Corporate Partner Corner
Special benefits and offers from our corporate partners for NAWBO members.
President’s Message | July 2020
We started our fiscal year with a vision to renew, refresh and reinvigorate our chapter. Due to our hard work and efforts, we did it! We put forth some fantastic events such as the “Fashion Disruptors” and “Women in Sports: Changing the Game”, collaborating with inspiring entrepreneurs such as Taylor Jay, Dr. Joan Oloff and Toni Julian, along with U.S. Olympic celebrities, Kristi Yamaguchi and Brandi Chastain.
Because of COVID-19, we reimagined a new way of delivering our events by pivoting to Zoom meetings. On the first Thursday of the month we successfully transitioned to Thirsty Thursdays, so we could hang out to connect, engage and refer business, of course! We touched on topics like “What is leadership during a crisis?”
On the third Tuesday of the month we have a virtual webinar platform; educating and providing resources. We have learned from the best in their industry: Roberta Kiphuth of Detati Digital Marketing. Jill Wesley of Science + Soul of Speaking, Angelo Cabral of John Hancock Retirement Services and Tina White of Franklin Templeton.
- As 2019 – 2020 fiscal year comes to a close, we’re proud of our chapter’s accomplishments:
- NAWBO National 5 Star Advocacy Award
- NAWBO National Leadership Development Workshops at Albuquerque, New Mexico
- NAWBO National Women’s Business Conference at Jacksonville, Florida
- FCEM 67th Women World Congress in Lima, Peru
- Member & Corporate Sponsored Workshops & Presentations Onsite & Virtual
- Empowered & Educational Topics, Speakers & Panelists Onsite & Virtual
- Special Events:
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, Perkins Coie, LLP, San Jose Sharks, University Club of Palo Alto with Peninsula Symphony - NAWBO Honorees for Women of Influence: Kimberly Tucker of All Reasons Moving
Flordelisa Harris of Benefits Simplified Insurance Solutions - NAWBO CA Support of ACA 5: Economic & Fair Opportunity
We could not advance our mission and goals without the support of our corporate partners: Bank of America, Detati Digital Marketing, Heritage Bank, Hood & Strong, Farmers Insurance, and Silicon Valley Business Journal. We are deeply appreciative of their belief in NAWBO-SV!
It is with mixed emotions that this is my final president’s message, as I end my two-term as president for our chapter. With this opportunity to become a servant leader, I’ve become a better person and I sincerely want to thank you for taking this journey with me.
Griselda Quezada-Chavez will assume the presidency role, and we could not be luckier! Griselda is a longtime NAWBO member and earned the prestigious NAWBO National Susan Hager Legacy Award (https://www.nawbo-sv.org/congratulations-griselda-quezada-chavez/ ).
Please welcome Griselda and the in-coming Board of Directors (2020-2021) at our NAWBO Silicon Valley Special event on Tuesday, July 21st-
In principle and in practice, NAWBO values and seeks a diverse and inclusive membership as stated in our Diversity clause .
Please stay healthy, safe, and hopeful, as we navigate the ongoing pandemic and current cultural tensions!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message | June 2020
Summer is almost here! At this time, we would normally be excited about vacationing in Hawaii or taking a trip to explore an exotic destination. Now, with over 60 days of Shelter in Place, all we can hope for is some normalcy in our daily lives and the reopening of our businesses.
At NAWBO Silicon Valley, we hear your concerns and are here to help. Since March 17th, we have pivoted to virtual connections and learning. We are pleased to see many of you take advantage of these free events, and we just want to remind you of these monthly offerings through the end of June:
Thirsty Thursday – 1st Thursday of each month; an opportunity to connect, engage and network
Interactive Webinars – 3rd Tuesday of each month; presentation by experts relevant to your business
Having two events per month – one to engage and connect and the other to extract and learn from are important for all of us currently. Our May 19th event with Jill Wesley was well-received with over 50 RSVPs! She taught us about having SPARK in our presentations.
S = Situation
P = Problem
A = Audience
R = Resolution
K = Knowledge
This will help you drive people to action or tell a powerful story.
Please check out our website at www.nawbo-sv.org for event updates and look out for the email blasts. You and your guests are welcome to join us!
Our new board installation will take place on Tuesday, July 21st. We planned on combining this with painting and wine tasting at Detati Digital Marketing in Sunnyvale. However, at this time, we are unsure if it will be an onsite event or if we will maintain a virtual platform. As soon as we get further CDC guidance and new order from Governor Newsom, we will decide and keep you informed.
July 1st marks our new fiscal year. Griselda Quezada-Chavez will become our new chapter President, and she and her new board members will plan and create the programs for the rest of the year. Most likely, we will continue to offer these virtual events through Zoom sprinkled with a couple of onsite events (keeping in mind the guidelines we receive from our governor and CDC).
We are together apart, and we so appreciate every one of you. Thank you for being part of our virtual camaraderie of support, resources, and knowledge!
Just remember, “Happy Girls are the Prettiest” per Audrey Hepburn, so stay true to yourself and be that shining beacon in our community!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message | May 2020
Dear Members:
As we enter May, we look forward to the slow recovery and reopening of our businesses!
During this COVID-19 pandemic, we learned how to cope with a new normal – 6’ social distancing, constant washing of our hands, self-care, and wearing face masks. Eventually, we will all be ready to open our businesses, based on the CDC guidelines, to help open our economy.
Our NAWBO National Institute has done a tremendous job in providing virtual learning and connections every week, and it is open to members and non-members at no cost. Please check out www.national@nawbo.org so you don’t miss out!
Locally, our NAWBO SV chapter started virtual hangouts called Thirsty Thursdays and webinars through Zoom, and these are provided for free as well through the end of June 2020. We had a great turnout for our April virtual events. We want to especially thank Roberta Kiphuth of Detati Digital Marketing for her professionalism and expertise on “Marketing in a New Age Using Video to Stay Relevant and Thrive” webinar. Having two events per month – one to engage and connect and the other to extract and learn from are important for us currently.
On May 7th, we will host Thirsty Thursday and have a featured guest, Kathy Winkelman of Gioia Company. She will share her love of Italy, whether it is the beautifully handcrafted wares or the exquisite regional wines, and how the Coronavirus impacted her friends and family. This is also your chance to network and share how your business will reset for your company’s reopening.
For our webinar on May 19th, we are excited to have Jill Wesley of Science + Soul of Speaking present “The Secrets of Being Clear, Memorable and Influential”. She’s been the “secret weapon” for leaders who present virtually and give keynotes at major industry conferences, so you’re sure to have some great takeaways like how to drive people to action or tell a powerful story.
We look forward to the continued virtual camaraderie of support, resources and knowledge throughout May and beyond. As this crisis evolves, we will plan accordingly for our future events and would love your input too.
Most importantly, we would like to become an empowered board or committee member for the new fiscal year starting July 1st. If interested, please send a message to info@nawbo-sv.org and we’d be happy to discuss this great opportunity. As we touch the lives of others, we enhance our own life.
As always, stay true to yourself and be the light that brings hope to your community and the world!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message | April 2020
Dear Members:
We hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe! Our current situation with COVID-19 has presented us with many new challenges and concerns. As long as we can remain united in our efforts to do our part in social distancing, washing our hands, and self-care, we will eventually be able to go back to business as usual to help build a stronger and better economy together.
Although you might feel isolated in complying with Shelter in Place, please know that NAWBO Silicon Valley is here for you. NAWBO National is providing virtual learning and connections every week, and it is open to members and non-members at no cost. Please check out www.national@nawbo.org so you don’t miss out!
Locally, our chapter will have virtual hangouts called Thirsty Thursdays through Zoom starting April 9th.
On April 21st, we will host a webinar with one of our Corporate Partners, Roberta Kiphuth, President of Detati Digital Marketing, who will talk about Marketing In A New Age: Using Video to Stay Relevant and Thrive. These virtual events will be provided for members and non-members for free through the end of May 2020. For events in June and beyond, we will keep you posted.
As we look forward to our new fiscal year, I’m happy to announce that Griselda Quezada-Chavez will assume the presidency role starting July 1st. Griselda has been a NAWBO Silicon Valley member since 2009 and is our International Affairs Director. She is also the International Ambassador for NAWBO National, and the recipient of the coveted Susan Hagar Legacy Award presented by NAWBO National. Griselda pioneered the International Affairs department, only chapter nationwide with an international dept. Please take a moment to welcome Griselda as our incoming President.
Sadly, Donna Sooter has relinquished her president-elect role but will continue to be our Treasurer through the end of this fiscal year. Donna has been a solid supporter and member of NAWBO Silicon Valley. Her company, Sooter Consulting, has provided bookkeeping services to the Chapter for over 10 years. We will miss Donna’s smarts, tenacity, and dedication! Let us thank Donna for her years of service and corporate sponsorship.
Kimberly Tucker, of All Reasons Moving, a NAWBO Silicon Valley member for several years and a past Board Member, has been selected as one of the Top 100 Women of Influence in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal! Kimberly founded her company over 28 years ago because she saw a need for a reliable and honest moving company. In addition, yours truly, will share the stage with Kimberly on October 15th. Kimberly and I hope you can join us in celebrating with us and the other 98 women who will be recognized that evening!
Most importantly, we need YOU! We continue to seek Board and Committee Members for the new fiscal year starting July 1st – NAWBO Silicon Valley is rich with opportunities to get involved with the chapter. If interested, please send a message to info@nawbo-sv.org and we’d be happy to discuss this great opportunity.
As always, stay true to yourself and be the light that brings hope to your community and the world!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message – UPDATE
We are saddened with the current state of our local community and our country regarding the race against the COVID-19 spread. Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by the virus, whether it’s personally or professionally, and for those who have passed away and for the families that mourn their loss.
In order to do our part and be socially responsible, NAWBO Silicon Valley is postponing its events scheduled for March 17th and March 31st.
We are also postponing our signature event, Crystal Chair Awards (CCA) gala for a future date in August (most likely the 18th). We will keep you informed of any rescheduled events as they develop.
For now, the health and safety of our members and guests are of utmost importance and we must remain vigilant. We encourage you to follow the CDC, local, state and national guidelines to reduce the spread of Coronavirus and to remain healthy and safe. If we can all do our part, we can look forward to our NAWBO events soon and get back to business as usual.
As women business owners, we must also remember to support each other during this challenging time. Small local businesses are usually heavily hit with less sales, yet they must still meet payroll and pay rent. Let’s band together and show them some love by thinking of them, even if it’s just buying a gift card, picking up some flowers or grabbing a bottle of wine.
We’re in this together and we will be stronger and braver together if we can all do our part!
Thank you for your continued support of NAWBO, and we look forward to our future gatherings soon! Please stay tuned…
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message | March 2020
Dear Members:
Spring is in the air! March brings a sense of renewal and rejuvenation, allowing our chapter to grow and branch out in many new directions while staying rooted in our mission to propel women entrepreneurs.
Last month we had one of our most successful events in collaboration with the San Jose Sharks. We had a turnout of about 140 people and a powerful panel of experts: Olympic gold medalists, Kristi Yamaguchi and Brandi Chastain, Dr. Joan Oloff, podiatrist and fashion shoe designer, and Toni Julian, sports nutritionist and author. Jill Wesley, NFL speech coach and strategist, complemented the evening as our moderator.
Sadly, the Sharks event was Melissa Grimshaw-Vargas’ last hoorah with us. She has stepped down as our two-term Program Director due to personal reasons. Melissa made a tremendous impact on the quality of our programs and a sensitivity to our members’ business needs and priorities. We will truly miss her creativity, energy, boldness and smarts!
We have several exciting events coming up this Spring in March and April (see the remainder of this newsletter for details)
On April 21st, we will host our 4th annual Crystal Chair Awards gala at the Silicon Valley Capital Club. We will honor and celebrate women business owners for Lifetime Achievement, Woman of Distinction and Woman of Advocacy. Please reach out to Maxine Goulding, our event planner extraordinaire, to volunteer for this event. Maxine can be reached at events@caspecialoccasions.com.
We are seeking board and committee members for the new fiscal year starting July 1st. If interested, please send a message to info@nawbo-sv.org and we’d be happy to discuss this great opportunity!
May you enjoy this spring season with an abundance of growth and gratitude!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
Facts and Tips to Prepare for Coronavirus Spread as WBOs
- Understand your risk: People with an increased risk of infection include those with underlying health issues, older adults and healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19.
- Know the symptoms: Symptoms include cough, sore throat, high temperature and feeling tired and achy—symptoms similar to the flu.
- Protect yourself: Take extra precautions like you would during a heavy flu season:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
- Clean and disinfect common areas and frequently touched surfaces.
- Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve, not your hand.
- Avoid traveling to areas affected by a viral outbreak.
- Be aware of your surroundings and keep your distance from people who are sick.
- Protect your employees: Consider increasing your frequency of wiping down and sanitizing your business’ high-traffic areas. Also, make hand-sanitizer and even masks and gloves available in common areas, like break and bathrooms.
- Prepare your business: If Coronavirus spreads in the U.S., your business might experience absenteeism and see impacts to local transportation, healthcare and emergency systems.
- Allow flexible work schedules or telecommuting instead of large in-person gatherings.
- Actively encourage sick employees to stay home and practice respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene.
- Request that anyone with a fever stay home for at least 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal.
- Consider adjusting business etiquette; it’s okay to not shake hands with others during this time.
- Limit international travel but when necessary, advise those traveling to take certain steps before and during travel to stay healthy. The CDC provides recommendations for each country.
- Preserve important records off-site for easy, remote access.
- Monitor news coverage and public health information ongoing.
President’s Message | February 2020
Dear Members:
February is the month of love and passion, whether it’s for the ones we hold dear to our hearts or for the pursuit of goals that make us excited for living a full life.
Our recent “Huge Gets” with Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist and Dancing with the Stars celebrity, and Brandi Chastain, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, makes me realize how passionate I am about NAWBO’s mission and the importance of our sisterhood. NAWBO is driven to empower and propel women to become successful in our professional and personal lives. We truly strive to bring the best of the best to our monthly programs, so we can be inspired to be the best version of ourselves whether it’s in our business or home life.
Our collaboration with the San Jose Sharks on February 10th featuring local celebrities, Kristi Yamaguchi and Brandi Chastain, along with Jill Wesley, a talented speaker coach and strategist, Dr. Joan Oloff, a popular podiatrist and pioneering shoe designer, and our very own NAWBO member, Toni Julian, who is a renowned health advocate and sports nutritionist, will prove to be an epic event. We have already gained a lot of excitement and momentum, and we hope you can join us for this special time. Please visit www.nawbo-sv.org/events to purchase tickets. You can also consider becoming a corporate sponsor at the Bronze $250, Silver $500 or Gold $1,000 level. Let’s go for the Gold!
Coming down the pike, we have March events to look forward to: 1) Taste of Italy for International Month at Total Wine, San Jose; 2) Corporate Sponsorship Luncheon at Silicon Valley Capital Club; and 3) Kendra Scott fundraising at Santana Row. For April, we will feature our signature event, Crystal Chair Award Gala, on April 21st. Three women business owners will be honored for the following categories: 1) Crystal Chair Award – Lifetime Achievement; 2) Business Woman of Distinction; and 3) Woman Business Advocate of the Year. Please think of women you’d like to nominate and honor, and look out for the call for nominations through our NAWBO email notifications.
Currently we are seeking business owners to serve on committees and serve on our Board for our new fiscal year beginning July 2020. We’re still in the early part of the year where we’re committed to our new year’s resolution and goals. Right? You can start with our upcoming Crystal Chair Awards Gala event which attracts over 100 attendees. You can help us create and execute another successful event, as we really could not do this without dedicated and hard-working volunteers who help support NAWBO and its board members. Please reach out to Maxine Goulding, our event planner extraordinaire, who can be reached at events@caspecialoccasions.com , call her at 404-838-9737 or you can see her personally at one of our upcoming NAWBO events.
May you live your life full of love and passion, and we hope NAWBO helps enhance your life experiences at work and at home as we are better together!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message | January 2020
Dear Members:
We are looking forward to working together to help renew and revitalize our new year’s goals for 2020! As a chapter, we have many accomplishments that we can be proud of and thankful for. Yet, we still have many areas that we can work on, such as advocacy and mentorship, to make our chapter stronger and better for years to come. We hope we can count on you this year, whether it’s to serve on our board or committee, or simply attend and participate in our monthly programs.
Highlights of 2020 will bring us the following:
Leadership Development Workshops/Conferences:
- February 6th at Albuquerque, New Mexico
- April 23rd at French Lick, Indiana
- June 1st at Washington, DC
Crystal Chair Awards Gala at Silicon Valley Capital Club on April 21st
- Crystal Chair Lifetime Achievement
- Business Woman of Distinction of the Year
- Business Woman Advocate of the Year
NAWBO CA Propel Conference at Citizen Hotel, Sacramento, CA on May 4th
NAWBO National Women’s Business Conference “Brave Is” at Austin, TX on September 21st
Member & Corporate Sponsored Workshops & Presentations
- March 17th at Capital Club in Honor of Corporate Sponsors
Empowered & Educational Topics, Speakers & Panelists
- January 21st at Capital Club
- February 10th at San Jose Sharks
- May 19th at Capital Club
- June 16th at Capital Club – New Board Installation
We appreciate you taking this journey with us in reinvigorating and refreshing our mission to propel women business owners in their personal and professional lives. Clearly, we can accomplish bigger and greater things together, and we look forward to your continued help and support through 2020.
May the New Year bring you good health and prosperity!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
Planning an Event: A Bird’s-Eye View
by: Maxine Goulding, California Special Occasions
Any event you host or endorse is a direct reflection of your business or company. Before you start planning an event and sending out invitations, you need to know a few things about the meeting industry in general. What exactly is the effort needed and guidelines surrounding the production of a successful event?
Why hold an event? What is your objective?
- To build brand awareness – It’s focused time you can utilize to build brand awareness around your business with target audiences.
- To humanize the business – It’s a good time to thank customers and clients for their support and offer to answer any questions they have or help them in some way if you can. People buy from people, so make sure your business real and authentic.
- To provide networking opportunities – It’s an excellent way to meet like-minded individuals in your industry, and you never know where those relationships may lead!
- To fundraise – For non-profit and charity organizations events are a perfect way to do drive fundraising efforts. They offer a controlled and focused environment for you to spread the word and incite empathy and curiosity in attendees.
- To launch a new product or service – New products or services can be showcased in a fun and upbeat atmosphere! A time for demonstrations or give away samples. It gives your potential customers a chance to interact with your product or service in person.
Awards ceremonies are a very common type of event to hold, and a fantastic way to recognize your team or others for their hard work. Recognition is always appreciated, and usually makes for a more loyal team.
- To offer a face-to-face communication experience – Today we live in a digital world where we are losing that personal, human interaction. The feeling of being in front of someone; having a conversation and sharing a laugh, can’t really be replicated online.
The 3 Questions Your Website Needs To Answer
I have some bad news. Nobody cares about your product or service.
What?! It’s true. They don’t care about your product. They care about what your product can do for them or get them. For something to add value, it needs to do one (or more) of these things:
- Save someone time
- Make someone money
- Teach something
- Add joy
The Benefits of Google My Business & How To Optimize Your Listing
- It’s free!
- Get your business to show up in the local 3 pack
- Increased credibility
- More reviews = more business
- Control, index, and display pertinent business information
- Interact with potential customers and manage your online review reputation
- Curate customer photos, videos, and other user-generated content
- Gather insights regarding how your customers are arriving on your site
How to Optimize Your Listing
- How customers are finding your business (direct vs. discovery vs. branded searches)
- Where on Google your customers are finding your listing (Search vs. Maps)
- The actions your customers are taking on your listing (Visiting your site, clicking on directions, browsing the photo gallery, calling you)
- Total phone calls and time when customers are calling
President’s Message | December 2019
Dear Members:
During this holiday season, I would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy Hanukkah!
Undoubtedly, this is a very special time of year where we look forward to being with family and friends, attending holiday get-togethers and parties, and sharing in the joy of giving and receiving gifts.
We invite you to join us at NAWBO Silicon Valley’s annual holiday luncheon on Tuesday, December 17th at the University Club of Palo Alto. You’ll have a chance to mix and mingle with old, new friends and friends you haven’t met yet while experiencing one of the finest lunch buffets and beverage service. Once again, the Peninsula Symphony will add to the festive atmosphere by playing some of our favorite holiday music. Won’t you join us for some holiday fun and cheer? Please feel free to bring a friend too!
As 2019 comes to a close, we have many reasons to feel joyous and thankful about our chapter’s accomplishments:
1) NAWBO National 5 Star Advocacy Award
2) Leadership Development Workshops/Conferences at Scottsdale, Arizona and Washington, DC
3) Crystal Chair Awards Gala at Doubletree Hotel, Campbell
- Hannah Kain, Crystal Chair Lifetime Achievement
- Monika Miles, Business Woman of the Year
- Cathy Smith, Woman Business Advocate of the Year
4) NAWBO CA Propel Conference “Choosing to Own It” at Citizen Hotel, Sacramento, CA
5) NAWBO National Women’s Business Conference at Jacksonville, FL
6) Member & Corporate Sponsored Workshops & Presentations
7) Empowered & Educational Topics, Speakers & Panelists
8) NAWBO Honorees for Women of Influence:
- Randi Ross, Secretary & Membership Director
- Elvie Teodoro
We appreciate you taking this journey with us in reinvigorating and refreshing our mission to propel women business owners in their personal and professional lives. It is clear that we can accomplish bigger and greater things together, and we hope you consider joining our board for the new fiscal year 2020!
May you enjoy this special time with your family and friends!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message | November 2019
Dear Members:
SPECIAL NOTE: NAWBO Silicon Valley would like to take this opportunity to thank our men and women across the state in their effort in combating fires and power outages helping thousands of people and want them to know they are tremendously appreciated.
Congratulations!!! Our chapter was recently honored at the NAWBO National Conference in Jacksonville, Florida for achieving the 5 Star Award. We thank Griselda Quezada-Chavez and Eugenia Lunden for accepting this award on our behalf. This award represents our dedication and hard work in our local advocacy efforts, and we were one of nearly 60 NAWBO chapters in the country to receive this.
Our October 22nd event was sponsored by Perkins Coie LLP in Palo Alto, and their legal experts did a phenomenal job in educating us about upcoming changes in laws that would affect our businesses. The top ones to look out for are the California AB 5 (aka Dynamex) and the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CPPA).
AB 5 would limit the use of classifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees by companies. CPPA requires businesses that collect, maintain or sell personal information to notify consumers and would disclose the information and business use of information, which allows consumers to opt out and have personal information deleted. Please look out for any updates on AB 5 and CPPA in our upcoming newsletters.
Next month, we look forward to an educational and interesting topic on Money Matters and Finance… We are thankful to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch for sponsoring this event, and we hope you can join us!
Our annual holiday luncheon is set for Tuesday, December 17th at the University Club of Palo Alto, so please mark your calendar now. We will have a delightful afternoon of the finest cuisine and beverage service while being entertained by the infamous Peninsula Symphony. Because of our successful fundraiser last year for Dress for Success, we will collaborate with them once again and we look forward to your participation. More details will be shared in our events calendar and upcoming newsletters.
Many thanks for taking this journey with us in reinvigorating and refreshing our mission to propel women business owners in their personal and professional lives. It is clear that we can accomplish bigger and greater things together!
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message | October 2019
Dear Members:
Fall is upon us, reminding us that change is imminent with temperatures decreasing and leaves falling from the trees. It’s a wonderful time to reflect on our summer vacations and look forward to the beauty of autumn leaves. With NAWBO, we’re constantly changing and resetting like the seasons to help our members become empowered in their businesses and we hope you’ve taken notice!
On September 17th, we were honored to have Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara County Supervisor, and Madison Nguyen, Executive Vice President of Silicon Valley Organization, spearhead our conversation about “Women in Politics”. It was a perfect evening to learn, talk and share about women in politics and how they’re changing the political world in increasing numbers from a local to national scale.
The evening was a reminder of our past advocacy efforts, and how we must keep moving the needle toward other milestones for women business owners. Just over 30 years ago, NAWBO helped in the passage of HR 5050, allowing women to qualify to take a business loan without a male counterpart. Last September, we celebrated NAWBO’s success with SB 826, requiring CA publicly-held companies to have at least one woman on board by the end of 2019 and more in the future. Simply put, we just built an unlimited number of tables and have an open invitation for many women to join us! Our founder, Susan Hager, believed in bringing your seat to the table, and if you don’t have a table, build one. Then bring other women with you.
On October 22nd, we look forward to an educational and interesting topic on laws that will impact our businesses in 2020. We are grateful for Perkins Coie LLP, an international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client services, for hosting this upcoming event in Palo Alto so we can stay informed and be proactive! We hope you can join us and please feel free to share with others, as you don’t need to be a NAWBO member to attend this special occasion.
Our board of directors continue to be a dedicated and hardworking board of volunteers bringing together impactful and worthwhile programs and events, and we encourage you to get involved and become a committee member to strengthen our NAWBO sisterhood. We cannot do this on our own. By joining our leadership team, you become part of the women business owners who help make positive changes in our communities and beyond.
Warmest regards,
Flordelisa Harris
President’s Message | September 2019
We are off to a renewed fiscal year with our recent achievement of the 5-Star Advocacy Award provided by NAWBO National, due to maintaining and achieving benchmarks that drive our chapter’s success in advocacy!
Our chapter incorporated advocacy awareness and efforts throughout last year’s programs, such as “How to Build and Join Corporate Boards”, and the celebration of HR 5050 and SB 826. Also, we were involved in NAWBO California’s Annual Propel business conference in Sacramento. This year, we plan on building upon our unique ability to engage and educate our members regarding legislation that impacts your business. At this time, we are closely following AB5, which is also known as Dynamex. Businesses must use the “ABC test” to figure out whether a worker is an employee versus an independent contractor.
We had an invigorating and educational event last month with our local Fashion Disrupters’ panel experts: Taylor Jay, Dr. Joan Oloff and Chalisa Prarasri. It was great to have these successful business women share their journey and provide useful tips in reaching your goals and never feeling discouraged.
On September 17th, we look forward to “Women in Politics” where we will hear from Council member Pam Foley, District 9; Madison Nguyen former Vice Mayor of San Jose; Maya Esparza Council member, District 7; and Cindy Chavez Member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. You can join the conversation with these influential women to help shape our communities, businesses and lives.
Next month, Perkins Coie law firm will host our event in Palo Alto, and we’ll have a chance to learn about laws that will affect our business in 2020. We have so many more exciting topics up ahead that are sure to keep you engaged with NAWBO and its members, so please look out for future communications.
Although we are very lucky to have a dedicated and hardworking board of volunteers bringing together impactful and worthwhile programs and events, we encourage you to get involved and become a committee member to strengthen our sisterhood. We cannot do this on our own. By joining our leadership team, you become part of the women business owners who help make positive changes on a local, national and global level.
We look forward to our journey in strengthening our NAWBO chapter so we can accomplish great things together!