A 2010 Member Survey by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) indicates the trend will continue, not only in women starting new businesses, but also in the growth and expansion of existing businesses. The NAWBO survey shows 34 percent of members expected to hire new workers and 21 percent planned to increase capital investment in 2010.

This is good news for the women’s business community and the economy at large. “In the past decade, the number of privately owned companies started by women in America has increased twice as fast as the number owned by men,” said NAWBO President and CEO Helen Han. “Even in the current business landscape where all businesses are forced to do more with less, and for less, women business owners are holding their own and contributing significantly to the overall economy.”

NAWBO believes there are many reasons for the success of women-owned businesses. “Women business owners are often very resilient because of the challenges they face in starting and growing their businesses,” said NAWBO Chair Kelly Scanlon. “Women also have a natural aptitude for business marketing and tend to be more creative and grassroots in their campaigns—all key to helping them thrive.”

Other notable highlights of the SBO survey include:

• In 2007, 31.9 percent of women-owned firms operated in the repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services industries and the health care and social assistance industries. Women-owned firms accounted for 45.2 percent of all U.S. businesses in these industries. Wholesale trade and retail trade accounted for 36.2 percent of women-owned business revenue.

• California had the most women-owned firms at 1 million (13.3 percent of all such firms), with receipts of $181.5 billion (15.2 percent of all women-owned firm receipts). Texas was second with 610,279 women-owned firms or 7.8 percent, with receipts of $96.8 billion or 8.1 percent. New York followed, accounting for 7.6 percent of all women-owned firms, and 7.1 percent of receipts.

• In 2007, there were 911,285 women-owned employer firms. These firms employed 7.6 million persons with a total payroll of $218.1 billion, an increase of 6.2 percent and 25.7 percent respectively from 2002. In 2007, these firms generated $1.0 trillion in receipts, an increase of 25.9 percent.

For the complete release of data, go to http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo/.

By Yvonne Ayala McClellan

Being a business owner is tough work, but Lee County women are banding together to make it a little easier.

In the past year some Lee County women business owners have found guidance and structure to keep their companies on the right track.

They launched the Southwest Florida chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, which functions as a forum where new and seasoned business owners can find mentors, share novel ideas and develop an educational network — a component that’s lacking from traditional networking groups in the area, said Danielle Lucht, president of the group and financial representative with Alliance Financial Group in Fort Myers.

“A lot of people get into business and they don’t know how to actually run a business,” Lucht said. “We have people who have been in business for 20 to 25 years helping those who have been in business six months to a year.”

But women are an expanding demographic in the business world.

About 10 million firms in the U.S. are majority-owned by women, employing more than 13 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales as of 2008, according to research collected by the Center for Women’s Business Research.

About 50 percent or more of women-owned firms account for 40 percent of all privately held companies, the research showed.

About 25 percent of the roughly 30 members and guests who regularly attend local meetings are experienced business owners and about the same percentage are in the start-up phase with the remainder of members somewhere in between, Lucht said.

The group offers monthly meetings with one education component such as marketing on a budget, tax savings or how to adapt their business plan for 2011.

Shelly Osterhout, who opened Fort Myers-based Computer Solutions of America six years ago, saw the potential of developing collective knowledge through the organization.

Each member also functions as a resource bringing a fresh perspective and skill set to the group that is unique from the others, she said.

As a registered dietician and certified diabetes educator, business owner Dee Harris said she’s more clinically oriented and the group is “kind of like getting an M.B.A. without going back to school.”

Not only has Harris learned from her peers but has also learned about resources that are available to them through the national organization such as programs that help members find new sources of capital, loans and other funding or programs offering tax advantages for certain kinds of contractual work — all for women entrepreneurs.

The group has 22 paying members and is in the chapter formation process. Over the next six months, the group will work toward recruiting.

Tips for Women Business Owners

Danielle Lucht, president of the local women business group said women business owners and leaders should:

• Have a business mentor
• Have focused goals and dreams, both professionally and personally
• Stay connected to what’s happening nationally and locally in their industry
• Not be afraid to try new things
• Make sure to track where their business is coming from, so they can repeat it in 20111

When you go

Southwest Florida chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners

- General Membership Meetings: run the first Thursday of every month; networking starts at 11:30, a working lunch runs from 12 to 1 p.m.

- Business Education Sessions: run the third Tuesday of every month. Members host a meeting at their store or office to learn about the business how members can help each other

 Visit nawboswfl.org for more information

(San Diego, CA, Wednesday, June 29, 2011)—The National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®) is headed to the luxurious Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California, for the Women’s Business Conference 2011 (WBC2011): ACCESS, INFLUENCE, GROW on August 31st-September 1st. This year’s conference will be like no other with its newly condensed, high impact and high energy format designed to offer attendees the flexibility to customize their conference experience to meet their unique business needs.

“This year’s theme, Your Time is Now, speaks to the fact that more than any other time in history women business owners can significantly contribute toward economic recovery and NAWBO® wants to propel them to access new opportunities, influence their future and grow their businesses,” says NAWBO® President and CEO Helen Han. “With a newly improved format and a power-packed roster of speakers, facilitators, sponsors and exhibitors, WBC2011 is a must for women entrepreneurs who want to take their business to the next level of success.”

At the heart of this year’s conference is the Business Pavilion Marketplace & Expo. That’s where attendees will spend the majority of their time participating in roundtable discussions, learning new things in interactive workshops and networking with exhibitors/sponsors. Attendees will also be able to “meet and greet” with other attendees from their own industries or regions. “No other conference focuses on this level of continuous interactivity with so many opportunities for finding key solutions that are critical for business growth,” says 2011-12 incoming NAWBO® National Chair Evelyn Strange of Advanced Electrical Systems, Inc. in Louisville, KY. “No matter where an entrepreneur is with her, or his, business, they will be able to gain powerful opportunities for access, influence and growth.”

Other conference highlights include:

• “A Taste of California” Opening Reception featuring the Mayor of San Diego, The Honorable Jerry Sanders.
• Keynote General Sessions featuring Gail Blanke, Founder, President and CEO, Lifedesigns, LLC, and author of Throw Out Fifty Things-Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life, and Cindy Solomon, Speaker, Consultant and Executive Coach and author of The Rules of Woo: A Guide to Capturing the Hearts and Minds of Today’s Customers. See bios on Gail and Cindy at /content_13773.cfm.
• NAWBO® Hall of Fame Awards Dinner featuring a California Wine Tasting Reception and honoring the 2011 honorees:Maria de Lourdes Sobrino, Founder & CEO, Lulu’s Dessert Corporation, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder and CEO, Act One Personnel Services, Koni Kim, President and CEO, Koni Corporation, and Lynda Weinman, Cofounder, lynda.com.
• Breakout Sessions featuring women entrepreneurs and thought leaders on topics that are the most relevant and timely to propel business growth.
• Corporate Sponsors and Exhibitors dedicated to the success and growth of women entrepreneurs, including premier sponsors like Ameriprise Financial and Wells Fargo (Platinum); Sprint (Diamond); and American Express OPEN, Guardian and Union Bank (Gold).
• Women Entrepreneursfrom across the nation who represent an already established community of success all dedicated to each other’s success.

View the complete WBC2011 agenda at http://nawbo.org/content_13147.cfm.

Register NOW at http://nawbo.org/content_13143.cfm.

(Washington, D.C. Wednesday, July 6, 2011)— While economists say the recession is over and economic recovery has begun, the business community is not so sure. Recent surveys have shown that the nation’s small business owners are remaining cautious and uncertain about short-term economic prospects, and a recent survey of members of the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®, nawbo.org), sponsored by Deluxe Corp (deluxe.com) indicates women business owners share that view. While NAWBO® members are optimistic about the long-term state of the economy, and feel things in their businesses are improving, they remain cautious in the short-term and have put hiring plans on hold so far this year.

“Echoing the concerns they have expressed in each of NAWBO®’s last three annual issue surveys, our members say the state of the U.S. economy is the policy issue of greatest importance to their businesses at the present time,” shares NAWBO® President and CEO Helen Han. In fact, 94%—regardless of business age, size or industry, region of the country or personal characteristics such as age or ethnicity—report the state of the economy is very or extremely important for them in their business today.

Other key policy concerns identified by this year’s NAWBO® member survey include:

• NAWBO® members say the five issues (of the top 10 tested in the survey) most important for U.S. Congress to concentrate on now are: federal budget deficit (36%) and job creation (36%); health care (14%); Iraq and Afghanistan (3%); and illegal immigration (3%).
• NAWBO® members are more concerned than the average U.S. adult about reducing the deficit compared to creating jobs, which is not surprising given that our members have created their own jobs. This same question was asked in a CBS/New York Times national poll earlier this year, and in that survey 43% of U.S. adults picked job creation above all other issues that Congress should be working on.
• In addition to the economy, other very or extremely important issues identified from among the list of top 10 issues tested are:
  • Cost and availability of health insurance for myself and my employees – 81%
  • Business tax issues – 79%
  • Fuel and other energy costs – 78%
  • Education policies and their impact on the quality of the workforce – 65%
  • National security issues, including domestic terrorism – 53%

How do this year’s survey results compare to years past? There has been little change in the dominant importance of economic conditions. Health care costs and availability remain the #2 issue, as it was in 2008 and 2009. Business tax issues, the #3 highest-rated policy issue, came in #2 in importance in 2009 and 2010. The cost of fuel has risen once again to prominence, as it did in 2008.

“While most NAWBO® members believe the country is past the worst of the recession, they remain cautious about the short-term economic situation and are less optimistic looking forward to the end of this year than they were last year at this time,” says NAWBO® National Chair Kelly Scanlon. “However, in the big picture, women business owners are actually more positive in their view of where we are in the current recessionary cycle than the average American adult.”

Similar to a national survey question posed by Ipsos/Reuters in a poll conducted in early 2011, 57% of NAWBO® members and 57% of U.S. adults alike feel the economy has “stabilized but not yet begun to improve.” One-quarter (24%) of NAWBO® members, but only 12% of U.S. adults, feel the U.S. economy has “turned the corner on the current crisis.”

Also notable, NAWBO® members are more optimistic about their own business prospects than they are about general economic conditions. A 62% majority believe the health of their business will be better by the end of 2011, while 31% feel it will be about the same. Also, 72% of members believe their firm’s revenues will be higher by yearend compared with 2010 revenues, including 24% who feel revenues will be up 20% or more. However, 61% say their employment levels will remain unchanged.

“Despite their continued concern about economic conditions and their short-term caution about hiring, we are excited NAWBO® members are very much focused on growing their businesses in the longer term,” says Han. When asked what their business goal is over the next three years, 73% are focused on growth: 37% on growing through expansion into new markets, 33% through greater efficiency and productivity and 3% through merger or acquisition. NAWBO® continues to focus its attention on offering educational platforms that propel women business owners to the next stage of growth. Earlier this year, the NAWBO® Institute launched the Accelerated Growth Series™, a capacity-building educational program especially designed for women entrepreneurs. NAWBO® and its members from across the nation will be in San Diego, California, August 31-September 1, for the Women’s Business Conference where they will access new opportunities, influence their future and grow their businesses.

To download a complete summary of this year’s survey, click here.

About NAWBO®
Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®) propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by: strengthening the wealth creating capacity of our members and promoting economic development within the entrepreneurial community; creating innovative and effective change in the business culture; building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers. Learn more at nawbo.org

“We are thrilled to welcome the new and returning women business owners into our 2011-2012 Board of Directors,” says NAWBO®’s President and CEO Helen Han. “While each of these remarkable women bring unique backgrounds and insights to the table, they all share a commitment to moving our organization and women business owners forward to create an even more profound impact on job creation and the economy in their communities and nationwide.”

NAWBO®’s mission is to propel women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by:
• Strengthening the wealth creating capacity of its members and promoting economic development within the entrepreneurial community
• Creating innovative and effective change in the business culture
• Building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations
• Transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers

The 2011-2012 Board will build on its longstanding history of advocating on behalf of women entrepreneurs through impacting landmark legislation such as H.R. 5050, the Women’s Business Ownership Act passed in 1988, and the recent Small Business Administration’s federal contracting rule to ensure women-owned businesses get their fair share of contracting dollars. The new Board will be formally introduced to the business community at the NAWBO® Women’s Business Conference, held August 31st-September 1st at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California. The conference is newly condensed, high impact and high energy, and can be tailored by participants to meet their current business needs and goals for future growth. For more information, visit http://nawbo.org:80/section_299.cfm.

“NAWBO® has—and will continue to have—a profound impact on the success of America’s 10 million women-owned businesses,” shares Bender. “Being a member of NAWBO for the last 8 years has helped me grow both my business and my abilities to become more effective as a business owner and leader. I look forward to working with the other women serving on the board to help spread the influence and power of NAWBO to more women business owners.”

Bender Consulting (www.benderconsulting.com) is a web development, online marketing and IT consulting firm based in Naples, Fl.

The newest NAWBO chapter is here in Southwest Florida. NAWBO Southwest Florida holds their monthly meetings on the first Thursday of the month in Estero. Learn more at www.nawboswfl.org

Congratulations to the entire 2011-2012 NAWBO® Board of Directors:

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT & CEO
Helen Han
NAWBO®
Washington, DC

CHAIR
Evelyn Strange
Advanced Electrical Systems, Inc.
Louisville, KY

CHAIR-ELECT
Laura Yamanaka
TeamCFO, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Kelly Scanlon
Thinking Bigger Business Media, Inc
Shawnee Mission, KS

SECRETARY/TREASURER
Deborah Stallings
HR Anew, Inc.
Columbia, MD

DIRECTORS

Darla Beggs
Abba Staffing and Consulting
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Billie Dragoo
RepuCare
Indianapolis, IN

Miriam Muléy
The 85% Niche, LLC
Hilton Head Island, SC

Dana Rambow
AristoCare Home Health Services
Tucson, AZ

CHAIR, PRESIDENTS ASSEMBLY
Rachael Bender
Bender Consulting
Naples, FL

About NAWBO®
Founded in 1975, NAWBO® propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. More than 35 years later, NAWBO® is still the only organization that solely represents the interest of women entrepreneurs in all industries. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of its members and promote economic development; to create innovative and effective change in the business culture; to build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and to transform public policy and influence opinion makers. To learn more about NAWBO®, visit www.nawbo.org.

About Bender Consulting

Bender Consulting is a technology consulting firm that specializes in database-driven web development projects and ecommerce stores. Bender Consulting also provides IT networking and support services for small businesses. Bender Consulting has been providing custom solutions for clients in a variety of industries since 1999. To learn more, visit www.benderconsulting.com or email rachael@benderconsulting.com

Please consider joining more than 600 small businesses and local
chamber and association leaders in Washington, D.C. for this exciting
event. With the 2012 elections approaching, this is a “can’t miss”
opportunity to make the voice of your small business heard.
The Summit is THE premiere SMALL business event with BIG results for your business. Here’s a preview of what you can expect at the 2012 Summit:

• Participate in policy briefings tailored to your priorities.
• Engage with your Members of Congress.
• Prepare for the 2012 elections and their impact on your community.
• Connect with small businesses and chambers and associations from across the country.
• Learn from leading business experts.

You can also expect several NAWBO® only sessions, the details of which are currently being finalized.

In addition, one small business will win $10,000! Applications are
now being accepted for America’s Small Business Summit’s DREAM BIG Small
Business of the Year Award! The Awards program is designed to honor our
nation’s job creators and recognize their significant contributions as
drivers of economic growth.
Apply online or nominate a business at www.uschambersummit.com/award. Nominations are due on January 6, 2012 and applications are due on January 13, 2012 so don’t delay!

Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

• Staff training and motivation
• Community involvement
• Customer service
• Business strategies and goals
• Financial performance and business history

Please consider applying yourself or nominating someone you know for
this prestigious award and mark your calendar for the America’s Small
Business Summit on May 21-23, 2012!
For planning purposes, NAWBO® would like to secure a room block. If
you are interested in attending the Summit and would need a room in DC,
please CLICK HERE to let us know. The tentative rates at the Omni Hotel/meeting venue would be around $269/night.

When Gail Markham opened her accounting firm 32 years ago, she learned what discrimination felt like.

She had applied for a business loan and prepared a thorough loan package, including an in-depth business plan, projections and financial statements showing her company was profitable. But the loan officer at the bank wouldn’t recommend her loan, she said.

“I believe in my heart that if I was a male CPA sitting there, he wouldn’t have done that,” said Markham, a partner at Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co in Fort Myers.

Although Markham and other women business owners faced discrimination years ago, today women are not the minority they once were. But despite the benchmarks women have achieved as business owners and professionals in Southwest Florida, business groups, centers and awards geared toward women have taken off in the area, and new ones move in every day. Also, women-owned businesses still qualify for minority-owned business programs, even if the owners are white.

When women-owned firms are combined with equally owned male-female firms, nearly 46 percent of U.S. firms have a female in a primary ownership role, according to a January study by the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corp. that was commissioned by the National Women’s Business Council.

In Lee County, women-owned businesses make up about 26 percent of all businesses and in Collier County, they make up about 27 percent of all businesses, according to the 2007 Survey of Business Owners U.S. Census report.

Markham’s firm is a prime example of how demographics have changed. In school, she was the only female in her accounting class, but today about 75 percent of employees at her accounting firm are female and three out of the four principals are female, Markham said.

There are also many more women-focused groups and awards.

The National Association of Women in Construction has had an active presence for many years and the American Business Women’s Association has five local chapters . About two years ago, local business women also launched a Southwest Florida chapter for the National Association of Women Business Owners and recently the Florida Women’s Business Center opened a branch at the Southwest Florida Enterprise Center.

That’s not to mention the local organizations tailored for business women such as Lee Collier Business Women and the Women in Business group for the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. Many of the organizations have their own awards including the chamber’s APEX award and ABWA’s Women Making History award. There’s also the upcoming International Women’s Night of Southwest Florida, an award ceremony that will recognize a local woman in May in honor of International Women’s Day, which was Thursday.

Events still important

Leonardo Garcia, who heads up the Hispanic American Business Alliance, has been working with Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall and the Multicultural Center of Southwest Florida to create the event.

“In every part of the world you’ll see communities celebrating this important date,” Garcia said. “It’s about time that we come together as a community and start celebrating the achievement that women bring to this community on International Women’s Day.”

He says the event’s international component separates it from other community women awards, that are tailored to only the local community. He also feels that it’s important for men to attend these events and become involved in women’s group to become more aware of their needs and challenges today.

The event is also a way to continue to provide awareness and education to the next generation of leaders, male or female, he said.

Even with so many organizations to choose from and awards to participate in, each event or networking group serves its purpose, said Colleen DePasquale, president of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber.

“Every group kind of has their own little culture and you just might fit into one better than another,” she said.

More than gender

While some attend the meetings to mentor and socialize with other women, Carol Conway says the gender factor isn’t a focus for her. That’s not to say Conway, owner of CRS Technology Consultants, hasn’t participated in women-focused business groups.

She’s participated in the Greater Fort Myers Chamber APEX Award, was involved in NAWBO during the infancy of her company and attends International Women’s Forum meetings . The groups and awards have fulfilled different professional needs as much as a mixed-format group would, Conway said.

“I’ve never joined an organization specifically and explicitly for gender,” she said. “I joined because of content.”

The relevancy comes from the information, materials and resources the peer group contributes, she said.

In the 19 years she’s owned her business, she never felt disadvantaged in any way, she said.

While the special considerations may have served a purpose when women were first entering the workforce , the needs of women in business have evolved, she said.