Food For Thought
May 2012 President's Message
It is hard to believe that I am coming upon the one year mark as President of NAWBO-San Antonio. So much has happened and yet it has gone by so very quickly. At this month’s Women Mean Business Luncheon we will vote on a slate of officers for the 2012-2013 NAWBO Board. The nomination committee presents the following candidates:
President Elect: Nancy Victor, Owner of HelpMeTechTeam!!
Secretary: Barbara Hamilton McNeely, Owner of Mariposa Naturals
Treasurer: Cristina Heaney, Owner of U.S. Safety Services
I have agreed to serve a second term as President of NAWBO-San Antonio. This will assist with the continued transition within our chapter and help to solidify our on-going programs. At our End of Year Appreciation Dinner on June 27 at the Old San Francisco Steak House, the new officers will be installed along with the rest of the appointed board. I am looking forward to June 27th because I will have several great announcements to present to you that are currently in the planning stage.
At the April Women Mean Business (WMB) Luncheon, we launched the member profile log-in function on our new San Antonio NAWBO website. If you have not had the opportunity to go to www.NAWBOSA.org website and log-in as a member; please do so. This will allow you to enter your profile and access other member’s profiles and information which is reserved for NAWBO members only. Once you log-in, you will have access to numerous member-only benefits which include: Discounts from our Corporate Partners; Access to the Jackson-Walker Legal Hotline; and information on other benefits available to you from our Corporate Partners. These all add up to some great savings which when used exceed the amount of your annual membership dues. Additionally, at the April WMB Luncheon we “live-streamed video” onto the web. We captured the meeting in Hi-Def video and have made this available to our membership on our website in the member-only area. So if you missed seeing Mayor Julian Castro and City Manager Sculley; you now have the opportunity to view it on-line. Thank you to Jennifer Naverrette, our local social media maven, for her expertise in this area.
As a member of NAWBO-San Antonio, your input into our programs is very important and welcomed. If you have ideas for future programs, please contact me or send an email to info@nawbosa.org with your information. We want to hear from you and include your thoughts into the future planning of NAWBO-San Antonio. Without you as a member, this organization will not exist. In order to continue producing high quality programs that engage our membership; two things are needed: YOUR INVOLVEMENT (on committees and in attending the monthly events) and our Corporate Partners’ involvement. Again, without membership we cannot grow the chapter or future leaders for the chapter. Our chapter has been recognized by National NAWBO as the leader in member retention for our chapter size. Congratulations to our Membership Team for a job well done. And congratulations to all renewing and new members. Now let’s double our chapter size! The time has come to do this!
This month’s WMB Luncheon is featuring the popular Round Table Discussions headed up by our Platinum Corporate Partners and our Executive Member Partners. We already have a great new member benefit to announce to you – so be sure to register today for the May 24th luncheon. You will not want to miss it! And SAVE the DATE for the End of Year Dinner on Wednesday, June 27th. It is another event you will not want to miss.
To our continued success, today and always,
Patsy Foxworth, NAWBO-SA President
Posted by Patsy Foxworth on 16th May, 2012 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Women Mean Business, women entrepreneurs, 2012-2012 Board of Directors, Patsy Foxworth, Nancy Victor, Mariposa Naturals, HelpMe Tech Team, Cristina Heaney, U.S. Safety Services, Mayor Julian Castro, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, Corporate Partners, Member benefits, Jennifer Naverrette, Old San Fransico Steak House
SABJ Article: NAWBO luncheon highlights the ‘political clout’ of women’s group
Check out the lead San Antonio Business Journal article about the political clout of women entrepreneurs and our upcoming Women Mean Business Luncheon with Mayor Julian Castro and City Manager Sheryl Sculley.
Andi Rodriguez is a freelance writer and public relations professional; she also is a pro-tem, at-large member of the City of San Antonio Planning Commission. She can be reached at andimediamarketing@sbcglobal.net.
Posted by NAWBO-SA on 20th April, 2012 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: NAWBO-SA, Mayor Julian Castro, City Manager Sheryl Scully, Women Mean Business, women entrepreneurs, women owned business, public policy, Patsy Foxworth, Foxworth Consulting, Kathy Swanson, Integrated Marketing Werx
April 2012 President's Message
Why is it important for us as business owners to be tuned into what is going on politically? Can’t that just get us off focus in our businesses and send us down a bunny trail that will end in a negative ROI? On first glance, politics can seem to be a mechanism that turns without us. Looking deeper and examining what goes on behind the political scenes are where we see the importance of not only knowing, but being active participants in, what goes on politically.
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) was created to assist in solidifying women business owners, so we would have a much stronger collective voice in Washington, D.C. Today, with over 10 million firms owned by women, employing more than 13 million people, and generating over $1.9 trillion in sales, we have earned the right not only to be heard, but understood.
On Thursday, April 26, the San Antonio NAWBO chapter’s Women Mean Business luncheon is featuring Mayor Julian Castro and City Manager Sheryl Sculley as our guest speakers. The mayor and city manager will focus on Essential Strides in San Antonio: 2012 through 2020. We will have the opportunity to hear Mayor Julian Castro and City Manager Sheryl Sculley update us on their vision for the future of San Antonio. No doubt, this will be a well-attended event (click here to register today). I hope you have secured your seat and that you bring your friends with you.
Additionally, we are coming to the close of our fiscal year in NAWBO-SA. That means we have executive board positions to fill and plans to be made coming into the new fiscal year. If you have an interest in stepping into a leadership role within NAWBO-SA, please contact me, or one of the NAWBO-SA board members (e-mail: info@nawbosa.org). There are numerous committees that need your talent and time to help keep us strong. Just let us know your areas of interest and time commitment; we will make sure you are matched appropriately.
Another huge thank you to the NAWBO-SA Board, committee chairs, and members for all of your hard work and efforts on the ESA Gala. It was a great event and a success because of your efforts.
To success, today and always,
Patsy Foxworth, NAWBO-SA President
Posted by Patsy Foxworth on 6th April, 2012 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
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Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards - The Event
One room, two hundred-plus people, six fabulous women business owners being honored, six outstanding high school teen women receiving scholarships totaling over $20,000; wounded warriors recognized for their service to our country, over $5,000 raised for future scholarships education, inspiration and a group of women coming together to support, connect and inspire each other ….all in one evening. That is what happened at the San Antonio Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards (ESA) Gala on Wednesday, March 21 at the Omni hotel.
It was an honor, as President of NAWBO, to be in the center of such synergy. Six awesome women business owners were awarded by their peers. These ladies all proved to be worthy of the category they were selected to: - Benefactor – Diana Barrios Trevino, La Hacienda de los Barrios
- Innovator – Lisa Ingle, Bikram Yoga San Antonio
- Inspirational – Cristina Heaney, U.S. Safety Services
- Mentor – Sybel Lopez Pici, PiciCo dba McDonald’s
- Rising Star – Dr. Renee Dunlap, Texas State Optical Stone Oak
- Visionary – Mary Reilly-Magee, Love to Swim and Tumble School
I want to congratulate these ladies and say that it has been not only an honor but a privilege to get to know you over the past few months. You all embody the true values of the ESA Award – Excellence, Commitment and Ingenuity. Thank you for your leadership, friendship, inspiration, and tenacity in achieving at such a high level. You give all women entrepreneurs hope in what we do each day.
Giving back is the key to helping to secure the future of entrepreneurship. NAWBO San Antonio does that through their Entrepreneurial Connections “Fostering the Entrepreneurial Dream” teen mentoring program. This six month program encourages high school teen women to further their education beyond high school, teaches them business etiquette and inspires the young women to dare to dream to be an entrepreneur – to someday own their own business. The culmination of the program is a business plan contest where the young women write a business plan. The business plans are judged and the top six are awarded scholarships totaling over $20,000. Congratulations to the 2012 scholarship winners:
Name of Business Business Owner/ Student High School Scholarship
Paws on Wheels Geneis Cedillo Holmes High School $1,000.00
The Sounds of Recovery Valerie Saenz Business Careers High School $1,000.00
San Antonio Youth Shelter Stephanie Solis South San High School $1,000.00
(SAYS)
Dreams on Wheels Holly Judki Business Careers High School $2,500.00
Gianini’s Downtown Buffet Gianini Castillo Lee High School $5,000.00
CAPOLAVORO Tali Fisher Somerset High School $10,000.00
Many thanks to Ali Brown, international business coach who was on last season’s Secret Millionaire, who was the keynote speaker. Ali brought the audience to their feet with her heart-warming account of her Secret Millionaire show experience along with her comments that seemed to hit home with the women entrepreneurs present. Ali Brown was not the only one inspiring the crowd to do more and at a higher level. Thank you Nikki Young of PrimaDonna Productions who stepped in to auction off a Ruth’s Chris Cooking with the Chef Experience which was paired with a chauffeured driven Audi donated by Rick Cavender. Between the live auction item and the silent auction, around $5,000 was raised to support the Entrepreneurial Connections “Fostering the Entrepreneurial Dream” scholarship program. To top off the evening, NAWBO-San Antonio made a generous donation to the Wounded Warriors’ Project. The audience approved with another standing ovation as the Wounded Warrior representative accepted the donation on behalf of the Wounded Warrior Project.
Saying thank you doesn’t seem enough to the sponsors and donors to both the ESA and the Entrepreneurial Connections programs. Additionally, a huge thank you to the corporate partners whose on-going annual support helps to sustain the NAWBO chapter. The evening could not happen without the commitment and work of a great team. Thank you Sayuki Goldman, ESA Chair, and thank you to the ESA Committee who worked hard to make the evening such a success. I am sure there are many who supported the event that I have not mentioned. Please know your work is appreciated. Thank you from a very grateful heart!
Posted by Patsy Foxworth on 23rd March, 2012 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
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Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards (ESA) Gala
NAWBO-SA was begun to support and propel women business owners into success. This month, March 21, 2012, we are honoring and awarding six successful women business owners at our Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards (ESA) Gala at the Omni Hotel (click here for registration and more information). Additionally at the Gala, we will be giving out over $20,000 in scholarships to area high school teen women who have participated in our Entrepreneurial Connections ‘Fostering the Entrepreneurial Dream’ business plan contest. The ESA honorees this year are all phenomenal women. I have had the honor and previledge to meet each one personally. They are down-to-earth, intelligent, savvy business women. We can all learn from them. Let me do a brief introduction of them to you: - Benefactor – Diana Barrios Trevino, La Hacienda de los Barrios
- Innovator – Lisa Ingle, Bikram Yoga San Antonio
- Inspirational – Cristina Heaney, U.S. Safety Services
- Mentor – Sybel Lopez Pici, PiciCo dba McDonald’s
- Visionary – Mary Reilly-Magee, Love to Swim and Tumble School
- Rising Star – Dr. Renee Dunlap, Texas State Optical Stone Oak
Between now and the ESA Gala, I will highlight each of these women – give you a more up-close and personal look at them. From the information that I share with you, hopefully, you will see why these six women were selected from the sixty-five nominees to be given the ESA award – the most coveted award given to women business owners by their peers.
March is also Women’s History Month. The ESA Gala helps to celebrate what women in business have brought to the economy. In San Antonio alone, there are over 50,000 women owned businesses generating over 9.3 million dollars and employing over 70,000 people. Not shabby for this South Texas metropolitan area. San Antonio ranks 39 th out of the top 50 metro areas in women owned businesses. Statistics like this is what makes NAWBO important – an organization that helps members strengthen leadership skills; grow their business through monthly networking programs; inspire and mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs; and additionally, an organization that supports women connecting women in business and in life. We are women business owners who support each other – building businesses one relationship at a time.
So it is with great pride, we invite you to join us for our annual ESA Gala. You will be glad you did.
To success, today and always,
Patsy Foxworth
NAWBO-SA President
Posted by Patsy Foxworth on 2nd March, 2012 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
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