January 19, 2016 Meeting

Kelly Leonard, CEO of Taylor-Leonard Corporation

Maximizing LinkedIn for Business

Session Overview:

Now more than ever, we rely on social media and peer connections to network, exchange best practices, and make business decisions. LinkedIn is a virtual goldmine, offering endless opportunities that can be leveraged for branding, business development, and more! During this short workshop, we'll examine the "7 Mistakes That Will Keep You From Maximizing LinkedIn for Branding, Business Development, and Recruiting" along with the  BOOSTmyLinkedIn strategy to:

·        Build Your Brand,

·        Obtain More Leads,

·        Optimize Relationships,

·        Secure Thought Leadership Space, and

·        Tap into New Markets

About the Presenter:

Kelly Leonard, CEO of Taylor-Leonard Corporation, has personally trained 4,500+ business professionals throughout Metro Washington, DC.  Among her clients are small businesses as well as large organizations like Pentagon Federal Credit Union, NIH, National Cancer Institute, Red Peg Marketing, Montgomery County Government, and Montgomery College.  Using the same strategies Kelly teaches, T-LC generated $500,000+ in new consulting revenue in their core practice area (Customer Relationship Management) within the first 24-months of implementing the BOOSTmyLinkedIn strategy. 

www.Taylor-Leonard.com

Connect with me on LinkedIn

December 15, 2015 Meeting

Some of the group at a summer meeting.

The year is winding down. Time to celebrate our 2015 business and personal successes, and talk about our 2016 plans! Join us for group conversation, support, and brainstorming. No guest speaker this month, just the ladies getting their holiday spirit on.

We will be welcoming Thelma Ekeocha, a guest from local community organization Olney Home for Life, who will tell us about what they do and how we may be able to volunteer or refer. Our member spotlight will be Donna Dettling with Simpler Life Solutions. And as always, all participants will have a chance to network and give an introduction to their business. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE: We will be collecting small items to brighten the holidays for seniors in the community. Some suggestions: Warm socks, lotions or other personal care products, books, magazines, holiday trinkets. 

If you are a woman facing the challenge of balancing a business with a full life, we would love for you to check out our group. We provide a supportive environment for members and guests to build relationships, share their business successes and issues, and learn from each other and from outside speakers.

We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 10 - noon at the Olney Library. First time guests are FREE! Our reasonable annual membership fee is $75. And we now offer a $10 drop-in rate for returning guests who have not yet become members. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ONE AND ALL!!

Member Spotlight

 

Spotlight on Julia Rivas, Owner of Smarter Advantage LTC

Attention Boomers

Julia Rivas is Chief Encouragement Officer of Smarter Advantage an independent financial solutions firm serving individuals and business owners in the MD, DC and VA.

Julia is an advocate in helping people of all stages and ages find solutions to securing wealth care through retirement and legacy planning, healthcare for individuals and groups and Medicare for those turning 65. Julia provides her clients with the information they need to make the best decision for their particular situation in a caring and gentle way that is easy to grasp.

She holds the certifications of Certified in Long Term Care (CLTC), Certified Annuity Specialist (CAS) Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and is a certified broker for the new Maryland Health Connection, DC Link and Federal Health Exchange.

Julia is available for workshops, seminars, focus groups and provides one on one visits to individuals for a complimentary discussion on navigating the Medicare or wealth care road map, to and through retirement.

Julia can be reached at 240-421-0491 (talk or text) or e-mail, julia@smarteradvantageltc.com
www.smarteradvantageltc.com

November 17, 2015 Meeting

Christine Wilson, Founder & CEO of MtoM Consulting, LLC

Using Instagram for Business

Christine Wilson will share Instagram tips for small business owners. This presentation will help entrepreneurs with getting Instagram off the ground, as well as offer tips for taking it to the next level. She will provide information on:

• Growing your Instagram following
• Utilizing Instagram to grow your business
• Instagram best practices
• Advertising on Instagram
• How to use Influencers on Instagram effectively

Christine Wilson has spent more than 16 years working with thought leaders and industry influencers in information technology, entertainment, market research, and digital content. Her extensive marketing experience with the pioneer cable network Oxygen Media sparked her passion for marketing to women and speaking to them in a way that truly resonates. Christine led the marketing and business development for Synacor and ContentNow, digital and content start-ups, as well as chaired the board of a 2000-member moms’ organization. In 2011 she started MtoM Consulting, LLC to assist businesses and brands in communicating with moms in the digital space. Over the past four years MtoM has grown into a full service digital agency focused on social media and influencer marketing with clients in four key areas: hospitality & restaurants, consumer products, causes & associations, and moms.

Christine received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and resides in Arlington, VA with her husband and two young boys.

MtoM Consulting, LLC  

Website: www.mtomconsulting.com   

Twitter: twitter.com/MtoMConsulting

October 20, 2015 Meeting

Stephanie Bonte-Lebair, Empower Your Voice

Leverage Your Voice to Sell

Your voice is your primary tool for communication with prospects and clients. How you use it, what it sound likes, and how you present yourself while speaking can make the difference between landing the client or losing the sale.  Maximize your selling power with the one tool you carry around with you every day – your voice!

Key Takeaways:
• How to find your authentic voice that sounds and feels fantastic every time you use it.
• The top vocal techniques that keep the audience glued to your every word.
• Top vocal mistakes people make that sabotage the trust and faith of their prospects and clients.

Stephanie Bonte-Lebair is the Creator of The Empowered Performer and Co-Founder of Duet Vocal Academy . She is a lifelong performer and lover of all things on the stage! She has been coaching singers, actors and speakers for over 15 years to improve their voices and connect with their audiences. She loves to speak to groups of all sizes about how they can leverage the use of their voice to build their business and fulfill their dreams. Her mission is to help others stand in their power and be the voice of their passions!

www.empoweryourvoice.com

www.duet-vocal.com

stephanie@empoweryourvoice.com

Member Spotlight

Linda Quinones
Owner of SeekingSitters - Montgomery County & Washington, DC

Babysitter's Mom Becomes Franchisee!

Linda Quinones is the proud mother of four adult children. Family has always been very important to Linda, including being a stay at home mom, as was her mom. They enjoy family meals, playing games and weekends at their lake house. Linda worked nearly 20 years in direct sales with The Pampered Chef while raising her children. As her children are now grown and their needs and time available to get together with family was changing, Linda was ready for a new business adventure. She liked the flexibility of working from home but didn’t want to be gone nights and weekends so she could enjoy her children when they are available.

As she contemplated her future, one of her daughters suggested SeekingSitters, the sitting referral service she had worked with as a sitter for over 4 years. Owning a franchise that allowed flexible hours and a great investment- it was a perfect fit! Linda is excited to help families in Montgomery County Maryland and Washington DC find safe and reliable sitters!

SeekingSitters is an on demand sitting referral service that does all the work for both the family and the professional sitter. All of the sitters are at least 18 years of age, have professional sitting experience, have CPR & First Aid certification and have undergone an intense background check by our their own in house Licensed and Bonded Background Check company They offer babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting and study support. They offer in home sitting, hotel sitting, event sitting, church nursery support, corporate employee benefits and much more.

Linda started this business at the end of August 2014 and is enjoying helping parents be able to go out on a date without worry, go to work for an important meeting, or attend meetings at a conference at their hotel. SeekingSitters is the only insured on-call sitting referral service of its kind. No longer will you have to call every kid on the block to find a sitter. One call to SeekingSitters and a background-screened certified sitter will contact you! No more stopping at the ATM on the way home or figuring out what to pay the sitter. We do the exact calculations for you! It can't get any easier than that.

Linda Quinones, Local Owner
SeekingSitters Montgomery County & Washington DC

www.SeekingSitters.com

301-963-9349

Connect with us at:

Facebook -

http://www.facebook.com/SeekingSittersMontgomeryCountyandDC

Twitter -https://twitter.com/LindaQuinones3

Instagram -http://instagram.com/seekingsitters_moco/

September 15, 2015 Meeting

Heike Heemann, IdeaShare Business Coaching

Effective Networking in Person and On Line

Do you think: “Networking is too much work.”  Have you said to a friend: “I never get referrals when I network. It is a waste of time.”  Is cold calling not for you? Do you need to find networking opportunities and make the best of the time you spend there? Are you looking for referral partners that can serve as your extended sales force?

Learn valuable tips and information on:

• How to prepare for a networking event
• What to do or not to do at the event
• How to follow up
• How to find networking events that are right for you
• How to integrate online tools into this process       

Heike (pronounced Hi-Ka) Heemann(Heyy-mohn) is the owner of IdeaShare Business Coaching. She helps business owners and executives develop their strategic plans based on their personal goals and values.  Heike then serves as their accountability partner to ensure implementation.

Heike also serves as a career coach and gives seminars on a variety of business topics, including LinkedIn, which is a social media platform she uses in her own business.

She grew up in the South of Germany before attending Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish. Heike then obtained a Masters in International Management with a Marketing focus at the Thunderbird Graduate School in Arizona.

With 20 years of business experience in several industries and functions from product management and marketing to sales operations, and as general manager, she obtained her certification as Professional Business Coach in March of 2013.  She enjoys helping people achieve their personal best in business and beyond.

Her motto is “Working with you to set your business & career apart.”

Heike Heemann - Cell 410-980-5299

www.ideasharecoaching.com

August 18, 2015 Meeting

Becky Briggs, Our Gift Biz

How to Build a Winning Client Appreciation Strategy

During this engaging presentation, Becky Briggs, of Our Gift Biz, will instruct us on ways we, as business women, can Build a Winning Client Appreciation Strategy if we:

• Stay Top of Mind with those who matter most
• Create effective Touch Points
• Design a Strategy that works for us

Becky Briggs is Founder and President of Our Gift Biz, a gift boutique providing solutions to clients and customers while taking the guesswork out of gift-giving! She has a multifaceted background in retail, financial services, consulting, and marketing. As a strategic advisor for clients in a variety of sectors, Becky brings a savvy business acumen and strong corporate experience/etiquette to gift-giving. She strategizes with companies to create "a campaign for nurturing, retaining and growing client relationships." As an entrepreneur, blogger, designer, marketing enthusiast and speaker Becky provides an unparalleled, customized gift-service to clients who need assistance with gift-giving where style, gratitude and customer touches are paramount. Becky is a resource for those who want to create a meaningful and memorable unique gift-giving experience for both the giver and receiver. She trains companies how to develop strong strategic partners and unfolds the mystery of marketing successfully in today's world. Client appreciation and retention are paramount in increasing profits and she helps clients create strategies that ensure their company is always TOP of Mind!

Our Gift Biz specializes in custom-designs and finding the perfect gift, along with creating a meaningful, memorable, unique gift experience that WOW's the recipient every time! Our Gift Biz is known as a leader in developing strategies to redefine the client experience and this expertise is critical to doing business today. The firm consults with many clients who struggle with how to spend their marketing dollars wisely and need new solutions for the future. Companies choose to outsource their gift-giving needs to Our Gift Biz because of their track record for how best to say thank you.

Becky Briggs - (804) 516-9103 - www.ourgiftbiz.com - bbriggs@ourgiftbiz.com

July 21, 2015 Meeting

Colleen Strube, Send Out Cards

Master Relationship Marketing

Personal and business relationships are more important today than ever before. We are at the pinnacle of the information age. With the Internet, search engines and social media platforms, people find out about you, personally, and about your business, before you have the chance to make your first impression in person.  So today, the better you are at MASTERING RELATIONSHIPS, the better you will be at thriving in your personal and business life.  Why?  Because today more than any time in history, people don't care how much you know since they can research anything online. You separate yourself personally, and in business, by showing people how much you care.   

Becoming a MASTER at RELATIONSHIP MARKETING is about focusing on the first word, RELATIONSHIP, over the second word, MARKETING.  It's about mastering relationships in 3-core areas: Relationships with your SELF, Relationships that are PERSONAL, and Relationships in BUSINESS.  Colleen will address ways we can improve all of our relationships and enhance our client and colleague experiences.


Colleen Strube is a connector.  She enjoys meeting new people and having fun at what she does.   She is a member of several networking groups including  Team Network, Real Estate Coffee Connection, Mt Airy Chamber, Mid-Atlantic Networking, Mt. Airy Women in Motion, Heartlink, Our Community Connections, and the list continues.   Colleen's passion is helping others to Connect, Develop, Succeed in life and business.  Colleen has a BA in Management and Computer Science & Information Systems.  She has also earned her MBA.  She has been a SendOutCards distributor for over 8 years. She focuses on helping and supporting individuals and companies with Master Relationship Marketing. 

https://www.sendoutcards.com/colleenstrube

June 16, 2015 Meeting

Anjali Varma

Marketing On A Shoestring Budget

Our guest speaker, Anjali Varma, will be sharing tips for Marketing Your Business On A Shoestring Budget. Anjali will share how you can increase brand awareness and drive new prospects and customers to your business without spending a lot of money or time. She will provide tips on how to evaluate and enhance your current operations to increase average transaction size, as well as how to effectively leverage social media, influencers, and PR at little or no cost to you.
 

Anjali Varma is "The Modern Mompreneur".  Her website (AnjaliVarma.com) and You Tube channel (The Modern Mompreneur), provide lifestyle and entrepreneurship tips.  She is also the owner of a Kidville franchise in Bethesda, MD that offers classes, retail, haircuts, and birthday parties for young children.  Anjali recently launched a "Marketing On A Shoestring Budget" e-course for entrepreneurs interested in developing marketing and PR for their business at little or no cost.  She has made numerous appearances on Fox 5 Good Day DC and contributes regularly to The Washington Post and the Huffington Post.  Anjali holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a BBA from the University of Michigan.  She spent 8 years in sales and marketing at American Express before venturing out on her own.  You can find Anjali on Instagram, Twitter, and Pintrest @anjvarma and on Facebook and YouTube @TheModernMompreneur.