December 2009 Newsletter

The President’s Corner – Debbie Steg
Program – Networking Mixer and Fashion Show
Pre Meeting Class – for Members Only: Social Media Jump-Start
Renewing Members
Platinum Profile – Mary Rutland
International Forum – A Case for Women Involvement
Upcoming NAWBO-NNM Meetings
New Mexico Business Weekly “Women of Influence” – Call for Nominations
Three NAWBO Satellite Breakfast Meetings
Corporate Sponsors and Platinum Members

The President’s Corner – Debbie Steg

Celebrations

I believe that celebrations play an important part in life, especially in a world that seems to spin into a faster kinetic orbit with each technological advance. Often times, the true reason why we celebrate an occasion or holiday may get lost or obscured.

Did you know that kissing under the mistletoe was first associated with the Roman festival Saturnalia? In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses kiss and make up. Eighteen century England is credited with a magical appeal called a kissing ball. At Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe cannot refuse to be kissed. The kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill. If the girl remained unkissed, it was believed she would not expect to marry the following year. In some parts of England the Christmas mistletoe is burned on the twelfth night in case all the boys and girls who have kissed under it never marry. Even if the pagan significance has been forgotten, the custom of exchanging a kiss under the mistletoe still persists.

Celebrations are rituals that mark an important moment in time and they can be filled with as much meaning as we choose to infuse them. Celebrations that are done with intentional meaning can be enriching, nurturing, and joyful. They have the capacity to strengthen community ties. And we can create, change and enhance rituals and celebrations to be more meaningful to us.

December marks one of the busiest and most important celebration months of the year. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, Guadalupe Day, Saint Lucia Day, and New Year’s Eve to name a few.

For many of us, in addition to the end of a calendar year, it’s also the end of a fiscal year for our businesses. Whether we’re closing up the books for the past year or planning for a vibrant new year to come, it’s important to take stock of the accomplishments accumulated during the year. If you take time to list them, you may find there are many more than you think. Thomas J. Peters said “Celebrate what you want to see more of.” If you’d like to see more prosperity and abundance in your life, celebrate the prosperity and abundance that is already within and around you.

And so as this grand celebration season is upon us, it’s important to remember that when we choose to live a life of meaning and make each moment count, every moment of every day can be a celebration. We can choose to infuse each moment with meaning and ultimately live a meaningful life.

This month, our NAWBO meeting is a networking event: an opportunity to celebrate and share your accomplishments with your NAWBO community and be a part of strengthening our amazing community. We also have a special fashion show planned to add to the festivities and an opportunity to give back to our greater community.

Prosperity blessings,

Debbie Steg
President 2009-2010
Northern New Mexico NAWBO
505-920-7141
Email Debbie

Program – Networking Mixer and Fashion Show by Articles for Her

Welcome the holiday season with the gift of networking. This month’s meeting will be a networking mixer. We will provide you with some fun guidelines on meeting people, and we will offer you the chance to give back to Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Look for the lucky ladies strolling through the crowd modeling eye-catching fashions and accessories from Rhonda Ashcraft’s Articles for Her.

Bring plenty of business cards, and, if you choose, gift cards or certificates for Bigs and Littles to use on their outings (McDonalds, movies tickets, museum admissions, restaurant gift cards, etc). Happy Holidays and a Joyous and Prosperous New Year!

Articles for Her is a moderately-priced clothing store for women that appeals to a wide range of ages and tastes. It is located in the Target shopping center near Montgomery and Wyoming NE. In addition to clothing, Articles is also the main distributor of Brighton products in the state of New Mexico and the primary distributor of Pandora jewelry in the Albuquerque area. Owner Rhonda Ashcraft has a knack for hiring salespeople who relate well to her customers and who help her create a friendly and cooperative shopping environment.

For all the details, and to register, click here

December pre-meeting for members only

Social Media Jump-Start: Putting Web 2.0 to work in your business

Blogging. Podcasting. Social Media. SEO. RSS Feeds. There’s a whole new world in the worldwide web. The best part is that your voice is as powerful as anyone else’s. Learn what it takes to use these new tools of “The New Media” to grow your business in ways that were never available before – for a fraction of the cost of traditional media and advertising.

Carolyn Parrs, certified Marketing Coach and co-owner of Mind Over Markets, a marketing communications and business development company in Santa Fe, will share many of the marketing techniques and strategies of Social Media that have worked so well for her and her clients.

In this workshop you’ll get an overview of the social media scene. Plus you’ll learn:

Why content is king
Why you should serve not sell
A well defined niche can triple your business
Consistency is key to real success

Be prepared to leave with a tool kit full of new marketing ideas and strategies you can begin to implement right away.

This 1-hour workshop from 4:30-5:30 on December 16 is limited to the first 15 members who add pre-meeting in the comments section of the registration page. The cost is $10.

Renewing Members

Lorie Guthrie
Owner
SuperiAire Technologies, LLC
121 Mountain Park Place NW
Albuquerque, NM 87114
505-858-1685
Visit SuperiAire Website
Specialty Fabric Manufacturer and Hot Air Balloon Sales and Repair Station

Hedy Harwell
Real Estate Agent
Coldwell Banker Legacy
8200 Carmel NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122
505-275-5239
Visit Hedy Harwell’s Website
My MISSION is to provide you with professional, knowledgeable service. From the beginning to the end of your transaction, I will attend to every detail, making it as seamless a transition as possible. Let me put my expertise to work for you. I am an Internet-savvy real estate professional with an e-pro certification who knows how to harness the power of technology to market your home on the World Wide Web and provide you maximum exposure. My goal is to help you sell your home for the best price, in the shortest amount of time, with the least amount of inconvenience to you.

Barbara Kline
Principal
Breakthru Communications
PO Box 1412
Corrales, NM 87048-1412
505- 899-8578
Email Barbara
Visit Breakthru Communications Website
Breakthru Communications, with offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Silicon Valley, California, provides strategic marketing and public relations counsel to entrepreneurial companies in high tech markets such as renewable energy, industrial networking, Internet infrastructure and application software, communications, and semiconductors.

Platinum Profile – Mary Rutland

Mary Rutland
Human Resources by Mary Rutland, LLC

Mary Rutland joined NAWBO for the support and advice she needed to start her own business. Originally a mid-school and high school teacher in Texas, she changed directions after being widowed and went back to college to study psychology. There she met Bob, whom she married. They moved to Albuquerque and started a landscaping business. However, having not done the appropriate market research, they eventually discovered that the competition was overwhelming.

Mary had worked at a savings and loan for about six years, during which she had had some training in human resources, and so was able to get an HR position at CVI Laser where she worked for fifteen years. She advanced to the position of Vice President of Human Resources. Eventually, the company was sold to a venture capital company and after she hired the new president and CEO, she was eliminated. A fine how-do-you-do! However, sometimes that’s what it takes to force you to take the plunge…which is what she did.

At first it was a challenge, as with any new venture, but after five-and-a-half years and much support from NAWBO members, Mary is now thoroughly enjoying her work. She focuses on the nitty-gritty of human resources: writing hand books, job descriptions and procedures (with some employee relations thrown in), rather than being a coach.

Because of the challenges associated with entrepreneurship, and the fact that she had never done anything like it before, she feels that succeeding in getting her company started and continuing is her best achievement. Mary had to learn so many things involved in running a company, including learning how to live with an unknown and random income. Fortunately, she now has a few steady clients.

For relaxation, Mary loves reading (when she has time), going for walks, and singing in her church choir, the “4th Street Sound” at 1st United Methodist Church.

NAWBO and its members have been invaluable to Mary for helping her when she needs it and has made a commitment as a Platinum Member to give back to the organization from which she has benefitted. Because working at home can be a lonely experience, she cherishes the friends she has made at NAWBO, and it shows. Her enthusiasm and joy are like fresh air: invigorating and refreshing.

Thank you, Mary, for supporting NAWBO with all you’ve got!

International Forum – A Case for Women Involvement
Eloise Gift
Email Eloise

In 2002, the International Forum on Globalization published Alternatives to International Globalization [A Better World is Possible] to propose alternatives to then current rules and institutions of economic globalization. Principle #2 of the ten outlined in Chapter 2 deals with equity and gives a compelling reason for women to become involved in the global economy.

Fairness is missing wherever one looks in the global economy. Governing institutions, trade agreements and laws favor those with money and harm those without. Women make up the majority of food producers, assembly line workers and household caretakers, yet the majority of their work is unpaid and the overwhelming majority of corporate CEOs and global bureaucrats are male. Greater equality and fairness—between nations, between classes, between women and men, between ethnic groups—are cornerstones of sustainable societies in the future.

NAWBO and NAWBO NNM promote International Forum for NAWBO members. To the extent that we are able to take advantage of the resources offered we are helping to establish or maintain equity in the global marketplace.

Upcoming NAWBO-NNM Meetings

Mark your calendars now; don’t miss these meetings.

January 25 – in Santa Fe, to coincide with ACI’s Business Day in Santa Fe
February 17 Luncheon – Secrets of My Success
March 27 – Tough Cookie Awards
April 21 – Speak Out!

New Mexico Business Weekly “Women of Influence” – Call for Nominations

The New Mexico Business Weekly is seeking nominations of New Mexico’s most dynamic women for our 2010 Women of Influence publication.
We’re looking for leaders in the state’s industries and organizations — women who excel in the areas of business and community. A candidate may be of any age or professional background, as long as she stands out as a model for her peers and is leaving a lasting and positive mark on New Mexico.

Nominees will be evaluated on their professional achievements, contributions to the community and leadership skills. Multiple nominations will not enhance the likelihood of a nominee being selected; however, nominations that cite specific and extensive achievements of a candidate will be given significant weight. Nominees are judged on submitted nomination materials alone.
Previous Women of Influence honorees are not eligible.

Deadline for nominations is Dec. 31, 2009.

For more information, contact Associate Editor Rachel Sams at (505) 348-8322

Use this form to nominate a Woman of Influence.

Three NAWBO Satellite Breakfast Meetings

Establish relationships, network, share business building tips in an intimate casual NAWBO group, and experience the added benefit of being part of a powerful group of New Mexico business owners.

NAWBO-NNM NORTHWEST Satellite

Breakfast Meeting
the FIRST Wednesday of every month
Where: WESST Corp Facility in Rio Rancho
For information please contact Lorie Guthrie at 892-1238

NAWBO-NNM UPTOWN Satellite

Breakfast Meeting
the SECOND Wednesday of every month
Where: Le Peep Restaurant
For information please contact Roz Dufour by email or phone 880-0400

NAWBO-NNM SANTA FE Satellite

Breakfast Meeting
The SECOND Tuesday of every month
Where: Zia Diner in Santa Fe
For information please contact Susanne Kennedy by email or call 505-820-6342.

Corporate Sponsors and Platinum Members

We extend special thanks to our chapter Corporate Partners

They look forward to working with our members. Click on a company logo to visit the web site in a new window or click on a name to send an email.

DIAMOND NAWBO-NNM CORPORATE PARTNER:

New Mexico Business Weekly has the right tools to help you grow your business. The Business Weekly is chock full of local business news, in depth information and tons of leads. Stay in touch with New Mexico Businesses by subscribing to the NM Business Weekly! Our contact is Nancy Salem, 505-768-7008.

SILVER NAWBO-NNM CORPORATE PARTNERS:

We are a full service regional financial services company with a strong focus on a superior level of customer service. We provide a range of services for commercial banking, retail and business banking, and consumer finance. Bank of the West is big enough to help and small enough to care. Please contact Leslie Quade, 505-271-9770

Perfectly situated between the University of New Mexico and the downtown business district, the Embassy Suites Albuquerque provides a relaxing guest experience with comfortable accommodations and impeccable service. Our contact is Natalee Hoff, Catering & Sales Manager, 505-275-7100

COPPER NAWBO-NNM CORPORATE PARTNERS: