Chamber group aids women in business
By KERRY McAVOY , The Leader-HeraldThe old boys' club will have to make way for the new girls' club in Montgomery County.
The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce has created the new Women of Worth organization to assist women who own, run or manage local businesses.
With their mission statement of like-minded, innovative business women opening endless opportunities and forging new friendships, the group is creating a buzz among area business owners. The group meets to discuss different aspects of the business world and holds seminars to help the members better their businesses.
Chamber of Commerce President Deborah Auspelmyer said the group allows women to network with other women in the business world.
"We're looking for women-owned and women-managed businesses," Auspelmyer said.
Auspelmyer said the group is diverse. Some women have been in business for as much as 20 years, while others are brand new to owning and operating their own businesses.
The idea came about from looking at the growing numbers of women in the business world and the different needs they have.
The first meeting took place at the home of Noteworthy Industries Chief Executive Officer and WOW Chairwoman Carol Constantino. The group of about 25 got to know each other at the event and had a luncheon and a question-and-answer session.
Constantino said the group used an introductory game utilizing a fish bowl and some questions. Questions were pulled out of the fish bowl, and the women took turns answering them. Questions ranged from "What got you into business?" to "Tell us one secret no one knows about you."
A cross-section of women from different types of businesses, age groups, positions and experience levels attended the first meeting.
Constantino said the women had a good time getting to know each other and had fun.
Judith Austin of Austin Financial in Palatine Bridge said she enjoyed the first meeting and getting to know everyone in the group. She said it was nice to have so many women at different levels of business being able to share information with one another.
"I feel this is a great opportunity, and I'm glad to be a part of it," Austin said. "[WOW] allows us to network and share experiences."
Constantino said she was not a fan of women's groups in general, but said she has since changed her mind.
She said it came to her attention that men and women react differently at networking events. She said men will talk straight business while women will discuss juggling work and family obligations.
Constantino said she realized the business community needed a group like this.
"So the biggest naysayer is now the biggest supporter," Constantino said. "I've done an about face."
Constantino said one of the best perks is being able to bounce ideas off other people. Having friends is nice, she said, but having up to 25 women give thoughts on an idea is even better.
Auspelmyer said there is no set meeting schedule yet, but the committee already has a list of events it wants to conduct.
WOW will hold seminars on helping businesses go green, making companies recession-proof, a holiday networking mixer, and an employee gifts and giving seminar.
The group met in June to do a session on professional development programs. Members learned about how to market and advertise their businesses.
Austin said the seminar was helpful to her. She learned ways to promote her business and get her name out into the public eye.
Austin said in the future she would like to host a seminar on finances for the group.
"In the future, I'd like to talk to them as well as learn from them," Austin said.
For its next event, the group will hold a networking trip July 31 to see "Menopause the Musical" in Albany.
"It's about mixing business with a lot of fun," Constantino said.
Constantino said she has been getting great feedback from the women in the group so far. She said they love having the group available to them.
The group is growing fast with chamber members becoming interested in getting involved. Austin said the group is growing with good "word-of-mouth" buzz.
"I had two women come up to me [Tuesday] and talk to me about joining the group," Constantino said.
Constantino said joining WOW has become a special perk for joining the chamber.
To join, women have to be members of the chamber and be involved in business. For more information, call the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce at 853-1800.
Kerry McAvoy covers Montgomery County. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com.
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MrRoboto
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07-08-08 6:56 PM
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Amen, teebzz. Amen.
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paladin
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07-07-08 8:34 PM
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"Tell us one secret no one knows about you." No men's group would ever try that one. Men would logically think a secret is a secret for a compelling reason and keep it that way.
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zeus77
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07-07-08 2:07 PM
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look at the federal grants programs and you will find the the average white male is put on the back burner for many of those grants. Look at the programs offered by the SMALL BUSINEES ADMINISTRATION and again you will see many of their programs that put the average white male on the back burner while the gals and the minorities are given special offers.
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StopTheFraud
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07-07-08 1:12 PM
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Touche' teebzz.
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teebzz
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07-07-08 1:00 PM
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the 1st line in this story was meant to be witty, but what if there was a group created to assist only men who own, run or manage local businesses. just a thought.
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