(L TO R) Doris Barber, Jamie Kent Hamelburg and Laurel Jones

Dear members and guests,

The 20132014 year was full of ups and downs for WBO MC and its members. As business women we need to take time to celebrate the ups and support each other in the downs. Our ups were substantial this year: WBO MC continued to strengthen our programming with informational events; additional Mastermind groups; expanded new member orientation workshops; and social media posts for more networking opportunities. We have celebrated business growth, winning contracts, territory expansion, and professional publications. Sadly, we have also helped members through the loss of loved ones, illnesses, and downsizing. WBO MC provides a support network for our members during these times.

As President, I have been challenged professionally and personally to best provide a place for change, growth, and support. The board was essential to each accomplishment and I thank them. Board members volunteer their time without compensation; they pay their own membership dues and for every event they attend. They arrive 90 minutes early to every monthly meeting for our board meetings. When you serve, you get even more out of the organization than you would from just attending events. Most of our board meetings are open to all members. I urge you to sit in and see what is required to keep this group strong.

As I look back, I look forward, too. We have so many places to go. Our new president, Wendy Howard, and the new board members have already demonstrated strong leadership skills and the desire to continue to build WBO.

We present this report as a snapshot for you to see where we have been, where we can all go together.

Annual ReportFY 20132014

IjoinedWBOatthestartofmycareertomeetotherwomeninbusinessandmakeconnections.Ihavestayedforalmost20yearsbecauseofthequalityofthewomenIhavemetandthelonglastingfriendshipsIhavemade.

ANITA SEGRETI, Producer, Anita Segreti Insurance, Inc.

Wishing you all the best,

Naomi

Treasury Report

INCOME $23,992

Membership dues $13,098

The Power Conference $2,050

Meeting fees $8,686

Other $158

OUTPUT $25,945

Meeting fees $13,810

Website and telephone service $1,892

Administrative assistance $6,439

Marketing (including membership in complimentary organizations)

$700

Fees (bank and credit card processing), supplies, and insurances

$1,233

Donations to Montgomery College in support of a female student studying business

$500

Matching attendee donations to nonprofit of the month

$584

STARTING BALANCE IN ALL ACCOUNTS: $14,973

ENDING BALANCE IN ALL ACCOUNTS: $13,021

2 | Women Business Owners of Montgomery County | FY 20132014 Annual Report

IvisiteddifferentnetworkinggroupsandIlikedthewomenImetatWBO.Theyareprofessionalandwelcoming.Theprogramsrangefrombrownbaglunchestobreakfastsandmonthlyprograms,andthedaysvarysothatitgivesanyonetheopportunitytoattend.

SUSAN COMMANDER SAMAKOW, PCC, CPCC, Take Command of Your Life

SOCIAL MEDIA INVOLVEMENT Increased posting to Facebook at least 3x per

week with up to 131 PEOPLE seeing each post

Twitter followers increased to 139 PEOPLE

LinkedIn members increased to 50 PEOPLE

KEEPING YOU INFORMED Networker completely online with new

advertising opportunities, delivered to over 1030 EMAILS with an average open rate of 29%

NETWORKING AND MORE Added new monthly breakfast networking events

Events increased to three times each month bringing in over 200 GUESTS

Over 700 PEOPLE attended our events

Added New Member Orientation programs

Continued partnerships with other organizations to increase the networking potential:

Rockville Chamber of Commerce Team Network MegaMarty Green Wheaton Wheaton/Kensington Chamber

of Commerce

Supporting our local community with Nonprofit of the Month program: Real Food for Kids Montgomery Leadership Montgomery Family Services, Inc. Girls on the Run of Montgomery County The Senior Connection PaxWorks Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation

Member Benefits

Women Business Owners of Montgomery County | FY 20132014 Annual Report | 3

contined on page 4

Return of the member to member Brown Bag series:

ROBYN SHRATER SEEMANN, Graphic designer, R2studios: Atomic Tangerine: Why your favorite color might be wrong for your business and other tips to improve your message.

LAURA RHODE, head Promo-ista, What a Party Promotions: I Didnt Know You Did That? How to get your brand and your name out into the world and increase your client base.

LAUREL JONES, Independent Healthcare Advocate, IBCS: Help! My Mothers Killing Me...Info, Impact and Options for caring for your seniors and yourself

MARY JEFFERSON, President, Make It Count Marketing: Integrated Marketing Communications Using LinkedIn to coordi-nate all of your marketing efforts and grow your business.

KRISTIN RODRIGUEZ, Financial Advisor with Platinum Financial: A Husband is Not a Retirement Plan and Other Tales from the Archives of Financially Savvy Women

WBO MEMBERS: Tips and tricks to getting the most out of networking at The Power Conference

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MORE Using the Countys Small Business Resources

by Judy Stephenson, the MC Small Business Navigator

Making Your Business Exceptional by Tya Bolton of Exceptional Business Solutions

Benefits of Green Business by Lucinda Brown of STET Sustainability Consulting, Julia Craighill of Ensight Consulting, Lori Hill of Sister Eden, and moderated by Wendy Howard of WH Consulting

Business 2.0: Im in Business, Now What? by Jamie Kent Hamelburg of Press Dozier, Gail Louis of PNC Business Banking, Anita Segreti of Federal Insurance Federation, and moderated by Becky S. Corbett of BSCorbett Consulting

4 | Women Business Owners of Montgomery County | FY 20132014 Annual Report

contined from page 3

CONTACTWomen Business Owners of Montgomery County PO Box 1281 Rockville, Maryland 20849-1281

(301) 365-1755 wbo@wbo-mc.com facebook.com/wbo.mc.md

WBO BOARD MEMBERSNaomi Abrams, WBO-MC PresidentWendy Howard, Vice-PresidentMary Florian, Treasurer Kristin Rodriguez, Secretary Janice Andrews, Administrative AssistantLaurel Jones, Membership Mary Jefferson, Communications Doris Barber, PublicityLaura Rhode, Program ChairMargie Billian, At-Large Member

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