Sign up today and meet the President of Springboard Enterprises. See her post below!

Date: 5/22/2012

Subject: Opportunity for women-led companies in the media/tech sector - Application Deadline June 5

Hello Friends,

It's that time again- we are now recruiting women-led companies in the digital media/technology sector for Springboard: Media/Tech 2012. This program is about building relationships, not just raising capital. Priority application deadline June 5th.

More info: www.springboardenterprises.org/forum.

If you know women entrepreneurs leading companies in the digital media/technology sector who are or will be looking for an institutional round of funding in the near future, we would greatly appreciate if you would pass this along to them or let us know so we can follow up with them directly.

Thank you again for supporting Springboard's mission to promote and support women-led businesses! We appreciate any way you can help spread the word. And happy to answer any questions you may have.

Best,
Amy Millman
@SpringboardEnt

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As previously announced, with the theme “Power Your Career in Consumer Electronics,” the inaugural Career Enhancement Forum will be held at the Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17^th Street, New York City. The forum is sponsored by Women in CE, an industry organization that promotes the advancement of women in the consumer electronics industry.

Featured keynote speaker will be Cathie Black, former chairwoman and president, Hearst Magazines and New York Times best-selling author of Basic Black: The Essential Guide to Getting Ahead at Work (And in Life). Ms. Black will also moderate a roundtable discussion,

“Insights on Success - An Exploration On Rising to the Top” with a panel of high-level executives from across the consumer electronics industry including Sandra Benedetto, Director of Field Engineering, THX Media Director at THX Ltd., Karen Chupka, Senior VP of Events and Conferences at the Consumer Electronics Association, Andrea Smith, News/Technology Producer at ABC News Radio, and Kristine Welker, VP, Chief Revenue Officer, Hearst Digital Media.

Another informational session has been added: “Your Network...How to Use It Effectively!” - Moderated by Maureen Jenson, Editor-In-Chief, Consumer Technology Publishing Group. Influential women from around the industry share their tips and techniques for getting involved and getting ahead! The panel includes Amy Millman, President of Springboard Enterprises, Jamie Riley, Senior Director of Marketing & Public Relations at the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association, Ellen Savage, Director of Member Programs at the Consumer Electronics Association and Melissa Taggart, Senior VP of Education and Certification at InfoComm International.

Prior to the closing keynote speaker, Magnolia and Bet Buy’s Women’s Leadership Forum (known as WOLF @ Best Buy) will present “Why Best Buy is Investing in Their Female Employees” - Moderated by Tricia Nystrom, Senior Merchant, Audio, Best Buy & Magnolia and featuring Angela Chambliss, Director, WOLF Corporate Capabilities at Best Buy with Special Guest, Steve Delp, COO of Magnolia.

The Early Bird registration fee of $199 includes a new one-year or one-year extended membership to Women in CE valued at $125.

We’re on the hunt for a few good…okay, great… guest bloggers.

In celebration of our upcoming event, Power Your Career in Consumer Electronics – a Career Enhancement Forum on June 26^th, we want to hear from inspired women who are working in the CE industry with tips, tricks or an inspiring story to share.

Women in CE is proud to have so many strong and intelligent members – all of which are inspired women with a great story to share – and we want to hear from you!

If you’re interested in sharing your inspired woman story with us, please email womenince@gmail.com and don’t forget to get your early-bird ticket to the event here.

Overview of Unconventional Weapons for Infinite-Win Leaders

In our highly competitive win-lose society, forced rankings, blame, backstabbing, cutthroat politics and character assassinations are just a few of the many conventional weapons of business and beyond. It’s no wonder that the workplace has become a battlefield strewn with casualties and crushed spirits, where workers are held hostage by paychecks and the survivors have surrendered to disengagement. The good news is it doesn’t have to be this way and the fix is easier than you might think.

Drawing on their decades of experience gained in the military and Fortune 500 firms, and as consultants, advisors and mentors to leaders of privately held companies, family-run businesses, not-for-profits and government agencies, Deb Boelkes (CEO Deb) and retired US Army Colonel Deb Lewis (COL Deb), share powerful and unconventional, yet common sense strategies that will enable you to create conditions for enduring success, where joyful engagement and winning outcomes can become the norm for you, your team and so many others in your infinite network of influence. 

With their candid, insightful and inspiring collection of stories, “the Debs” explain the simple steps that anyone can take to find hidden heroes, neutralize toxic situations and bring out the best in just about anyone, including even some of the worst offenders. In Unconventional Weapons for Infinite-Win Leaders you’ll discover battle-tested techniques to transform your world, at work, at school, at home and beyond, into a thriving universe of peak-performance partnerships that can deliver extraordinary results each and every day.

"Once again, we're very excited to be recognizing the contributions these outstanding women have made to consumer electronics. This year's honorees represent a broad cross-section of our industry, underscoring the significant impact that women have made on the growth of consumer electronics," said Carol Campbell, founder of Women in CE. 

Maureen C. Jenson, Editor in Chief, CustomRetailer, TELL, and CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles^®
Maureen C. Jenson is the editor in chief of the electronics custom-integration industry's No. 1 business publication, CustomRetailer magazine. She is also the editor in chief of TELL (formerly E-Gear magazine) and CEDIA's Electronic Lifestyles^® magazine. During her many years in the CE industry, Jenson has served as editor in chief of Audio Video Interiors, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, and Home Theater magazines. These three well-respected CE monthly publications helped to drive and bolster the industry to both the lay person and the electronics enthusiast. In addition, she was the co-host for two seasons of HGTV's "That's Home Entertainment" and has done countless TV and radio presentations explaining and promoting CE and its various product categories, and how seamlessly they can be integrated into the home environment. In 2011, Jenson was honored as a CEDIA Fellow and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from IPRO.

Kristen Cook, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, BDSmktg
Having risen through the ranks to her current position as executive vice president and managing director, Cook knows BDSmktg inside and out. Cook has been with the agency since 1985 in a variety of positions. She began her tenure with BDS in the field, working as a market manager before moving into operations, account management, business development, marketing, and then corporate strategy. Kristen's current role is to lead corporate strategy, develop knowledge services, identify strategic partnerships, and act as lead on key accounts such as Walmart and Sam's Club. Kristen has shared her extensive expertise at a variety of events, including the BDS Let's Talk Retail™ thought-leadership seminars, CEA Wireless Webcasts, the PROMO Expo panel, and Experimental Marketing (as both moderator and speaker), and she has moderated multiple panels at CES. 

Denise Gibson, Former President, Brightstar U.S. and Former Director, Brightstar Corporation 
Denise Gibson is a seasoned board member and senior executive with 30 years' experience in CE design and manufacturing, logistics and supply chain, distribution, and retail services. She has successful board and operating experience in global public and private corporations and non-profit organizations. Gibson served as the former president of Brightstar U.S. and as a director of Brightstar Corp. from 2001 to 2011. Prior to joining Brightstar, she spent 17 years at Motorola. As vice president of North America Customer Technical Solutions, she managed the technical and engineering operations for Motorola's cellular and messaging businesses. As vice president and general manager of U.S. Markets, she had profit and loss responsibility for the $2 billion U.S. cellular subscriber business. As director of product marketing and business operations, she was instrumental in launching Motorola's StarTAC, one of the most successful products in wireless history. Prior to her tenure in the business units, she held management positions in human resources, staffing, and internal communications.

As a long time advocate for victims of domestic violence, Gibson founded a wireless industry-wide effort, CALL to PROTECT, which provides wireless phones to victims of abuse. She was honored with the CTIA Wireless Foundation's Citizenship Award for her work on CALL to PROTECT and her advocacy in helping victims of domestic violence through the use of wireless technologies. She served on the board of Chicago's Connections for Abused Women and Their Children.

Jeannette Howe, Executive Director, Specialty Electronics Nationwide (SEN)
As executive director of Specialty Electronics Nationwide, Jeannette Howe established the CE buying group for specialty home theater and custom installation dealers under the Nationwide Marketing Group umbrella in January 2006. SEN helps dealer members increase profits with group deals, money-saving programs, and better access to merchandise. Prior to SEN, Howe was the director of member services for PARA. There, she helped deliver training, strategic planning, and financial initiatives to PARA members across North America. In the early 1990s, Howe was the audio buyer at Magnolia Hi-Fi, where she managed the $30 million audio category. From 1985-1989 she worked at Tweeter Etc. in a variety of positions including audio buyer and store manager. At times in her Tweeter career, she was the only woman working in sales and/or management.

Tricia Nystrom, Senior Merchant, Audio, Best Buy
Tricia Nystrom has enjoyed a successful and varied career in the retail industry. Joining Best Buy in 2007, Tricia has taken on many different responsibilities, starting as a demand planning manager for the music category and working her way up to senior merchant for the audio category within Magnolia — Best Buy's premium home entertainment brand. While with Magnolia, Tricia helped grow the brand and the audio category in a time when other retailers struggled. Most recently Tricia has rejoined the Best Buy brand as a senior merchant for audio, where her experiences within the retail industry and with Magnolia are sure to serve her well. 

Beyond the busy life of a senior merchant, Tricia is extremely active in WOLF @ Best Buy, a network of thousands of employees who work with individuals, brands, stores, and communities to help Best Buy build strong women leaders and capture a greater share of the female CE 
market. She is also a member of the Best Buy Alumni Network and the Best Buy Employee Network. And if that weren't enough, Tricia is the proud mother of twin girls.

Women in CE provides women in the CE industry with a community in which to share essential resources and connect with others who are focused on the same vision of empowerment, building networks, and supporting career opportunities. Member benefits include a mentoring program, online resources, and live events. 

More information about the 2012 Legacy Awards Networking Reception and about Women in CE is available at http://www.womenince.org.

And if you are headed to CES, join us as the industry honors the third annual Women in CE 2012 Legacy Award Honorees. The networking reception is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10^th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm with the awards ceremony at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available on the home page. The event is at the Paris Hotel in Ballroom 2.

Come meet the movers and shakers who have achieved professional success in the consumer electronics industry. As role-models, they provide inspiration to even more women who aspire to leadership positions in our field.

Women in CE, the organization dedicated to nurturing growth and success through leadership in education, mentoring and networking, have recognized the achievements of these five amazing women. Kristen Cook,Executive Vice President, Managing Director, BDS Mktg; Denise Gibson, former President of Brightstar US and Director of Brightstar Corporation; Jeannette Howe, Executive Director of Specialty Electronics Nationwide; Maureen C. Jenson, Editor-In-Chief,CustomRetailer, TELL and CEDIAElectronic Lifestyles;Tricia Nystrom,Senior Merchant, Audio at Magnolia.

Happy New Year!

Wrapping up the morning, was Tricia Nystrom, Sr. Merchant, Best Buy, Magnolia, Audio & Home Control, and Women in CE member. She spoke about WOLF@Best Buy, the network of thousands of employees who work with individuals, brands, partners, stores and communities to help Best Buy build strong women leaders and capture a greater share of the female consumer electronics market.

Please share with our Women in CE community your thoughts about the event and your take on what it takes to be a leader.
 

We are almost completely sold out for the CEDIA 2011 Breakfast at EXPO on Saturday morning, September 10th! Get your tickets before this weekend, as the online ticket sales will be closed after Monday at noon, on September 5th.

We may be able to accomodate ticket purchases at the door the morning of Saturday, September 10th with a few extra tables set up in an overflow area. Don't miss out on this opportunity to meet and greet!

Our keynote speaker, Deb Boelkes is amazing! Don't miss this real-world maverick that eats and breaths the notion that leadership is a critical component of success in business. Deb's business is about supporting the leadership of women in all types of businesses, and she is a product of the consumer electronics space and believes passionately in what we are trying to achieve.

We would love to see you there!

www.BusinessWomenRising.com

We have a free tradeshow pass that is available all they have to do is go to www.cedia.org/expo and when registering enter the code 2011GP or fill out the form here:

And don't miss or Special Keynote Address from Debra Boelkes, CEO of Business World Rising Business Women Rising.  A Roadmap for Leadership:  We must chart a new course to think and act differently, starting today, to grow stronger leaders. The path forward begins with each of us.

Women in CE would like to thank Monster for their platinum level support.  We would also like to acknowledge our gold sponsors;  Sirius XM, Magnolia, Wolf@BestBuy, Stewart Filmscreen, Chief, Da-Lite, Sanus, CEDIA and the Consumer Technology Publishing Group.

The Breakfast is on Saturday morning, September 10, 2011 from 7:30 - 8:30 am and is being held on the second floor of the Indiana Convention Center in Sagamore Ballroom #7.

Tickets go on sale via the organization's website on August 1st.  Tickets cost $25 each for members and $35 for non-members.  For more information on member benefits and to join please visit the website's member section.  For sponsorship opportunities, contact Carol Campbell at Carol@WomenInCE.org.

Did you see this? Noah Kaplan was amazing with his great sideman Adam Roberts! Noah Kaplan, president of Leon Speakers dazzled the crowd of at least 400 people (maybe more, I am terrible at head count) painting a spectacular mural before our very eyes while Adam played a rockin' history of jazz on his upright bass. Noah paints extraordinary murals, and as a way to give back, auctions them for charity. Wednesday night was no exception and Women in CE organized the event to benefit the Elf Foundation.

Celebrating 10 years, the Elf Foundation has built over 99 Room of Magic Theaters in children's hospitals, long care facilities and shelters for abused children across North America. In the past 10 years, the Elf Foundation has averaged 98 cents of each dollar spent going directly to their program services.

Thanks to Noah Kaplan and Adam Roberts, presented by Women in CE, the Elf Foundation and their deserving audience is ahead $1,600 due to the generosity (and tenacity!) of the winning bidder in the auction that wrapped up the evening. Kudos to Micky Chadha, CFO of Saga Electronics & Interiors for his generous bid.

In celebration of Women in CE, Noah's mural features a stunning portrait of Josephine Baker, who wowed Paris in the 1920s with her demure flapper style singing and dancing. She's famous for the Banana Dance that was extremely risqué for the era. Noah's choice of a famous female icon was not lost on our audience and Ed Berenhaus, Television & Online Marketing strategist won a Sirius XM wireless internet table top radio for correctly identifying our heroine.

This was a cool and mesmerizing event! Thanks to our Platinum Sponsor, Monster Cable and to the head monster Noel Lee for introducing the sensational MC, Deena Ghazarian. Our Gold Sponsors for the evening included Sirius XM, Wolf@BestBuy, Magnolia and CTPG. Our really popular goody bags were supplied by our good friends at Speck Products. Big Fun!

Here's a link to last year's coverage of this terrific networking event.

http://www.womenince.org/events/details/2011_cea_line_show

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors! We are delighted to have Monster Cable back on board as our Platinum sponsor and thrilled to welcome back BestBuy@Wolf and welcome Magnolia as sponsors of this event as well.

We are grateful for the continued support of NAPCO's Consumer Technology Publishing Group (CTPG) too.

The new site is really happening! Lot's of new members and lot's of new functionality. The site continually rotates a "featured member" and has made jumping into a conversation on line super easy!

 If you are not already a member of Women in CE, please use coupon code SMEM11 to receive a 25% discount on your membership. This offer is effective through June 25, 2011. Become a member today!

Our goal with the new website and the public blog and the members only Join the Conversation is to keep the networking opportunities going between the live events and really develop Women in CE as a community. So join right in with your comments here about CES and about the party and anything else you can share with the community of Women in CE!