As we’re sure all 50 women on the list can vouch for:  pursuing a successful career requires countless amounts of time and energy. If you want to make it to the top it has to be your first priority; which ultimately means personal relationships and family time take to the backburner.

So how do successful, career-driven women make time for a relationship, let alone children? Women everywhere have been trying to come up with the perfect formula for balancing a work and family life – from cutting hours at work to trying to bring work home with them. Most agree that with establishing clear values, setting realistic goals, and a little time management, it’s not impossible to have the best of both worlds.

Our Enterprising Women of Excellence Awards keynote speaker Meg Hirshberg just happens to be an expert on this subject. She currently writes a column for Inc. Magazine entitled “Balancing Acts,” that discusses work/life balance issues for female entrepreneurs.

Meg speaks all over the country about the joys of owning a family business with her spouse, how to not let business problems interfere with your marriage, and how to always make time for fun with the kids. As a mother, wife, entrepreneur and author, she’s pretty much a balance expert.

According to her website, her book, For Better or For Worse, is “a vital guide to navigating the emotional and logistical terrain of business-building while simultaneously enjoying a fulfilling family life.”

We can’t wait to hear what new ideas Meg has to share with us at this year’s Enterprising Women of Excellence Awards!

February 14th, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Willow Oaks Country Club

Registration is now open! 

Brought to you by NAWBO and The Greater Richmond Chamber’s Extraordinary Women’s Exchange!

Madge Zacharias

About Madge Zacharias:

In 2002, Dr. Zacharias founded Zacharias Ganey Health Institute which expanded the Positively Fit program to include adults as well as teens.  The program, now called Knowledge, Energy and You (KEY), has evolved into the most comprehensive and successful weight management and preventive health care programs in the state of Virginia.

 Many thanks to our program sponsor:

In 1927, the founders of Citizens and Farmers Bank recognized the need for a strong, solid financial institution that would serve local businesses and the customers that lived and worked in our communities.  Through the years, C&F Bank has proved that dedicated, well-trained employees, a commitment to outstanding service and a diverse offering of quality financial products are the keys to success and growth.   We believe that it is our job to help you “get what you want and do it better than anyone else.”

C&F Bank operates eighteen retail bank branches located throughout the Hampton to Richmond corridor in Virginia and offers full investment services through its subsidiary C&F Investment Services, Inc.

C&F Bank…..Focused on You!  Our personal commitment to the communities we serve is as strong today as it was over 85 years ago – we are ready to be your Bank.  Visit us on the web at www.cffc.com.  In Chester, please visit or call Mary Schoenfelder at 414-1660

April 10
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 
Willow Oaks Country Club 

Our panel consisted of Kristi Lane of Visible Proof, Carmina Drummond of The Martin Agency and the Sweet Spot Girls – Chrissy Triano and Sarah Solomon, co-founders of Sweet Spot Candy LLC.

Our moderator, Kyra Oliver, did a fantastic job of leading the discussion over the following topics.

• What is a brand?
• Is the brand of your company represented by employee behavior, the interior and exterior design of your office or store, and the graphic design of your website? Which of these is most important?
• The effects that branding has on your entire team
• Opinions on branding as the new form of marketing
• Deciding on an image for your company and maintaining the flavor once it has been established
• Translating what a client or customer feels walking into your office or retail space into a sale
• What do customers and clients expect today?
• The most exciting things we’ve done with our brands, and the worst things

“Branding is what makes you special and is your vision and message,” said Triano in an article by Work It, Richmond.

The article summarizes the main discussion points of the meeting, including Lane’s advice for designing a workspace that is both welcoming and representative of your brand.

“You’ve got two audiences. The first is internal, your employees. So ask yourself, ‘does the space add to the culture of the company, increase productivity and ensure we’re getting 100 percent out of people when they get out of the car?’” she said. “The second audience is the client. Do you want them to feel confident? Relaxed? Welcomed? The way you design your space can fulfill all of that.”

A big thanks to Work It, Richmond for covering our meeting, and to all those who joined us for the luncheon!

Where: Omni Hotel, Washington D.C. 

Info from NAWBO National:
As you know, NAWBO recently relocated our headquarters back to Washington, D.C…. just in time to be in the middle of it all for the upcoming 2012 elections! I can think of no better time to be in our nation’s capital than right now as we strive to ensure that the unique needs and concerns of women business owners are being addressed by our elected officials and candidates for public office.

NAWBO is proud to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Latino Coalition to host next year’s Small Business Summit which will feature speakers like political strategists James Carville and Mary Matalin as well as chairman, president and CEO of Fed-Ex, Frederick W. Smith!

Please consider joining more than 600 small businesses and local chamber and association leaders in Washington, D.C., at the America’s Small Business Summit 2012, from May 21—23.

As the 2012 elections loom, this will be a can’t miss opportunity to make the voice of your small business heard in Washington.

The Summit is THE premiere SMALL business event with BIG results for your business.

Here’s a preview of what you can expect at the 2012 Summit:

• Participate in policy briefings tailored to your priorities.
• Engage with your Members of Congress.
• Prepare for the 2012 elections and their impact on your community.
• Connect with small businesses and chambers and associations from across the country.
• Learn from leading business experts.

In Addition we will have a few NAWBO only sessions, the details of which are currently being finalized.

Further details on the NAWBO only sessions and the event in general will be forthcoming in another email but in the meantime we can tell you that…..

One small business will win $10,000! Applications are now being accepted for America’s Small Business Summit’s DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year Award! The Awards program is designed to honor our nation’s job creators and recognize their significant contributions as drivers of economic growth.

Apply online or nominate a business at www.uschambersummit.com/award.

Nominations are due on January 6 and applications are due on January 13 so please get yours in soon!

Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

• Staff training and motivation
• Community involvement
• Customer service
• Business strategies and goals
• Financial performance and business history

Someone has to win… it might as well be you or a fellow NAWBO Member!

Please consider applying yourself or nominating someone you know for this prestigious award and please mark your calendar for the America’s Small Business Summit next May 21-23! I hope to see you in Washington, D.C.!

For planning purposes we would like to secure a room block.  If you are interested in attending the Summit and would need a room in DC, please CLICK HERE to let us know.  The tentative rates at the Omni Hotel/meeting venue would be around $269 a night.

Location: Jepson Alumni Center, University of Richmond

Date: Friday, January 13th, 2012

Time: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Tentative Agenda

7:30 – 8:30           Registration/Continental Breakfast/Networking

8:30 – 8:45           Welcome/Diversity and Community Engagement

8:45 – 9:00           Governor’s Remarks

9:00 – 9:15           Supplier Diversity Action Plan

9:15 – 9:30           Review of the 10 year Campus Master Plan

9:30 – 9:45           Break

10:00 – 12:30           Networking Booths and Opportunity Tables Open

Networking Booths (Quigg and Rosenbaum Rooms)

The networking booths will give you the opportunity to meet UR representatives from a variety of departments.   Departments will provide information about business opportunities.

Opportunity Tables (Pavilion Room)

Each “Opportunity Table” will have one representative from the purchasing areas of the University of Richmond.  The UR Rep will provide 20 minute sessions to several vendors at a time sharing more information on upcoming opportunities; description of types of work available; vendors’ prequalification in and quality of work desired.

Register online here!

Details: Tax season is just around the corner and we want to ensure Virginia small businesses have the tools they need to claim the health care tax credit if they are eligible.  Also, in January the General Assembly will return to discuss an important piece of legislation that will set up the new health insurance exchange for small employers.  Our webinar will explain what an exchange is and provide nonpartisan updates on the decisions ahead that will impact the business community.  We will have local and national experts (for example the IRS and SBA) to present this information.

Volunteers can participate anytime between 1-4:30pm on Friday, the 9th.

Location:  Salvation Army Angel Tree Distribution Center 2011 is the old Dillard’s at Virginia Center Commons

Please email info@nawborichmond.org if you are able to volunteer.

Where: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
When: Dec. 13 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Your flavor is your brand, but your brand is not just who you say you are. It’s the layers and how they all work together. Your work space, your image and your performance – from how you look and how you feel to how you behave and how your share that with others.

All companies, whether local or international, B2B or B2C, can prosper from being who they want to be and letting the world know just what that is. This alone can help earn new clients, more revenue, happy team players and overall positive recognition – but before you go there, you have to start from within your environment.

Experts Kristi Lane from Visible Proof, Sarah Solomon and Chrissy Trianofrom Sweet Spot and Carmina Drummond from The Martin Agency share what they have done to bring their flavor to life and continue to keep it there and beyond for all to experience.

UPDATE:
As a holiday treat, Harpists Anne Greenberg and Emma Ellis of the American Youth Harp Ensemble will be serenading us for the first part of lunch at the Garden! We’re excited for such a special experience!