Next-Gen, Your Influence at Work; Your Conquest Achieved

 

Did you hear the extra fireworks this past week? Well, it was more than the 4th of July! It was me celebrating the completed slate of the Officers of the NAWBO-CA Board of Directors. The Board is almost complete with its Committee Chairs, but there is room for you - Past Presidents wishing to serve on the California level. Call or email me, especially Ventura County and Santa Barbara.

As I begin this term as your NAWBO-CA President, I want you to know I am extremely humbled and honored to serve with you in representing the voice of the 1.3 Million women business owners in the State of California. My journey to leading my business is not different from many women who I have met in NAWBO - from leadership roles in government or corporate America; to a life change -- whether it was children, a spouse or a personal need; to the idea, then the decision, and then the plunge to start. Like many others, I have had good days, and I have had bad days in business, but complaining and quitting is not an option.I have had to figure how to complete the sale, collect the funds and now make payroll for eight full and part-time employees.  

I recognized early on that I needed a network. To the internet I went, seeking women business organizations.  Then a friend at church suggested that I check out this group called the National Association of Women Business Owners. I listened.In 2007, I attended my first meeting. Janet Steiner of Thoro Packaging was speaking about the importance of interviewing your bankers, but before she got to that story, she shared about the pull of being both a business owner and mother. She recounted a story of her daughter, seven years old at the time, asking her why she was always on the phone. She proceeded to ask her daughter if she enjoyed all of the "things" that she had and then explained that her being in business made that possible. 

In the same meeting, the Public Policy Director, Renee Cabourne provided a "public policy tip" about some legislation that could negatively impact businesses and why the business owners needed to become engaged. For me, that meeting was my divine appointment to the most effective network I had engaged in starting my business and I was hooked. From recognizing that I was not alone as a working mother, to teaching women the power of their voice with their finances, to engaging Public Policy, I found my place with NAWBO. By the next meeting, the Public Policy Director had to step down, and Gwen Thibeaux,then IE President-Elect, asked me to step in. I immediately said yes and my NAWBO journey has taken me from Public Policy Director for NAWBO-IE, to NAWBO-IE President Elect, to NAWBO-IE President, to NAWBO-CA Public Policy Director, to NAWBO-CA Vice President; to NAWBO-CA President Elect, and now NAWBO-CA President for 2016-2017.  With the NAWBO-CA Board, we will be focus on three key areas to support the growth of our chapters and women business owners throughout the state:   

Ladies, I firmly believe these objectives for NAWBO-CA and its chapters are achievable and they will make a difference in the lives of women business owners now and in the future. I hope that you are ready to join this exciting journey. 

Many of you know that I am driven by my faith in God, which shapes how I lead and why I believe in each of so much. I want you to know that I am praying for you, your family and your business success. If there is anything I can do for you personally, or if you have any questions on financing your business or any other topic associated with business growth, if I cannot help you, I will find someone who can. I am thrilled to serve you and to serve with you.

SPECIAL NOTE:  The Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Meeting for NAWBO-CA will be held September 23-24, 2016 in Southern California.  Please mark your calendars. 

With sincere regards,

 

Hilda Kennedy

President