A message from Joy Canova, President:

Did you hear the news? WBO has some fantastic new sponsors: Seattle Business Monthly magazine and Chat With Women radio and web network. What has brought about this change? We have a new Public Relations Chair, Holly Hayes of Prime Lending, and she is quite a remarkable advocate for us.

There is something else you should hear – Nellie Award nominee interviews can be found on the archived radio shows of Chat With Women (www.chatwithwomen.com). On the May 23rd show, I was interviewed by the same dynamic pair: Pam Gray and Rochelle Alhadeff.

As for the Seattle Business Monthly, they have graciously offered to become our official media partner. We are proud that such an exciting business magazine believes in our mission and goals.

Truly, we are very fortunate to have so many great sponsors that make our programs possible. I hope you will take a moment to review the honor roll of sponsors on our website. Perhaps you might even write and thank them for their support of women entrepreneurs. Better yet, patronize these fine companies and tell them why.

Because we have sponsors, we are able to keep the steady employment of a superb administrator, Yvonne Gitchel. Oh, there are just so many things she does, it would be impossible to list even half. There are many costs to run an organization, to keep people informed, and to facilitate events.

Many of our benefactors give to us because of our stewardship of The Nellie Cashman Woman of the Year Award. They believe in the history of the award and the tribute it pays to women entrepreneurs. For WBO, the Nellie is the biggest public statement we make about our values. I like to say, “Who we honor is who we are.”

Yes, it costs to run an organization and accomplish the things we do, but we are worth it. Fortunately, our sponsors think likewise. Let’s not forget to thank them.

Sincerely,

Joy Canova

WBO 2008 President

Sandy Wood, our WBO individual medical agent, has informed us that rates for some individual medical plans will be rising on July 1st. This will affect anyone with current coverage through Asuris NW and Regence Blue Shield. In addition, Group Health will be coming out with new individual medical plans which allow you to see any provider – at very competitive rates. If you would like to see alternatives for July 1st, take the WBO health survey at http://www.womenbusinessowners.org/doc/resource_healthcare_individual.htm

Just click on “online survey”. Within a week, Sandy will shoot you the best 4 – 6 options out of more than 40 available.

WBO Mailing List

BBG's are forming!

For more information about Business Building Groups, please contact Penelope Bell.

Make a Difference by Volunteering at NCJW's Furniture Bank Program

The National Council of Jewish Women Seattle Section, also known as NCJW – one of WBO’s scholarship organizations for 2008, helps women and their children who flee from violent homes with minimal belongings create new homes with their award-winning program Shalom Bayit: Furnishing Peaceful Homes. This program is the only furniture bank exclusively for survivors of domestic violence in Washington state, and serves women who live throughout King county and come from a wide-range of ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. As a WBO member, you have have the opportunity to make a difference and volunteer as part of a group at the NCJW furniture bank warehouse in Redmond on Sunday, June 22nd, 1-4PM. To be part of the WBO volunteer group, contact Philanthropy Committee member Meg Rohacek at (425) 453-1105.

A True Home Family Services

Please join us as we pursue our vision to end homelessness for 5,000 families in our community. We need volunteers, donors and a community of support to make this vision a reality. Leading up to the entry way of our new home on Rainier Avenue South will be a walkway entitled the Path to Lasting Solutions, made up of playful tile “footprints” bearing donor names. Make a commitment to the community we share by putting your footprint on the Path to Lasting Solutions. Footprint tiles are available at 3 levels: $5,000, $1,500 and $500. Buy a footprint with your name, the name of your company or to honor family and friends. Learn More: Footprints on the Path to Lasting Solutions. Contact us to learn more: Lillian Hochstein (206)826-3036 or lhochstein@family-services.org Link to the Seattle Times article on the new facility: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004422110_familyservices18m.html

WBO Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is absolutely the best way to get to know other WBO members and get the most of your membership. Join one of WBO's Committees - there are plenty of ways for you to get involved by serving on a WBO committee or initiative.

A Warm Welcome to the Following New WBO Members:

Rochelle Alhadeff

Chat With Women

Jan Erion

Westward Global

Westward Global is an international freight forwarding company. We handle logistics both domestically and abroad; we have over 2,000 agents globally to ship and receive freight as part of a seamless network. Working with varied accounts is our expertise.

Pam Gray

Chat With Women

Melanie Miller

Low Clearance Industrial Equipment

Trucking company specializing in Forklifts, scissor lifts, loaders and excavators.

Amanda Predmore

Emaugo Creative

Our business is to manage perception. Our service is strategic imagination. Our passion is brand identity. We take your brand story & translate into strong visual identity that speaks to your audience through sensible marketing touchpoints.

Madhu Sarkar

2nexo Business Solutions

Do you want your website to help you retain customers and attract new prospects? Do you want to engage with your community of partners and suppliers through your website? That is what we help you to do. We optimize your website to help you with lead generation, brand building and expanded communication.

Melanie Sharpe

ShareBuilder 401k

ShareBuilder 401(k) is a leading provider of low-cost, online 401(k) solutions to businesses nationwide. I specialize in reducing participant fees through the use of market-efficient, index-based Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) for established plans.

Laurie Simon

Ombrella Consulting

Ombrella is home to many remarkable minds that dramatically change how companies deploy process, system and tools to their customers and worldwide audiences. Our personalized and premium solutions have Fortune 500 companies returning time after time.

Harriet Stephenson

The Village Net

The Village Net partners with underserved economically active poverty challenged women in African Villages to help them in their quest to achieve a vital, sustainable life for themselves, their families, and their villages. We start with microloans.

Cornelia Veit

Liave

Liave is a furniture and lifestyle store on Western Avenue in Seattle with a focus on handmade and one of a kind products that are meant to be used in everyday's life.

Elizabeth Wariner

Wariner and Associates, Inc.

We review and analyze medical records and interpret their relevance in cases for attorneys; identify and locate the best medical expert witnesses; develop reports and chronologies to highlight the significant medical events; research and apply authoritative medical and nursing literature.

Gail Welfringer

Allstate Insurance Co.

I am a Field Sales Leader for Allstate Insurance Co. where I recruit and develop business owners to explore the opportunity to start a new Allstate Agency or purchase an existing Allstate Agency.

Kalai Wineland

Patentique PLLC

Legal

Jule Meyer, Principal of Parkman Foundation Services, recently co-founded a new group of more than 120 advisors called Seattle Philanthropic Advisors Network. They hosted their third well attended event on May 22. She also attended the national Advisors in Philanthropy conference in Chicago, of which the local SPAN group is an outgrowth. Also, i n June, Jule will be celebrating her graduation from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, one of the first sustainable business programs in the U.S.

Sandy Wood, of Integrated Benefit Strategies, is excited to announce that she has sold her group health insurance business to GHB Insurance, an Olympia-based company formed in 1927. She will now assist our WBO membership with group health insurance through GHB Insurance, and will continue to provide individual health coverage options through Integrated Benefit Strategies.

Thea Sand of Emmanuel's Rug & Upholstery was invited by the Iranian Ministry of Commerce, Iran National Carpet Center to attend the Second Annual Exhibition of Hand Knotted Rugs in Kish, Iran April 29th through May 2nd 2008. As the only Anglo - American female attendee, she was interviewed on Iranian television twice. Thea will be taking Certified Rug Appraisers examinationher in Atlanta GA July 11th at the Oriental Rug Retailers summer rug market.

Michelle Bomberger

Small Business Legal Services PLLC

Small Business Legal Services PLLC (SBLS) was founded by Michelle Bomberger to provide legal counsel to companies as they startup and grow in areas such as business structure, contracts, trademarks, employee matters, dispute resolution, and the purchase and sale of businesses. Michelle’s business experience in both Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial companies enables her to tailor legal strategies that drive businesses toward achieving their goals. Michelle is also a popular speaker on legal planning topics for small businesses.

Alice Hayes

Alice Hayes Photography

Alice Hayes Photography is a boutique photo studio specializing in weddings,
children and family documentaries. Alice's insightful and candid style has
kept clients returning to her over the past 12 years for honest photographs
that capture the emotion of the events in their lives-big or small. She also
offers a full line of linen, silk and leather albums and folios as well as
custom printing and framing. Alice lives and works from her home studio near
Greenlake.

The May luncheon featured Lisa Johnson, CEO of the Reach Group, trainer, and author spoke on "Mind Your X’s and Y’s: How the New Generation Impacts Your Business". Lisa taught us a new twist on mentor pairs – mixed generations for two-way benefits. Younger businesswomen share their ease and first-hand relationship with new communication forms; the seasoned businesswomen share insight into traditional business models.

Erin Hiemstra of Pyramid Communications was also present at our May luncheon. She shared an important reminder of the upcoming “Make Mine a Million” event being held on June 11th, 2008 at the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion. Keynote speaker is Christine Gregoire, and attendees vote for finalists competing for money, marketing, mentoring, and technology tools. Our own Patti Dobrowolski has been selected as a finalist, so everyone be sure to go vote for Patti!

Do not miss this advert in The Marketplace!  All postings are repeated here as an added benefit.  Please support our member’s events and offerings and see Marketplace postings for details:

• Holly Hayes of Prime Lending announces the Prime Benefit Program. Earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars every time you buy or sell a house. For more information, check out the WBO Marketplace or call Holly at 206-883-2729.

Sincerely,

Joy Canova