Table of Contents 32nd Annual Award Celebration ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 New website launched ............................................................................................................... 5 Client Success Story...................................................................................................................... 6 New WBE Forum Chairs ................................................................................................................ 6 WBENC Summit and Salute ......................................................................................................... 8 ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Welcome Newly Certified Women Business Owners ............................................................... 8 Welcome New Corporate Members ......................................................................................... 8 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ...................................................................................................................... 9 Stay Connected ......................................................................................................................... 12
Thank you to all of our attendees and sponsors for joining us at the 32nd
Annual Awards Celebration.
Keynote Dr. Simone Ahuja
Paula Tutman and Lynn Perenic
Ronia Kruse
Nancy Niezgocki
Helen Ford
Jacqueline Woodstock
Rosemily Geyer
Mickey Ellis
Kendal Summers
Rita Hillman
Michelle Cloutier
Joan Smith & Ann Dahmer
Carol Kirkland
Teresa LeFevre
Mark and Erin Sarafa
Office of Women's Business Ownership Corporation of the Year
RIM Custom Racks WBE Title Sponsor
General Motors Co. Corporate Title Sponsor
New website launched After our rebranding, we began to compile a new website that reflects the mission and vision for Great Lakes WBC. Visit www.greatlakeswbc.org to view the new capabilities of the site.
Client Success Story Julie Johnson completed our business planning course in Ann Arbor in October 2002. She was able to utilize the training to help start The Weekly Newspapers in 2003 in the Florida Keys. Since then, she has doubled the newsprint publication to 48 pages and created an on-line presence at www.timeoutmagazine.com After 3 years, she was able to purchase the magazine and start Keys Weekly (on-line). In 2006, she bought the Time Out Magazine and will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary in May! She says, "Information I learned in that initial class worked and I am a success that grew out of that program. Thank you!�
Thank you to for selecting us as a recipient of the #CitizensHelpingCitizens Manage Money program. CEED Lending will use the $25,000 awarded to educate entrepreneurs on putting a loan package together and building a business plan. Through Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money, Citizens Bank supports organizations like ours help our neighbors and communities grow by improving their understanding of how to manage their finances. This year, they continue their commitment to Citizens Helping Citizens Manage Money with a new social media campaign, volunteerism and by providing more than $1.3 million in support of financial education programming throughout 2016.
New WBE Forum Chairs WBE Forum Chairs play a critical role in representing Great Lakes WBC at quarterly WBE Forums. WBE Forums connect new and existing women business owners to resources, connections and training. Hear from some of our newest WBE Forum Chairs!
Catherine Koch, President, K-Tec Systems "By serving as WBE Forum Chair, I hope to learn about Women Owned companies that I didn't know before, do business with them, watch them grow and give back to other Women Owned businesses".
Denise Booms-Pepin, CEO, CBI Telecommunications Consultants "I am very excited about being a Co-Chair because it will give me an opportunity to help, mentor and support woman just getting started on their business journey, as well as women newly acclimated with the Great Lakes Women's Business Council. It will also provide an avenue for me to support up and coming women who are learning about being a certified woman owned business. From a personal standpoint, this position will also help me build new relationships with fellow WBE members, network outside our WBE region and meet corporate sponsors more regularly. I strongly believe in our ability to work together and build each other up as business owners and members of the community". Felicia Harris, President and CEO, El Shaddai Consulting "We Are Everything HR" "I have over 30 years of managerial experience, and there is nothing more fulfilling than to help someone accomplish their goal. I thank Great Lakes Women's Business Council for the opportunity to chair the forum. I am humbled and excited to be working with Cathy Koch, K-Tec Systems, and Christina Spagnuolo-Concord, Antina Promotions".
WBENC Summit and Salute The Great Lakes WBC Certification team was happy to attend the WBENC 2016 Summit & Salute in Phoenix. In addition to the workshops and networking, we applauded the 2016 WBE Business Stars including Serafina Schorer, CEO, RIM Custom Racks. Congratulations Serafina!
Certification team gathers to applaud WBE Business Star, Serafina Schorer
WBE Business Stars Shine Bright!
Welcome Newly Certified Women Business Owners National Business & Professional Association, Inc. ILE Excavating, Inc. B.L. Harroun & Son, Inc. Integrated Supply Chain NCG LLC Brighton Employment Inc. Solutions, LLC Olive Seed LLC Jarvis Handling Equipment Co. Placeman Cable LLC Carts Gone Wild, Inc. Chelsea Steel Company,, LLC Sahasra Technologies Corp. Corp Publishing, LLC SeaDrain, L3C Lavender Mobile Spa Spring Dynamics, Inc. Crest Performance Group, LLC M3D Experiences Inc. Strategic Market Research Master Mfg., Inc. DataSpec, Inc. Maya Jig Grinding and Gage Group, Inc. Suite 2012 LLC Detroit Automotive Solutions, Co. Michigan Business and LLC THE GIL SALES COMPANY LLC DNK Presents Professional Association, Inc. Tresty Lynn Bilendo H & H Metal Source Universal Solutions MRB Enterprise Inc. Management Inc. International, Inc. MYWAY LOGISTICS LLC
Welcome New Corporate Members
Two of our WBEs are receiving awards this year for the 2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards, an annual tribute to the world's top women entrepreneurs. Audrey Taylor and Leigh Ann Sayen
Audrey Taylor, netlogx
The annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards is widely considered one of the most prestigious recognition programs for women business owners. To win, nominees must demonstrate that they have fast-growth businesses, mentor or actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship, and stand out as leaders in their communities. Many of the honorees also serve as leaders of the key organizations that support the growth of women's entrepreneurship. For more info, visit their web site. Netlogx named as winner of the "For Profit Employer of the Year" award at the 10th IMPACT Awards Luncheon. The award is presented in recognition of unwavering dedication to experiential and superior mentorship. Audrey Taylor, netlogx CEO and Managing Member, said, "Mentoring is one of the cornerstones at netlogx and I am delighted by this recognition of the company's commitment to providing information, encouragement and support to help interns succeed."
ALOM receives awards for sustainability and leadership ALOM, a certified WBE, provides a full-spectrum of quality-driven supply chain management services to leading global brands. ALOM received the 2015 Green Supply Chain Award for the second consecutive year from Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine. This award recognizes ALOM for successfully embedding green and sustainable strategies at the core of its supply chain operations, and working to achieve measureable goals in environmental stewardship and operational efficiency. ALOM was also recognized by Supply & Demand Chain Executive for its visionary industry leadership and cross-management expertise with the naming of three executive staff members as 2016 Supply Chain Pros to Know: Hannah Kain, President and CEO; Lisa Dolan, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy, and Subu Subramanian, Vice President of Operations. Lisa Dolan, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy at ALOM, a global leader in supply chain management, was presented with the 2016 Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead award in Washington, D.C. The annual STEP Ahead award competition is conducted by the Manufacturing Institute to honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership throughout their distinguished careers in the manufacturing industry. Dolan's recognition is the second consecutive STEP Ahead award for ALOM. In 2015, ALOM President and CEO, Hannah Kain was named a STEP Ahead recipient. The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent.
University Moving & Storage of the Detroit Metropolitan Area Earns Top Van Line Agency Award for 2015 University Moving & Storage, a full-service relocation company and agent for North American Van Lines, has been named the winner of the highly-coveted 2015 Moving & Storage Agent of the Year Service Excellence Award from the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA). University was selected for the award by a panel of experts from more than 2,400 eligible organizations across the country. The company will be presented with the award during the AMSA 97th Annual Education Conference & Expo in New Orleans. "We are thrilled and humbled by this honor from the prestigious AMSA organization," said Elise Benedict, owner and CEO of University Moving & Storage. "I could not be prouder of the entire University team, who consistently demonstrate an unwavering commitment to quality with each and every move."
Gov. Rick Snyder appoints two of our women business enterprises; Darlene Lee, Darling Communications, Sara Schroeder, of Saginaw, and Beverly Wall, Languages International, Inc., to the Michigan Women's Commission. The 15-member commission improves the quality of life for Michigan women, including providing support for veterans, fighting human trafficking and assisting business owners. "I appreciate the commission's commitment to enhancing the lives of Michigan women and look forward to the future contributions of these appointees," Snyder said.
Beverly Wall
Grand Rapids Business Journal names 'The 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan' Once again, Grand Rapids Business Journal has honored women leading businesses and communities in West Michigan with their "50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan". This year, we are proud of our members, Beverly Wall, CEO and President, Languages International, Inc., Rhoda Kreuzer, Founder
and Owner, Partners In Action, and Floriza Genautis, CEO, Management Business Solutions for their recognition Click here to view the GRBJ supplement with honoree profiles. Congratulations!
Stay Connected Livonia (Headquarters): 734.677.1400 Detroit: 734.677.1400 Indianapolis: 317.920.1400 WWW.GREATLAKESWBC.ORG
Great Lakes Women's Business Council
Spring 2016 final
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