Welcome to 2013! I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for placing your trust in
me to lead this organization over the next two years! It is with great anticipation and humility that I step into this role, following in the footsteps of tremendous business women. A huge thank you to Lesa Seibert and her outgoing board for all their efforts and successes during the past term.
NAWBO Louisville has made great strides over the past several years. We listened to your feedback on the direction you would like to see the organization take. Mentoring and education were key to nearly everyone who responded to a membership survey. Through the efforts of Ellen Reitmeyer, NAWBO Louisville’s executive director, and many of you, NAWBO Louisville is now forging a path of mentorship in this community. The following programs are now in place:
- NAWBO Clubs—after school business clubs in the three JCPS business magnet schools, Doss, Southern and Eastern. These clubs consist of business students and once monthly a NAWBO member visits with them for an hour to talk business
- Young Entrepreneurs’ Academy!—through our wonderful affiliations with GLI and the University of Louisville, NAWBO Louisville introduced the YEA! program to the community. This 30 week program walks 6th-12th grade students through every aspect of starting a business.
So what lies ahead for the current board of NAWBO Louisville? It is the goal of this current board to help the organization grow, not just in numbers of members and sponsors, but as total business women who are successful and able to give back to our community. It will be accomplished through programs of education, through strengthening and developing NAWBO’s Masterminds groups, and through MINERVA. It will be accomplished through greater outreach to the membership and involvement of the membership in programs that have been established. And it will be accomplished as all of us who are working to improve our businesses realize there is greater strength in numbers.
Those numbers include YOU. NAWBO Louisville has the programs in place which will allow you to be involved in many different facets. Start-up business owner?—The educational and networking programs are there for you to take advantage of; existing business owner?—networking, masterminds groups and mentoring are in place for you to become involved; seasoned business owner?—Minerva is a great roundtable event and YEA! and NAWBO clubs could benefit from your expertise!
It’s all here, and it’s here now! We need you and want your involvement, and we look forward to getting to know you better during this term of office.
Lawren Just
Persimmon Ridge Golf Course
Louisville Chapter
