EWN ANNOUNCES New Organization at March 4th Leaders Reception: EWN Young Executives!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Last week at EWN's Leaders Reception held March 4th at Chicago's prestigious East Bank Club - Amanda Babst, Executive Vice President of Empowering Women Network, Inc. announced the kickoff of EWN's Young Executives organization (EWNYE).
Amanda introduced Pranjel Hegde and Megan Schlesinger two of the EWNYE Board Members, announced the first EWN Young Executives event will be held on July 8th in Chicago, and shared with the group the mission for this newly formed organization.
EWN Announces NEW Business Roundtables
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ANNOUNCING THREE new roundtables locations
Orland Park - First meeting - February 9th at 8:00am (National City Bank - Orland Park, IL)
EWN Roundtables are open to all EWN Members and their guests. They are Small Groups of EWN Members who meet throughout the Chicagoland area, sprecifically to:
Develop new business opportunities
Discuss current business challenges
Hear speakers on specific topics'
Meet new friends
Current Roundtables:
Wheaton-Danada Roundtable Leader, Pam Stella
Glen Ellyn Roundtable Leader, Cathy Leman
Schaumburg Roundtable Leaders, Sue Kirshner & Karen Killinger
Chicago Roundtable Leader, Nicole Brucker
Rockford Roundtable Leader, Laura Pomerene
Oak Brook Roundtable Leaders, Anna Weselak & Roz Kovel
If you have any questions about EWN Roundtables or EWN please let us know - info@empoweringwomen.net
EWN Member Cathy Leman - WGN's Morning Show!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tune in December 31, 2009 to see EWN Member Cathy Leman prepare healthy smoothies on WGN's Morning Show; 6:45 a.m. segment time.
"The recipes will help with the big three New Year's resolutions; losing weight ~ eating healthier ~ getting fit"
Author of "Nutrition At Work: 60 Simple Ways To Eat Healthy On The Road And At The Office", & "Eat Healthy. Live Healthy. 114 Easy Ways To Make Good Nutrition A Habit"
Empowering Women Network (EWN) member Karen Killinger recently graduated from Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy, passed the National Certification exam and will be filing paperwork with the state to become a Licensed Massage Therapist!
Congratulations on your SUCCESS!!!
EWN Member Lisa Ellerbeck Featured in Crains Chicago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2009
EWN Member Lisa Ellerbeck featured in Crain's Chicago Magazine.
Athena International - 2009 Award Winners Announced
October 2009
EWN Supports Athena International's mission and congratulates this years nominees and winners
Athena International Mission
Supporting, developing and honoring women leaders
Inspiring women to achieve their full potential
Creating balance in leadership worldwide
Athena International announced the 2009 recipients of the prestigious Athena award and will be celebrating all nominees and winners at a luncheon on November 4, 2009 for a list of the winners and information about the luncheon
EWN Founder, Georgia Dudley was a nominee for this prestigious award in 2007.
EWN Offers Professional Development Training
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3rd, 2009
Empowering Women Network, Inc. announces it will be offering a new service to professional women.
"EWN Professional Development Series for Business Women". The series will offer business women training in the areas of leadership, management, self promotion, etc. The series will include class room, speakers, accountability partners, "touch point" teleconferences and group discussions.
For more information contact Empowering Women Network, Inc. at 630-469-4338. or click on the Professional Development Link from EWN's home page!
EWN announces it will be starting another EWN Business Roundtable for EWN members October 30th, 2009.
The roundtable will be lead by Cathy Newman of Nutrifit, Inc. and be held in Glen Ellyn, IL.
Information about EWN Roundtables:
Meeting Length 1-1/2 hours
Introductions 15-30 minutes
Things we do at EWN Roundtables:
Discuss Business Challenges and Receive Feedback (ADVISORY BOARD)
Network with each other for new Business Opportunities
Present our Elevator Pitch or Infomercial and Receive Feedback
Hear Speakers(10-15 minutes) Topics (decided by the group) and all Speakers are EWN members!
EWN Member Wins 2010 Board Position
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
EWN Member Kimberlee Campble of CIMCO has been selectedfor a 2010 Board position with CCASTD Chicago Chapter American Society Training and Development. The position would be the Dir of Volunteers and manage the matching of volunteers to volunteer opportunities.
Congrats Kimberlee Campble!
EWN Celebrates 7th Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2009
Empowering Women Network, Inc. celebrated their 7th year as an organization on June 18th, 2009 at the Westin in Lombard, IL. EWN founderGeorgia Dudleyand several of the EWN Members in attendance shared their experiences and value they have found from participating in the organization!
Empowering Women Network, Inc. is the largest professional women's organization focused on leadership and the advancement of professional women in the midwest.
EWN Member Sue Kirchner In the News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 20, 2009
EWN Member ~ Sue Kirchner's Chocolate Cake Club, an online store for children's products and gifts for moms, was named one of the top 200 mom-owned businesses in the country.
Georgia Dudley, a full-time business owner and single parent, was fortunate enough to receive advice and moral support from experienced businesswomen early on her career.
For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:
EWN Member Kristen Prinz of The Prinz Law Firm recently launched a new website at www.prinz-lawfirm.com. The Prinz Law Firm focuses on employment and general legal matters.
EWN Member Interviewed NBC Chicago!
I was interviewed by NBC Chicago on the importance of networking in this economy. It aired tonight. If you'd like some tips, you can watch online here:
To receive a copy of the "5 Top Secrets of Great Networkers" I discussed in the interview, visit my website http://www.enerpace.com or just email me for a copy.
All the best- Elene
Elene Cafasso, Enerpace, Inc. Executive & Personal Coaching as Individual as YOU are! elene@enerpace.com
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: EWN Member Receives NIU Distinguised Alumni Award
Anna Weselak
Every year the Northern Illinois University Alumni Association recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni through the Distinguished Alumni Award, the F. R. Geigle Service Award, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and the Outstanding Alumni Award for each of the seven academic colleges at Northern. Recipients are selected based on outstanding professional and personal successes, as well as involvement in civic, cultural, or charitable activities. “NIU alumni have gone on to distinguish themselves and Northern in countless ways,” explains Pat Anderson, director of alumni relations. “This awards program seeks to recognize some of those outstanding individuals who have gone out and achieved great success in their personal and professional lives.”
The Outstanding Alumni Award for the College of Education was awarded to Anna Marie Weselak, ’71, M.S.Ed. ’74. Weselak runs her own consulting business, Weselak & Associates, while serving as a trainer for the Center for Teacher Effectiveness and instructor for Pearson Academic Solutions. Professional memberships include the Lombard Chamber of Commerce, the Glendale Heights Chamber of Commerce, and past chairman of the board of directors of the Oak Brook Area Association of Commerce and Industry. Weselak has received many recognitions, including the Lombard Woman of the Year and the Most Influential Woman in Business Award from the Business Ledger.
The NIU Alumni Association honored these outstanding alumni at a private reception at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center in DeKalb on Thursday, April 23.
EWN Founder, Georgia Dudley will be speaking at the Beloit,WI Chamber March 11, 2009 - Topic:
The ROI of Networking.....
EWN Announces LINKED IN Group for MEMBERS!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2008
Empowering Women Network, Inc. (EWN) announces the addition of an EWN Linked In Group for its members. The linked in group will be a valuable addition to EWN's Services and position the organization to add Virtual Membership later in 2008!
EWN Corporate Member, National City Bank, Presents 2009 Donation to the James R. Jordan Foundation
At EWN's Holiday Celebration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2008
EWN Corporate Member National City Bank represented by Ms.Amanda Babst and Ms Jody Benjamin attendedEWN's Holiday Celebration held Thursday, December 6th at the East Bank Club in Chicago and presented Mrs. Deloris Jordan of the James R. Jordan Foundtation a check in the amount of $47,500. This donation represents National City Banks 2009 contribution to the foundation.
Mrs. Babst thanked Mrs. Jordan for her exemplenary work with children and women here in Chicago and around the world. For more information about the James R. Jordan Foundation (www.jamesrjordanfoundation.org)
EWN Celebrated her 6th year Anniversary at IIT's Rice Lake Campus, Wheaton IL on June 19th, 2008. Over the last 6 years EWN has become an industry leader in the advancement of professional women and the largest professional women's organization in the Midwest.
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What a great anniversary event last week! We had the pleasure and honor of hearing the amazing and talented Georgia Dudley talk about the importance of supporting the Women's Team--not just each of us as individuals. She hammered in the idea that when another women wins, we all win. When she wins, our daughters and granddaughters all win.
Did you miss it? Never fear! You can hear the entire audio of her fantastic speech for FREE! It's just over 35 minutes long and GREAT for burning to a CD and listening in the car on the way to work. Or just listen directly from your computer, no iPod necessary!
RR Donnelley Names Dr. Damayanti Vasudevan Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion
CHICAGO - R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NYSE:RRD) today named Dr. Damayanti Vasudevan as Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, a newly created position. She will be dedicated to strengthening RR Donnelley's ability to serve diverse customers by ensuring that the company's business practices are inclusive of people of the highest integrity and ability with a variety of backgrounds and credentials.
Dr. Vasudevan, 43, will be responsible for continuing to accelerate inclusion and diversity at all levels of the company by establishing and implementing key workplace, marketplace and community outreach strategies that align with and support the new RR Donnelley's business and growth strategies.
Over the span of a 22-year career, Dr. Vasudevan has developed numerous programs and tools to enable individual and organizational growth. For the past ten years, her primary focus has been on helping corporations to develop and implement strategies for leveraging business opportunities in a diverse environment. In 1999, she joined RR Donnelley, where she has held the positions of Director, Training and Organizational Development in the Logistics business unit and Director, Diversity and Organizational Effectiveness.
"Damayanti has been a driving force at RR Donnelley in developing, promoting and implementing a strategy that values differences and attracts and retains the talent required to help us excel in the world in which we do business," said Mark A. Angelson, Chief Executive Officer of RR Donnelley. "She brings to her elevated position a unique combination of industry expertise, passion and leadership skills that will help us to achieve our goal of making RR Donnelley a champion of diversity. I look forward to working with her as we shape the RR Donnelley of the future."
Vickie Austin's Golden Rolodex Strikes Again!
Hello, fellow networkers!
If you haven't already heard Vicki Austin's Golden Rolodex talk, you should! Don't have time? Why not download it, burn it to a CD and listen to it later? Or just listen from your computer when you have time?
The latest episode of Diary of a Shameless Self-Promoter podcast is a chat with Vicki about why some of us fear networking and how to make it fun. It's 33 minutes of fantastic, fun information!
Empowering Women Network, Inc. (EWN) announces plans to provide services for professional women in the Rockford, IL area. In February 2008 the Rockford team will hold its first EWN Monthly Meeting.
"It's not simply something they do, it's a commitment that literally permeates the organization," says the American Cancer Society's Rita Forden, vice president of distinguished giving.
Forden applauds the cancer commitment of Deerfield-based Walgreens, among the first major Illinois' employers making a commitment to corporate partnering in the battle against cancer.
As the largest drug-store chain in the United States in terms of sales volume, Walgreens, says Forden, has a time-honored commitment to the American Cancer Society through its involvement in many volunteer events and customer engagement. That commitment, across all levels of the organization, resulted in receipt of the 2007 ACS Corporate IMPACT award honoring companies raising at least $1 million or more during the calendar year.
Motorola, United Airlines, Boeing Corp, Dominick's and Pampered Chef are among other major Illinois employers formalizing their commitment to partner in the fight against cancer.
EWN Member Carolyn Gable on "The BIG Idea" With Donny Deutsch.
Just wanted to let you know that I received a call yesterday from CNBC and, as a result, the studio is flying Carolyn to NY this afternoon for a taping of "The BIG Idea" with Donny Deutsch. The show will air tomorrow night, May 14, at 9:00pm our time.
As you can imagine, Carolyn is very excited and I'm sure she would be pleased to have you catch the show if you are available. Please let anyone know who would like to see her 'in action'. Thanks for your continued friendship and support.
EWN Founder, Georgia Dudley, Nominated for 2007 ATHENA International Award
FOR IMMEDIATE Release:
EWN Founder - Georgia Dudley Nominated for 2007 ATHENA International Award.
Award luncheon will be held Monday, November 5th at Chicago's Palmer House Hilton. For more information www.athenainternational.org
ATHENA Award Criteria ATHENA Award Recipients are individuals who:
Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession
Provide valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community
Actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential
EWN Board Members Featured in CRAINS Chicago!
Congratulations to Deanna Salo (EWN Advisory Board) and Heather Locus (EWN Leadership Team) on being featured in Crains today! It’s a good article and interesting to see how lives change when you choose to be a working mom vs. an at-home mom.Here’s the link in case you haven’t yet seen the article
Jennifer Wilken, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones was recently elected as Development Vice President for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation. This national board position enables Jennifer to blend her passion for educating women along with her ability to gather more fundraising dollars to futher the work of the Educational Foundation. The AAUW Educational Foundation is the largest provider of scholarships for women pursuing graduate degrees. This year the AAUW Educational Foundation released it's research publication "Behind the Pay Gap" which illustrates the continued wage gap between men and women in the workplace. http://www.aauw.org/research/all.cfm
Empowering Women Network helps businesswomen make money!
By Emily Udell Medill News Service Posted Thursday, August 24, 2006
When Georgia Dudley incorporated the Empowering Women Network Inc. in 2002, she did it before she’d signed up a single member. But Dudley wasn’t worried about finding professional women to join her for-profit organization.
“Before I started EWN, I found out what people wanted to buy,” Dudley said.
Seventeen women attended the first meeting at her home in Glen Ellyn, and membership has been growing since then, primarily through viral networking. Membership has doubled each year, and the network maintains a 65 percent to 75 percent renewal rate.
Now, it boasts more than 600 members, including 16 corporations, and represents myriad fields, including real estate, marketing and banking.
By providing company-hosted roundtable discussions, speaker sessions and mentorship, the professional women’s organization helps entrepreneurs turn good ideas into success stories.
“Often women open their own businesses (and) they end up with a hobby rather than a profitable business,” said advisory board member Barbara Bruno, owner and president of Chicago-based staffing companies HR Search Inc. and Good as Gold Training.
As of 2004, there were approximately 10.6 million private companies that were at least 50 percent women-owned. They generated $2.4 trillion in sales and employed 19.1 million people, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research.
In Illinois, there were approximately 460,000 companies that were at least 50 percent women owned, slightly more than half of all privately-held firms in the state. Between 1997 and 2004, the number of these firms grew by 18 percent.
While businesswomen are making gains, they still contend with old challenges. “Some of the same issues that I faced 30 years ago are still there and they shouldn’t be,” Bruno said.
Decades after the women’s movement, 35 percent of the top 50 public companies in the Chicago area have no women top wage earners, according to the Chicago Network, a professional women’s organization.
“The women’s revolution struck a match,” Dudley said. “It was extreme, but it opened the doors for a more temperate approach.”
Individual, entrepreneurial members pay $300 to $500 annually. Corporate members pay $2,500 to $5,000, and include IBM, R.R. Donnelley & Sons and Tribune Co.
“It is more than just a networking group,” said Debra DeFrancesco, who became a member while she was establishing her business as an independent sales contractor for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “Being with professional women that are willing to give back is a huge asset.”
A recent study by the San Mateo, Calif.-based SuccessFactors found many companies unprepared for the widening talent gap spurred by baby boomer retirement. Of respondents, 46 percent reported difficulty finding and promoting talent internally.
This is where Dudley’s company comes in. As she sees it, corporations benefit from membership because they promote their own “women-friendly” image and can identify potential leaders among those who become active in EWN.
“The key for these companies is they want to maintain their high-potential leaders,” she said. “They can see who rises up and gets involved.”
Candi Castleberry-Singleton to Lead Motorola Global Inclusion
SCHAUMBURG, ILL. – 23 October 2006 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) has named Candi Castleberry-Singleton vice president of global inclusion. Castleberry-Singleton joins Motorola after five years at Sun Microsystems, where she designed the corporation’s first integrated inclusion and diversity strategy as director of global inclusion and diversity.
Castleberry-Singleton will focus on developing and implementing a global Motorola strategy that reflects Motorola’s commitment to inclusion in the marketplace, workforce and workplace. The three-year strategy will center on embedding inclusive practices into talent management processes and community, supplier and customer initiatives. She also will coach and counsel senior executives and partner with key business process owners to build sustainable business practices.
Prior to Sun Microsystems, Castleberry-Singleton worked in sales, product marketing, training and sales management at Xerox Corporation for 12 years.
A recipient of the 2004 Women of Color in Technology Award, Castleberry-Singleton holds a master’s degree in business from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from the University of California at Berkeley, and is a graduate of the Stanford University Human Resources Executive Program. Her board memberships include Diversity Best Practices, Linkage Diversity Summit, League of Black Women and Women of Color in Technology Alumni Association. She is a former co-chair of The Conference Board’s Diversity Business Council.
About Motorola Motorola is known around the world for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications. Inspired by our vision of Seamless Mobility, the people of Motorola are committed to helping you get and stay connected simply and seamlessly to the people, information, and entertainment that you want and need. We do this by designing and delivering "must have" products, "must do" experiences and powerful networks -- along with a full complement of support services. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $35.3 billion in 2005. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit www.motorola.com