Click here to view winners of 2011 Women In Business Award.

 

 

Best wishes to Jan Miller of Janice H. Miller, PhD., who shared the news of her upcoming retirement.  But Jan won't be your typical retiree.  She's joining the Peace Corps and heading to Botswana for 26 months.  Her focus will be working with a school based program that helps young people develop much needed life skills in a country with a high incidence of HIV/AIDS.   Jan adds that she will bring with her all the skills she has learned through her association with her friends at WBO.  She also has an office for sale.  Congratulations to Janet Herrick of Onsite Environmental Consulting, LLC, who was selected as part of Leadership Jax, Class of 2012! Doing good things was noticed by The Jacksonville Bar Association who honored Connie Byrd as the Pro Bono Attorney of the Month.

 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Stacy Cowen of Barco Roofing Construction, Inc.
Deb Eveson of Eveson Insurance Agency, LLC

Small Business Week   There's still time to get a seat at a WBO table for The2011 Small Business Week Award Winners from the Jacksonville area (and top North Florida SBA lenders) will be recognized at the 19th Annual Small Business Week Lender Awards Celebration on May 25th, 2011 in Jacksonville at the University of North Florida's University Center from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. This event is hosted by the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida. To sit with fellow WBO members, email admin@wbonfl.org.  For more information on this award ceremony or to purchase general tickets, please visit www.sbdc.unf.edu

Business Leader Media Nominations Business Leader Media would like to invite you to nominate a Top Small Business for the 2011 Top 300 Small Businesses of the South.  For the fourth consecutive year Business Leader will honor the top small businesses of the south. Events will be held in Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte from June 20th to 23rd to honor the winners. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SIGNIFICANT REGIONAL EXPOSURE!!!  Click here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn..jsp?llr=tgzdv8cab&t=8npayofab.0.miaazofab.tgzdv8cab.622&ts=S0621&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessleader.com%2Fcommonevent%2Fnominations.aspx%3Fid%3D1>  
for more information or to nominate.

Peacock Scholarship
Congratulations to all of our previous winners of the Peacock Scholarship!
  
Would you like to join those scholarship winners in basically getting your membership free this year?  Yes, that is right, free! That is what can happen when you apply and are awarded one of WBO's monthly Peacock Educational Scholarships.  

This award, named for the late Joan Robbins and her business, Peacock Properties, provides one applicant up to $150 to attend an educational offering specific to their industry or growing their business.  The award is a reimbursement for registration fees only and not for travel, lodging or other incidental costs. Each member can reapply every two years. Click here  admin@wbonfl.org to request a scholarship application.  All applications should be submitted the month prior to the date of the course.
  
Each recipient is asked to write a short summary of what the course meant to their business for the newsletter.  This could be the easiest $150 you will ever earn!  If you have questions about the Peacock Scholarship, contact WBO Secretary, Phyllis Heisler pheisler@AMPpromotions.com.

SBRN Lunch Loan
Join us for lunch and a loan program presentation with the Small Business Resource Network in St. Johns County! May 17th, 11:45am-1:15pm Le Pavilion | 45 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, FL Cost is $19.50 per person Presentation from speakers Jeannine Balanky of Essential Capital and Veronica Wallace with the U.S. SBA regarding various SBA loan programs and they affect you and your clients. RSVP by Friday, May 13th to Ali Bergeron at 904.620.2441 or m.a.bergeron@unf.edu.

Free Community Programs
Free programs to community groups and agencies for teens and young adults at risk, and other high-risk groups, such as older adults and people with physical and mental health illnesses or the caregivers of people with various illnesses.  A  Family Presentation is for family and/or extended family of at risk individuals at risk of attempting a suicide.  A second program, the QPR program is also available and is geared to the 'gatekeeper' - any staff who work with or interact with an at-risk population.  QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer, and is comparable to CPR, in that you can learn the techniques, even if you are not necessarily a mental health clinician (just as you need not be a cardiologist to perform CPR).  It was developed by Paul Quinett, a psychologist who specializes in this field.   The basic tenets include opening up communication and assisting the at-risk person with obtaining help.  There is a built in case management component for anyone who is identified as at risk. For more information on either of these programs, contact Susan Spinella, of the Daniel Memorial, Inc. at sspinella@danielkids.org or 296-1055, ext. 2377.

Member News
Congratulations to WBO members who are winners of the 7th Annual Diversity Awards.  Rose Conry was honored for both her companies, Employment Resources Solutions, and StaffTime in the category of Minority Owned Businesses.  Rose also announced she and Kelley Moore were welcoming successful business woman, Ruby Newman to their team.   WBO had three members win in the category of Diversity Awards.

Jackie Perry won for Beaver Street Enterprise Center and the Jacksonville Women's Business Center was tapped for their Business Women of Color Initiative. Lauren Little of Edible Arrangements also a winner in the Diversity category, takes pride in ensuring her excess fruit is donated daily to the Clara White Mission to help those less fortunate.  Congratulations to all of you! Sharon Weinstein, announced the new internet-based site for her business, Compliments of Nature.  Visit her new site for potent facial line products, luxurious body scrubs, antioxidant packed moisturizers and signature aromatherapy soy candles.  Ruth Ann Hepler, of Sullivan, Hepler announced her intent to run for County Court Judge in Duval County in 2012!
  
Joyce Hall of Biz Life Development  announced her "L-Factor" training, noting the likeability factor adds to value, recognition, helps us to overcome challenges, to out-perform others, and likeable people are even found to be healthier.  Her steps include:    Become friendlier, Become Relevant - get on their page, Empathize - try to understand others, and Be real - be true to yourself and your values. WBO members receive 20% off registration fee for workshops. 

Pet World is opening a sister location on Baymeadows at 9A in the Shops of Native Sun.  Lynn Lamoureux announced the commercial build under her second company, Success Builders that specializes in "Green Building".  The new salon, GREEN DOG SPA is using eco friendly products and will feature a holistic approach to pet care.  Stop by to tour the facility and see how they can improve your pets’ health and beauty.  Did you know Dr. Peggy Lessig, owner of Fleming Island Family Dentistry, PA, not only does complete Smile Makeovers, but also provides cosmetic services such as BOTOX Cosmetic and Juvederm Dermal Fillers.. For WBO members, Dr. Lessig offers a complimentary consultation.  Peggy and other "Edgers" will also be rappelling down the AT Building in downtown Jacksonville on May 20th in support of Boy Scouts of America.  If you'd like to help push Peggy over the edge, click here <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tgzdv8cab&t=8npayofab.0.ojaazofab.tgzdv8cab.622&ts=S0621&p=http%3A%2F%2Fovertheedge-nfc.com%2Fdonate-to-an-edger> .  


SMALL BUSINESS LOANS AVAILABLE FROM SBA 2011 drought prompts the U.S. SBA to make federal economic injury disaster loans available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes located in Florida as a result of the drought that began January 1, 2011.  The SBA's disaster declaration includes the following Northeast Florida counties: Baker, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, Saint Johns, Suwannee, and Union.  Businesses in these counties can also turn to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of North Florida for technical advice and assistance with business continuity planning. Under this declaration, the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquacultural enterprises, agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA, but nurseries are eligible to apply for EIDLs for losses caused by drought conditions.  Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA's Web site at www.sba.gov.  
Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than December 5, 2011.  For disaster mitigation and/or business continuity assistance, contact the SBDC at UNF at (904) 620-2476 or go to www.sbdc.unf.edu

NEWS FROM JWBC
The Jacksonville Women's Business Center (JWBC) is pleased to announce it is accepting new applicants for its 2011
ATHENAPowerLink and Financial Matters SM mentoring programs.  Financial Matters SM is a six-month mentoring program that connects women business owners with a team of professional mentors in the financial industry.  In addition to monthly meetings with their mentors, participants attend three workshops on critical financial topics during the course of the program. The program is accepting applications beginning April 1 until April 30. The selected candidates begin the program July 27. As JWBC's signature mentoring program, ATHENAPowerLink assists women-owned businesses who are beyond the initial start-up phase, meet strict revenue criteria and have been operating for a minimum of two years. Jacksonville is one of only 27 cities nationwide licensed to host the year-long program, which starts accepting applications April 15 until May 31. The program begins in August and will match qualified business owners with their own panel of business professionals, specifically selected based on the business owner's stated objectives.  The volunteer panel works with the business owner to reach pre-set goals and assist in growing her business.  

To learn more about the ATHENAPowerLink and Financial Matters SM programs including how to become a mentor,
visit the Jacksonville Women's Business Center at www.OpportunityJacksonville.com or contact Pat Blanchard, director of the Jacksonville Women's Business Center at 904-366-6640 or pat.blanchard@myjaxchamber.com.
 

TIAW's Call for Nominations  The TIAW World of Difference 100 Awards will honor and thank some of the world's outstanding women.  Will your nominee be one of them?  There's still time to make sure a woman you know is recognized for her hard work to make a difference to the economic empowerment of women in society. As an educator, she will have devoted her life to nurturing and encouraging us to make the best use of our talents, paving the way for our future success. As a business or community leader, she would have helped foster and advocate for our economic well-being and progress. She is known, or as yet unknown. But regardless of her profession, profile, or role in life, she is someone special. Women like her are our role models.

You have until Friday, 20th May 2011 to help see to it that this outstanding woman receives the recognition she deserves as a TIAW World of Difference 100 award winner.  Now on its fourth year, the TIAW World of Difference Awards 100 will be held at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC, on the 27th of October 2011. Winners will be announced at an elegant ceremony coinciding with The International Alliance for Women's annual Global Forum.  Three new categories have been included this year, including one recognizing the men who have consistently championed the economic empowerment of women, another awarding the organizations that have supported women's economic growth, and one to celebrate the young women leaders who are beacons of a new generation. Over 150 women from more than 20 countries across the globe, from policy makers to entrepreneurs, corporate warriors to financiers, have been recognized through the TIAW World of Difference 100 Awards. Such a prestigious award will have meant something to them. It would have meant that someone, like you, took the time to say 'Thank you'. Help us to honor them. Nominate an outstanding woman now. And remember, if you know of men and organizations that have helped make a difference, nominate them too.   Click here http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tgzdv8cab&t=8npayofab.0.oy6uc9eab.tgzdv8cab.622&ts=S0621&p=http%3A%2F%2Ftiaw.org for a nomination form requiring no more than 250 words.  You can also read the inspiring stories of past winners here http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tgzdv8cab&t=8npayofab.0.ujaazofab.tgzdv8cab.622&ts=S0621&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maildogmanager.com%2Flink.html%3Furl%3D389%26client%3DTIAW%26campaign%3D158%26email%3Djacksonville%40comfortkeepers.com>