*Vol 2007 - Issue 7 * *July 2007 * /*Post Office Box 23874 Chattanooga, TN 37422 */ *JULY MEETING * *Ask the Computer Doctor Don Egen * Got some burning question about your computer? Wonder what an MP3 file really is? Looking for the right program to run? Now's your chance to get your questions answered. Don Egen, Vice President and Chief Scientist from Patricia Egen Consulting, will be our speaker and will try to answer as many questions as he can in the allotted time. Don is a graduate of the University of Florida and has been working in the computer industry for over 30 years. Prior to joining Pat's company, Don worked at Unum Provident for 21 years. If there is a topic with computers, there's a pretty good chance Don knows the answer. It would help if you send your questions ahead of time so he can do more research and be even more prepared than he already is. Send your questions to dpegen@egenconsulting.com . To sign up for the event, either email Nesha at Nesha_steele@bsbst.com or try out our new Event Registration section on our Website. Click here to register for lunch or go to www.chanawbo.org and click on Event Registration. Luncheon: *Thursday, July 19* Sign in: 11:15 AM Lunch: 11:30 AM Location: Mountain City Club 729 Chestnut St Cost $17.00 Register by *Monday, July 16* Email Nesha_steele@bsbst.com or register online at www.chanawbo.org All reservations must be paid *OUR MISSION STATEMENT* Empower women business owners through education, opportunity and support, to achieve success economically, socially, and politically Chattanooga NAWBO Website National NAWBO Website Send us your comments and articles: laurel@tbcsolutions.com or click here: Editor Email ************* *LATE BREAKING NEWS!* NAWBO is excited to announce that Custom Services Inc. has aligned with Advance Paper Company to be our first official Gold Level Sponsor! We look forward to getting to know Jinksie and Lisa at our meetings. Also, as I mentioned at the last meeting, Egen Consulting has sponsored us at the Bronze level. Thank you, Pat! ************* Welcome to our *new Newsletter Editor - Laurel Bowen *has gratiously accepted the role of Newsletter Editor for which Pat Egen is eternally grateful. Please send any newsletter items to her at laurel@tbcsolutions.com. She started officially with this newsletter. Pat Egen (former Newsletter Editor) *NAWBO CHATTANOOGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2006-2007 * President - Celeste Friend Immediate Past President - Marj Flemming Vice President - Julie Bestry Secretary - Katrina Chesney Meeting Management - Mary Robertson Treasurer - Deborah Wooten Membership Chair - Julie Bestry Newsletter - Laurel Bowen Publicity - Deborah Levine *President's Column By Celeste Friend* Hello Ladies, I?d like to make you aware of a couple of opportunities. *Establishment of a Mentoring Program/CEO Roundtable/Mastermind Group: * Whatever name you are familiar with, this group will consist of 6 to 8 people who will meet regularly (probably once or twice a month ? possibly sometimes by teleconference) to help each other with business issues, long-term goals, operational issues, etc. Once the groups are established, you will meet and come up with your own rules and schedule. Non-NAWBO members are welcome to participate for a flat fee of $100 per session. There is no charge for NAWBO members. The duration of these groups will be six months, after which they will be disbanded and new groups will be formulated. Please email me at Celeste.friend@raymondjames.com if you would like to be put into a group. Please also feel free to share this opportunity with others who may want to participate. *NAWBO Corporate Sponsor Program: * This program will raise some operating funds and subsidize the scholarship program. Although NAWBO is not a tax-exempt entity, your business may be able to write it off as an advertising expense ? talk with your accountant concerning your particular situation. The sponsorship levels and benefits are as follows: *Gold Partner $3000* * Invitation for your representative to participate in monthly luncheon meetings and all special events * Listing as a corporate partner in any NAWBO mailings, including monthly newsletters * Recognition/advertisement on Chattanooga NAWBO website * Complimentary NAWBO Membership Directory Space for your literature at monthly luncheon meeting * Opportunity to be the featured speaker at one monthly meeting, including press release * Attractive trophy/plaque for sponsor?s office * Quarterly, skirted table available at monthly luncheon meeting for tabletop exhibit * Free one page ad in NAWBO on-line newsletter four times a year * Sponsorship of one special event annually with recognition in email list to all invitees * Verbal recognition at the Nautilus Awards as a NAWBO Corporate Partner who contributed to the NAWBO scholarship fund *Silver Partner $2000* * Invitation for your representative to participate in monthly luncheon meetings and all special events * Listing as a corporate partner in any NAWBO mailings, including monthly newsletters * Recognition/advertisement on Chattanooga NAWBO website * Complimentary NAWBO Membership Directory Space for your literature at monthly luncheon meeting * Opportunity to be the featured speaker at one monthly meeting, including press release * Quarterly, skirted table available at monthly luncheon meeting for tabletop exhibit * Free one page ad in NAWBO on-line newsletter four times a year *Bronze Partner $1000* * Invitation for your representative to participate in monthly luncheon meetings and all special events * Listing as a corporate partner in any NAWBO mailings, including monthly newsletters * Recognition/advertisement on Chattanooga NAWBO website * Complimentary NAWBO Membership Directory Space for your literature at monthly luncheon meeting * Opportunity to be the featured speaker at one monthly meeting, including press release Celeste ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *HAPPY BIRTHDAY* *Vivienne Harris-Colvin July 1st* *WELCOME - NEW MEMBERS* Ms. Gail Lindsey Lindsey & Associates 4031 Brookfield Cir Chattanooga, TN 37412-2611 423-698-1113 Gail;@lindseyassociatesltc.com Ms. Shirley Brennan BrennanDavis Company, Inc. 4105 Highwood Drive Chattanooga, TN 37415 423-877-3207 Brennan2344@comcast.net Ms. Carolyn Roberts Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear 4422 Dayton Blvd Chattanooga, TN 37415-2756 423.875-8484 info@feetandfootz.com Ms. Pauline Field Pineapple Code 3821 Saint Elmo Ave Fl 2 Chattanooga, TN 37409-1237 (423) 821-3463 nawbo@surfnusa.net Ms. Melanie Cox Without Reservations Personal Chef Service 147 Rolling Ridge Dr Chattanooga, TN 37421-5343 423 605 7059 Chef@willcookforyou.com Deanna Maurer D & J Tool & Supply, LLC PO Box 9601 Knoxville, TN 37940 865-609-9334 deanna@djtoolsupply.com Mrs. Melissa Smith Volunteer Biomedical Services & Supply, Inc PO Box 9261 Gray, TN 37615 866-598-1958 msmith@volunteerbiomed.com *PAGE TWO* *Where Women Grow Their Business * /excerpted from Pink Magazine/ pinkmagazine.com Majority women-owned firms in the U.S. are still growing at nearly twice the rate of other firms, bringing in revenue of $1.1 trillion and creating 7.2 million jobs in 2006, according to the Center for Women's Business Research (CWBR) and OPEN from American Express. "Over the past 10 years, the number of majority women-owned firms within the top 10 states grew by 64 percent, and the number of those companies with employees increased 17 percent," says Susan Sobbott, president of OPEN from American Express. *Top Ten States for Majority Women-Owned (MWO) Firms* California 1,052,249 31.5% of all privately held firms New York 637,037 31.8% Texas 568,692 28.4% Florida 553,331 30.1% Illinois 343,331 31.6% Pennsylvania 265,157 27.6% Ohio 269,267 29.8% New Jersey 228,667 28.2% Michigan 260,684 31.4% Georgia 248,170 30.9% Where does Tennessee stand? Tennessee ranks 19th at 141,802. disclaimer: http://www.bcbst.com/email_disclaimer.shtm