May 2024 Newsletter

Thank You For Attending Women Mean Business® Conference!

Women Mean Business® – NAWBO Chicago's Regional Entrepreneurial Conference & 41st Annual Fundraiser – was a roaring success! Thanks to the hundreds of attendees and much-appreciated sponsorship support, this year’s event was our most successful conference ever. The funds raised will support chapter programming for the upcoming year.

From all the connections formed between the educational sessions to the inspirational keynote speech by Alex Batdorf that followed the moving award ceremony, we have so much to celebrate with gratitude. NAWBO Chicago members, friends, colleagues and our "NAWBROS" showed up and showed out!

Thank you to our event photographer Lori K. Sapio Photography! Click below to view the event photo gallery and relive all the wonderful moments from the day. Photos from the morning portion of the day are coming soon!

EVENT PHOTOS

What was your favorite part about the Women Mean Business® Regional Conference?

Getting to connect with so many wonderful people!

Alex Batdorf's amazing keynote speech!

Learning tons of valuable information that I can apply to my business!

Concluding the day with the Chocolate and Cocktail Reception!

All of the above! I walked away with so much inspiration!

May Member Spotlight - Resilience

Share a moment in your career as a woman business owner that required resilience, and how it paid off for you once you reached the other side?

Thank God for the superpower He blessed me with called resilience. I am a minority woman in the ﬁeld of chiropractic, which is a male-dominated industry. The demands of working for a corporation didn’t align with my vision of having a family and a career in chiropractic.

With resilience, tenacity and being six months pregnant, I started my private practice. I pushed through because I believed in myself and what I offer to my community. I wanted to be the chiropractor that I loved being, without sacriﬁcing being the mother my children deserved.

Dr. Marchelle Simmons, D.C.

Owner and Clinic Director

Health is Wealth Wellness Center

Brew Fresh Inspiration With Other Members - Join Us Tomorrow!

Coffee Date (Members-Only)

May 2 from 8:00 - 9:00 am

On Zoom

Build connections within our network of bold business owners - don’t miss the upcoming Coffee Date. This unique online event is a relaxed and informal way to connect with peers and make new friends from the comfort of your couch. Join us and get to know your fellow NAWBO Chicago members!

Join Us For An Informative Session On Accessing Capital

Increasing Access To Capital – Hosted By Old National Bank

May 9 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm

On Zoom

Are you ready to break barriers and unlock the resources your business deserves? Join NAWBO Chicago for an empowering virtual Lunch & Learn with Monica Rubio of Old National Bank where she will outline the “Empowerment Small Business Loan Program” and delve into the vital topic of accessing capital for minority- and women-owned small businesses.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights, connect with fellow entrepreneurs and take the next steps toward realizing your business’s full potential. Register now and let’s pave the way for your success together!

Members In The News

Melissa Lagowski, Founder and CEO of Big Buzz Idea Group, was featured on Bold Journey.

In the article, she shares insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of values and standing by your mission.

Arely Lagunas, Evolve HR Leadership & Consulting, was featured in the March 2024 edition (on page 20) of Chicago Latina Magazine, an organization that advocates for the empowerment and advancement of Latina women.

Lisa Marsh, Ms. P's Gluten Free Granola, was highlighted on a BMO social media post.

Lisa Marsh is a proud recipient of the 2022 BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program. Based in Chicago, Ms. P’s Gluten Free offers nutritious, delicious and healthy snack foods to help make one’s journey to good health seamless! Since receiving her grant, Lisa has taken her business to new heights by launching her products into seven large retailers across the U.S.

Isoken Ogbomo, Complete Health Services Inc & In-Home Caregivers of Illinois, received recognition as a finalist for the Best of Bolingbrook Business Award.

The Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce held the event on April 4 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.

Apply For The 2024 BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program

BMO is offering $10,000 grants to 15 women-owned businesses looking to grow their business, in collaboration with Deloitte.

The BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program will assess applicants based on their high-level business growth plans. Any type of business growth will be considered whether expanding into a new market or creating a new product or service.

MORE INFO

The Spring Membership Drive Is Still Going! Join NAWBO Today

Are you thinking about joining NAWBO Chicago? Are you already a member but know other women business owners and female entrepreneurs who can benefit and grow from joining the organization? Don't delay! The 2024 Spring Membership Drive allows savings of $25 off the new member initiation fee. The drive runs through May 31.

See for yourself the benefits of joining NAWBO Chicago and share this gift with others.

LEARN MORE

Join The NAWBO Product Makers Group On May 7

Are you a NAWBO member with a product company that sells B2B or D2C? Having a product business is very different than a service business. Join this group each month on Zoom to chat about your business and use the collective wisdom of the room to talk through any where/how sell ideas, problems and opportunities you have.

Join via the Zoom link below for the next meeting on Tuesday, May 7 at 4:00 pm Central.

ZOOM

Maximize Your Membership In 2024

Whether a solopreneur or a million-dollar business, NAWBO Chicago gives women-owned businesses of all levels the resources and support needed to help them grow and thrive. A NAWBO Chicago membership offers the power and benefits of an established community of women entrepreneurs.

Join a Mastermind

Premier Members are eligible to participate in one Mastermind as a Member Benefit. A Mastermind group is the same small group of women that meet on a regular basis to provide peer-to-peer discussions. Email to learn more.

Activate Your Account

With the new National membership platform, all members need to activate their GrowthZone account. Activation emails are sent from memberservices@nawbo.org.

Please email lora@nawbochicago.org with any questions.

Get Involved with a Committee

NAWBO Chicago hosts four active committees: Advocacy; Diversity; Membership; and Celebration of Achievement Conference. Please find the descriptions and committee leaders here.

Attend a Monthly Event

Connects are monthly small-group meetings that allow our members to come together regularly throughout the Chicagoland region. Find future events here.

NAWBO Chicago Newsletter Submissions

NAWBO Chicago newsletters are published monthly. Email June submissions to the newsletter editor by May 17, 2024.

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