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October 2017
In This Issue
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Propel 2018
Save the Date: Propel 
April 22-24, 2018

We're flipping this conference on it's head and letting all the best ideas shake out and show up! 
Three jam-packed days
of:
- expanding your business
- growing your voice
- building meaningful relationships

Lock it into your calendars today! And stay tuned fo r exciting agenda announcements!
Propel 
wants YOU

Help to shape your 2018 Propel conference! Connect with Mindy to volunteer. Teams are forming for p rogramming marketing, sponsorship, ad sales, and giveaways committees.
SB-Cal Survey
The annual small business survey from Small Business California is here. Be sure to participate today to share your thoughts on state issues. 
AT&T Conference 
Save the Dates for the AT&T Mobility Construction Services Western Region Subcontracting Conference, November & and 8 in San Ramon and El Segundo. 
Chapter Events 
San Diego10 Significant Steps to Financial Empowerment in 2018 on October 18 at 4:30 PM
Orange County: Legislative Breakfast on October 20 at 7:30 AM
Sacramento:  Outstanding Women Leader Awards on October 19 at 6:00 PM
Silicon Valley:  From Guns to Roses | The Victoria Napolitano Story on October 24 at 6:00 PM
LA: SCE Edge Workshop on October 25 at 5:30 PM
President's Message
What inspires you?

Don't you just love to feel inspired? Those moments when vision and energy come together and you know with certainty what you are excited to be part of and make happen?  I invite you to take 20 seconds now and ask yourself:
  • What inspires me?
  • When do I feel inspired?
  • When was the last time I felt inspired?
I feel inspired by energetic, creative people working together to accomplish something big. By enthusiasm and imagination shared. By new, bigger visions emerging from the combined effort that lifts my gaze toward the future and draws images of what's possible! That's probably why I started a company where I get to work with a team of bright, creative, energetic friends working to make a difference in the world.

Yet . . . inspiration is . . .  elusive. Too often, the inevitable daily workload keeps my head down and focused on details. The demand of To Do Lists and Emails and Urgent Deadlines pulls my gaze away from the horizon where vision and inspiration live.  
The last two times I really felt inspired, I was not at my desk. In fact, I was not even at work. I was surrounded by other women business owners who had also set aside their daily workload to accomplish something greater than ourselves. 

These moments inspired me:
  • On August 29, about two dozen women, led by Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, testified in Sacramento before the CA Senate Select Committee on Women, Work & Families, about the opportunities that will result when more women are on boards of directors of publicly held corporations. NAWBO leaders from across the state are working with lawmakers to help break this glass ceiling. If you want to feel inspired, watch the video and read more below. It's worth the time. I had goosebumps from the vision we all shared there, and the progress we were making, together. You'll hear more in coming months and at Propel.
  • On September 8 - 10, the NAWBO CA board and two chapter presidents met for 48 hours of strategic planning. We asked ourselves, "What would WE do through NAWBO, if we knew we could not fail?"  The energy and vision was contagious! Ideas built upon each other, and then built again. Never did it feel like we were working. We all left there so excited and inspired!
The results:
  • Strategies to raise NAWBO's visibility
  • New approaches for fundraising
  • New strategic relationships to increase our influence
  • New and exciting ideas for Propel. Expect to see a lot of new and inspiring features. Mindy Bortness is so visionary. This is DEFINITELY going to be an amazing conference! If you haven't already marked April 22-24, 2018 on your calendar, do it now!
So - what did I learn?
  • Step away from your desk. Clear your mind and see where it takes you.
  • Don't just lean in; jump in! Get involved with people who inspire you. Your NAWBO chapter is a great place to start.
  • Look up. Which direction do you want to go? Look up!
Anne Staines
President, NAWBO CA
2017-2018 State Board and Directors
Officers
Anne Staines, President
Hilda Kennedy,  Immediate Past President
Mindy Bortness, President Elect
Kay Robinson,  Secretary
Jennifer Dizon,  Treasurer

Directors
Rachel Owens,  Education
Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire and  Laura Russell-Jones, Corporate Partners 
Tina Loza, Governance Advisor
Dianne De Mailly, Public Policy
Shaila Mistry and  Laura Neubauer, Business Policy Advisors
NAWBO-CA leaders testify at state hearing
NAWBO-CA leaders stared down a friendly bear inside the State Capitol, in front of the Governor's office, on their way to testify before the hearing about women on boards, chaired by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (Santa Barbara). The Senate Select Committee on Women, Work and Families heard the economic issues and research showing low numbers of women directors on public company boards in CA and explored why there has been little gain since the NAWBO-CA Resolution SCR 62 was passed in Sept, 2013. Participants came to Sacramento at their own expense.

Senator Jackson will compile all suggestions to consider possible incentives for public companies to add more women directors to their boards. NAWBO-CA supports this initiative because it's good for the state's economy--companies perform better and are more profitable when women serve on their boards, and women business owners are well-positined as potential candidates to serve on corporate boards. Click here to watch a video of the hearing
Woman Business Owner of the Year Award
Californian chosen as finalist! 

NAWBO national has announced the  finalists for the 2017 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award.  Among thousands of members,  Dr. Janis Shinkawa,
co-founder and medical director of Ohana Pet Hospital in Ventura, California rose to the top of the outstanding field along with two other national finalists, Kimberly Baeth of Gold en Openings, Urbandale, Iowa and Kim Heathcott of Clarion Secu rity, Memphis Ten nessee.   Read more h ere.