E-Magnify Symposium Recap

A big thank you to everyone who made this year's E-Magnify Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium a success! If you weren't able to join us on March 9 for “Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth,” here's a quick recap of what you missed.

Keynote speaker Mary Cantando, President of The Woman's Advantage, gave a two-part presentation. She brought her insight and energy to the symposium stage with  Make This Your Best Year Ever...in Business! Make This Your Best Year Ever...in Life! Mary's sessions were based on her widely acclaimed Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. She drew on the work she does with women entrepreneurs around the world to inspire and motivate audience members.  

Jayne Huston, E-Magnify Director; Mary Cantando, Symposium Keynote Speaker; Dr. Mary Ann Gawelek, Seton Hill University Provost & Dean of Faculty

In addition to the keynote presentation, symposium attendees heard from local women business owners during the panel discussion “Solutions That Work.” Attendees were eager to learn tried-and-true business tips from their peers. The panel was a great success, with glowing reviews coming in from attendees. 

Betsy Benson, panel moderator; Panel members: Wendy Staso, Danielle D'Alessandro, Sandy Burkett

Here are a few highlights from the panel.

Danielle D’Alesandro, Owner of My Posh Baby & Kids, discussed how to use social media to grow your business. She offered sound advice on time management and ways to streamline your social networking initiatives. And Danielle should know, since 70% of her sales take place online.

Sandy Burkett, President of Vital Signs, shared examples of her guerrilla marketing techniques. She emphasized the need to do your research before embarking on anything new and the importance of staying open to new strategies. As one attendee put it, Sandy “offered practical advice that can be used right away.”

Wendy Staso, President and CEO of Huckestein Mechanical Services, Inc., discussed the difficult decisions business owners must make to ensure their success. When Wendy needed to save the company from going out of business, she employed a strategy of restructuring and downsizing.  As painful as that was, she said, the company is now back on track and profitable.

Debra Mason, E-Magnify Education and Training Manager; Karan Waigand, Economic Development Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration; Jayne Huston, E-Magnify Director; Lyz Marshall, E-Magnify Business Counselor

Again, thank you to all who attended, spoke, and volunteered!

This Friday: E-Magnify's Entrepreneurial Symposium

Join other women entrepreneurs and business owners this Friday, March 9, for the E-Magnify Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium, "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth." The symposium takes place at the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center in downtown Greensburg, PA, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. 

Growing a business is challenging whether you are just starting or are a seasoned entrepreneur. Developing key strategies to sustain your business are essential to long-term growth. This year's Symposium will focus on growth strategies for small businesses and will include workshops and a keynote address on a variety of ways to increase your organization's revenue stream.
 

Mary Cantando, president of The Woman's Advantage, will deliver the Keynote Presentation: Make This Your Best Year Ever...in Business! Make This Your Best Year Ever...in Life! This fun, interactive, thought-provoking session is based on her widely acclaimed Woman's Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. In addition to her annual calendar, Mary has written five books, each presenting ground-breaking ideas for busy women who want to make a difference in their workplace, family, and community. Read five tips from Mary that she couldn't squeeze into her keynote presentation.

Learn from the following women entrepreneurs on the panel discussion, "Solutions That Work." 

• Betsy Benson, Publisher and Vice President, Pittsburgh Magazine (Panel Facilitator) 
• Sandy Burkett, President and Owner, Vital Signs
• Danielle D’Alesandro, Owner, My Posh Baby & Kids 
• Sheila Ecung, Founder and Owner, ArrowStarr Communications

• Wendy Staso, Owner, President, and CEO, Huckestein Mechanical Services, Inc.

Learn more and register for the March 9 Symposium. We hope to see you there!

Five Ideas from Mary Cantando

Five Ideas I’m Pretty Sure You’ve Never Thought Of

My name is Mary Cantando and I’m the keynote speaker for your upcoming E-Magnify Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium. I've been working exclusively with women like you for over ten years now, and am told that the ideas I present in my books, magazine articles, and keynotes have transformed their businesses and their lives. I’m excited about sharing some of my newest ideas with you at the symposium on Friday, March 9.

But I just couldn’t wait until March 9 to get started, so here are a few ideas that I wasn’t able to squeeze into my keynote.

1. Understand how the “Silver Tsunami” might be a business opportunity for you. There is a growing market of older folks who need and are able to pay for high-quality services, such as concierge and upscale transportation. How might you take advantage of this fast-growing market?
2. Think of yourself as an athlete. It will make a difference in the way you walk, talk, eat, and conduct your life in general.
3. Make a list of 100 things that you like: people, products, software, TV shows, movies, books, animals…the sky is the limit. Do it right now. With all the negativity in the world, I hope you’ll join me in creating a counterculture that focuses on the great stuff.
4. Answer these three questions for any boards or committees on which you participate:
   a.    Why are you there?
   b.    How can you best use your role in this organization to grow your business and your life?
   c.    What can you do for this organization that no one else can?
5. Go to lunch individually with every tenant in your building over the course of the year. Let them choose the restaurant and tell them you’re not going to discuss business but you want to learn all you can about them, their background, their interests, organizations they may belong to. You will find these connections and this information about them invaluable in both your business and your personal life.

Hope to see you on March 9 when I’ll share my top ideas for Making 2012 the Best Year of Your Life!


Get the full details and registration for "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth," a Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium. Join Mary and other women in business for this exciting event on March 9 in Greensburg, PA!

Meet Symposium Panelist: Danielle D’Alesandro

Over the next few weeks we'll be introducing you to the business women who will share "Solutions that Work" during the E-Magnify Symposium panel discussion. Full details and registration for "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth" on March 9 are available here. 

Today we're pleased to introduce to you panelist Danielle D’Alesandro, Owner, My Posh Baby & Kids.

Danielle D'Alesandro owns My Posh Baby & Kids, a specialty toy and children's gifts store. In addition to selling through her retail storefront of four years in Irwin, PA, Danielle has been selling online for 12 years through her own website and various other online channels. More than 70% of her sales are done online, and she has achieved top seller ratings from many online communities. Danielle gives presentations on topics such as inventory control and how to increase your online sales. She also does consulting work to help businesses of all sizes increase their online sales, enhance their marketing and social media efforts, and expand into new markets. With her small business consulting services, she provides authentic alternatives to business owners and executives so they can stop spinning their wheels and move forward with substantial, profitable business growth, personal satisfaction, and bottom line control. Danielle received her undergraduate degree from St. Vincent College and an MBA from Chatham University.

Meet Symposium Panelist: Sandy Burkett

Over the next few weeks we'll be introducing you to the business women who will share "Solutions that Work" during the E-Magnify Symposium panel discussion. Full details and registration for "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth" on March 9 are available here. 

Today we're pleased to introduce to you panelist Sandy Burkett, President and Owner, Vital Signs.

Sandy Burkett is president and owner of Vital Signs, a certified Native American/Woman Owned custom sign and graphics company located in Carnegie, PA, where she collaborates with clients to help them brand their businesses. Formerly a Special Education Advocate helping children with learning disabilities and a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children, Sandy continues to support causes that empower girls and women, including the Girl Scouts, Girls Going Places, and CASA for Kids. Sandy also acts as an Ambassador for the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation. She has received  SignWorld Leadership Awards for 2006 and2007, the 2007 Minority Business Opportunity Committee Woman Business of the Year award, and the 2010 National Association of Women Business Owners' Make The Connection Award for her Pittsburgh’s Got Sole Shoe Collection for the victims of the Haiti Earthquake.