Learn more about our Corporate Partners, as well as how to become one, by visiting the Partners page of our website.

Check out the photos taken at the event!

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Monday, June 24
Networking Reception at 11 am
Luncheon and Awards Program at Noon

Westin Richmond
6631 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230

Mistress of Ceremonies – Paula Otto, Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery
$40 per person, with registration opening soon!

Brought to you by the Small Business Administration

One of the honorees will be our own Angie Furbee!

The post Virginia Small Business Awards Luncheon appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

8am – 10am

Willow Oaks Country Club

 Members & Corporate Partners:  $15

 Non-Members & Guests:  $20

(Continental breakfast provided)

The post Power Networking with Our Corporate Partners appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.

NAWBO Richmond is looking for a few good women to provide valuable leadership and counsel to our organization in the coming year. We are currently looking for candidates to fill several vacancies on both our Chapter Board of Directors and Foundation Board of Directors for the upcoming term of service, beginning in July 2013.

 Our Chapter and Foundation Boards are comprised of a dynamic group of talented and powerful businesswomen who chart the direction of our organization and the types of programs and resources that we offer our members.  Board service offers a tremendous opportunity to develop leadership skills while helping to shape the future of NAWBO!

Interested in learning more? Contact Colleen Quinn, Nominating Committee chair, via email (quinn@lockepartin.com) or phone (804-545-9406).

Ready to sign up?  Click here for the NAWBO Richmond Chapter Board of Directors application.  For a NAWBO Richmond Foundation Board application, click this link.   Even if you’re not quite ready for Board service this year but are interested in committee service and/or future board service, please complete an interest form.

All forms should be submitted via email to info@nawborichmond.org.

Submission deadline:  MAY 1, 2013

The Nominating Committee plans to announce the Board slates at the monthly Chapter meeting on May 14, 2013.  The new boards will be inducted at the Annual Dinner meeting on June 11, 2013.

Please consider nominating yourself or someone you know for NAWBO Board service today!

The post We’re Looking for a Few Good Women appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.

Congratulations to our 2013 winners:

Entrepreneur of the Year:  Ryann Lofchie Wayne, The Frontier Project

Rising Star:  Laurie Blakey and Laura Condrey, Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe

Community Leader:  Jo Eloise White, Richmond Guardian Angels

Student Entrepreneur of the Year:  Annie Ward Love, LoveLines Art LLC

Be sure to check out some great press our event received in Work It, Richmond/ Richmond Times-Dispatch as well as Richmond Magazine.   Also, if you missed our Style Weekly insert featuring our finalists and sponsors, click here!  

Below are photos from our event!

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Photos courtesy of Missy Bane Photography. More photos can be found on our Facebook page. Make sure you “Like” us to stay updated on NAWBO events and happenings!

The post 2013 Enterprising Women of Excellence Awards Dinner appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.

Jan-Pro International has over 100 Master offices across the country and throughout the world, with over 11,000 unit franchisees, making it one of the fastest growing franchise opportunities in North America, yet Carolyn’s team consistently ranks near the top of their ratings for operations, sales and administration.  Carolyn and Jan-Pro Richmond have converted this dedication into an extremely high return rate of customers, with a ten-year average of 98.5%.  She maintains that educating her unit franchisees is the key to developing this strong customer base.  In addition to mandatory training before entering the field, she offers on-going education in all aspects of the business, including ownership and management!  “Anything,” she says, “that gives them an advantage over competitive cleaning companies.”  Jan-Pro has long maintained that most employees of cleaning services approach their position as a job, where Jan-Pro unit franchisees have pride in ownership of their own business.  The commitment that Carolyn makes to her staff and unit franchisees truly speaks to this.

Carolyn hasn’t always been a janitorial services entrepreneur.  She began as a public school educator, teaching Earth Science for almost 32 years.  As she neared retirement, she joined her husband in searching for something to augment their retirement nest egg.  Liking the support and guidance offered by Jan-Pro, they bought the Richmond market in 2002 and opened for business the following year.  She has not, however, strayed from her background in education.  “Our main focus is to educate those who are interested in starting their own business. We act much like an agent for these independent contractors.”

Life isn’t all work for this enterprising NAWBO woman.  She loves to travel with her family, and has been to 45 states and 4 continents.  She has walked on volcanoes in Hawaii, glaciers in Alaska, and opal mines in Australia.  Her old life as a teacher of Earth Science still guides her travel and business decisions today.

Learn more about Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems of Richmond on their website.

The post Featured Member Carolyn Hawthorne of Jan-Pro Richmond appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Willow Oaks Country Club

Non-Members & Guests:  $30
Members & Chapter Corporate Partners:  $25

REGISTRATION CLOSED – EVENT AT CAPACITY

Special thanks to our program sponsor, Marked by Excellence.

In today’s workplace, you don’t have to employ a Human Resources team to have the benefit of on-site HR services for your employees. Marked by Excellence can help meet all your Human Resources needs. Our goal is to help your employees excel…and your business succeed. 
Your employees are your company’s most important asset. Therefore it is critical to the success of your business that they have the right skills, the best resources, and are working in positions that add value to your company. Marked by Excellence is focused on optimizing the value of people and positions in your business. Along with appraising your employees we also evaluate how their positions are strategically aligned with your company’s short- and long-term goals.

The panel will feature:

Melissa Ball, Owner of Ball Office Products

Melissa was our 2002 Rising Star Award Winner and 2006 Member of the Year. She has five years of NAWBO Board service.

Read more about Melissa Ball

Josée Covington, President and CEO of  Covington Travel

Josée serves on the boards of Richmond Symphony, Virginia Opera, and Virginia Reperatory.  She was recognized as Richmond’s “Woman of the Year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Read more about Josée G. Covington

Patricia Haynes, President and Owner of Commonwealth Personnel Consultants, Inc

Patricia is a Certified Personnel Consultant, and started Commonwealth Personnel Consultants in 1985. It is one of the first female owned and operated recruiting firms in the Richmond area.

Read more about Patricia Haynes

Kamini Pahuja, President and CEO of Alloy Polymers, Inc

Kamini has served Alloy Polymers in various roles over the past 30 years, including service as their  Chief Financial Officer.  She also lead their recent international expansion efforts, opening their first facility in Pune, India.

Read more about Kamini Pahuja

The post Secrets of Success: NAWBO Past Presidents Panel Discussion appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.

• Goal Setting
• Decision Making
• Money Management
• People Skills
• Business Ethics

I appeal to you, as a group of successful women business owners to help us cultivate this experience for girls.  Small business owners can be especially valuable as both hosts for events and as mentors to Girl Scouts.  If you are willing to allow the Girl Scouts to host a booth sale at your business please contact Sheila Johnston at SJohnston@comgirlscouts.org or (804)706-1174 ext. 371.

Sheila Johnston is the Chief Operating Officer of the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The organization serves over 10,000 girls in our state. 

The post Girl Scout Cookies: Pathway to Entrepreneur! appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.

Since its founding, the company has grown from five employees wearing multiple hats, to a well-organized, nearly 170-staffed company, serving families that have very unique needs across Virginia (Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville) and in Augusta, GA.  This requires a very dedicated group of individuals, as well as a distinctive level of care and compassion. Employees of The Pediatric Connection share in the passion for caring for children and their families, as well as the desire to make an impact in the lives of those they serve – a niche that sets them apart from any other homecare service provider.  The Pediatric Connection works hard to grow with the medical industry, keeping up to speed with advancements in technology and policy, making sure that patients are able to receive the same care and equipment offered in hospitals, but in the comfort of their own homes.

With a dedication to superior service, The Pediatric Connection is focused on providing the highest level of service to their patients and friends.  They have perfected this service over the years, providing families little to no additional stress.  With every service The Pediatric Connection provides, there is always a strong investment in people, constantly tending to their emotions, questions, and concerns.

Learn more about The Pediatric Connection and their amazing staff by visiting their website.

The post Featured Corporate Partner: The Pediatric Connection appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.

• Overview of The Affordable Care Act (APA) 2010-2014
• Individual Mandate and Exchange
• Small Business Exchange (SHOP)
• Changes to HSA, HRA, FSA, COBRA
• W-2 reporting, Small Employer Health Insurance Credit, other taxes
• How your Insurance Broker & CPA can help you

Panelists include:   Dottie Allen, RiverCross Partners;  Alison W. Eckis, Wise Benefits, Inc.;  Kelli Meadows, CPA, Meadows Urquhart Acree and Cook and Linda Meyerhoffer, Benefit Solutions, Inc.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013
8am – 9:30am
Willow Oaks County Club
Cost:  $15 Members & Chapter Corporate Partners; $20 non-members & guests (add $5 at door)

More about our speakers:

Alison W. Eckis
Employee Benefits Specialist, Wise Benefits, Inc.
Alison has more than 18 years experience in group health, life, dental, and disability insurance. Her experience extends
from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia. She specializes in group and individual benefits. She
has a B.A. from the University of Delaware and a M.A. from Villanova University.

Alison serves on several association boards and committees including The National Association of Health Underwriters, (NAHU) and (CVAHU-Board), The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)-Membership Committee.  She is a member of Network of Enterprising Women (N.E.W.), The Ultimate BNI Chapter in Richmond, VA, a sustaining member of The Junior League of Richmond; chairs the JLR Sustainer Doers Committee, a member of The Commonwealth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a member of The Tuckahoe Women’s Club, WHIMBY, and is a member of and serves on several committees of Meadowbrook Country Club.

Kelli Meadows, CPA
Partner, Meadows, Urquhart, Acree & Cook, LLP

Kelli Meadows has been a practicing CPA since 1996, working with CBERC, M&P, and the Auditor of Public Accounts (APA). Kelli has twelve years experience in providing assurance, tax, software and “controller” services to small businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals.  Kelli is a certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor and serves a high number of our non-profit clients as consultant in the implementation and operation of their QuickBooks environment.  Kelli is a member in good standing of the AICPA, VSCPA, serves as a Board Member for the National Women’s Business Owners Association, and is a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church and Willow Oaks Country Club.  Kelli is a graduate of Christopher Newport University.

Dottie Allen
Principal, RiverCross Partners, LLC

Dottie is a founding partner of RiverCross Partners which was established in 2005.  RiverCross Partners is an employee benefits firm working with business owners providing group employee benefits including group health insurance, selected benefits, voluntary benefits and retirement plans.  In addition to providing benefits, RCP focus on working with owners to be sure that they have a Successful Exit Strategy.  She has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry and with working with business owners.

Dottie serves as a Board Member with the Swift Creek Branch of Richmond YMCA, is the current President of the NAWBO Foundation Board, is a Board Member of the Central Virginia Health Underwriters and a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters.

Linda Meyerhoffer
Owner, Benefit Solutions, Inc.

Linda founded Benefit Solutions, Inc. in 1998 to provide third party administration services for Flexible Spending Accounts, COBRA, Health Reimbursement Accounts and Health Savings Accounts. They currently administer these benefits for over 400 companies in the U.S.

She is not only a Certified Public Accountant but she is also a Chartered Global Management Accountant and a licensed health, life and annuity agent.  Helping others save taxes through employee benefits is her passion. She teaches many classes and is an expert in the area of FSA’s, HRA’s, HSA’s and COBRA.

Linda was named a Super CPA in the area of Employee Benefits by Virginia Business Magazine for several years including 2012. She was also named as finalist for CFO of the year. She is an officer or active member of several local organizations including being Treasurer of the WCBA and she is on the Accounting Advisory Council at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The post Health Care Reform: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly appeared first on NAWBO Richmond | National Association of Women Business Owners | Richmond, VA.