NMSN MAGAZINE
March 5, 2014, Vol. 1, Issue 3
• FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT • IS YOUR WEBSITE LEGAL?
• BECOMING A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT • SMALL BUSINESS MENTORS
TA B L E
OF
CONTENTS 3
PRESIDENT’S LETTTER
4
FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT
6
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
10
SMALL BUSINESS MENTORS
12
WORKING WITH A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
14
BECOMING A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
18
JUMPSTART YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURE
22
FACEBOOK PAGES AND YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
26
THE WORKFLOW INVESTMENT SYSTEM: A LITTLE KNOWN RESOURCE
30
SEVEN SUPERPOWERS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
34
IS YOUR WEBSITE LEGAL?
38
NMSN SHOWCASES MILITARY SPOUSE ARTISTS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
42
MEET THE EXPERTS
Sue Hoppin
Lorelei Taylor
Julie Waters
Matt Zemon
Melissa St. Clair
Melissa St. Clair
Phil Dryer
Greta Perry
Kristy Fairfax
Phil Dyer
Rachel Rodgers
Tanya Biank
Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org About Us | Join Today | Editorial | Advertise No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored or transmitted the written permission of the Publisher. 2 in any form without
We’re so pleased to present this latest edition of our digital magazine featuring articles highlighting every aspect of employment, volunteerism and entrepreneurship. Whether you’re looking to leverage your strategic volunteering experience into bullets for your resume, start a business or take your business to the next level, I think you’ll find some fantastic insights from our experts and guest contributors. Make sure you take a look at the feature by Tanya Biank that highlights our military spouse artists and photographers. You’ll be so impressed by the talent of our military spouse community.
Sue Hoppin As diverse as our military spouse goals and career paths may be, some things are universal. As we move from installation to installation, there are some tools that you should have in your kit that will make the transitions more manageable. 1. NETWORKING/BUSINESS CARD Don’t miss out on that next opportunity or potential client because you don’t have a business card on hand. Even if you don’t have a new address yet, get a generic one with your contact information on it so people can always get in touch. Companies such as Vistaprint are always running free business card sales, so keep an eye out. 2. UPDATED RESUME “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity (Seneca).” Keep your resume updated. You never know when someone is going to ask for it and it’s easier to keep it updated than it is to have to go back after years to try to recreate your experiences. Freelancers and entrepreneurs—this applies to you as well! When you’re going after those board or advisory positions, you’re going to be asked to provide a resume, so don’t get complacent because you don’t think you’ll be looking for a job. 3. LINKEDIN PROFILE Let’s get real, before someone hires you or decides to work with you, they’re going to Google you. You want a professional profile to be one of the first things to pop up. Take the time to pull together a complete LinkedIn profile. It’s free and a great place to gather your recommendations as you move from installation to installation. If you’re looking for a job, it’s also a great place to do research on potential employers, network with folks in your new location and look for opportunities. Don’t know where to start? Check out our military spouse owned businesses, you’ll find a slew of talented professionals who can help you. http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org/public/ Homefront_Business_Listings.cfm Connect with us on Facebook /NMSNetwork and on Twitter @NMSNetwork Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Count
by Lorelei Taylor
photo by Sarah Eisenhardt Photorgaphy
Let’s face it; you don’t want people to know that you secretly slump around your house in sweats and a t-shirt. They don’t need to know that a blazer isn’t actually your favorite article of clothing. When establishing a business relationship you want to put your best foot forward, starting with the head-shot you choose for your business profiles.
of a white wall consider a few of these pointers to help you achieve a professional appearance: GO PROFESSIONAL You’ll want to find a photographer to take your head-shot. Although the picture of you and Justin Bieber is amazing and gives you a great story to talk about, it doesn’t say “confident, established, and knowledgeable.” Save that gem for Facebook and hire a professional who understands their camera and lighting well. You may even find an on-location photographer willing to come to your place of business to capture your headshot with
A good headshot says many things about you to include confident, established, and knowledgeable. You’ll want to showcase this image on social media sites such as LinkedIn as well as marketing materials and in your personal biography. Before you grab your iPhone and pose in front Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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your usual surroundings as the background.
to remove.
KNOW WHAT YOU’RE PAYING FOR
STRIKES A POSE
Find a professional who sells digital images with a royalty free business release. This allows you to use your image without limits. Be prepared to spend more on these digital images than more common types of photo images. Consider it an investment.
Traditional head-shots are cropped just above the elbow joint. For best results you should be sitting turned at a slight angle on a tall stool with no back. Straighten your back and put as much distance between your ears and shoulders as you comfortably can. Posing like this will produce a cleaner neckline. You’ll want to keep your hands folded together on your lap, to prevent awkward spaces at your sides.
CONSIDER THE CLOTHES Set aside the vibrant geometric-patterned tie your kids bought you for Christmas, the chunky ornate necklace that matches your eyes and the hat you may have purchased to wear while watching the royal wedding on TV. You want to create a timeless look.Stick to solid neutral colors and understated jewelry such as a strand of pearls. Dark articles of clothing refocus attention onto your face and provide complimentary shadows under the chin.
Most importantly—don’t stress! Think, act and be confident; this will translate well in your images. Lorelei is an accomplished photographer and military spouse currently located in the Detroit, Michigan area. After four years in the photography business, Lorelei has found a passion in helping women realize their beauty through her career as a health and fitness coach with the Beachbody company. Tracking transformations through a photo journalistic approach, she combines her love of photography and fitness with the hope of motivating and inspiring women to achieve their goals and learn to love themselves. To see some of her work visit http://loreleitaylorphotography. com or follow her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/loreleitaylor
LET’S TALK ABOUT MAKEUP It’s not prom. Stick to neutral tones. Mascara, pencil applied with a light touch and a clear lip-gloss are quite sufficient for your images. BLEMISHES HAPPEN If Murphy’s Law strikes and you wake up with a doozy of a pimple, don’t squeeze it! While our photographer will be able to easily correct minor imperfections, a giant swollen bump may not be so easy Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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BIRDS OF A
Feather
by Julie Waters
Everyone likes to connect with people who have similar interests and abilities, not just for fun, but for work too. There are professional societies, associations and groups for almost every occupation, job, business and pastime. Make sure you know how to make the best use of them.
easy to seek out those people who can help you. Go to the local association meetings. Even if you don’t know which association or group you should be looking for, you can start with something generic like a Rotary Club or a Chamber of Commerce meeting. Most people there will either know where you should turn next, or they know someone who will know.
JOINING THE FLOCK—GETTING JOBS If you were trying to replace yourself in your current job, where would you turn for candidates? I would turn to my colleagues in my profession. Conversely, if I am looking for a job, that is where my search would begin, even if I don’t yet know those colleagues. Professional groups make it Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
Aside from the face-to-face meetings and getting to know the other professionals in your city, another added benefit of joining an association or other professional group is that they generally provide a place to 6
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find targeted job postings. There may also be a place to post your resume so members of the group can look you up when they have an opening available. If the group doesn’t have a job board or resume bank then don’t be shy about handing out your resume at a meeting.
THE ‘V’ FORMATION—GIVING JOBS Back to the original question... if you are about to PCS and need to replace yourself, where would you look for someone just like you? Perhaps there is a military spouse that has your set of skills. Awesome! Helping out one of our own would be fantastic. But if that won’t work out, you need to find a person with similar expertise. Hiring from within your organization may be an option, or perhaps you can poach from a competitor. You are more likely to find someone you consider to be qualified through a professional association. Now forget about YOUR area of expertise, let’s say you are an accountant and your firm has a need to hire a public relations specialist. You and all of your accounting friends don’t know any PR people, but there is an organization for PR people that you can access. Posting positions on the websites for both local
FEATHERING THAT NEST—KEEPING JOBS Once you are in gainfully employed, you probably want to stay that way! Keeping up to date with the latest and greatest in your profession is absolutely vital to your success. Professional associations and societies typically publish a newsletter, magazine, blog and/or website that you should be checking on a regular basis. Whether it is interior design or human resources, you need to remain informed about the latest trends, practices or laws. Discussions about the practical applications of those changes and how they will affect business are valuable teaching tools. Pay attention and participate in those discussions because there is always something to learn from your colleagues.
Connect with other military spouses at our NMSN networking events and annual Career Summit.
As an HR professional, I understand that benefits are constantly changing due to legislative and legal decisions. I would not be doing a good job and protecting my company if I wasn’t getting regular updates and information from my professional society.
Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
View upcoming events.
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and national associations is much less expensive than a posting in the paper, and most of your responses will be from qualified professionals.
You may find that your best friend from seventh grade is in the same profession as you and lives in the city where you are about to move. Even if you stole her boyfriend in the eighth grade, I bet she has forgiven you and she can help you out with an introduction at the next association meeting. Or maybe that friend is in a different profession, but she knows someone who would be able to assist you. Would you be happy to pass a name or a resume along? Surely someone would be happy to do it for you.
IT’S A DIFFERENT FLOCK Your personal life is full of military jargon, acronyms and regulations, and it is comfortable. Our relationships with other military spouses are invaluable. The lessons, advice and help that are passed from spouse to spouse are part of what make our community so special. Your professional networks allow you to step away from all of that, and will allow you to stretch yourself and move outside the cocoon of military life in which we sometimes live. It lets you be around some other people for a while. (Other people who don’t automatically ask you what your husband or wife does) I feel strongly that my profession gave me the ability to grow as a person separately from my husband and the military. It made me more of who I am and a much happier person than I was as a trailing spouse.
Again, we all recognize the value of networking with people who have similar interests, but don’t let it stop there. Network to expand your professional contacts. Consider joining associations and other networking organizations and make sure you maximize all your opportunities by attending events, keeping up with information/newsletters and participating in the discussion forums. Networking doesn’t end once you’ve landed the job! Julie was born and raised in Washington State. She graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in English and earned an MS in Human Resources Management from Troy University. Over the last 12 years, Julie has held various Human Resource positions. Julie currently resides in Spokane, Washington where she is the Human Resources and Operations Manager at a law firm. She holds a special interest in career building for military spouses as she feels it is important to have something personal outside of our military lifestyle.
A WHOLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL— PERSONAL NETWORKING You have a past... we all do. Use it! Recently I was talking to one of my college friends about her business and the subject of administering a 401(k) came up. I was able to learn a little more about my profession from a different point of view. With the availability of social media, it is easier than ever to be in touch with all of those old friends and acquaintances. Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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SMALL BUSINESS
Mentors
by Matt Zemon
Mentorships are not as readily accessible to entrepreneurs as they are to people in many corporate environments. As a busy entrepreneur, finding a productive mentoring relationship takes some effort, but the good news is that you have a lot more flexibility and control over the process.
positive mentor relationship can be very worthwhile. Another plus is that mentors can also help expand your universe of business contacts. Mentorships come in different shapes and sizes, so it is wise to really think about what you want from a mentor and how you envision the relationship working. A great place to start is by considering mentors from your past with whom you had productive relationships. Think about the things that made the relationship work; personality traits, ease of communication, accessibility, etc. All of these things can serve as a guide in finding a new mentor. Lists are great tools and in this endeavor
It is logical that you would want to seek out mentors who are or were successful entrepreneurs themselves. They can relate to the challenges you face and you can count on their guidance because it is likely they have been in a similar position. Whether you need motivation or you just want someone to listen, nurturing a Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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they come in particularly handy. Start by writing down all the things you want accomplish with your mentor. Once you are comfortable with the list, review it and highlight the things that you know are essential to you and your business. The ‘must haves’ apply to what you want to accomplish with a mentor, but also their personal characteristics, background and skills. For example, are you looking for someone who listens well or has specific experience such as marketing or finance? How much time are you willing to devote to developing this relationship and how much time will you ask of your mentor?
sense of the word, so interviewing several people is advisable. Use your original list to assess each prospect. That way personality will not overshadow other factors. As with most of your responsibilities as an entrepreneur, you have to organize and lay the groundwork as well as build the relationship with a mentor. Maynard Webb, former COO of eBay and CEO of LiveOps as well as Yahoo board member, said it best when he said, “We have to acknowledge that in the Age of Entrepreneurship, the onus of personal and professional development is on the individual, not on the company. I hope that instead of fearing this new responsibility, you’ll see the many benefits it brings.” His Web Site (http://winfunding.com/ blogs/maynard-webb/december/futurementorship-age-entrepreneurs) is another great source of information.
Give thought to how you expect the mentorship to operate and how you will measure its success. Separate your immediate needs from your longer term goals. If you are in a time crunch with a specific challenge, a paid consultant might be the most expedient way to help you over that hurdle.
Finding and nurturing a productive mentor relationship can be tremendously rewarding both professionally and personally. It has been true since the days of apprenticeships and it continues to be true in the age of the entrepreneur.
If you are looking for a more long term source of guidance inherent to a more traditional mentor/mentee relationship, you have to figure out where to find that person. A great place to start is within your network of business contacts such as vendors, trade association members or your local chamber of commerce. University and business school Alumni groups can also be great sources of mentor candidates.
No offshore call centers! As President & CEO, Matt Zemon brings over 20 years of operations, billing and customer service experience to American Support. American Support provides contact center support to some of America’s largest companies using a 100% U.S.-based workforce. Matt has been named one of Triangle Business Journal’s 40 under 40 while American Support is included in CableFax’s “Top 10 places in the cable industry to work” and WorldBlu’s list of “Most Democratic Organizations”.
When you have identified potential candidates, it is helpful to remember that mentorships are relationships in the truest Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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WORKING WITH A
Virtual Assistant by Melissa St. Clair
You just received an email with the subject line: “Project Completed.” You smile, breathe a sigh of relief and move on to your next sales call, pondering to yourself, “What can I outsource next?”
a home office. (Wikipedia). A VA works as an independent contractor using a written agreement to define services, method(s) for accomplishing tasks, rates and other terms of service.
This email was from your Virtual Assistant having completed a task you had left on the back-burner far too long.
BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH A VA: • Upon notification, tasks are typically started/completed in a timely manner, often within 24-48 hours.
WHAT IS A VA?
• Confidence in work performed—you are working with an administrative professional.
A virtual assistant (typically abbreviated to VA, also called a virtual office assistant) is generally self-employed and provides professional, administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients from Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
• Save time—your time to utilize toward managing your business.
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• Receiving quality products at the fraction of the cost of an employee.
bundle or retainer for longer term online office support.
HOW DO I CONNECT WITH A VA?
Recap: Determine what task(s) you wish to outsource and define your budget. Connect with an experienced VA. Provide clear, detailed instructions and deadlines. Communicate as needed to complete projects and streamline functions.
To work with a VA who is an independent contractor, ask a colleague for a trusted referral or consult your professional network. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce or other business organization(s). If you choose to use a VA agency, you can connect through an online search. If you want to work with a VA who is a military spouse, you can consult the Homefront Business Listings on the National Military Spouse Network website.
Establishing rapport with a VA will provide continuity to your work flow and added value to your admin team.
He who gains time, gains everything.
HOW DO I WORK WITH A VA? It is paramount to determine what task(s) you are ready to outsource whether it be a short term or long term activity. Examples may be: appointment scheduling, making calls on behalf of your company, data entry, project assistance, etc.
—Benjamin Disraeli
Freelance administrative professional and USMC milspouse, Melissa Whiteford St. Clair is the owner of Paper Chaser and provides a full array of online office support for small business professionals and non-profit organizations including client communications, data entry, project assistance & more. Paper Chaser—a worker bee is just a buzz away! Find Paper Chaser on the web at: http://paperchaserbiz.webs.com or follow Paper Chaser on Twitter @paperchaserbiz and on Facebook at paperchaserbiz.
Professional courtesy merits 24-48 hour notification to the VA to assign a task(s) along with clear instructions and access to any pertinent accounts the VA may need to access to conduct business on your behalf. Two-way communication is standard through email, telephone, Skype, or other shared accounts such as Dropbox. WHAT ARE TYPICAL VA RATES? You can expect a rate of $25.00 to $100.00 per hour or paying for a service Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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BECOMING A
Virtual Assistant
by Melissa St. Clair
Take your executive assistant skills out of the traditional office setting and set up shop at home or work from anywhere you can access the internet or have phone service. This career choice is a viable option for the military spouse with entrepreneurial ambitions and an administrative skill set. While becoming your own boss sounds liberating, you have to conclude whether owning your own business will work with your lifestyle and fit your family’s needs. As with any work-from-home career, you may not set yourself up for success if you find you are easily distracted or don’t have the proper equipment or work environment to perform your tasks. Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
A Virtual Assistant is an independent contractor. You, the business owner must determine your area(s) of expertise, scope of your services and map out your business plan. Services can be added or removed depending on consumer demand or continuing education on your part to develop new skills. As a direct service provider you need to determine your fee schedule, hours, and possess the discipline to complete tasks assigned by your clients in the prearranged time. As a solopreneur, you are responsible for both the front and back office in order to perform your work and grow your business while you are
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assisting other professionals in building their businesses.
RESOURCES US Small Business Administration http://sba.gov
A prospective VA should utilize the same tools to establish your VA business as any other business owner. There are many resources online, such as the US Small Business Administration and locally, such as the Community College or Small Business Center.
Internal Revenue Service http://irs.gov/businesses/small/ article/0,,id=99336,00.html International Virtual Assistants Association http://www.ivaa.org/
If the prospect of becoming a solopreneur is daunting, you may choose to apply to work under a contractual arrangement with a Virtual Assistant company. The company secures the clients and outsources the work to you based on your availability and capabilities.
Attend a local Community College and complete a certificate program. http://blueridge.edu/programs_study/ business_services/programs/as_ virtualoffice.php Utilize your local Small Business Center http://coastalcarolina.edu/small_ business/small_business_home.htm
Becoming a VA offers flexibility and portability and the ability to maintain your expertise as an administrative professional and business owner. Thinking of starting your own VA business? Here is a quick checklist for you:
Celebrating Administrative Professional’s Week, April 20-26, 2014
BUSINESS START-UP CHECKLIST • Assess your skills to determine your service array.
• Determine your legal structure. • Maintain daily business operations.
• Write a business plan.
• Continue business analysis and marketing.
• Get business assistance and training.
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Interested in Submitting an Article?
NMSN newsletters and digital magazines feature a wide range of articles dealing with every aspect of military spouse careers. Contact us for more information: info@milspousenetwork.org
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AUSA Family Readiness is your Army family support directorate! Count on us for all the resources, programs, and up-to-date information you need to live your best military life. Want to join us in our efforts? It’s easy- stay connected and share the interests and issues that matter to you most by keeping up with our online communities, and through our new AUSA Military Spouse Membership. Learn about membership benefits and look for resources and event info at www.ausa.org/family.
www.facebook.com/ausafamily
@ausafamprgms
Sign up for our weekly update and contact us with questions at FamilyPrograms@ausa.org 2425 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201. 703.907.2674.
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JUMPSTART YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL
Venture
Open
for business
by Phil Dyer
Ever thought about starting your own business? You’re in good company! Women are the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurial startups and military spouses—by and large— have the skills and tenacity to make great business owners. Anyone who can manage a household through multiple PCS moves and the deployment tempo we’ve experienced over the last decade has the capacity to handle the dynamics of the modern “business battlefield” if they keep some simple—but powerful—business success strategies in mind.
about how you can apply them to your business or business idea: 1. KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS The single most important element to enduring business success is knowing— and leveraging—your inherent strengths. Unfortunately, most of us have been taught from an early age to focus on fixing our weaknesses instead of embracing our strengths. Effectively running your own business requires knowledge of how you’re built at the Conative level or how you instinctually take action to solve problems and create solutions. Each of us has a fairly unique set of Conative strengths that are
Please review the following 5 success strategies and spend some time thinking Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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they feel it’s simply too expensive. Wrong! Just remember a skilled team member might very well handle a task that takes you 8 hours in 1 hour (or less). Many beginning entrepreneurs spend less than 30 percent of their time on activities that actually bring in business... don’t be one of them!
shared by only 5 percent of the world’s population. Understanding these strengths and how to apply them is the critical cornerstone of your business. This knowledge will show you: • Where you need to focus your time and energy
3. BUILD A STRONG FINANCIAL AND LEGAL FOUNDATION
• Where you’re likely to get stuck and frustrated
Too many budding entrepreneurs skimp when it comes to legal, tax and financial advice... don’t be one of them. Availing yourself of competent guidance early on can save you tons of money and frustration down the line.
• What type of support you’ll need from partners and team members • Where you’ll off the most value to clients/customers. Two excellent resources for discovering your strengths are the Kolbe A Index and the Strengthsfinder 2.0 assessments (see the Resource List below for more information).
Key areas that need to be addressed include:
2. OUTSOURCE, DELEGATE OR DELETE YOUR WEAKNESSES ASAP
• Know your strengths • Outsource, delegate, or delete your weaknesses ASAP
The myth of the “Lone Wolf” entrepreneur is just that, a myth. Savvy small business owners who understand the imperative of leveraging your strengths also understand that you must have a team to support you and the earlier you start building one, the better off you will be! When you think team, don’t just focus on W-2 employees. Team members may include virtual assistants, outsourcers, a business partner and even your spouse. The biggest reason most entrepreneurs procrastinate when it comes to building a team is cash flow... Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
• Build a strong financial and legal foundation • Know what your market wants • Don’t try to create the perfect plan
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started. Why? They are trying to create the perfect plan and never get into action because there is no such thing! General George S. Patton once said, “A good plan, violently executed today is better than a perfect plan next week” and he is absolutely right. If you wait for perfection, you will stay stuck at the starting line with your engine idling until your entrepreneurial engine runs out of gas.
• Business entity formation • Intellectual property • Business licenses • Tax filing requirements at the local, state and federal level • Business insurance • Small business retirement planning 4. KNOW WHAT YOUR MARKET WANTS
The solution? Get going and take course corrective action along the way. Today’s business environment is very dynamic, with lots of elements you can’t control, so make sure you strive for progress... not perfection.
One of the refrains I hear from newbie entrepreneurs is ‘my product/service is great and everybody needs it.’ Here’s a newsflash, if everybody did what they need to do, we would all be rich, skinny, and married to our soul mate! The hard truth of the marketplace is people buy what they want, not what you think they need.
RESOURCES Kolbe A Index Assessment http://kolbe.com
Focus on explaining the benefits—or end result—of using your product or service will provide for people, not the features. Remember, features “tell”, benefits “sell!”
Strengthsfinder 2.0 Book & Assessment http://amazon.com Business Legal Basics http://leverage-a-lawyer.com
If you need a good model for how to do this, watch one of those extended TV “infomercials”, such as Proactive Solution or P-90X. These companies have spent millions of dollars figuring out how to effectively position the benefits of their product or service.
Simple Business Plan http://onepagebusinessplan.com Phil Dyer, CFP®, RLP®, CPCC is a West Point grad, serial entrepreneur, trainer, facilitator, speaker, author and America’s Entrepreneur StrategistTM. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Visionary of Broughton Advisory Group and the co-author of VICTORY: 7 Entrepreneur Success Strategies for Veterans (with Larry Broughton), Phil has counseled hundreds of current (and aspiring) entrepreneurs, including many veterans and military spouses. Contact him at phil@broughtonadvisory.com
5. DON’T TRY TO CREATE THE PERFECT PLAN I see way too many smart and passionate entrepreneurs fail before they even get Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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10.5 in.
8.0 in.
INSPIRED BY THOSE WHO KEEP US
FREE AND SECURE We believe the brave men and women who keep us free and secure deserve checking that is free and secure. That’s why we offer free ATM use nationwide1 with no monthly service charge and no minimum balance fees. Plus, free fraud alerts and zero liability if your debit card is lost or stolen.2
USAA Secure Checking usaa.com/banking | 800-531-8722
1 USAA Bank refunds up to $15 in other banks’ ATM usage fees each month and does not charge a fee for the first 10 withdrawals. Subsequent transactions will be charged $2 each. A 1% foreign transaction fee applies to withdrawals outside the United States. 2 You must notify us promptly of any unauthorized use. Availability restrictions apply. Purchase of a bank product does not establish eligibility for or membership in USAA property and casualty insurance companies. Bank products provided by USAA Federal Savings Bank, Member FDIC. © 2013 USAA. 144121-0313
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FACEBOOK PAGES AND YOUR
Small Business by Greta Perry
Facebook (FB) is a free service that many small business owners depend upon for branding and marketing purposes, but they are constantly changing their rules, so it’s important to remember that even though Facebook is free, there’s going to be a considerable time commitment involved in managing your page.
FACEBOOK QUESTIONS • What are your business goals for Facebook? • Can you keep up with your personal Facebook and also manage a business page? • How many times a week do you truly believe you will update it.
It’s well worth doing an assessment. My company, Kickify goes by the “Teach a business to fish properly” philosophy, so here are some questions I like to ask my clients, either before they get a Facebook page started or to assess its effectiveness once they have started: Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
• Does your industry provide you with good content to share? • Do you truly think the time and effort you will place on Facebook will give you a return on investment?
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BUSINESS PAGES
• Do you enjoy social media or is it like pulling teeth? If you do not enjoy it, that may be reflected in your tone and attitude!
It is against Facebook terms of service to have a personal Facebook page called “Widget Company.” Your personal page is a real person not a company. Facebook pages are for businesses.
• Have you read Facebook’s rules (https:// facebook.com/page_guidelines.php) for their terms of service?
OWNERSHIP
• Do you currently have or can you get a team together to help you?
Whoever creates the Facebook page is the person who has ownership of it and can delete it. Own it!
If you’ve done the assessment and have decided that you want to proceed with establishing a Facebook page, here are 10 tips that should help you make the most out of Facebook for your small business.
TYPES OF PAGES Make sure your page is in the correct category:
PERSONAL PAGES
• local business or place
Your personal page is not your business page! Nobody wants to be sold something every time you post. Even though you are excited about your business, not everyone shares your enthusiasm.
• company, organization or institutionc. • brand or product • artist, band or public figure • entertainment
Think 10:1
• cause or community
10 other posts to 1 discussing your business. You can also talk about your business in roundabout creative ways without overtly selling.
GRAPHICS Your cover photo/banner CANNOT be a
Your personal page is not your business page! Nobody wants to be sold something every time you post. Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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Facebook advertising, put things on your website, offer ideas to get your fan base motivated in your eblast, choose from the low cost third party apps that are allowed. I like Woobox and WildfireApp.
promotion! This explains the guidelines: https://facebook.com/ help/276329115767498. Here are the current dimensions for the variety of graphics that can be used for your FB page:
INSIGHTS & STATISTICS
• banner 851x 315 210 px
Insights/statistics can be very useful and help you get a true feel for your fan base works. Try mixing it up. For example, if you tend to post the same time every day, try posting at different times and see how that affects your insights. Is it getting more eyes on your post?
• profile picture 160 x 160 5 px • highlighted post or milestone: 843 x 403 • shared image 403 x 403 VANITY URL
LANDING PAGES
You only have ONE shot to do this correctly. Make sure it is consistent with your branding.
Landing/welcome pages are optional. You can have a new visitor learn more about you on a welcome page or allow them to get right to the content of your page.
CONTESTS & PROMOTIONS There are so many rule breakers out there. Yes, I loathe having to allow third party apps on my Facebook for deals and contests, but that is how FB has designed it to remove themselves from any liability. With that being said, there is a time, place and purpose for promotions and they can be very helpful to build and excite your fanbase! Before you get started, review the Facebook guidelines page and be aware that Facebook truly forbids you to offer anything, discounts, prizes, contests or the likes without using a third party app. I always err on the side of caution, even when business owners feel there is no harm in bending the rules a bit. If you really want to have a contest or promotion—do it right! You can use Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
IT’S ABOUT OTHERS, TOO Do not always straight sell and be about you, “Marsha Marsha Marsha.” If you see another Facebook page with great content—share it! Diversify! Good Luck! Greta Perry, owner of Kickify, “Pumping Up Your Web Presence,” has branded herself both on and off-line with her positive energy, intuitive use of technology, and networking successes. She is available for consulting or speaking for businesses and brands of all sizes. Greta is never far from the internet and can be contacted at greta@ kickify.com, Facebook, Twitter (@kissmygumbo @kickify @freetweetadvice), LinkedIn, Google +, or http://kickify.com.
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Join us for the 4th Annual
MilSpouse Summit October 10-11, 2014
Register online at http://milspousesummit.com “I really enjoyed meeting and just spending time with others. It has also given me confidence to pursue my career AND be a committed military spouse!�
Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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THE WORKFORCE
Investment System A LITTLE KNOWN RESOURCE
by Kristy Fairfax
In the last eight and a half years, I’ve moved six times and held five jobs. What have I discovered from all of this moving around? I have discovered a career I love in workforce development. I have a degree in Economics from the University of Michigan. My inspiration for choosing economics as my major was Mohammad Yunnus who pioneered the micro-finance industry and founded the Grameen Bank. I graduated hoping to go out into the world and help the world’s most economically disadvantaged populations. After a few months of a frustrating search for jobs in economic development, I took a job in corporate accounting at a large, multi-national bank in Chicago. Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
Oh yeah, there was one other little thing, my college sweetheart/love of my life was in the meantime beginning Navy flight school in Pensacola, FL. We were both determined to have independent lives and immensely successful careers while maintaining a long distance relationship. Then, after discovering long distance wasn’t so great, just over 18 months after starting my job in Chicago, I moved to begin my life as a military spouse to Kingsville, TX where I, “willing to do anything since we’d only be there 1 year”, took a job at the newly opened Starbucks Coffee. I thought I could be happy working there.
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It’d give me something to do and provide an income; I’d look for a job closer to my interest once my husband finished training in two years. After spilling several hot drinks on myself and not seeing an opportunity for promotion anytime soon, I realized that having just any job wasn’t going to be enough for me and I wouldn’t be satisfied in my new role as a military wife. I wanted a career that provided growth and promotional opportunities and was related to my field of study. I decided to start looking for other prospects and as luck would have it, the stars aligned in cardio kickboxing class at the gym on base. I met another spouse (who now happens to be one of my dearest friends) who was getting ready to PCS and asked me what kind of job I was looking for. I chuckled a bit and said I’d love to do economic development work with an NGO in a third world country. She said she couldn’t help with that but asked if I would like to do economic development work in Corpus Christi, TX. My new friend had been directing a workforce development program at the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce which was funded by the local Workforce Investment Board. I took over for her when she moved and thus began my career.
“What is workforce development?” you might be asking. There happens to be a workforce investment board responsible for every area in the US, including US territories (Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, etc.). The Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) are funded by the Federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and provide job search and placement assistance to Youth ages 16-24, low income adults and dislocated workers (aka people who have been laid off from a job). They provide what are called core, intensive and training services free of charge to those who have the right to work in the United States. As a military spouse, you are considered a dislocated worker if you have to quit your job due to a PCS or as with anyone, were laid off from a job. This means that you qualify for Unempliyment Insurance benefits and many WIA services. Core services include use of the resource room (which has anything you need to find a job—computers, fax machines, even resume paper to print your resume), access to job postings in the local area and local labor market information. Intensive services include staff assisted services such as meeting with a career coach and skill assessments. They also have various workshops such as resume building, computer skills, and other types of workshops for those new to the job market. Sometimes, if funding is available, they offer paid internships at local businesses which are very successful in helping clients land a permanent position. Training services include on-the-job-
That’s a long-winded way to tell you how I discovered the workforce investment system. I tell you this because no one I have come across in workforce development entered the field on purpose. I also want to demonstrate the value of networking, be it formally or through chit-chat at your favorite aerobics class. Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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training which provides reimbursement for a portion of an employee’s wages for a set period of time to entice an employer to hire someone they otherwise wouldn’t because of lack of experience in that type of position. Training also includes access to what is called an Individual Training Account (ITA) which in some WIB regions can help out with up to $10,000 in tuition and other associated training costs for a degree program. The training dollars are often dependent on various eligibility criteria and the total dollar amount available to an individual varies based on the local board’s policy. All local boards are allocated a certain dollar amount based on a formula determined by the state which is driven by the population size and the per capita income of the region. Many WIBs supplement their ever decreasing budget with private foundation
funding and other special grants so they may have additional opportunities available. I must include the disclaimer that not all Workforce Investment Boards are created equal. The entire US and its territories are divided into Local Workforce Investment Areas (LWIAs). In some states the LWIAS are divided in geographic regions that are made up of several counties and in others there is a WIB in every county. A major philosophy of the Workforce Investment Act is that the local leaders of a community within the LWIA know what is best for their own community. This means that between the many LWIAs across the country (there are 49 in California alone) there are just as many ways to operate a Workforce Investment Board. The good news is that there are
The WIB’s main role is to direct federal, state and local funding to workforce development programs. WIBs conduct & publish research on these programs and the needs of their regional economy. They also oversee the One-Stop Career Centers, where job seekers can get employment information, find career development training opportunities and connect to various programs in their area. —Wikipedia Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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common denominators across all LWIAs that are outlined in the law. Here is a link to the service locator for you to find one near you: http://servicelocator.org/ wibcontacts/
hear about new talent locating in the area. They can be busy people though, so be flexible with scheduling. Better yet, if the work interests you, try starting a career in workforce development! As I mentioned above, there are WIBs located almost anywhere you will be if you’re stationed in the US or Guam. It’s a great transportable career! In workforce development you can do a variety of types of jobs from case management, career coaching, and job developing, to grant writing, program administration, finance, and data system management. I’ve even started my own consulting business specializing in project management for workforce investment boards and other related entities.
The LWIAs run One Stop Centers where anyone can walk in and use their services. Many WIBs have begun to use a Virtual One Stop where you can learn more about services offered in your area, conduct an online job search with local companies, post a resume and get labor market information in your region. It can be very helpful to stop by a One Stop Center to learn more about the types of jobs, large industries and prominent companies that are available in your region. Job developers at One Stop offices maintain close relationships with companies in the area and, if nothing else, can provide advice on where to start your search.
Hopefully this information is useful! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or are interested in learning more about workforce development. My email address is kristymfairfax@gmail.com.
They often have job leads and if you are a good fit for a position they will advocate on your behalf to get you the job. Another way to use a WIB is for networking opportunities. The Workforce Investment Boards are overseen by a board made up of local business and community leaders and in many areas WIBs are a well-connected and respected part of their community. Make an appointment with the WIB director or high level staff just to talk about opportunities in the area and get recommendations on where you can access networking opportunities. Many of the directors I know would be happy to meet with you to talk about their region and are always happy to Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
After finding her niche in workforce development and bouncing between jobs with every military move, Kristy Fairfax hopes to find some continuity as an independent consultant. She specializes in grant and project management, industry sector development, and group facilitation for Workforce Investment Boards and other related entities. She is currently located in Leonardtown, MD where her husband, who is active duty Navy, is attending the Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River.
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SEVEN SUPERPOWERS OF
Women Entrepreneurs by Phil Dyer
Look out guys, there’s a new business building and job growth super hero in town and she just might be wearing heels and carrying a sensible handbag! According to the 2013 State of WomenOwned Businesses report from American Express Open, women entrepreneurs and business owners are leading the charge on the dynamic small business battlefield. Here are some of key stats from the report:
revenues last year • The percentage of small business owned by women of color jumped from 17 percent in 1997 to 31 percent last year (now totaling over 2.6 million businesses) • Women-owned firms were the 2nd largest driver of net job growth nationally from 2007-2013 Despite all the good news, a number of substantial challenges still remain, including the fact that 88 percent of privately held women-owned have annual revenues of less than $100,000 and many earn less than $25,000. In addition, many women entrepreneurs report challenges
• There are over 8.6 million women-owned small businesses in the U.S. today • They employ over 7.8 million additional people • They generated over $1.3 trillion in Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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What is measured is improved... so know your numbers! in effectively marketing their businesses and connecting with the right clients or customers.
INTEGRITY The old “I win by you losing” way of doing business simply won’t work in today’s collaborative business environment. Business is actually very personal, so being above board with your clients, team members, and yourself is a must!
So how do savvy women business owners create businesses they love while earning what they are worth? In researching my latest book Wonder Women: How Western Women Will Save the World (with Jessica Eaves Mathews), we identified seven “super powers” that can help women entrepreneurs stay on track. They include:
CURIOSITY What’s measured is improved... so know your numbers! Every business, regardless of size, has a relatively simple set of Key Business Metrics (KBMs) that must be tracked to ensure enduring success. Unfortunately, the vast majority of small business owners don’t actually know their KBMs, much less track them.
AUTHENTICITY To succeed in business, you must know yourself, including what your strengths are, what you excel at, what you’re not good at (these things should be outsourced or delegated), and who your ideal client or customer is.
CREATIVITY Just say “No” to the mini-me and worker bee trap that many entrepreneurs fall into by hiring people that are just like them. Build your team the right way by hiring people that excel at things you stink at and hate to do.
SUSTAINABILITY Your business must have a firm foundation to survive long-term. This means choosing the right business entity, getting good legal/tax advice, having appropriate legal agreements, and protecting your valuable intellectual property. Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
OPTIMISM According to top marketing studies, the
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percentage of prospects you talk to on any given day that need your product or service and are ready to buy is only 3 percent! Therefore, make sure you proactively focus on building the right “tribe” of loyal customers and focus on them. Also, make sure you surround yourself with the right strategic partners and mentors. COURAGE Being a small business owner is hard work! There are lots of “wantrapreneurs” out there who are in love with the idea of running their own business... but aren’t willing to stick it out through the the challenging start-up years. If you get knocked down seven times, you’ve got to get up eight... entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart! The women (and men) who take these lessons to heart will be the ones to carry us through the current economic mess we’re currently in as a country! Phil Dyer is an award-winning CEO, serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, writer, and speaker. He’s mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs and executive teams from startups to Fortune 50 companies to top non-profits/ universities on peak performance and building elite teams. His most recent book Wonder Women: How Western Women Will Save the World (with Jessica Eaves Matthews) is an Amazon #1 best-seller. Connect with Phil at http://linkedin.com/in/phillipdyer/.
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Become a NMSN
member today!
ENJOY THESE BENEFITS: • Members’ only community
• News updates
• Private, Members-Only Discussion Forum
• Interviews with industry movers-and-shakers
• A comprehensive source of in-depth information
• Full access to our sizable archives including
• Advice and thought provoking articles by recognized subject matter experts
• Featured Homefront Business Listing
all the featured articles by experts Members’ only events
• Member’s only webinars (Coming Soon)
• Exclusive Facebook group for NMSN
• Access to our panel of experts
Members Only
• Discounts to live networking events
Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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IS YOUR WEBSITE
Legal?
by Rachel Rodgers
Nowadays it is not uncommon for a business to be quickly launched with a simple website. Tools like Wordpress, 99 Designs and PayPal make it easy for new entrepreneurs to set up a professional website and start selling their products or services online immediately.
certain requirements that websites need to follow in order to comply with federal and state laws. PRIVACY POLICY If you collect even one iota of information from those who visit your website, you need a privacy policy (http://business.ftc. gov/privacy-and-security) . For example, if you have a blog that gives visitors the option of signing up for your newsletter or RSS feed by entering their name and/or email address, you need a privacy policy. Business websites often collect a variety of sensitive information from their clients and visitors.
Entrepreneurs creating their first website will take the time to create great copy, add blog articles and set up a mailing list to connect with their potential customers. What is often overlooked is the legal protections every website should have to protect its owner from liability and establish clear policies with website visitors and customers. There are also Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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The privacy policy is all about letting visitors and clients know what information you are collecting from them when they visit your site, what you use this information for, whether you share their information with any third parties (most likely you do for payment collection and email subscription services) and how they can review or change the information of theirs that your company has on file. Privacy policies should also include a statement stating how the website visitor will be notified about changes to the privacy policy and the date it was published or last updated. Think about your own information collection processes and draft a plain English policy that fits your website and business, or hire a lawyer to do it for you.
policies, shipping information, the purchase process, and more, • Warranties (basically promises or guarantees you’re making about your website’s content, the products or services you sell, etc., • Website security (if they get malware from visiting your site, will you be responsible for that?), • Jurisdiction for any lawsuits arising from their use of your site (ie, if they want to sue you, in which state will they have to file the complaint?), • And more... Consider the ways in which clients and visitors could be injured (physically, financially, etc.) by visiting your website. Are you giving advice on a particular topic? Selling services or products? Making promises or guarantees? All of
TERMS AND CONDITIONS Terms and conditions govern your businesses relationships with website visitors, subscribers and clients, particularly if you sell products or services from your website.
Privacy policies and terms and conditions should also be posted on your site conspicuously and accessible from the homepage.
Terms and conditions can cover a wide variety of topics such as: • Your right to use the information posted by users on your site (such as blog comments and other user generated content), • How your intellectual property posted on the site may be used by users (for example, can they re-post your articles on their own site if they give you credit?), • Terms of purchase including refund Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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these things could open you up to liability, so having terms and conditions that limit that liability is essential.
Rachel Rodgers is a business lawyer for women entrepreneurs. She runs her practice, Rachel Rodgers Law Office, entirely online. In addition to practicing law, Rachel blogs about virtual law offices and teaches a workshop for women lawyers who want to practice law online through her website, Her Virtual Law Office. She has been featured in Forbes, MSNBC, The Washington Post and other publications. Rachel is passionate about supporting military families who make so many sacrifices in service to our country.
Privacy policies and terms and conditions are not one-size-fits-all. Both legal notices will be useless unless they are tailored to the way you do business and interact with users via your website. If drafted thoughtfully, they will provide important protections for you as a business owner and ensure that your visitors and customers understand and agree to the business policies and processes you use. Privacy policies and terms and conditions should also be posted on your site conspicuously and accessible from the homepage. Ideally, users should check a box or click a button to express agreement to your legal notices (https://www.eff. org/fa/wp/clicks-bind-ways-users-agreeonline-terms-service) to make them legally enforceable. This article is a resource for educational and informational purposes and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. No information in this article creates an attorney-client relationship between us. Rachel Rodgers is a business lawyer for entrepreneurs. She runs her practice, Rachel Rodgers Law Office (http://rachelrodgerslaw. com/), entirely online. In addition to practicing law, Rachel blogs about virtual law offices and teaches a workshop for women lawyers who want to practice law online through her website, Her Virtual Law Office (http://hervirtuallawoffice. com/). She has been featured in Forbes, MSNBC, The Washington Post and other publications. Rachel is passionate about supporting military families who make so many sacrifices in service to our country.
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Become a Sponsor, Make a Difference!
MilSpouse Summit October 10-11, 2014
Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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NMSN
SHOWCASES
M I L I TA RY
SPOUSE
ARTISTS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
by Tanya Biank
Years ago when Sue Hoppin took a watercolor class on base she was blown away by the talent of her fellow military spouses. While their work was worthy of hanging in a gallery the women tended to view their art as a hobby and didn’t seek opportunities to sell or show their work. Hoppin found the same line of thinking among her friends who were gifted photographers.
military spouse artists, I felt like it was past time to highlight their accomplishments and artwork.”
“So much talent among them, yet they weren’t really sure how to grow and PCSproof their businesses,” said Hoppin, who is founder and president of the National Military Spouse Network. “That’s where we come in. We have so many talented
“We discovered through our NMSN Facebook page that we have a lot of military spouses who are artists and photographers. However, they didn’t have a community of other artists to network with and they weren’t necessarily dialed
Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
The Military Spouse Small Works Art Exhibit debuted this past October in conjunction with the 3rd annual Military Spouse Career Summit at the Mary M. Gates Learning Center, outside the nation’s capital in Alexandria, Va.
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in to the latest marketing and business trends to help them monetize their artwork and photography,” Hoppin said. “I wanted to provide a forum to allow them to share and sell their work, but I also wanted to bring them into the NMSN fold, teach them skills for running a successful small business and get them to think of themselves as entrepreneurs.”
veteran, stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va., loves to take photos of people that they can’t take themselves. “I photograph relationships,” she said. “I’d rather photograph two people together than two people individually.” Her submissions included a military father and his 3-year-old daughter at a tea party, a pregnant couple on the beach before sunset and a family having one last walk before a deployment.
Under the theme “Together We Serve” 30 military spouses brought the human side of the military to life through watercolors, pastels, oils, and photography.
She said she wanted to show that military life can be regular life, too.
“I try to capture the journey, a story within the image,” said Lorelei Taylor, an Army wife photographer whose husband is a recruiter in Detroit. She started pursuing photography when her husband gave her a camera before his deployment to Iraq to capture images of their family in his absence. Taylor, whose mother was a photographer, had always been around a camera, and she found it was a way for her to stay connected to her mom who died six years ago.
“We have the same sorts of feelings and experiences like everybody else,” she said. Carrie Waller, an Air Force spouse artist stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., and curator for the exhibit, said the event was a great opportunity to meet spouses pursuing similar careers. Among her submissions was a watercolor of a stuffed tiger wearing dogtags with a letter from her sons before their Dad’s deployment to Afghanistan:
Among her submissions is “Unexpected Joy” a black and white image of a Marine gazing lovingly into the eyes of his 9-dayold daughter. The Marine had wanted a son and was upset when he found out he was having a girl. But Taylor’s title for the image tells the rest of the story.
Daddy, My tiger is brave and strong like you. He will keep you safe! Love, Steven and Sam During her 13 years as a military wife Waller has seen many changes for artists.
“You can see he is absolutely in love with this little girl,” she said.
“Facebook and blogging have transformed how an artist can have a career,” she said.
Timorah Beales an Air Force wife and Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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“We are no longer dependent upon brick and mortar galleries. With our websites and online presence we can move our career anywhere.” NMSN artists and photographers had the option to donate their unsold artwork to the Air Force Charity Ball, an event that supports the Air Force Aid Society, the official charity for the United States Air Force. “This to me speaks to the spirit of the military spouse—always looking for ways to give back,” Hoppin said. If you didn’t have a chance to attend or participate in the NMSN art exhibit, not to worry. “We’re looking at doing the art exhibit every other year and de-coupling it from the summit to make it its own event,” Hoppin said. “We had a great turn out for the inaugural event and lots of interest from military spouses since who want to participate in the next exhibit, so we’re going to make that happen in 2015.”
Best of Show Tarantula Drop Zone by Alisha King
Tanya Biank is the author of Lifetime TV’s Army Wives and Undaunted: The Real Story of America’s Servicemembers in Today’s Military. You can find more information about Tanya at: http://.tanyabiank.com.
Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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1st: Photography Let’s Do This by Alisha King ist: Opaque Painting All Aboard for Point Hope by Priscilla Patterson
1st: Transparent Painting
Waiting for Daddy to Come Home by Bridget Wietlisbach
1st: Work on Paper The Poppies Grow by Jacqueline Clinton
Honorable Mention Love Uncovered by Julie Royes
Honorable Mention Price by Rachel Wheeler
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MEET
THE
EXPERTS
SUE HOPPIN Sue Hoppin is the founder and president of the National Military Spouse Network, a consultant on military family issues and the co-author of, “A Family’s Guide to the Military for Dummies”. Before founding the NMSN, Sue served as the first deputy director for spouse outreach for a military affiliated non-profit with a 375,000+ membership. She is a recognized subject matter expert on military spouse and family issues and has spoken to audiences nationwide ranging from installation career events to leadership training sessions and national conferences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Denver and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Oklahoma. CAROL BOWSER Carol Bowser is the president of Conflict Management Strategies Inc. and is an expert in workplace conflict --what creates it and how to resolve it. While she HATES arguments, she loves maintaining sanity and increasing production by jumping into conflict to fully resolve it. “…What I really like is listening to people’s stories and working outside the legal system to repair workplace relationships…” She received her law degree from Seattle University School of Law and her Mediation Training through Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution. Carol is a speaker, trainer, and consultant for employers on how to avoid workplace conflict. Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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PHIL DYER Phil Dyer CFP®, RLP®, CPCC America’s Entrepreneur Strategist TM Phil is a successful serial entrepreneur, trainer, facilitator, speaker and author. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served as an Armor officer in both Germany and the United States, achieving the rank of Captain. Since separating from Active Duty, Phil has worked in corporate sales for a Fortune 100 company, served as the national financial educator for the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and started several companies. JANET FARLEY Janet Farley offers military service members and their families her own brand of straight-forward career management and job search advice. Janet is the author of the Military-to-Civilian Career Transition Guide, 2nd Edition, the Military Spouse’s Complete Guide to Career Success and she writes the JobTalk column for Stars and Stripes Newspaper. She is also the Home Front columnist for the Military Officer’s of America (MoAA) and contributing editor to Bradley-Morris, Inc.,’s Civilian Job News. JOYCE NEAVE Joyce Neave is an authority on fashion and style. As founder of That Mom, Inc. Joyce has been “Styling” for over twenty years. Her many accolades include: Style Setter by Washington Post, Ten Well Dressed Women in Washington by Washingtonian Magazine, Profiled on WUSA9 News to highlight her wardrobe consulting practice as well as her forward thinking blog. Joyce is a consultant for several newspapers and blogs. “…I am a wardrobe consultant and personal shopper who specializes in helping moms find their stylized potential. Whether playdates, PowerPoints or date night, That Mom, Inc. has you covered…”
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GRETA PERRY Greta Perry Greta Perry has a career born of her love of new media and intuitive use of technology. Her intent is to provide professional on-line development services to businesses of all sizes. These services will enable those businesses to have the basic tools and training to become truly competitive in the on-line world. Greta’s background makes her superbly qualified to provide what any business interested in developing their on-line presence requires. During her many moves around the U.S as a military wife, she became a professional volunteer. AMY SCHOFIELD Amy Schofield ACWR has been in the recruiting, career coaching, and resume writing fields for 10+ years. She has provided resume development strategies to job seekers worldwide with various backgrounds and experience levels. In April 2011, Amy launched Schofield Strategies. She has appeared in numerous media sources delivering resume tips, including GI Jobs, Business Talk Radio, Reserve and National Guard Magazine, Army Wife Talk Radio, and Blue Star Families. Schofield Strategies was the recipient of the 2013 Military Family Member Community Heartbeat Award and the elite Academy Certified Resume Writer credential. JULIE WATERS Julie Waters Julie was born and raised in Washington State. She graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in English and earned an MS in Human Resources Management from Troy University. She is also a certified Professional in Human Resources. Over the last 13 years, Julie has held various Human Resource positions starting her career at FHC Health Systems in Norfolk, Virginia, then moving to Landrum Professional Services in Pensacola, Florida, Cambridge Health Alliance Physicians Organization in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Military Officers Association of America Visit us online at http://nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org
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KRISTA WELLS Krista Wells Ph.D., The Military Spouse Coach ®, loves helping military spouses who are ready for change, create careers they feel passionate about, and find life fulfillment. Krista specializes in working with military spouses because it is a topic close to her heart. In addition to being married to a Marine herself, she has worked with hundreds of military spouses through her volunteer work and training. As a personal and career coach, Krista has advised girlfriends of military enlistees, active duty wives, and reserve spouses who don’t have easy access to support services. She works with stay-at- home mothers, job seekers, career changers, those who want to position themselves for a career in the future. MATT ZEMON Matt ZemonMatt Zemon As President & CEO of American Support, Matt Zemon brings over 20 years of operations, billing and customer service experience. American Support is the nation’s only complete provider of back-office services to the telecommunications industry, supporting our country by providing an alternative to offshore labor. Matt has been named one of Triangle Business Journal’s 40 under 40 while American Support is included in CableFax’s “Top 10 places in the cable industry to work” and WorldBlu’s “Most Democratic Organizations”.
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