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!

April 2: WOSB Federal Contractor Forum

Attention Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contractors! The Federal government wants to meet with you.

What: WOSB Training and Opportunity Forum
Date: April 2, 2012 Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm
Location: US Department of State, George C Marshall Conference Center, 2201 C Street, NW (21st Street Entrance) Washington, DC 20520

Join the Department of State’s Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and American Express OPEN’s Give Me 5 Program on April 2, 2012 in Washington, DC, for the WOSB Training and Opportunity Forum.

This forum will bring together government and women-owned businesses for a unique one-day program. At the meeting, women-owned small business owners will receive training on the program from the SBA and have the opportunity to listen to and meet federal agencies that will detail their acquisition strategies for potential women business owner opportunities and forecasts. The meeting will include the following:

• A WOSB program update and training from the SBA
• An opportunity to hear from and meet the OSDBU Directors and procurement representatives from the following agencies (invited): 
• State Department
• USAID
• Air Force
• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of the Interior
• General Services Administration
• An Opportunity to meet other WOSB and EDWOSB Businesses working in your field

Agencies will announce forecasted contract opportunities making this an event you do not want to miss. Space is limited, and limited to women owned small businesses, so register early!

More information and registration are available here.

March 22: WBO Web Chat with SBA

SBA’s March Web Chat Offers Tips and Advice for Women-Owned Small Businesses

Topic: Ask the Expert: Women's Small Business Open Forum    
Host: Ana Harvey, Assistant Administrator, SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership
Time: Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.
 
In recognition of National Women’s History Month, SBA’s March web chat will feature an open forum on Women’s Business Ownership.  The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership helps to promote growth of women-owned businesses through SBA programs offering business training and counseling, access to credit and capital, and business and networking opportunities.  It also administers a nationwide network of Women's Business Centers that provide training and counseling to entrepreneurs.

SBA's Online Business Chat is a live Q&A session with small business experts. Submit your question before or during the chat discussion. You cannot submit question after Closing Remarks for the chat. No registration is needed for the web chat.

Learn more and submit your question. 

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!

Meet Symposium Panelist: Wendy Staso

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

Wendy Staso is owner, president, and Chief Executive Officer of Huckestein Mechanical Services, Inc. She has 25 years of experience in a broad range of fields covering such disciplines as mechanical contracting, energy, transportation, construction, corporate real estate, and environmental management. Currently she is responsible for all operations within the firm’s four operational pillars: Projects, Service, Controls, and Energy Management. Since being appointed as CEO, she has set a new strategy and vision to establish the company as the “contractor of choice” in its key markets and reorganized to capitalize on state-of-the-industry talent and technology and to make the company more cost-competitive. Prior to joining Huckestein, Wendy was a managing partner of TNG Enterprises, LLC, a holding company for several small businesses. She began her career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation as a marketing specialist and manager in the nuclear, advanced energy, and transportation business units. Wendy received her degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As part of her ongoing commitment to the local community, she serves on the Serra Catholic High School Board of Directors and is a Member of the Sisters of Charity Development Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Seton Hill University Women President’s Organization, and the Chatham University Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship.

Meet Symposium Panelist: Sheila Ecung

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 Sheila Ecung, Founder and Owner, ArrowStarr Communications
.

Sheila Ecung founded ArrowStarr Communications on the principle of delivering effective marketing communications to help clients market, sell, train, inform, and inspire others to act. She trained in business communication, with a specialty in mediation, at the Center for Advanced Management Programs at the University of Houston at Clear Lake. She has honed her business skills during more than twenty years in education and business. While negotiating television contracts and National Football League Film usage rights, she recognized an opportunity and launched ArrowStarr. In marketing, Sheila has executed national campaigns, created strategic plans, and developed collateral materials. Her media team has produced live events, television programs, entertainment, and education and interactive web productions. Sheila is past president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Media Communications Association―International (MCA-I) and is a member of Toastmasters International. Her team has been recognized with more than 100 awards for quality and excellence, and she has been featured in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Pittsburgh Courier, the Houston Chronicle, and the National Radon Reporter. Sheila’s work has been featured on ABC, ESPN, NBC, FOX, TSN of Canada, Premiere World of Germany, and at national conventions. Sheila made history in the tristate region by having the first independently produced weekly television series and by being the first woman to own a weekly sports prognostication show. Through her work with the radon industry Sheila has worked to shape political policy and held interviews with U.S. Presidents.

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!