NAWBO Chicago is thrilled to provide the attendees of Women Mean Business®: NAWBO Chicago’s Regional Entrepreneurial Conference & 41st Annual Fundraiser high quality educational sessions throughout the day. Please see below for a list (alphabetical order by presenting company or organization) of sessions and their descriptions.
Click here to view the 2024 Conference Schedule.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Strategies For Online Positioning And Boosting Your Online Brand
Sponsored By: Aetna Better Health of Illinois
Speaker: Ari Krzyzek
During the session, you will explore effective strategies for positioning your brand online and reaching your target audience. You will also gain practical insights and techniques to enhance your online visibility, credibility, and reputation, while learning key elements of successful online positioning. Whether you are a startup company, or an experienced entrepreneur looking to boost your brand to the next level, this session is for you!
Takeaways:
- Gain insights into their target audience’s needs and behaviors, enabling them to create more targeted and relevant online content and experiences.
- Define their brand values, key points of differentiation, and positioning in order to establish a clear and compelling brand identity that resonates with their target audience.
- Identify and evaluate online channels and platforms that align with their brand’s goals and objectives, enabling them to effectively amplify their message, engage their target audience, and build meaningful brand interactions.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Strategic Workforce Resilience: Combatting Burnout For Increased Productivity
Sponsored By: Center for Creative Arts Therapy
Speaker: Azizi Marshall
Description: Are you or your employees feeling burned-out? This dynamic and interactive workshop is your ticket to revitalize yourself, your team and elevate your business success. What You’ll Experience: Let’s talk real-world impact. Burnout hits businesses hard, costing billions in lost revenue and valuable time. Join us for an engaging session where we dive into practical strategies for building a resilient workforce. It’s more than just a workshop – it’s a strategic move towards saving costs and boosting efficiency in your operations. Together, we will unlock the potential for a resilient and thriving organization.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Financial Management: Setting Financial Goals And Overcoming Roadblocks
Sponsored By: COUNTRY Financial
Speaker: Tyler Vance
Tyler Vance
Sometimes we need a little direction to achieve or maintain our financial security. Financial management can help clients and prospects develop realistic financial goals and overcome common roadblocks to financial success. This seminar covers six steps toward financial success: Protecting income and assets, taking control of cash flow, investing wisely, managing taxes, saving for retirement and leaving a legacy.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amp It Up: Technology!
Sponsored By: Cumberland Irving
Speakers: Anabel Lopez, Ken Scales and Connie Wyatt
Anabel Lopez Ken Scales Connie Wyatt
Technologies in the workplace have changed the way we operate, track, respond and interact with each other and our clients. The business office is now “in-office,” “at home” or “on-the-go.” According to the US Chamber of Commerce, 95% of U.S. small businesses use at least one technology platform and 87% of small businesses reported increased efficiency due to technology platforms. Technology is used to advance, innovate, keep us connected and grow our businesses, but as a small business owner, how do we determine what technology we should be implementing, and evaluating, and what does that mean to your bottom line? In this technology session, we will discuss the overall use of technology in small businesses, things to consider and how to implement it when ready.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fearless Financing: Navigating the World of Commercial Loans
Sponsored By: First Women’s Bank
Speakers: Marianne Markowitz, Emily Mattes and Kate Vrijmoet
Marianne Markowitz Emily Mattes Kate Vrijmoet
Hear Kate Vrijmoet, founder of necessary & sufficient coffee, share her unique experience and journey of expanding her business with support from First Women’s Bank. Marianne Markowitz, CEO & President of First Women’s Bank, and Emily Mattes, FWB SVP Business Banking, will discuss overcoming the fear of financing, the advantages of commercial loans, and showcase how to build your own support network to achieve your business goals.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Competitive Edge & Advantage Of People
Sponsored By: Miller Cooper & Co., Ltd
Speaker: Sue Winkler
What does it mean to have a thriving workforce? How do we get there? This session dives into why a diverse workforce matters to business and the tactics needed to build diversity and create engagement.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Advocacy in Action: Make your Voice Heard!
Sponsored By: NAWBO Chicago Advocacy Committee
Speakers: Members of the committee
Ever wonder how public policy can affect your business? Join us to learn what NAWBO Chicago is doing to advocate on your behalf and ensure decision-makers hear the women-owned business voice – and how you can share yours!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Grow Your Firm: Partner With Fractional Experts
Sponsored By: Supporting Strategies | Chicago Southland
Speakers: Lynette DeRose, Brooke Foley, Sue Harrawood and Nicole Martin
Lynette DeRose Brooke Foley Sue Harrawood Nicole Martin
Moderated By:
Jacqueline Ruiz
There are a lot more small businesses that have evolved in the past three years. They need more expertise than ever before – but they either can’t find it – or can’t afford it. So how do you create a high performance, partner-based relationship as something one can identify? How do you take it from zero to hero in a space you never needed before? Fractional experts are ready to take on the journey with you, but you need to be ready to commit and invest as much as you’d ask them to. Because they aren’t employees, and they aren’t freelancers – they are business owners lending you their expertise so you can grow.
You will learn from industry experts Sue Harrawood of Peace of Mind Virtual Assistance, Lynette DeRose of Supporting Strategies Chicago Southland, Nicole Martin of HRBoost LLC, and Brooke Foley of Jayne Agency, LLC.
In this panel you will learn:
- The difference between fractional executive vs. a freelancer
- How to create trust in the role of fractional provider
- How to create boundaries with a fractional expert
- How to manage fractional expertise – internally and externally as it relates to your brand
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Leveling Up To Exit: A Fireside Chat Between A Business Broker & A Small Business Attorney Discussing Strategies To Cue Up Your Business To Scale, Sell Or Gift
Sponsored By: Transworld Business Advisors of La Grange & Posey Law Group
Speaker: Matt Friscia and Stephanie Posey
This session will cover how exit strategies, due diligence and estate planning add value to a small business now and later when the business inevitably transfers owners.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Analyze Your Financial Health
Sponsored By: Tryline Private Wealth of The Princeton Group
Speaker: Jeffrey Simon
Women investors are increasingly taking on important roles in managing their family’s finances. We will address the unique challenges and strengths faced by women as they look for opportunities to improve their financial health and become more empowered. We will cover how to build, manage, protect and enjoy your wealth.
Some question we will address are:
- What obstacles are keeping you from having a plan?
- How do you define tomorrow?
- How can you prepare?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Taking Your Business To The Next Level – How Intellectual Property Gets You There
Sponsored By: UB Greensfelder
Speakers: Kara Cenar, Angela Kalsi, Susan Meyer, Amanda Roach and Jocelyn Smith
Kara Cenar Angela Kalsi Susan Meyer
Amanda Roach Jocelyn Smith
Learn how intellectual property (IP) can take your business to the next level. Topics of discussion will include:
- Foundations of Your Brand
- Trademarks: Best practices for your trademark
- Copyrights: Unsung hero in the IP portfolio
- Trademarks and Copyrights Next Level: How to do protect, maintain, and enforce your rights against others who challenge/infringe your IP? What is goodwill, how do you manage a “portfolio?”
- Social Media: What’s your best strategy there, what are the pitfalls?
- AI and Emerging Technologies: What’s your best practice, what do you need to be extra careful about?
- You have a website: Do you have the necessary terms? Are you taking care with your and others’ IP?
- Heading off disputes: How to use creative options to avoid costly mistakes.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Managing A Virtual Or Hybrid Work Force
Sponsored By: Yetter Tax
Speaker: Diane Yetter
Today many businesses operate in either a fully virtual or hybrid world. Is this a good thing for employees and employers? Come learn how to manage a virtual workforce – from how to successfully recruit remote workers, how to on-board them so they feel part of the team as well as how to provide feedback. We will also cover what should be incorporated into your work culture, environment and policies to create the type of business that is successful for all. Learn from a long-time business owner who has had at least one virtual employee for over 25 years and who went fully virtual in 2010 (yes long before we all had to!). She will share pros and cons of a virtual workforce as well as tips and ideas on how to set up your virtual workforce for success.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spotlight on Success: Learn Insights To Grow Your Business
Sponsored By: BMO
Speakers: 2024 Award Winners Panel
Have you ever wondered how a company seemingly grew overnight? Do you want to learn some key decisions or processes others made to effectively impact growth in their company? NAWBO Chicago invites you to hear from this panel of our 2024 award winners who are catapulting their businesses to new levels. Isoken Ogbomo, Mary Balistreri, Melissa McAtee, Cathie Van Wert, Lindrea Reynolds and Trisha Beltran are leading their companies to remarkable growth. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn valuable lessons from these growth-minded business owners when they share what helped them rise to the top.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you to all the conference sponsors!
