Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I want to share a fantastic opportunity with all the ladies here in the forums.

 

On Tuesday, October 14th, Citi Smith Barney is sponsoring a symposium for women on Controlling Your Destiny, Empowering Yourself and the Importance of Marketing Yourself.

 

I have been asked to share my story and experiences at this workshop and wanted to let others know about it. I had the pleasure of getting to meet all of the speakers at an informal get together last night and was completely blown away by the stories, wisdom, pure marketing genious and energy that was in the room. I am amazed that the walls and roof held.

 

Many of you that are from Michigan (and probably other states) are very aware of Beaner`s Coffee, now Biggby Coffee and the whole name change that they recently went thru. Mary Roszel, one of the founding partners of this company will be one of the featured speakers and I had a great time hearing her story and of course my first question that I couldn`t wait to talk with her about was how they came to the decision to make a change in name when they were so large and so well known and how did they decide on the new name. It was very interesting and she has a great story!

 

In any case, here is a brief description of the presenters and the subjects that they will be speaking on. They will also be sharing their own personal struggles and successes of how they got to where they are today.

 

Attendance is limited and there are a few more spaces available, if you are able to fit this into your schedule, I would highly recommend attending. Please email me back or respond here and I will get the information to you to register.

 

The Symposium will be hosted by the Walnut Hills Country Club in East Lansing.

 

Admission Cost: A donation to the Women`s Center of Lansing is all that is asked. They are currently in need of items such as paper, office supplies, toilet paper, napkins, plates, gas cards, gift cards, ink and paper supplies, etc. There is a list of items on the brochure that I can send you.

 

On to the presenters:

 

Jody Burgess, VP of Marketing for TechSmith and also runs her own very successful consulting business. Jody guides TechSmith`s strategic marketing initiatives for the company`s suite of software products and oversees corporate branding, web marketing and training services for domestic and international markets.

 

Nan Casey, has served as a special Assistant Attorney General for the state of Michigan and has practiced law in the area of domestic relations for the past 27 years.

 

Lynn Colby, a Financial Advisor with Smith Barney and has shared her financial planning skills and wealth management for the past 12 years helping her clients strategize long term solutions and provides guidance to enhance her customers strategies.

 

Claudia Deschaine, Grant Manager for Dart Foundation. Claudia has spent most of the past 30 years in philanthropy with her primary focus on private children`s organizations serving in fund raising or a wide variety of organizations.

 

Tiffany Dowling, President and Co-Founder of Motion, Marketing & Media and the Publisher of Capitol Area Women`s Lifestyle Magazine. M3 is a full service marketing firm in the mid-michigan area.

 

Patricia M Ouellette is an attorney specializing in  the areas of Estate Planning, Probate Administration , Family Law and Business Tax. In addition, she is a Certified Public Accountant a Chartered Financial Consultant and a Certified Life Underwriter.

 

Julie Reynolds, Community Relations and Marketing Director for St. Vincent Catholic Charities. Julie works to assist and help with the struggles faced by non-profits. Her goal is to successfully inform the public of their services and the needs of the communities they serve.

 

Mary Roszel, founder of Biggby Coffee and responsible for store Development. The first Beaner`s was opened on March 15, 1995, they experienced a monumental name change this past year or so and the 100th Biggby`s was opened on July 15, 2008. Her story is fantastic!

 

AGENDA

Check in and Registration is from 7:15 - 7:45 am (refreshments will be served)

 

Welcome and Introductions: 7:45 am - 8:00 am

 

Session One: "You Can Do It", Mary Roszel, Founder, Biggby Coffee

 

Session Two: "Finding a Better Life", Claudia Deschaine, Grants Manager, Dart Foundation

 

Break: 9:30 am to 9:45 am, refreshments and networking

 

Session Three: Market Yourself & Your Organization to a Higher Level, Jody Burgess, VP Marketing, TechSmith, Tiffany Dowling, President, Motion Marketing & Media, Julie Reynolds, Comm Rel & Mktng Director, St. Vincent Catholic Charities

 

Break: 10:45 am to 11:00 am, refreshments and networking

 

Session Four: Planning for the Challenges of Life. . .Disability Death and Divorce, Nan Casey, Attorney, Pat Ouellette, Attorney

 

Session Five: Control Your Destiny, understand your Financial Blind Spots", Lynn, Colby, Financial Advisor, Smith Barney and Pam Redman, Owner, Pam`s Pantry

 

Lunch: 12:30 pm

 

Claudia Deschaine and Mary Roszell will EMPOWER you to make tough decisions and recognize that safe choices aren`t always in your best interest.

 

Jody Burgess, Tiffany Dowling and Julie Reynolds will encourage you to MARKET not only yourself, but also your passions.

 

Nan Casey, Lynn Colby and Pat Ouellette will remind you to lead an INTENTIONAL LIFE and how to approach and understand your behavioral blind spots when evaluating legal and financial issues.

 

I hope some of you will be able to attend, this is going to be a great time for all that do. Please contact me if you are interested in registering for this very special event.