I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the following new members:
--Lori Bien, Esq., Law Office of Lori Bien, San Francisco
--Cheryl Bower, Cashin Company Realtors, San Mateo
--Susanne Brown, Pacific Mortgage Consultants, Larkspur
--Barbara Elashoff, Elashoff Consulting, LLC, Redwood City
--Molly Fuller, San Francisco
--Mitra Ghiasi, SFGiftbaskets.com, San Francisco
--Even Hinman, Hinman Consulting Engineers, San Francisco
--Carol Hornibrook, Video Biographer, So Tell Me More, San Francisco
--Kelly Keala McKae, San Francisco
--Kathleen Murphy, MA, San Francisco
--Aimee Stevenson, Complexion Clinics, Sausalito Thank you to all of you - we look forward to seeing you at upcoming events, and to the opportunity to grow, thrive, and lead together! Barbara Mark, Ph.D., NAWBO®-SF President |
 Dear Friends,
Get out your calendars and make a big note on May 2nd to attend our 24th Annual Leaders and Legends Women Entrepreneurs of the Year Awards Luncheon and 4th Annual NAWBO University. San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris will be our Keynote Speaker this year and Jan Wahl will return as Mistress of Ceremonies. You will truly be delighted and inspired by our award winners for this year ... I understand the judging was quite a challenge as we had so many well-qualified nominees! I encourage all of our members to buy a table and invite friends and clients to this wonderful event.
Politics and Public Policy are in the air! Public Policy has always been an important aspect of NAWBO®'s mission. In February, May Pon, Past-President and Susan Shargel, Healthcare Policy Chair for NAWBO®, attended Public Policy Days in Washington, D.C. They returned with reports of their experiences, encouraging all of us to attend Public Policy Days and let our voices be heard.
Your have your chance with our local Public Policy Days in Sacramento on April 7th and 8th. Don’t miss the opportunity to speak with your representatives about issues that affect you as a business owner. It is very empowering to interact personally with members of our legislature. Make your plans to attend now.
NAWBO®-SF’s Leaders' Circle program is entering its third year. Leaders' Circle is a facilitated peer support program that helps women business owners with revenues over $2 million deal with issues that impact sustainability and profitability. Those who have participated in the program tell us it has inspired them, helped them enormously in handling challenges of the day-to-day issues of running a business and saved them lots of money.
We have now opened two spots in the Leaders' Circle for women who own businesses with $1-$2 million in revenue. Please feel free to contact me or Diana Kimbrell for more information. If you are on a trajectory to take your business to $2 million and more in revenues, set your sights on the Leader’s Circle!
It is also tax season and you will not want to miss our March Dinner Meeting featuring Maine Shafer with Tax Strategies for Women Business Owners.
See you soon!
Warm regards,
Barbara Mark, Ph.D.
President NAWBO®-SF NAWBO®-SF Members in the News |
... NAWBO®-SF Member Linda Leary was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle Business Section on Sunday, February 17, in an article titled "Paying the Tab for Health Care". The article highlights the economic impact of the new San Francisco health care security ordinance requiring all San Francisco employers with more than 20 employees to make health care expenditures for employees. ... NAWBO®-SF Member Barbara Morrison, TMC Development , was quoted in a San Francisco Business Times article on commercial condo loans, February 1.
... NAWBO®-SF friend, Women's Initiative for Self Employment was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday, February 17, in an article entitled "Female Entrepreneurs Needed the Initiative". Read the article here.
... NAWBO®-SF's Leaders' Circle program was featured on Wells Fargo's community page in the February 2008 issue of San Francisco Magazine. |
 We are pleased to announce the 2008 NAWBO®-SF Leaders and Legends Award winners. These accomplished women business owners will receive their awards at the 24th Annual NAWBO®-SF Leaders and Legends Women Entrepreneurs of the Year Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 2 at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco. Be sure to join us to celebrate these amazing entrepreneurs!
 2008 NAWBO®-SF Member of the Year
Cynthia Fassler, TSS Personnel Agency, Inc.
The Member of the Year award recognizes and honors a member who, by her commitment to NAWBO®, has served and set the highest standard and example through highly visible participation on all levels. Cindy has exceeded all these benchmarks. Cindy serves on the San Francisco Chapter Board and has been the Event Chair for Leaders and Legends for the past two years. She has dedicated extraordinary time and energy to help NAWBO® and its members to grow, thrive and lead. An effective ambassador
for NAWBO® within our chapter and the community,
she performs with enthusiasm, warmth, dedication and spirit.
Cindy founded TSS as a temporary staffing agency in 1982 and quickly expanded to offer fulltime placement and executive search services. With her expertise and personal determination in recruitment, she has successfully grown the agency in the Executive Search market, focusing on Banking and Brokerage Placement. In 2006 Cindy was named Small Business Owner of the Year by the Small Business Network (SBN). In addition to the NAWBO® board, Cindy was elected statewide VP of California Staffing Professionals (CSP) and served as President of the CSP Golden Gate chapter.
 2008 NAWBO®-SF Trailblazer
Jesse Ziff Cool, CoolEatz Restaurant and Catering
Starting with her work as a waitress for the Good Earth Restaurant, Jesse has always had an interest in creating delicious organic food, before it became trendy to do so. For 33 years, she has been dedicated to sustainable agriculture and cuisine - knowing where food comes from and how best to prepare it is paramount in her personal and professional life. Her businesses support local, organic farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and dairies. She warmly refers to these people, those still connected to the land, the sea and our food, as her heroes. They are amongst the first real environmental pioneers, giving her the inspiration to do her work. Jesse has opened nine restaurants – all of which are still in business – and currently owns three restaurants – Cool Café, Flea Street Cafe and jZCool Eatery and Wine Bar, as well as CoolEatz Catering Company. She has authored seven cookbooks, multiple magazine articles and has been featured on many television shows, including The Today Show and The Food Network.
 2008 NAWBO®-SF Rising Star
Laura van Galen, Bleu Marketing Solutions
Laura van Galen, Founder, President and CEO of Bleu Marketing Solutions, Inc. and Bleu Properties, Inc., is an authoritative direct marketer who understands the woven fabrics of customer acquisition and customer retention marketing, with over 22 years of domestic and international success in the field. In 2001, after four years heading up a list management division of a leading list management firm, Laura decided it was time to start her own company,
and began Bleu Marketing Solutions, Inc., an agency focused on supporting large businesses in acquiring new customers through offline and online list marketing. Using nothing more than credit cards the first year to get started, the company now enjoys profitability and consistent annual growth. In an online arena that is fraught with fraud and crime, Laura believes it is her philosophy of honesty, pride and people that sets her apart. She created a mentor program where she trained and molded young adults in the field, and then hired 90% of them to work for her. Bleu Marketing Solutions, Inc. was honored as one of the fastest growing companies in the Management Consulting Services industry by Inc. Magazine 2007.
 2008 NAWBO®-SF Social Entrepreneur
Dr. Mimi Silbert, Delancey Street Foundation
Mimi Silbert serves as the President, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Delancey Street Foundation, which is a nonprofit rehabilitation program serving ex-felons, prostitutes, substance abusers, and others through five national centers, and headquartered in San Francisco. For over 35 years, Delancey Street has provided residents with academic, vocational, and social skills, and the discipline, values, and attitudes they need to live in society legitimately and successfully - at no cost to the client or taxpayer. There are currently over 15,000 successful graduates, all living drug, crime, and alcohol free. Mimi is a social entrepreneur in the truest sense, developing business models such as the Delancey Street Café, Moving & Trucking Company and Christmas Tree lots, that create funding for the organization while providing vocational skills to the residents. Although Delancey Street is her primary life work, Silbert is also a recognized national expert in criminal justice. Mimi Silbert has cast her lot with society’s “losers” to prove her beliefs that with struggle, courage, and discipline, together they can be “winners” and transform impossible dreams into reality by pooling their resources, supporting one another, and living lives of purpose and integrity.  Keynote Speaker
Kamala D. Harris
San Francisco District Attorney
Kamala D. Harris is a veteran prosecutor who has dedicated her outstanding legal talents to prosecuting violent crime, combating the sexual exploitation of children, fighting elder abuse and working creatively to improve the quality of life in San Francisco. Raised in Berkeley, Kamala graduated from Howard University and received her law degree from Hastings College of the Law. Kamala began her law enforcement career in 1990 as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County. Over eight years, she handled hundreds of serious and violent felony cases, including homicide, rape and child sexual assault crimes.
Elected as San Francisco's District Attorney in 2003, Kamala has focused with intensity on fighting violent crime. Since taking office, she has increased felony trial conviction rates from 62% to 80%, dramatically increased the conviction rate for domestic violence trials and sent 40% more serious and violent offenders to State Prison. Cracking down on gun crimes, Kamala has more than doubled the conviction rate for felony gun trials, from 43% to 90%.
Education, inspiration and fabulous hats will be the themes of the day as NAWBO®-SF holds its 24th Annual Leaders and Legends Luncheon and 4th Annual NAWBO-University on May 2. Be sure to mark your calendar, select your favorite hat in honor of the “hats off to women” theme, and join hundreds of community and business leaders for the NAWBO®-SF chapter’s premier event! Learn more here. Report from Public Policy Days in Washington, D.C. in February |
 National NAWBO® Public Policy Days
Voices: Rising
February 4-6, 2008
NAWBO®-SF chapter members Susan Shargel,
May Pon and Deborah Wilder attended Public Policy Days in Washington D.C. in February.
Deborah is NAWBO® National Public Policy Forum chair this year and coordinated the conference. Wonderful job, Deborah!
Susan Shargel is the Chair of NAWBO® Public Policy Forum's Health Care Policy working group and moderated a panel of speakers on health care issues such as common trends and differences in state health insurance regulations and building coalitions for affordable health care programs.
May Pon was working with the National Nominating Committee and attended Public Policy Days for the first time. The California NAWBO® members met with Senator Dianne Feinstein's legislative aide to discuss health care programs and small business relief from federal regulations, and to share our opinions about the economic stimulus bill just passed.
Other concurrent sessions offered coaching on becoming an advocate and running for office, employer immigration issues for SBOs, federal procurement opportunities, expanding international business opportunities, and energy issues.
We witnessed the results of the Super Tuesday primaries and received viewpoints and analyses from a panel of local political analysts the next morning at breakfast.
It was an exciting experience for all of us and we encourage all of you to attend future public policy days. We hope to see you at the upcoming NAWBO®-CA Public Policy Days on April 7 and 8 in Sacramento.
--May Pon, NAWBO®-SF Immediate Past President Make the Most of Your NAWBO®-SF Membership! Join the NAWBO®-SF Board and Make a Difference in Your Chapter |
 How do you make the most of your membership in any organization? By participating and getting involved!
There is no better and faster way to make a difference in the success of the NAWBO®-SF Chapter than by serving on the Board. It's a great opportunity to increase visibility for your business, develop professionally, and serve the community of women business owners.
May Pon, Chair of the NAWBO-SF Nominating Committee is inviting members who want to get more involved in NAWBO®-SF to serve on our chapter board. Did you know that you can self-nominate? For more information, email May Pon today!
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 10th Anniversary
Madame C.J. Walker Business and Community Recognition Awards Luncheon
Friday, March 28
10:30am: VIP Reception, Exhibits, Booksigning
Noon: Program and Awards Luncheon
Join the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Oakland Bay Area Chapter, March 28th, at the San Francisco Marriott for the 10th anniversary Madam C.J. Walker Business Community and Recognition Awards luncheon.
Keynote Speaker: Robin C. Brooks, CEO/President of Brooks Food Group, Inc.
A'Lelia Bundles, the great great grandaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, will be in attendance. The MC will be Valerie Morris Coleman.
Download a flyer to learn more about the event.
For tickets call CDA at 510-653-4085 or visit www.onehundredblackwomen.com NAWBO®-CA Public Policy Days: April 7 and April 8 in Sacramento, CA |
 NAWBO®-CA Public Policy Days
in Sacramento
April 7 and April 8
Every NAWBO® member and business owner in the
state of California is invited to Sacramento in April!
If you have never visited your state legislator, come to learn how from NAWBO®-CA leaders. This event will empower you and provide you with the tools and information necessary to navigate through the many legislative issues that impact your business and bottom line on a daily basis.
YOU have the power to change opinions. YOU have the opportunity to meet with your legislators!
Join NAWBO, as well as Women's Caucus leaders at this high-energy event!
Summit Topics include:
• Health Care Insurance
• Independent Contractor Issue Status, and how to protect your business
• Workers Compensation
• California Budget Crisis and its impact on business
• Water Crisis in California and what this may mean to your business
• Utility increases, transportation, taxation, and more!
Walk the Capitol - visit with your legislators and let them know how these issues are impacting your business!
JOIN US -- Let your voice be heard! Click here for the registration form.
Visit www.middleastwomen.org NAWBO® Welcomes the Disney Keys to Excellence: Friday, April 11 at Menlo College in Atherton |
 Join your local business community as we welcome the world-renowned Disney Institute to the San Francisco Bay Area on April 11, 2008, for an incredible day of learning, insight, and inspiration.
A One-Day Workshop: This is a rare opportunity to take an exclusive look at the “business behind the magic.” Participants will learn business best practices from Walt Disney World® insiders, and discover ways to adapt and apply those best practices to their own organizations.
Registration and Information:
Phone: 877.544.2384
Fax: 913.712.9247
Online: keysSanFran.com
Email: [email protected]
Pricing:
Receive a discount of $50 off the standard fee by using this promotional code: NAWBONWSE. The program fee includes registration, program materials, breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
Join us for a day of excellence!
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NAWBO®-SF - San Francisco Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting
NAWBO®-SF - Marin Relationships and Referrals Breakfast Meeting
Tax Strategies for Women Business Owners 
