great resource you can refer to when in need. Hopefully you made some great connections!

 

 

 Judy Rizzo of Rizzo Plumbing and Heating thanks Paula Rowe of Granite Print for the quick turnaround and excellent quality of their Valve ID tags. Also, to Susan Peters of Mount Vernon Mortgage for the assistance she gave Judy's daughter in closing her first mortgage. She sends another grateful thank you to Maureen Elliott of Camelot Enterprises for the T-shirts and sweatshirts: "The logo colors really pop," said Judy.

 

Judy thanks Lori Cook of Fork in the Road, Kristen Ford-Hernandez of Premiere Pros, Stacey Mafera of Errands Etcetera, and Kat Ogar of Infinite Health & Wellness for job referrals, and to Janet LaBerge of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap for job referrals. Judy said, "We truly appreciate the business." She thanks Alison Guido, too, for sharing her business knowledge and meeting with her to show how she promotes Almar Building & Remodeling.

 

Stacey Shipman of HealthySouthShore  thanks Lynda Chuckran of Welch Healthcare and Retirement for inviting her to be the guest speaker at a Night Out for Caregivers in October hosted by the Village at Duxbury. The event was a huge success and Stacey was honored to have been a part of it. Stacey further thanks the following SSWBN members for their generous door prize donations to help make the Night Out for Caregivers a success:

 

Darlene Calcagno, chef/owner of Cuisine by Darlene personal chef service, gives a huge thank you to Lori Cook of A Fork in the Road @ Bryantville and Maureen Elliott of Camelot Enterprisesfor personally suggesting one of Lori's clients to hire her.  "I have cooked now twice for this wonderfully perfect client in Pembroke," said Darlene. She also sends a second thank you to Lori Cook for doing a great job this past summer for the Bay State Triathlon team, of which Darlene is on the Board of Directors, for their kick off the season outdoor barbecue party.

 

Kathleen Ogar sent in "a big thank you" to John and Judy Rizzo of Rizzo Plumbing and Heating for the furnace clean out. "It's nice to have someone who knows what they're doing and charges a fair price," said Kathleen.

 

Reiko Beach of The Toolbox, Inc, and Tech Day Camp thanks members Laura Willis of Willis-Works Communications and Nancy O'Keefe of Simple Small Business Solutions for agreeing to speak at the upcoming Tech Day Camp on November 10th. "We greatly appreciate their expertise and willingness to help us out," said Reiko.

 

Terri Martini of Front Street Gourmet would like to thank  Becky O'Connor from Gardens by Rebecca "for an extraordinary job on my flower boxes at Front Street Gourmet. With my busy catering schedule and running the deli, in addition to getting ready for gift basket season, the store front was looking a bit sad! Becky took one look at it and instead of fainting, started her creative wheels spinning and as the pictures show ... she truly made my exterior look 'gourmet'. Thank you Becky!!"

 

(Note:  If you have a thank-you in your connection and would like to showcase it, feel free to include an image!)  

 

I, personally want to thank Alison Schirone of Yarn's End for taking the time to meet with me and help me with a business plan for my new venture in business with my son. Thank you, Alison, for your great advice and words of wisdom!

 

Patty Funder of LaserLight for Men and Women thanks Rosemarie Lanchester of RKL Associates for "riding to the rescue" of her credit card service system.  "My bank was charging extremely high rates and fees without giving adequate service.  Rosemarie lowered my costs, and has provided outstanding service," said Patty.

 

With the amount of wonderful Connections being sent in, occasionally one may get overlooked due to the amount of emails I receive. Going forward, please send all your connections and thank-yous to [email protected].  

 

Thanks so much for your understanding and I hope you all have a productive November!

 

Kristen

 

Kristen Ford-Hernandez

Premiere Pros Painting and Carpentry

Email: [email protected] 


Above and Beyond
lynn Feingold
Lynn Feingold
 
jeandonohue
Jean Donohue

  

Hello, Friends!

 

Let's start out with a hearty congratulations to someone who has been helping me to maintain this column for the past few months while I completed (yes, congratulations to me, too!) my chemotherapy. Jean Donohue was selected to participate in an art show at the Framer's Edge Gallery at 210 Quincy Avenue in Braintree, for the month of November.

 

"I am very excited to be part of this show. The Framers Edge Gallery has been hanging and promoting my work since last spring and I have sold several prints through them. This event, promotes me as a Featured Artist along with some really big names in the Boston art scene, including Frank Constantino. I love his work and he is brilliant, so I am thrilled to be in this show with him," said Jean.

 

Jean Donohue

One of Jean's photos, taken on a quiet Sunday morning from the middle of State Street, captures three centuries of architectural history: the old State house from the 18th century, just behind it an unidentified building resulting from the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, and the soaring skyscraper from the 20th century.

 

 

Congratulations to Lois Wood, who added yet another mark to her 20th year in business by bringing on two associates to produce the next generation of Lois Wood Graphic Design. Commensurate with the change of direction, Lois has implemented a "shiny new name" and tagline: LW Creative Group, Visual branding, and a new website, lwcreative.com. Watch for more from Lois and her crew!

 

Kristen Ford-Hernandez of Premiere Pros is excited to announcement the addition of Jenni Massaro to their team.  Jenni joins them in the role of office manager. 

 

 

Lynn

 

Lynn Feingold

[email protected]

www.songsofthecolonialdays.com

 

Jean
[email protected]
www.donohuephotography.com
Interior/Architectural/Portraiture/Business/Fine Art  
617-759-8218

 

 

 

Networking Nova
 

November NOVA

 

Each month the SSWBN Membership Team recognizes a member who exemplifies the qualities of a Networking Nova, a person who embodies the Network's core values of coaching, contacts and collaboration; someone who is visible at many SSWBN events and who treats others with respect and dignity.

 

In addition, this person utilizes the Network to build his/her business and helps others do the same.

 

  

Judy Rizzo of Rizzo Plumbing & Heating Advises: 'Jump In'

 

Judy Rizzo 

My introduction to the SSWBN occurred when I attended an event in April 2012. I was surprised at the number and diversity of businesses that were represented. I thought it was a good indicator that all businesses, small and large, were welcome to participate. The atmosphere and energy in the room was positive.

 

There are so many great ideas out there, within the Network! Considering those ideas helps me to make the most out of my Network membership. It's inspiring to learn how these entrepreneurs formulate short and long term goals, and how they overcome the challenges of growing a business.

 

Being a member has opened up a whole world of business contacts on the South Shore that I would not have made on my own. Collaboration and forging new business relationships is key to expansion, and the Network has allowed us this opportunity. As a result, we have acquired new business that contributes to our overall growth.

 

It can be difficult to walk into a room full of people you don't know; however, the more events you attend the easier it gets. If you are having a one-on-one conversation, pay close attention to the person you are speaking with - it is easy to get distracted in a busy room. If you are part of a group conversation, jump in when you have something to offer - your opinion has value and should be shared with this group.

 

I love being part of a group that will provide support and education along with networking opportunities. Also, because it is such a large and diverse group, it provides a great resource for my own business and personal needs.

 

Judy Rizzo

Rizzo Plumbing & Heating LLC

781-413-6253

[email protected]

Rizzoplumbingandheating.co

 

In This Issue- Click to go to:
Financial Tip of the Month
Executive Director's Column
A Message from the President
About the Law - Barry Gordon
SSWBN Connections
Above and Beyond
Networking Nova
Featured Business
 
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LaserLight for Men and Women serves as your Managing Editor of the SSWBN Compass.


E-newsletter designed by Kristen Ford-Hernandez, Enterprise Marketing
Featured Business

Name:Jacqueline Collins, Founder/Principle

jacqui collins

Partnering for Performance - Business Coaching and Advisory Services

 

 

Coach/Consultant

Speaker/   Trainer 

Visit Website:

Abington, MA, founded in 1999

Social Media:

Find us on Pinterest

Follow us on Twitter 

   

View our profile on LinkedIn 

Like us on Facebook

 

My mission is to leave my clients better off than when I walked in ...

 

What do I do to achieve that, as their Coach | Consultant | Speaker | Trainer?

My role for my clients is to be their business doctor, performing a check-up and then writing a prescription as needed. I help business owners, from Sole Proprietors to organizations with employees, to Adapt to the current market environment, Change and improve as needed, and to
Thrive, first from a sustainability focus, then to growth.

To stay on course toward achieving their ideal future, business owners must step out of their business to periodically assess where they are and where they want to go.

Whether the business needs to be infused with fresh, new business practices, or whether the owner believes things are functioning fine, he or she wants to make sure.

Some of my clients are professionals who are in transition, people who have left a corporate job and/or who have decided to change professions.

 

How did you come to be in this line of work?  

 

My educational background includes a degree in Psychology and Organizational Development. These topics supported my interest in how and why people and organizations behave the way they do. Through the years I've continued my education through various courses at Northeastern, the Sloan School of Management, and the Juran Institute in Connecticut.  

 

I have owned other businesses in the past, such as a retail store in Merchants Row, a house cleaning service, and an interior design consulting practice. There has always been an entrepreneurial aspect to who I am.    In addition, I worked in the world of Financial Services for 10 years. Due to my various roles and set of responsibilities, I developed a desire to create my own consulting practice. My roles required me to be an internal consultant in the realm of quality, organizational development, leadership, customer service and communication.

 

What are the top three things that separate you from your competition?
 
1.  My varied experiences in both the corporate and business worlds, coupled with my own philosophy of thinking outside the box, enable me to bring fresh perspectives to each client. No template thinking for me!

 

2.  Flexibility and Adaptability: by this I mean being able to shift roles as needed. Sometimes I'm the Coach, other times I'm the pragmatist. This also means having the ability to work with any industry/profession. My clients have come from the medical field, retail, manufacturing, consulting, interior design, non-profit, and the marina industry, to name a few.

 

3.  Communication Skills: my clients always tell me how I'm able to help them by applying business concepts to their everyday world. Asking the right questions, being an attentive listener, and having empathy helps the business owner to "see" through the fog that sometimes exist. The bottom line here is that I help clients by keeping them focused and accountable for meeting their goals.

 

Many of clients have told me and continue to tell me that they feel that I collaborate with them, versus coming in and putting myself at an untouchable distance. I think that's a good role to take on - hence my business name of "Partnering for Performance," or partnering with my clients to help them achieve better performance.

 

Describe your dream/perfect/ best client.

 

The best client is someone who recognizes the fact that they can't do everything themselves and may not be totally clear about what they may need -- but who is willing to bring in an outside person to help them find out.

 

What do you regard as your greatest achievement in business to date?

 

Staying in business this long! There have been many ups and downs in our economic and social environment, and as a Coach and Advisor, I have to stay on top of everything in order to best serve my clients.

 

From a personal perspective, I get a thrill each time I see a business owner with whom I work succeed. One client recently told me, "You gave me my life back!" That's a powerful statement - he was finally able to take a vacation, have a succession plan that he is comfortable with, and be the one working on the future of the company, versus being so wrapped up in the day-to-day.

 

I want to keep doing what I'm doing. In five years, who knows what our environment will look like and what the needs will be?

 

What benefit(s) have you received through your networking efforts?

 

I'm a proponent of "relationship building," so for me networking is not about handing out cards, but it is more about building and maintaining relationships that are productive and rewarding. This view has put me in the position of meeting people I never would have met! Through the years I've been asked to serve on various boards and am currently on the Board of Directors for the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. None of this would have happened without building those important relationships. Additionally, my efforts have led to many opportunities to "give back" to the community.

  

What motivates you on a day-to-day basis?

 

My passion for what I do!

 

What is something that members may be surprised to learn about you?

 

I used to be quite involved with motorcycles! While in college, I dated someone who had a Harley, and from there, it's all history!

  

What do you do in your spare time for fun?
 

I use my spare time for reading, walking, biking. I love the outdoors, and I also love good movies!

 

I'd like to close this interview with this quote from a newspaper I read on one of my travels. Being aware of this helps all of us be better decision makers:

 

"We often base our opinions on our beliefs, which can have an uneasy relationship

with facts. And rather than facts driving beliefs, our beliefs can dictate the facts

we chose to accept."

 

 
 

Thank you!

SSWBN I P.O. Box 577, Hingham, MA 02018-0577 I  781-924-5160 I www.sswbn.org