NWBOC NEWS
Summer 2007
An e-newsletter of
the National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC)
Janet Harris-Lange, President, 1001 W. Jasmine Dr. # G, Lake Park, FL 33403
(800) 675-5066 info@nwboc.org
NWBOC News
A Powerful New Tool for WBOs
The NWBOC eProcurement Marketplace has tools that create value for companies and smooth the transaction process between vendor and buyer. Buyers can view business information and WBO vendors can receive Request for Proposals and bidding opportunities straight into their e-mail box.
NWBOC Certified WBOs receive platinum vendor status on the eProcurement MarketPlace at no charge. WBOs who sign up as buyers can also use the electronic tools to send marketing messages to all the WBOs on the eProcurement Marketplace. “It is one of the most efficient marketing tools there is to reach a WBE audience, especially one that understands the value in doing business with other WBOs,” added Harris-Lange.
All of the tools are easy to use with no special equipment or training required. To sign up for the MarketPlace, please go to www.nwboc.economicengine.com. For information on WBE certification, please go to www.nwboc.org.
NWBOC Certifieds Work Together
Carlson Companies hosted an international conference at Disneyland in Paris, France to bring together key management, general managers of Carlson affiliated hotels from around the world with Carlson suppliers. An NWBOC-certified company, Carlson Companies is a global leader in the marketing, travel, and hospitality industries.
Ms. Sam Montross, President of Cadence Keen Innovations, and also an NWBOC-certified company, was an exhibitor at the event. "I found myself being treated as an equal among all the multi-million dollar companies that sponsor Carlson events," said Montross. “Meeting Marilyn Curtis Olsen, the Chairman, was a delight. She ranks among the country's most powerful women and yet was very approachable and involved with all levels of management and suppliers."
Carlson's diversity program consists of completing an application online. Carlson makes a sincere effort to support their diversity program by providing incentives for hotels, cruise ships and restaurants that give business to women and minorities.
Cadence Keen Innovations sells patented and other products that Montross invented, such as the Twin Doubler, a simple system that allows one to buckle together two twin beds to make a king. The focus is to find simple solutions that really deliver. Montross sells predominately to hotels and cruise lines, as well as catalogs. For more information visit www.carlson.com and www.cadencekeen.com.
Member News
NWBOC Certified Invests in Latin American Initiatives
Equator Estate Coffees and Teas was featured in April in the San Francisco Business Times. After 12 years roasting specialty coffee, purchasing a Panamanian coffee farm is just one of the entrepreneurial initiatives the San Rafael specialty coffee roaster plans to deepen its long-held commitment to sustainability in 2007. Also in the works for this year are forays into micro-finance and international economic development. “These moves are not charity; they will materially benefit the business by securing the bean pipeline. We have more of a focus now on ensuring we have a steady stream of what we want,” said Brooke McDonnell, co-founder and President. 'We want our customers to know their roaster is in front, securing quality in a different way,” states Helen Russell, founding-partner and CEO, Equator Estate Coffees & Teas. For more information visit www.equatorcoffees.com.
House of Batteries Receives Lockheed Martin Award
House of Batteries (HOB) of Fountain Valley, CA, the largest certified woman-owned battery company in the U.S., was the only custom battery assembler to be recognized by Lockheed Martin as an Outstanding Small Business Provider (OSBP) for 2006.
Each year, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control and Lockheed Martin Simulation Training & Support select small businesses that have consistently provided outstanding support and products. Only a select few from thousands of Lockheed Martin suppliers nationwide are recognized for superior quality in goods and service.
"We are very proud of this award," said Maggie West, CEO of HOB. "It is a testament to our intense focus on quality, engineering expertise and world class process control in every aspect of our battery assembly operations. This benefits all our customers and is especially critical for valued partners such as Lockheed Martin."
HOB is the largest woman-owned battery distributor and assembler in the
U.S. and is an authorized assembler for 30 battery manufacturers. HOB produces 250,000 custom battery assemblies monthly and has operations in California, Mexico, and China. HOB stocks over two million batteries and employs a large team of electrical engineers and technical salespeople, with sales representatives nationwide. For more information on HOB visit www.houseofbatteries.com.
NWBOC Member Nancy Zurbuchen Receives Accolades
Nancy Zurbuchen, Kansas City Council of Women Business Owners (KC-CWBO) co-founder and Director, was recognized for her leadership accomplishments by Kansas City Business magazine, as one of Kansas City’s "50+1 Power Mavens". According to the magazine, this is the "definitive list of influential women who have shaped and inspired Kansas City." Nancy was nominated by her peers and selected by a committee comprised of individuals of note from both the business and nonprofit communities in Kansas City.
NWBOC Certification Topic of Presentation by Roxie Hill
Roxie Hill, VP/commercial relationship manager of the Bank of Maumee (Maumee, Ohio), presented a program on NWBOC and its WBE certification program for the April Women's Entrepreneurial Network "Lunch and Learn" seminar. Hill not only works with women business owners for their personal and business financial needs but also has been a site visitor for NWBOC for several years. For more information on the Women’s Entrepreneurial Network visit www.wentoledo.org.
A Rewarding Gift
Lynne Smith, owner of NWBOC certified "Above & Beyond Corporate Gifts" recently provided awards for the International Women's Forum and Condoleeza Rice was one of the recipients.
Success Stories of Our Certified WBEs
Meet Karen M. Grace of MARTIN-GRACE Benefit Group, Inc.
Founder and CEO of MARTIN-GRACE Benefit Group, Inc. (MGBGI), Karen Martin-Grace owns 100% of her company. After being very instrumental in building the infrastructure of successful expansion efforts of another insurance company, differing views for future steps of that agency led to her starting MARTIN-GRACE Benefit Group, Inc.
MGBGI is an insurance agency consisting of licensed insurance professional agents. Martin-Grace and her team provide consultative marketing services to employer groups for all types of Employee Benefit Programs and Executive Benefits using market trends and research to ensure that our programs are comprehensive and effective.
With client Home Offices primarily found in Alabama and the Southeast, MGBGI has employees located in most every state. Prior to 9/11, Martin-Grace assisted some global companies to provide Employee Benefits for their expatriate employees.
NWBOC Certification has benefited MGBGI’s clients by assisting them to meet their required goals for diversity of vendors. “Certification exhibits that we are serious about what we do and are an established company,” says Martin-Grace.
When looking down the road, MGBGI may consider future expansion to offer both mortgage services and property and casualty lines of coverage. An important lesson, says Martin-Grace, is “don’t build someone else’s business for them. If you have the skills, start your own business, as early as possible.”
For more information on Grace and MARTIN-GRACE Benefit Group, Inc., visit www.mgbgi.com.
Recent Surveys
Women Business Owners Searching for Each Other
A new exploratory research study recently released uncovers a large unmet desire and need for support and assistance among small, second-stage women business owners, often referred to as the "missing middle". Mapping the 'Missing Middle': Determining the Desire and Dimensions of Second-Stage Women Business Owners, published by Michigan-based Womenable and The Center for Women's Entrepreneurship (www.chatham.edu/CCWE/) at Chatham University in Pennsylvania, finds that most established women business owners are interested in growing their businesses, but many are encountering difficulties in finding the tools they need to grow.
Many programs support enterprise development in the United States, including some designed specifically for women. Yet most of the public policies, and the business development support stemming from them, are focused at the two ends of the entrepreneurial spectrum: either targeting start-up firms and those not yet in business or large corporations and fast-growth businesses.
The full publication can be found at: www.womenable.com/userfiles/downloads/ResearchinBrief_Missing_Middle.pdf.
Annual WIPP Survey Reveals “What Business Women Want”
Health care was overwhelmingly named the most critical issue affecting women business owners in a poll conducted by Women Impacting Public Policy. Half of those surveyed do not believe that business should be the main provider of health care coverage and in a show for current legislation, more than 85% of those surveyed want small employers to have the option to access the same insurance programs offered to government employees. The majority also supported small business tax breaks as an incentive to offer employee health coverage.
Although health care was named the most critical issue affecting their businesses, nearly two thirds of women business owners surveyed also believe that global warming and changes to the environment will affect them professionally and/or personally. Tax reform and the federal deficit tied at 51% each for third place.
Please go to www.WIPP.org for more information on the survey.
Marketing Tips
Tips for your NWBOC WBE certification
The Glass Wall
Companies new to the corporate and federal markets usually run into a glass wall because they haven't had sufficient time to develop relationships with the end users. Federal customers, like their counterparts in the commercial sector, want to know the companies and the people with whom they will be working. Building these personal relationships requires making direct sales calls. Direct sales are, to say the least, difficult when you do not have network contacts and established relationships. This is the single biggest deterrent to businesses entering the market.
Use any relationships that you have and, if none exist, make repeated cold calls until you get in the door. Consider leveraging relationships you have with federal prime contractors to sell your services to them as a subcontractor. If you don't have such relationships, make the same cold calls until you have established contact.
The sales cycle is long, but persistence and focused, direct sales efforts pay off in the long run.
Upcoming Events & NWBOC Reminders
Department of Energy OSDBU Conference
The Department of Energy (DOE) will hold its Office of Small and Disadvantage Business Utilization 8th Annual Small Business Conference, Exposition & Matchmaking Forum, June 26-28, 2007, at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. Visit http://www.smallbusiness-outreach.doe.gov for more information.
Want to be on the forefront of technology?
What: A FREE teleclass to enjoy from the comfort of your office during your lunch break.
Topic: Get Connected: The Latest and Greatest Technology for Growing Businesses.
Speaker: Hillary Bressler, CEO and founder of .Com Marketing, an Ad Age Top 100 interactive agency
Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Time: Noon Central (1 p.m. Eastern, 11 a.m. Mountain and 10 a.m. Pacific)
Register: www.principal.com/teleclass
NWBOC has a new website! It contains more helpful information than ever before and will feature success stories, e-newsletters, etc. Go to www.nwboc.org to see for yourself.
Certification kits are now available from NWBOC!
You can always print the application from the website, but now you can purchase a kit for $39.95 plus shipping. The kit, customized to the business entity (i.e. LLC, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship) contains a notebook, dividers, the application, helpful hints for what materials to include, and other information. And, you can charge this purchase to M/C or Visa. Call 1.800.675.5066 to place your order.
Companies Newly Certified by NWBOC for Summer 2007
(3/6/07-5/31/07)
Pam Kermoade, Owner
Brilliant Ideas
Olathe, KS
Barbara Edwards, Owner
California Host, Inc.
San Francisco, CA
Nancy Inch, Owner
GLS Group, Inc.
Westlake, OH
Liza Eilers, President
Liza Eilers, Inc.
Denver, CO
Teresa Rogers, President
Take 2 Productions, LLC
Kansas City, MO
Mary Donna Faught, President
Goodle Fixins, Inc.
Bowling Green, KY
Teri Rooney, owner
NDI Group, Inc.
Knoxville, TN
Laurie Prostler, President
P.R.O. Line Construction, Inc.
Topeka, KS
Leanne Scannavino, President
Scan-Vino, LLC dba Cherokee Freight Lines
Stockton, CA
Melissa Lising, Managing Partner
Titan Real Estate Services, LLC
Kirkland, WA
Natalie Steelman, Owner
Bama Jammer, Inc.
Huntsville, AL
Mary Considine, Chair
Considine Capital Markets, LLC
Charlotte, NC
mary@considinecapitalmarkets.com
Suzanne Perga, Owner
Cre8ive Products, LLC
Denver, CO
Beth Pardue, President
EBP, Inc. dba Express Personnel Services
Elizabethtown, KY
beth.pardue@expresspersonnel.com
Connie Worrell-Druliner, Owner
Express Personnel Service dba WM. C., Inc.
Bend, OR
Connie.Worrell@expresspersonnel.com
Heather Thomas, Owner
G Squared Wireless
Nolensville, TN
heather.thomas@gsquaredwireless.com
Patricia Bretzfelder, Owner
Green World
Huber Heights, OH
Linda Williams, President
LW Manufacturing, LLC
Lebanon, TN
Annette Ulrich, Owner
Oldstone Title Agency, LLC
Fairlawn, OH
Sara Nation, Owner
PreSeis Tek, Inc.
Centennial, CO
Carol Manning, President
Technical Maintenance Support, Inc.
Foothill Ranch, CA
Sue Singleton, President
Tennessee Telecom, Inc.
Lebanon, TN
Rebecca Kortjohn, President
The Management Forum, Inc. dba Express Personnel Services
Dayton, OH
Rebecca.Kortjohn@expresspersonnel.com
Morgan Henderson, President
Young Opportunities Limited dba Virtual Vision Technologies
Aldan, PA
Morgan.Henderson@Virtualvisiontech.com
Companies Renewing WBE Certification with NWBOC Summer 2007
(March-May 2007)
Advanced Networking Group
Advanced Parking Solutions
Advanced Payment Solutions
Advantage Corporate Apartments, LLC
Advertising In Motion, Inc.
Agenda Dynamics, Inc.
Ashton Staffing, Inc.
Bailey Edwards Design, Inc.
Beluska Graphics, Inc.
Benchmarc 360, Inc.
Bennett Packaging of KC, Inc.
Bergeson & Campbell, PC
Business Relocation Services, LLC
CarCare Products, Inc.
Carla’s Pasta, Inc.
Case Law, LLC
CDT Business Solutions, Inc.
Christy & Main, Inc.
Classic Tents & Events, LLC
Cleveland Tubing, Inc.
Client Server Software Solutions, Inc. dba CSSS.Net
Communication at Work
Compass II, Inc.
Computer Consultants of America
Control Tek, Inc.
Craig Box Corp.
CryoPlus, Inc.
CSI International, Inc.
Custom Pak, Inc.
DeNyse Signs
DeRiggi & Evans, LLC
Design Incentives, Inc.
Dietrich Lockard Group, Inc.
Digital Consulting & Software Services, Inc.
Digital Printing & Imaging, Inc.
Douglass Screen Printers, Inc.
DP Professionals, Inc.
EEM Worldwide, Inc.
Engel Consulting, Inc.
Equator Estate Coffees and Teas, Inc.
Evans Industrial Coatings
First Financial Network
Front Range Chemical & Supply, Inc.
Frontier Steel Company, Inc.
General Commercial Corporation
Georgia Tank Lines, LLC
Harger Howe & Associates, Ltd.
Hayward Enterprises, Inc.
Helga Designs, Inc.
Henry Graphics, Inc.
Henze Stamping & Manufacturing Co.
Hitchcock & Associates, Inc. dba FPC of Bangor, Inc.
Holes Incorporated
Hollaytek, Inc. dba Trine
Houg Special Services, Inc.
Industrial Specialty Products
Industry Products Co.
Inerior Systems Cotnact Group, Inc. dba iscg
Information Experts
iniGlobal, Inc.
International Engineering & Tech., Inc.
Island Computer Products, Inc.
Jackson Press, Inc.
JR Bowman Construction Co., Inc.
Karas Enterprises, Inc. dba CVP Communications
KB Litho Supply Co.
Kitson Landscape Management, Inc.
Knowledge Link Ltd.
Liberty Transportation, Inc. dba Team Worldwide
Lilly’s Gastronomia Italiana
Linc Energy Systems
Litigation Management, LLC
Masi Research Consultants, Inc.
MBrock & Associates
McCallie Associates, Inc.
McDuffie Box Co., Inc.
Metro Fabricating, LLC
Micro Visions, Inc.
Micron Electrical Contracting, Inc.
Model Technologies, Inc.
Moore Partners dba More Business Solutions
MS Contracting Services
MWM, Inc.
Neese Enterprises, Inc. dba Terry Neese Personnel Services
Oasis Vending, LLC
P & B Sales & Service, Inc.
Paces Personnel, Inc.
Packaging Specialties, Inc.
Pat Cameron Consulting, Inc.
Patricia A. Glass, Inc. dba The Art Co.
Positive Impact Advertising, Inc.
Process Piping, Inc.
Products Direct, LLC
PTMW, Inc.
Quality Technical Services, Inc.
RB Apparel, Inc.
Real Estate Review Ltd., Gwen Fulcher Young & Associates Real Estate Co.
Regulatory Compliance Consultants, Inc.
Robinson Business Systems
Ross Environmental Services, Inc.
Ross Incineration Services, Inc.
Sanders Financial Management
Scoles Floorshine Industries
Sharp Decisions, Inc.
Sharp Machining, Inc.
Space Strategies, Inc.
Spartan Distributors, Inc.
Specialty Diving of LA, Inc.
Staffing Plus, Inc.
Stanwood Consulting, Inc.
Steelman & Associates, Inc. dba Bama Jammer Promotions
Stellar Specialties
Sun Valley Electric, Inc.
Superior Printing Co., Inc.
Tailfin Marketing, LLC
Taylor Made Plans, LLC
Texcellent Industries, Inc.
The Job Shop, Inc.
The Matthews Group, Inc. t/a TMG Construction Corporation
The Richlin Group
Transco Leasing, Inc.
Transport Global Logistics, Inc.
Travel Management, Inc. dba TMI Tours & Cruises
Trio Solutions, LLC dba Trio Clinical Research, LLC
TTC – The Trading Company, Inc.
U.S. Engineering Technical Services, Inc.
Verus Staffing Solutions, LLC
Vignon Corp.
Viking Security Consultants, Inc.
W.A. Hynes & Co., Inc.
Wathne Ltd.
West Star Electrical Contractors, Inc.
Westmoreland Paralegal Services
Wire World, Inc.
Workforce Solutions Group
XIO Strategies, Inc.
The NWBOC e-Newsletter is distributed by the National Women Business Owners Corporation. (NWBOC). NWBOC created the first national certification program for women enterprises. NWBOC's certification program offers an alternative to the costly, time-consuming and duplicative agency-by-agency and corporation-by-corporation certification process.
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