Celebrating 30 years of serving the women business owners of Phoenix
Spring 2015 • nawbophx.org
Letter from the President By Dorothy Wolden, President 2014-2015
About NAWBO
NAWBO® prides itself on being a global beacon for influence, ingenuity and action and is uniquely positioned to provide incisive commentary on issues of importance to women business owners. NAWBO Phoenix propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power. Visit one of our FREE welcome meetings, held the second Wednesday of each month – for all new and prospective members. This casual, informational opportunity highlights both local and national benefits of NAWBO membership. This is a great place to determine if NAWBO is a fit for you and your business. Take advantage of this great networking opportunity by bringing business cards and making connections. For more information, please visit NAWBOphx.org. Phoenix Metropolitan Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners 7949 E Acoma Dr., #207 Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 480-289-5768 info@NAWBOphx.org
How to make it last: Business Longevity 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the National Association of Women Business Owners, national association and the 30th anniversary of NAWBO Phoenix. The National Association of Women Business Owners came into existence in the early 1970s when two women, Dottie Grandy and Denise Cavanaugh, realized that if they got together with other professional women, they could learn more as a group and their businesses would benefit. At the time women weren’t allowed to be members of the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce or The United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees). Access to capital was nonexistent without a male cosigner. It was truly an unequal playing field, far worse than what we know now. Gandy and Cavanaugh reached out to a handful of other Dorothy Wolden businesswomen they knew, and started meeting in the back room President, NAWBO Phoenix of their office in an old brick row house in Washington, D.C. Word of these meetings spread quickly, and a network started to emerge. NAWBO has become a national organization with more than 5,000 members and 60 chapters across the country, with the Phoenix Chapter being 5th largest in the network. These women who started NAWBO knew the importance of building a network and creating a place for resources, mentoring and Dorothy Wolden advice to start and build stronger businesses. Today, NAWBO still President stands by that mission, and locally we are striving to bring even more NAWBO-Phoenix 2014-2015 support to women business owners. In 30 years, the NAWBO Phoenix leaders and members have GateWay Community College 108 N. 40th Street, South Bldg (SO) risen to great heights. Past President Donna Davis was appointed by Phoenix, AZ 85034 the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to 480.784.0591 be the Regional Administrator, Region 9 of the U.S. Small Business dorothy.wolden@domail.maricopa.edu Administration (SBA). Past President Kristine Kassel, owner of Benefits By Design, is an award-winning business owner and was recently Years in Business: 13 Years in NAWBO: 6 appointed to the SBA’s Office of National Ombudsman, Region 9 Regulatory Advisory Board. Our membership, past and present, has seen many award winners and influential businesswomen from our community, such as Barbara Barrett, former President of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and Nancy Sanders, the current Regional Center Director of the Maricopa Small Business Development Center. In recent years, several members, including Past President Lynda Bishop, Hope Ozer, Hue Haslim, Pam Gaber, Past President Kristine Kassel and I, were honored as Outstanding Women in Business by the Phoenix Business Journal. The list goes on with countless other award winners. You might say that NAWBO Phoenix can attribute its longevity to having the right people on the bus in the right seats at the right time. As we continue to grow our membership and expand the resources we provide to women business owners of all sizes and business types, we can’t help but look back and have sincere gratitude for Continued on page 8
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