Cambridge Who's Who Resource Center

Over 40 and Redefining Unemployment through Entrepreneurship

2008-06-26T12:46:00.000-04:00

How Three Women Took the Chance of a Lifetime

By Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Cheryl Nordyke

Cheryl Nordyke is no stranger to adventure when it comes to finding employment. Nearly 10 years ago, after going through a divorce and losing the grandmother who raised her, she and her 5-year-old daughter packed a moving van and made the trek from southern California to New England to start a new job and a new life.

She was recruited for the job and, since she had been a customer of the Massachusetts-based software company for four years already, she knew the product and knew that she could sell it. So, with a cut in pay, but the promise of big earnings if she worked hard, she decided on a fresh start.

It didn’t take long for Cheryl to reap the benefits of what she sowed. She was the top producer during her first year at the company. For the next nine years she continued to be the top producer and brought in more than $15 million in upfront sales revenue in addition to a high percentage of ongoing revenue in monthly support fees, add-ons and the like. So when her employer eliminated her position as New Business Development Director, it came as a total shock to her. For the first time since she started working at the age of 17, Cheryl was unemployed.

During the last 20 years, unemployment rates have gone up and down as this country watched the dot-com era boom and then fall to recession before it slowly recovered, only to see a country wage a war it could not afford. During all of this, Cheryl and others just like her have had to adjust. But adjusting and coping was not enough for Cheryl. What made her successful in sales was her different outlook and approach to problem-solving, and it is what has turned her unemployed status to that of entrepreneur.

During her time at the company, Cheryl was able to help long-time friend, Carrin Torres from California, obtain consulting work at the same software company in the finance department. When that ended, Carrin went back to being a stay-at-home mom and when her struggling marriage ended, Carrin needed to look for work again. The work turned out to be much less than she needed to support four children; not only the future looked bleak, but so did everyday life. The issue of underemployment is as much of a financial shock to families as unemployment.

Faced with a search that could take months to land her a job at her previous six-figure salary, Cheryl took a chance. She put all of her life savings and retirement account on the line and decided that if she could make a good living for someone else, then she could certainly do the same for herself.

Teaming Up

While working at the software company, Cheryl met Kim Wierman. Kim was re-entering the workforce full time after spending 12 years at home raising three sons. Her husband’s health issues, plus the high cost of his health insurance, had Kim looking for a job with good benefits and time to spend with her family. She thought she had found the ideal situation when a marketing job presented itself. She was able to cross-train for several weeks to build her skills and confidence since she had been far removed from corporate life for more than a decade. The marketing job turned out to be more than she expected, but Kim welcomed the opportunity and worked hard to reach the goals set by the company. Ultimately her hard work did not pay off and her job was also eliminated. A managerial position was created in its place with the same description. Kim was not offered the new position or any other at the company and became involuntarily unemployed. Three weeks later, Kim’s husband died suddenly of a heart attack, and she was faced with being the sole provider for her family.

The expression, “Success is when preparation meets opportunity,” rang true with this trio. In the years before moving East, Cheryl and Carrin had dreamed of becoming writers and had started a book of reflections on everyday situations. Cheryl was able to introduce Kim and Carrin to each other, and the three of them went on to finish the book.

In the search for a reminder to be grateful, Cheryl, Carrin and Kim decided to wear a bracelet representing gratitude. “We were off on our quest to find the perfect piece of jewelry, but nothing out there spoke to us,” said Cheryl. Kim knew of someone that might be able to make them a bracelet and doors that they never imagined began to open.

“We met two women and worked with them for over four months and had nothing physically to show for our efforts. In the middle of working with them, another door opened and someone offered to introduce us to a jewelry designer named Jessica Fields. When our first road came to an end, we decided maybe the other road we had been offered might be worth pursuing. Jessica was exactly what we were looking for. We shared our vision and our story. We wanted jewelry that was beautiful and something you actually would want to wear and give as a gift. However, we also wanted something that would have meaning; one that would say to a recipient, ‘we are grateful for what you do’ and for the wearer it would say, ‘remember to be grateful.’”

A new business, Wavelet Productions, LLC, was born out of this search for the perfect reminder and with it Waves of Gratitude jewelry, apparel and an online community were launched. The entrepreneurial spirit with which these women approached unemployment is a mind-set that some people do not dare choose when faced with job loss, divorce, or any other new or unforeseen situation.

“We are flooded daily with negative information from our employers, the media, rude drivers and other unhappy, angry people,” comments Cheryl. “The jewelry, and the whole business we’ve created, is meant to remind us that we have a choice to not react in the same way when in a similar situation. We can choose to be grateful and not experience whatever it is that is making others so unhappy.”

The company was founded on the premise that there is something to be grateful for in every situation and in each day.

Giving Back

Waves of Gratitude will be giving a percentage of all sales to carefully chosen charities and causes. “We are going to be giving a percentage of our profits for 2008 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure (a charity focused on breast cancer),” said Kim. “However, our cause will be wellness. We may be focused on cancer, but we will represent the positive statistics related to breast cancer survival.”

There is good news and much to be grateful for in the quest for improved wellness. Almost 80% of women between ages 50 and 69 will survive at least 10 years beyond treatment for breast cancer today, while data from the early 1990s shows just 59% of women in that same age group survived for 10 years after a breast cancer diagnosis. “If we can focus our energy on the positive progress and fight for the cure rather than against what is wrong, we can create a shift of energy,” added Carrin. “This approach can be taken to any situation we are presented.”

In the future, the Wavelet women plan to celebrate other causes, including the recognition of heroes – firefighters, soldiers, policeman and other everyday heroes. They hope to raise enough profits to give to quarterly causes. This includes showing their gratitude for all they have and what the future holds by supporting the environment, underprivileged children and education.
One of the jewelry pieces created is called "Branches of Hope," and it is meant to symbolize survival. “Every woman has survived something,” Cheryl says.

“It could be an illness, loss of a loved one, divorce, or a move – and sometimes all of those at once! For anyone who has displayed courage or strength this is a great gift to say, ‘I am proud of you; you made it.’ For you, it is a reminder that as the seasons sometimes weather a tree, it is those same seasons that bring out its true strength and inner beauty. It says that, no matter how life has been, there is hope for how life can be. The seeds of hope lie within us the same way they were in the tree before it became the symbol of strength it is today.”

Wavesofgratitude.com will also have a blogging section and forum serving as a social network where visitors can write their own gratitude stories, send pictures of the people to whom they have given jewelry and share pictures of themselves wearing it and what it is that has them feeling grateful. Giving hope to the other millions of people who will find themselves unemployed or underemployed this year, the Waves of Gratitude founders hope to reach 6 million people by June of 2009 and send a message that their focus on gratitude can shift not only their own lives but the lives of those around us. “We cannot control the world, but we can control how we choose to live our own lives. We chose to live in gratitude.”

About the Owners

Cheryl Nordyke is a native of Arizona who relocated from California to New Hampshire in 1998. Cheryl has been writing since the age of 10, consistently recording her thoughts and ideas about different situations along life’s path. She is the co-author of But What Do We Know and has written several children’s books. Cheryl is the mother of one daughter.

Carrin Torres resides in Southern California. Carrin’s background is in motivational training and personal coaching in the business arena. As a mother of four and also the co-author of But What Do We Know, she has been able to contribute many examples to the different approaches one can take in raising a family in today’s world.

Kim Wierman was raised on the North Shore in Boxford, Massachusetts and makes her home now in Derry, New Hampshire. Kim has worked as a professional writer and editor since 1986, having published work as a ghostwriter for more than 10 eBooks and printed books. She too has contributed to the book, But What Do We Know. Kim is the mother of three boys.

Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Cheryl Nordyke

2008-06-26T12:37:00.004-04:00

Biography

Cheryl Nordyke has been a member of Cambridge Who's Who since April 2008. She is the co-owner of Wavelet Productions dba Waves of Gratitude. Waves of Gratitude is an online retail store that sells inspirational jewelry incorporating two or more wave designs from the wave collection into a versatile pendant. The waves were created by fashion designer Jessica Fields to represent gratitude, a sentiment which is given and received just as the waves of the ocean constantly flow to and from the shore. Cheryl’s expertise is in business development, sales, marketing, customer relations and business planning.

After facing several trials and tribulations, including unemployment, Cheryl moved from California to New England to begin a new life for herself and her daughter. She decided to become an entrepreneur and start her own business. She founded Waves of Gratitude with Carrin Torres and Kim Wierman, two women who had also endured life-changing experiences and shared her positive attitude and entrepreneurial spirit. They decided that they would produce a product that embodies the phrase “thank you” and serves as a long-lasting symbol of gratitude. For more information about Waves of Gratitude and how they got started, please read "Over 40 and Redefining Unemployment through Entrepreneurship".

Cheryl is a member of the New Hampshire Retail Association and received a certification through the Dale Carnegie Program. She has received the Human Relationships Award from Colonial Ford, National City, CA and currently supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Jimmy Fund and the American Heart Association. In addition to being an entrepreneur, Cheryl has been writing since the age of 10 and has been consistently recording her thoughts and ideas about different situations along life’s path. She is the co-author of But What Do We Know, a compilation of insights on how to approach daily situations in a positive way. The book provides three different points of view into different aspects of life such as friends, family and parenting. In addition, Cheryl has written several children’s books.

Cheryl attributes her success to her hard work and determination as well as to receiving continuous support from her mentors. She enjoys building and maintaining relationships with customers and within five years she plans to invest in small business ventures and share her business knowledge with other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Articles by Cheryl Nordyke

Over 40 and Redefining Unemployment through Entrepreneurship

An Introduction to Franchising

2008-06-10T15:41:00.006-04:00

Four tips to starting a successful franchise.
By Cambridge Who’s Who Lifetime Member and Contributing Author Harold Kestenbaum

My name is Harold Kestenbaum, and I am a franchise attorney. Many of you may be wondering what a franchise attorney does. I realize that franchise is not a well-known sector of the legal profession unless you work in the industry as either a franchisor or a franchisee. Here is how I became involved in franchise law.

In 1977, at my third job out of law school, I worked for a solo practitioner in Manhattan who represented many corporate clients, some of whom were publicly traded. One company happened to be a franchising company. One day my boss said to me, “Kestenbaum, I need you to learn about franchising, so that you can handle our franchise client.” Not knowing what in the world he was talking about (I had done everything but franchise law up until then) I found every book I could on franchising (there was no Internet in 1977) and for the next four years I immersed myself in franchise law. When New York State passed a new franchise registration law in 1981, I decided that it was time for me to become a solo practitioner and left the practitioner I was working for. I have been practicing franchise law ever since.

I have written a book, “So, You Want to Franchise Your Business,” that will be in stores on August 1, 2008, and delves into the way a company embarks on the franchise path. It includes the dos and the don’ts of franchising your business. In my book, my co-author, Adina Genn, and I discuss what makes a company right for franchising and how to go about turning a successful business into a franchise company. Here are a few key tips from my book:

Have a successful model. It is impossible to create a franchise program without having at least one successful operation, a pilot, if you will. It is not feasible to think that if your core business loses money and is unsuccessful, that a franchisee will be any different. It is imperative that your franchisees be successful, otherwise franchising does not work.

Make sure your business model is replicable. You must be able to build clones of your operation, otherwise, the system will not work. Have you ever seen a McDonalds without the infamous golden arches? That is just one example, but it goes beyond the look. It is the method of operation that must be duplicated.

Attain capital for your franchise. You must have capital in order to roll out the franchise program. You cannot believe that franchising will cure your cash flow issues, you need to have money in order to roll out the program. Do not view the program as a way to fund an undercapitalized business model.

Prove your model works! The concept that you are trying to franchise must lucrative. You must demonstrate that your concept works before you try to offer it to the public as a franchise. If the business model is a failure, your franchisees will inevitably fail as well. Franchising can be a wonderful business model, but your initial model must work first, otherwise franchising will not be possible.

Why franchise your business? Very good question, but to those of us in the business, the answer is quite obvious. If you want to grow your business beyond one or two stores, and you cannot afford to build more units at, for example, $500,000 each, then what better way to grow than to let a franchisee buy a franchise and build the unit himself or herself for that amount, and you simply receive the weekly royalty of 5% or 6% of gross revenues? Franchising is a vehicle for growth using the capital and human resources of someone else (the franchisee). How great is that? It is simple, yet complex. The franchising relationship goes much deeper than building the unit and collecting royalties. It is a starting place for companies that want to grow but do not have the internal capital or human resources, like Starbucks, to do it by themselves.

Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Harold Kestenbaum

2008-06-10T15:19:00.004-04:00

Biography

Cambridge Who’s Who Lifetime Member and Contributing Author, Harold Kestenbaum, is a dedicated and established franchise attorney. Mr. Kestenbaum has been involved in franchise law since 1977 and has served as franchise counsel to many regional, national and international franchise companies in various industries. Mr. Kestenbaum currently provides legal counsel to Ruskin Moscou Faltischek PC in franchise distribution and licensing law, representing start-up and established franchisers. He has served as the chief executive officer of a national franchisor and as the director of six nationally and internationally known franchisors, enhancing his experience in franchise law.

Mr. Kestenbaum is a member of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section, the Antitrust Section’s Forum Committee on Franchising (since 1978), the Subcommittee on Franchising of the American Bar Association’s Corporation Banking and Business Law Section and the International Franchise Association’s Supplier Forum Advisory Board. He is also a founding member and the current chairman of the New York State Bar Association’s Franchise, Distribution and Licensing Law Section and serves as chairman for its Education and Seminar Subcommittee. Previously, Mr. Kestenbaum chaired statewide seminar programs for New York State attorneys in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005, and chaired seminars on franchise law for the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations.

Mr. Kestenbaum received a JD from the University of Richmond in 1975 and bachelor of arts in sociology from Queens College in 1971. He has been named as one of the “Top 100 Franchise Attorneys in North America,” in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Franchise Times Magazine and as one of the three best franchise attorneys in the New York metro area in 2005 and 2006 by New York Magazine. Mr. Kestenbaum is currently working on two books: “Franchise Your Business, for Entrepreneurs,” and “How to Become Successful in a Franchise Business Once You Are a Franchisor.” He has published articles on franchise law for the Franchise Law Journal, Franchise Lawyer and for the ABA Forum Committee, and has lectured extensively on the subject.

Articles by Harold Kestenbaum

An Introduction to Franchising NEW!

An Expert Lesson from Dad

2008-06-10T14:14:00.004-04:00

Five ways to become an expert in your field.

By Cambridge Who’s Who Member and Contributing Author Jo DeMarco

My father was a carpenter. I grew up constantly hearing friends, relatives and customers sing his praises for being the best in the business. My father frequently needed to inspect jobs or pick up payments in the evenings, and my brother, sister and I often went along with him. Those trips resulted in additional opportunities for us to hear favorable and appreciative raves about his workmanship. One day I asked my father if he was “an expert” carpenter. Surprisingly, he responded that he did not consider himself to be an expert carpenter. I was confused by his answer because I thought being an expert meant that you were the very best in your field and anyone I ever heard reference my father’s work had said that he was“the best.” Being the type of father who would perpetually provide us with the life lessons we would never learn in school, his explanation went like this:

“No matter what you do in life give it your all, be the best you can possibly be and never tell yourself that you know everything there is to know about something. No matter how much you think you know always be willing to learn more, something new or a better way to do things. And remember to be humble. If you are fortunate enough to receive praise, politely acknowledge it and forget about it. Hanging onto praise is walking a path to arrogance, and that will surface in the work you do. If you keep your mouth shut and your ears open you will learn more and far surpass any goals you have laid out for yourself. Every piece of work that you do tells people who you are and becomes your reputation, your signature. You are the only one who can ensure that your signature is honorable, consistent and that it stands for something worthwhile and reputable.”Of all the things my father taught me over the years, this advice has had the greatest impact on my professional life. With that in mind, allow me to make a few points on how to become an expert in your field:

Be the best you can be: Choose a field or career that you are very interested in, enjoy being a part of and are passionate about. You cannot be “the best” if your heart is not in it. Be honest with yourself if you have not done everything you possibly can to gain a high level of knowledge in your field. You might be able to fool yourself, but not others for very long. Lie to yourself about the extent of your knowledge, and the truth will show up in your work.

Act the part: Being an expert is not only about having the highest degree of knowledge in a particular area, but it also involves the way that you conduct yourself. Your personal appearance, attitude, communication skills and compassion for others are equally as important.

Create your signature: Your work ethic is your signature. Excellent skills, attention to detail and reliability will certainly put you on the right path. Have the courage to “color outside the lines” once in awhile and these key attributes will support you in doing so.

Stay humble: Sure, we all love the accolades, awards and recognition. It is human nature to want that pat on the back and somewhat necessary when we know that we have put our heart into something in order to keep it going. Just remember not to let it go to your head.

If you have to say it, it is not so: Anyone who goes around tooting their own horn will be called many things, but an expert most likely will never be one of them!

Moreover, if you can look yourself in the mirror and honestly tell yourself that you have done everything possible to be the very best that you can be then that should be all you need. Thanks for teaching and showing me that, Dad!

April 2008 Teleseminar: “Million Dollar Networking Strategies for the 21st Century” with guest expert Mike Litman, Thursday, April 10, 2008

2008-06-03T17:22:00.004-04:00

Cambridge Who’s Who would like to recognize the overwhelming response from members to the announcement of its first teleseminar, “Million Dollar Networking Strategies for the 21st Century.” It was truly a testament to the drive, determination and level of dedication to personal and professional development that the members of Cambridge Who’s Who share.

The call featured Mike Litman, multi-millionaire and best-selling author of Conversations with Millionaires, as guest expert. Mr. Litman has helped hundreds of thousands of people improve their lives and grow their businesses. Cambridge Who’s Who invited him to speak so that members could benefit from his strategies for success and learn how to develop their personal brand, achieve business growth and expand their professional network.

If you participated in the call, Cambridge Who’s Who hopes you enjoyed it and learned from it. (Thank you to all who responded with their feedback thus far.) If you were not able to dial-in, here is a summary of what Mike Litman had to say to members about networking in the 21st century.

Tip #1: Be Proactive and Make Yourself Visible
When you want to succeed, there are habits and characteristics that you must have in order for you to excel, for you to profit and for you to change lives. You need to learn how to build your business, yourself and your career. Especially in this day and age when the Internet plays a large role in society; if you are not a strong networker, if people cannot find you, if your exposure and visibility are not there, if your credibility is not there, then you do not exist in today’s economy. You must learn to become a successful networker to survive and to further yourself. All successful networkers are proactive. They do not just wait for opportunities and connections to come to them, but they go out and look for them.

Tip #2: Find Your Asset of Value
To successfully network with others you need to find what makes you a valuable resource. The key to big success is becoming valuable to others. Once you know what you can offer to others, your goal is to go the extra mile for your peers and customers by offering them your asset of value. What is your asset of value? Your asset of value is a platform that you have, control or possess that you can share with somebody else and by them leveraging it, you give them exposure and credibility.

Tip #3: Become a Great Problem Solver
Identify yourself as a problem solver. The people who are the most successful and climb the ladder the highest are simply great problem solvers. Everything was created to solve a problem. What problem do you solve?

Mid-way through the call, Mr. Litman opened the phone lines to all members listening in to the teleseminar. Those who entered the queue had great comments and questions for him. Here is some of the discussion that took place between Cambridge Who’s Who members and Mike Litman.

Cambridge Who’s Who member, Nicole from Connecticut, works in the aerospace business as a lean expert. “I have been very successful most of my career, but I am at the point where I am ready to go to the next level,” says Nicole. However, Nicole has been told by the higher executives and the VP of Human Resources that she gives too much away and needs to focus more on herself. Nicole thinks that she has learned a great deal from sharing with her peers. Even though in her industry the focus is on the individual, she knows in the long run that being an integral part of the team is more important. How can she further her career? What should she do?

Mike Litman Replies

Cambridge Who’s Who member, Mary Lou from Phoenix, has experience in selling kitchen cabinets and countertops. The business specializes in kitchen remodeling but due to the housing market, business has not been so good. She asks Litman, “What suggestions do you have to get exposure?” and states “You have to have a customer to go the extra mile for people.”

Mike Litman Replies

Businesses can become self-absorbed and have a self-centered mind-set. They worry only about business growth and securing new clients. More importantly, business should question how they can become more valuable to their prospects and customers. Any business owner can create a strategic advantage through creativity, imagination and education. Educate your existing and potential customers by holding an informational session in your office. This adds value to the products and services that you offer.

Advertise your business in a creative way. Encourage your son, Mark, to tell the story of how he became involved in the woodworking profession and made the transition from the financial services industry. Make the woodworking process more interactive by holding demonstrations for customers. Offer specials and promotions with a call to action such as a 90-day sale and send a letter to your customers with an incentive for them to refer business to you.

Cambridge Who’s Who member, Dante from Phoenix, had his own advice:

Dante

Litman

Dante

Litman

Cambridge Who’s Who member, Gloria from Miami, feels overwhelmed at her job and wants to know, “What do you do when you’re doing such a good job but you end up with over a 60-hour work week?”

Mike Litman Replies

Cambridge Who’s Who thanks all of the members who participated in the first teleseminar. We look forward to having future teleseminars on other topics including becoming an expert in your field, increasing your online visibility, winning and retaining new clients, marketing your products and services and building your personal and corporate brands. For more information about the 2008 Teleseminar Series or to find out how you can serve as a guest expert, please email networking@cambridgewhoswho.com.

Cambridge Expert Natalie A. Remien

2008-05-20T14:51:00.009-04:00

Biography

Natalie A. Remien became a Cambridge Who's Who member in September of 2007. Natalie is a senior level associate at Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, LLP's Intellectual Property Department. Her practice concentrates on intellectual property, intellectual property litigation and trademarks. She aspires to become known as a brand-name in the trademark prosecution, enforcement and litigation arena within the next five years. Natalie graduated with a JD from DePaul University, College of Law in 1999 and a bachelor of science from the University of Colorado, Boulder (cum laude) in 1996. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, National Association of Women Business Owners and Professional Women's Club of Chicago. Natalie has been admitted to the United States District Court: Northern District of Illinois.

Natalie A. Remien's Professional Biography

Published Articles

Does Your Intellectual Property Work as Hard as You Do?
Learn how intellectual property can provide the necessary edge to lock out competition and catapult your business to the next level.
Published on April 22, 2008 by Tech Image

For more expert biographies and articles please return to Cambridge Experts.

Cambridge Experts

2008-05-19T14:41:00.005-04:00

Many Cambridge Who's Who members have already attained expert status in their field and have been published by and featured in various sources. Cambridge Experts was created to give these members a place to gather their published articles as a resource for others and identify them as experts within the Cambridge community and beyond. Each expert page includes a photo, short biography and links to articles, podcasts, press releases and more that have showcase the member's unique expertise and skiii set.

To take advantage of this exclusive benefit, send an email to exposure@cambridgewhoswho.com today!

Learn about the Cambridge Experts and read their articles and testimonials:

Name	Title	Company Name	Industry	Expertise	Member Since
Remien, Natalie A.	Attorney	Bell Boyd & Lloyd	Law	Intellectual Property Law	09/2007

The Best Experts Get Involved

2008-05-19T11:12:00.000-04:00

Make the move from entrepreneur to expert by sharing your knowledge with others.

By Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author and Member, Chi Chi Okezie

As an entrepreneur, your level of industry knowledge and experience can be a prime factor in determining your business success. Your potential clients, vendors and business partners should believe in your abilities as well as the products and services that your company offers. Developing your personal brand can greatly affect how people perceive you and influence their willingness to do business with you. Here are several ways in which you can define yourself as an expert in your field and position yourself and your company for success.

#1: Join an online networking group.
Globalization is becoming increasingly important in almost every industry. Get involved with an online networking group in order to create and expand awareness of your company, products and services. Building an international client base and developing relationships with professionals in other industries and geographical locations will enhance your credibility. It will also improve the appearance of your company or organization as it relates to cultural awareness and diversity.

#2: Write about what you do best.
Whether they will be published in a book, journal, newsletter, e-magazine, website or blog, write and submit articles on your industry or profession as it relates to your skill set and business knowledge. Keep your colleagues, customers and potential clients informed by updating them on recent industry trends and challenges. Offer solutions to problems that they or their companies may face. Help them to make decisions that will improve their business processes and practices.

#3: Teach an online class or teleseminar.
Teaching classes increases your visibility, credibility and professionalism. In particular, offering classes online allows you to reach a wider range of students (and potential clients) and can give you an edge over your competition. If you are more comfortable on the telephone, set up a teleseminar using a conference call service. Once you have selected your preferred method of communication, hold training sessions on your products and services. Lead professional or business development seminars to help others realize success in their endeavors. And offer additional coaching or one-on-one sessions for those who would like to learn more from you. The more value that you offer, the more people who will attend your classes and recommend you to others. Teaching will also strengthen your knowledge and experience in your field, thereby elevating your expert status.

#4: Do interviews with the media.
You can gain exposure and awareness from being interviewed by the media. There are several channels that entrepreneurs can use to soar in their professional and social endeavors. Online magazines, radio, press releases, blogs and newsletter interviews are excellent ways to build your image as an expert in your field. You can include transcripts of your interviews in your corporate media kit. This will build your credibility among your clients, colleagues and business counterparts.

Chi Chi Okezie joined Cambridge Who's Who in June 2007. Using the resources and networking tools available to her via Cambridge Who's Who membership, Chi Chi was able to receive additional exposure for her company on www.cambridgewhoswho.com, including a feature in the Cambridge Business (CamBizTM) Directory, Announcements, Who's Who in the News and Cambridge Events sections. For more information on Chi Chi Okezie and SIMPLEnetworking, LLC, please view her contributing author profile.

Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Jo DeMarco

2008-05-12T20:09:00.002-04:00

Biography

Jo DeMarco is the president and chief executive officer of Contessa Knows; an online department store for men and women. The store features premium organic skincare products, apparel, jewelry, greeting cards, home accents and more for a sophisticated lifestyle. On the company website, http://www.contessaknows.com/ she showcases her insights, reflections and creative writing through her books, greeting cards, note cards and stationary as well as Contessa's blog page which is not to be missed.

Jo has had several years of experience writing fiction. She has written novels, screenplays and whimsical books that focus on strong women, their roles and their experiences. She has a love for vintage romantic melodramas that, coupled with her passion and talent for writing, provides a platform for her to communicate tales of love, romance and good triumphing over evil. She is also the author of a children’s storybook, “One Little Christmas Tree.”

Her success is due to her strong faith, determination and desire to reach her goals. She views mistakes as an integral part of the learning process and necessary for personal growth and development. Jo studied at the Notre Dame School for Girls in Chicago, Illinois and total quality management under Dr. Donald Rice at Texas A&M University in 1994. She has also completed courses at the American Institute of Banking, American Management Association and Screenwriters Institute of Los Angeles. She is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America West and is the founder and creator of the Louis J. DeMarco Educational Foundation.

Articles by Jo DeMarco

Networking Starts and Ends with You

2008-05-12T20:09:00.001-04:00

Follow these tips to become a successful networker and business professional.

By Contributing Author and Cambridge Who’s Who Member Jo DeMarco

Whether you are part of an organization, have your own business or are contemplating starting one, do not discount the value of networking. Sharing effective business strategies and addressing the roller coaster ride that the economy today keeps us on is vital to your success as a business professional. Here are some fundamentals that have proven essential to me and have contributed to both my personal and professional growth and development.

Know thyself – Create a realistic picture of your strengths and weaknesses. Focusing on your areas of improvement will help you to identify when somebody else is dealing with the same issues. You would be surprised to hear how many people admit to having issues with time management, turning good ideas into reality, working with a team, etc. Having a realistic picture of yourself will allow you to network more effectively, as you will know what you need to learn from others and what advice you can offer someone else.

Know what your ambitions are – Where are you now in your professional life and where do you want to go? What are you striving for? Having the answers to these questions will help you to realize which types of networking environments best suit your needs. For example, if you are currently looking to open your own business, you should search for small business owner groups and workshops through local newspapers, libraries or via the internet. If you are employed by an organization that you would like to progress in, speak to your Human Resources Director and inquire about cross training, management courses, after hours groups, off site conferences, etc. Knowing where you want to go is the first crucial step to getting there.

Listen as well as you speak – We all want to be heard. We also want to find out useful information that will set us on the road to the success that we seek. When you have the opportunity to network, it is often more important for you to ask questions and listen well rather than talking a lot about yourself and stating what your goals and ambitions are. Also, do not be afraid to apply what you have learned from others; obviously it worked for someone else, why not for you too?

Be courteous – Once you have had great conversation and exchanged business cards with another professional, make it a priority to reach out to him/her again. If you have received advice from this person or found that your conversation led to improvement in any way in your personal or professional life, be sure to communicate that to them in your follow up email or phone call. Knowing that they have helped someone will inspire them to keep doing so. It will also keep the door open for future exchanges or references.

Be engaging – Never think that you know it all or do not have room to grow. You can learn something from just about everyone, so keep your eyes and ears open and embrace the people who you meet. You might be surprised to find out what you can learn from the most unusual people and in the most random places. Take the initiative to introduce yourself and spark conversation. Make your dialogue as engaging as possible by asking challenging questions and sharing your own experiences and expertise.

Following these strategies will help you to place yourself in more fruitful networking environments and make the most of them while you are there. Also, taking yourself and your goals into consideration before networking with other professionals will prompt you to ask better questions and listen more attentively to the answers you obtain. Networking starts and ends with you; it is filling in the middle that is the tricky part. Hopefully these tips will help you to fill in the gap and become a successful networker and business professional.

For more information on Jo DeMarco and Contessa Knows please veiw her contributing author profile.

Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Program - Sign Up Today!

2008-05-09T15:33:00.005-04:00

Cambridge Who’s Who invites you to serve as an expert resource and submit articles for publishing on the Cambridge Who’s Who Resource Center. Being featured as a contributing author on the Resource Center will give you the online exposure that you need to advance in your profession and grow your business, as we will provide you with a forum to share your expertise with your fellow members and the general public. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to establish yourself as a valuable resource in your industry and profession.

As a Cambridge Who’s Who Contributing Author you will receive:

Biography highlighting your areas of expertise, educational background and professional experience
Announcements about your recent accomplishments and endeavors
Editing and proofreading of your work
Links to every article you contribute
Possible feature of your articles in Who’s News, the Cambridge Who’s Who e-newsletter

To take advantage of this exclusive benefit, send an email to exposure@cambridgewhoswho.com today!

Learn about our Cambridge Who’s Who contributing authors and read their articles and testimonials:

Cambridge Who’s Who Contributing Authors

Articles

Networking

Positioning Yourself as an Expert

Entrepreneurship

Over 40 and Redefining Unemployment through Entrepreneurship New!

Testimonials

"Cambridge Who's Who is an exceptional organization which is extremely instrumental in helping its members enhance their professional goals. I recently published a book and was able to use my resources and connections with CWW to promote the book through the website, newsletter and blog. The blog has provided a lot of positive business exposure, improved my credibility and promoted the sales of my book. The response has been overwhelming in my favor and has catapulted my business to the next level."

Chinonyerem (Chi Chi) Okezie
Owner, Founder
SIMPLEnetworking LLC
Jonesboro, GA
Cambridge Member Since June 2007

"As a new member to Cambridge Who’s Who I was immediately impressed with the caliber and range of people I now had the opportunity to interact with. The Cambridge staff could not be more polite, well versed, dedicated and dependable, it’s easy to see how a person could flourish and grow personally and professionally with them supporting you. When I started looking through the member directory, I was amazed at the expertise and diversity of this prestigious group. I am not only honored to be included, but as one who always welcomes a challenge, I find myself raising the bar of my own standard level to maintain my place among this impressive group. What a phenomenal “club” to belong to in order to share and grow together!"

Jo DeMarco
Contessa Knows
Chicago, IL
Cambridge Member Since May 2007

Growing Your Business through Online Networking

2008-04-16T15:22:00.001-04:00

By Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Chi Chi Okezie

Online networking is a valuable marketing tool that professionals can use to increase their business. The internet is a great way to attract your target market and maintain customer loyalty. Online networking can also help you to achieve business success by building your company's credibility. It is an effective way to market every aspect of your company to potential clients, customers, partners and employees in a professional manner. Listed below are a few tips on how you can generate business through online networking.

Use online networking to attract your target audience, partners and employees.
Create an individual and/or company profile on a networking website. Your online profile should outline your education, experience and background in a particular field, your company history and a description of your ideal client or target audience. This will better illustrate the work or services that you offer, and thus attract the right customers for your business. If possible, include testimonials from past or present clients and customers to enhance your profile and credentials. Also consider listing the types of professionals and companies that you are seeking for strategic partnerships or projects. This will make your profile more appealing to people or organizations that would be interested in working with you or for you. If you operate on a referral fee service, online networking is a great opportunity for you to gain new clients; a detailed description of your company will give others a better sense of who you are, what you do and who would be most interested in doing business with you.

Use online networking to market your products and services to existing and potential clients.
All business professionals should network online to sustain business relationships with their customers and clients. Stay in contact with your customers and clients via email to announce new products, share important company news and inform them of recent industry trends. And remember: clients and customers respond well to incentives and discounts. Running an online promotion can help to increase your sales and get more buzz about your products and services.

Use online networking to promote a professional image for your business.
Online networking can increase your company's professionalism. When your organization is linked to a credible professional group with a diverse membership base it shows that your company is well connected and active in the business community. Becoming a member of an online networking organization can help you to present yourself as an expert in a particular industry or field; you can use your profile to display your designations and certifications and highlight your professional involvement within your industry or business sector.

Chi Chi Okezie joined Cambridge Who's Who in June 2007. Using the resources and networking tools available to her via Cambridge Who's Who membership, Chi Chi was able to receive additional exposure for her company on www.cambridgewhoswho.com, including a feature in the Cambridge Business (CamBizTM) Directory, Announcements, Who's Who in the News and Cambridge Events sections. SIMPLEnetworking LLC will also be spotlighted in the Featured Business section of the upcoming Cambridge Who's Who e-newsletter, "Who's News."

Cambridge Who's Who applauds Ms. Okezie for taking full advantage of her Cambridge Who's Who member benefits and thanks her for the kind words about our services and staff that she submitted for the Cambridge Who's Who Success Stories website.

For more information on Chi Chi Okezie and SIMPLEnetworking, LLC, please view her contributing author profile.

Cambridge Who's Who Announces New Breakthrough Teleseminar Series

2008-04-03T14:11:00.000-04:00

April 2008 Teleseminar "Million Dollar Networking Strategies for the 21st Century"

Multi-millionaire, best-selling author and proven success coach, Mike Litman, will be sharing his strategies for effective networking and business building with Cambridge Who's Who members on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 9:00 PM EST. His success tips and goal setting techniques will help members to develop their personal brand, achieve business growth and expand their professional network within Cambridge Who’s Who and beyond. We appreciate his willingness to share this valuable information with Cambridge Who’s Who members in an exclusive members-only conference call and are pleased to offer this immense benefit to you for FREE. ($97 value)

DATE: Thursday, April 10th, 2008
TIME: 9:00 PM EST 8:00 PM CST 6:00 PM PST

In "Million Dollar Networking Strategies for the 21st Century," you will discover:

The biggest mistake that networkers make and how to desperately avoid it
Two networking strategies that can increase your business by 30% this month
How to create exponential growth in your personal network
The networking formula that creates profitable long-term customers
How to become the person that everybody wants to promote
And much, much more!

About Mike Litman
Mike Litman is the #1 best-selling author of Conversation with Millionaires. Over the last 6 years, he has coached over a quarter million business owners, showing them how to improve themselves and build their businesses better and faster. He is a nationally recognized networking expert and Cambridge Who's Who is excited to share his proven strategies for success with you.

Event Sign-up Information
We were only able to reserve 150 lines for the call. These lines will fill up immediately. To sign up for Thursday evening’s call, send your first and last name, member number and primary email address to networking @ cambridgewhoswho.com. You must be a Cambridge Who’s Who member to participate in the call.

The Teleseminar Series is one of many new and exciting membership benefits that Cambridge has planned for 2008. Look out for future announcements about our expanded product and service offerings. If you would like to receive these updates via email, sign up for the Cambridge Who's Who Email Alerts today!

Cambridge Who's Who Networking Events for Members

2008-04-02T14:14:00.000-04:00

05/14/2008 2008 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo
The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo, features four days of business, motivational, and leadership seminars designed to empower and profit minority businesses.Registration required.

05/17/2008 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
For 2 days and 39 miles, you have the opportunity to dramatically impact the lives of millions affected by breast cancer worldwide. By participating in the Avon Walk, you’ll allow medically under-insured women and men to receive the screening, support, and treatment they require. And leading-edge research teams will be powered by the cure all because of you. Take the first step. Register today!

06/08/08 2008 National Small Business Summitt
Interact with policy makers, business leaders and other leading entrepreneurs, share your experiences and find new ideas to boost your business.

06/28/08 10am - 7pm NAATF World Series of Poker Tournament
1st Annual NAATF World Series of Poker Tournament. A charity poker event. The winner will win a seat at the World Series of Poker in July 2008.

07/10/2008 - 7/12/2008 The GirlFriend Gathering Women's Conference
West Palm Beach FL - The Girlfriend Gathering is a blend of experiences that empowers the inner-self— where women find support and creative confidence to achieve a more satisfying life.

10/09/08 7th Annual Maryland Hispanic Business Conference
Business matchmaking. Workshops on marketing, sales, financing, legal issues and successful alliances. Onsite registration will start Wednesday Oct 24th at the hotel at 7:00 AM.

Cambridge Who's Who Resource Center

2008-03-31T20:28:00.000-04:00

The Cambridge Who's Who Resource Center is a place for members to become updated on the latest trends in business, education, healthcare, science and technology, real estate, small business and philanthropy for executives, professionals and entrepreneurs. Cambridge Who's Who Resource Center is filled with articles and news offering advice on popular topics such as starting your own business, networking, marketing and making yourself into a valuable contact.

What’s Coming to the Site:

News Articles

How-to Articles

Quick Tips

Networking Advice

Marketing & Advertising Tips

Business Resource Section

Trends

Please review and utilize our site and if you have any comments or questions regarding the services we offer, please contact us at pr@cambridgewhoswho.com.

Etiquette Tips for Online Networkers

2008-03-31T17:20:00.000-04:00

By Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Chi Chi Okezie

Online networking is great tool for expanding your network and cultivating relationships with your existing contacts. For online networking to be beneficial for all parties involved, it is important to follow a few etiquette tips while establishing and maintaining business and personal relationships. People are most likely to do business with those whom they like, trust and respect. In order to create a good rapport with others, it is essential to conduct business in a professional manner. Business protocol is very easy and practical to achieve, and its rewards are powerful. This article is filled with helpful tips for establishing sound business relationships, treating your colleagues with respect and demonstrating professionalism while engaging in online networking.

#1: Follow up
An excellent way to build your credibility is to follow up in a timely manner and stay connected. Following up shows that you are focused and business minded in your endeavors. Failure to follow up can create gaps in communication that can hinder the progress on your online networking. It is also good to stay in contact with your business counterparts since you are communicating online and not seeing each other in person. You should not let an extensive amount of time lapse in your communication efforts. Even if you do not have any particular news to share, sending a quick message is always a good idea.

#2: Be Patient
When meeting people and conducting business over the internet, always exercise patience. Allow your business counterparts sufficient time to respond to your requests, comments, suggestions or questions. Being demanding or overbearing can appear aggressive or insensitive when conducting business or establishing relationships.

#3: Get Permission
No matter what you do or suggest, always ask for permission. It is a form of courtesy and consideration, which shows that you respect the other person's privacy. Asking permission in advance improves your credibility and trust factor especially when conducting business over the internet. Ask for permission to include your counterparts on an email listing or advertisement. If you would like to introduce them to potential customers or clients also ask for their permission before making a formal online introduction of the two parties. Also, make sure that it is OK to refer them to others with their direct contact information.

#4: Say Thank You
Using the phrase "thank you" and showing an appreciation for others' efforts is very important when conducting meaningful business. There are several creative ways of displaying a gracious attitude over the internet. You can close your message with a "thanks in advance" sentence or email a thank you e-card. Another great way of showing appreciation is by referring your business counterpart or creating awareness about their business to friends and colleagues. And follow up with them in regards to the progress of the professional or social endeavor in which they agreed to offer assistance. This is also a great way to stay connected with your business counterpart.

The above tips and suggestions will increase your professionalism and help you to develop strong and meaningful business relations. Remember that the key to successful online networking is to respect and show appreciation for your business counterparts.

Chi Chi Okezie joined Cambridge Who's Who in June 2007. Using the resources and networking tools available to her via Cambridge Who's Who membership, Chi Chi was able to receive additional exposure for her company on www.cambridgewhoswho.com, including a feature in the Cambridge Business (CamBizTM) Directory, Announcements, Who's Who in the News and Cambridge Events sections. SIMPLEnetworking LLC will also be spotlighted in the Featured Business section of the upcoming Cambridge Who's Who e-newsletter, "Who's News."

Cambridge Who's Who applauds Ms. Okezie for taking full advantage of her Cambridge Who's Who member benefits and thanks her for the kind words about our services and staff that she submitted for the Cambridge Who's Who Success Stories website.

For more information on Chi Chi Okezie and SIMPLEnetworking, LLC, please view her contributing author profile.

Why Entrepreneurs Should Invest in Online Networking

2008-03-17T14:28:00.000-04:00

By Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Chi Chi Okezie

Networking is becoming increasingly popular among entrepreneurs. It is an amazing means of allowing professionals to build relationships, grow their businesses, tap into resources, develop business skills and brand themselves within their industry or profession. Entrepreneurs can network within their jobs, clubs, organizations, associations and now online. Internet networking proves to be just as effective as in-person networking while adding several benefits for professional and social success.

Online networking is an excellent tool that entrepreneurs should invest in to develop their businesses. There are several advantages to online networking over traditional networking methods. Listed below are five key benefits of online networking that will open your mind to a host of endless opportunities for yourself and your business:

#1: Online networking increases and diversifies your network.
Online networking gives entrepreneurs a chance to develop relationships with several contacts at one time. Professionals can meet several people and communicate in a broader way than they are able to at face-to-face networking events. Business people are able to meet a wider variety of people through online networking. Usually, networking events will attract certain groups of people, depending on who is sponsoring the event. With online networking, many different industries are represented within the group.

#2: Online networking makes you more accessible to others.
Having a virtual business presence enables professionals to be contacted much faster than by phone or mail. Your ability to be accessible and reached easily allows you to conduct business in an efficient and productive manner. You are able to organize and execute projects and agendas in effectively, which can greatly affect your bottom line and give you a clear advantage over your competitors. It will also improve your credibility and image for your company, brand or service.

#3: Online networking shatters time and geographical boundaries.
By networking online, entrepreneurs are able to reach the world from their computer. Using the internet and email allows professionals to send messages to business counterparts during any time of the day from any location to be received anywhere around the world. The flexibility and practical aspects of connecting and building relationships online expands your target audiences and your network of clients, customers, colleagues, vendors, partners, investors and even employees.

#4: Online networking can be an excellent low-cost marketing tool.
One of the best advantages of online networking is the ability to showcase yourself and your company, products, services or brand. As entrepreneurs, we are constantly looking for ways to create awareness, and online networking offers that unique benefit. Many websites allow members to post pictures, profiles, articles, books and various marketing materials for advertisements and announcements. Entrepreneurs can then share their online content with their clients, customers and business colleagues.

#5: Online networking allows entrepreneurs to develop professional skills.
Many online networking groups and companies offer incentives and benefits to their members, which can be extremely valuable to business and personal development. Blogs, articles, book recommendations, online seminars, teleseminars, announcements of local and national business events and discounts on business publications or services are just a few resources that entrepreneurs can use for success.

Entrepreneurs should consider investing in online networking for their professional and social endeavors. Online networking creates many resources for businesses and gives entrepreneurs flexibility in their business dealings. It is one more effective tool that can be used to accomplish business and social goals.

Chi Chi Okezie joined Cambridge Who's Who in June 2007. Using the resources and networking tools available to her via Cambridge Who's Who membership, Chi Chi was able to receive additional exposure for her company on www.cambridgewhoswho.com, including a feature in the Cambridge Business (CamBizTM) Directory, Announcements, Who's Who in the News and Cambridge Events sections. SIMPLEnetworking LLC will also be spotlighted in the Featured Business section of the upcoming Cambridge Who's Who e-newsletter, "Who's News."

Cambridge Who's Who applauds Ms. Okezie for taking full advantage of her Cambridge Who's Who member benefits and thanks her for the kind words about our services and staff that she submitted for the Cambridge Who's Who Success Stories website.

For more information on Chi Chi Okezie and SIMPLEnetworking, LLC, please view her contributing author profile.

Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Writer Chinonyerem (Chi Chi) Okezie

2008-03-17T13:50:00.001-04:00

Biography
Chi Chi Okezie has six years of business consulting and instruction experience. She offers seminars, classes and presentations on the following topics: professional etiquette, social networking, image consulting and cultural awareness for non-profit organizations, professional groups, schools, universities and companies. Chi Chi is owner and founder of SIMPLEnetworking, LLC, a consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA.

Clients and colleagues alike refer to her as charming, amusing and accommodating, but Chi Chi Okezie's main interest when conducting business is to make a connection with every person she encounters. As a daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Chi Chi has a diverse cultural background and enjoys learning about cultures and languages while traveling to foreign countries. Fluent in French and English and knowledgeable in Ibo (Nigerian language), this entrepreneur uses all her skills and talents to create opportunities in business and education.

Satisfied clients of SIMPLEnetworking include: Emory University; Georgia Institute of Technology; DeVry University; Delta Air Lines; National Society of Black Engineers; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Mu-Alpha Chapter); EEI-Inc.; Reach-One Inc.; Cleanis-Paris, France; French-American Chamber of Commerce-Atlanta; JCI-Atlanta; and Ann Taylor.

Chi Chi recently published a travel size guide for networking filled with tips, tactics and techniques for networking like a pro! SIMPLEnetworking: Creating Opportunities...The new form of success! will teach you how to polish your professional approach to networking, build relationships and follow-up with your contacts in an effective and timely manner. To read an excerpt or to purchase her book, please visit http://tinyurl.com/2nesco. For more information about SIMPLEnetworking LLC, visit http://www.snseminars.com/ or email info@snseminars.com.

Articles by Chi Chi Okezie
"Why Entrepreneurs Should Invest in Online Networking"
"Etiquette Tips for Online Networkers"
"Growing Your Business through Online Networking"
"The Best Experts Get Involved" NEW!

Related Links and Articles
Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Writer Chi Chi Okezie Publishes Networking Guide
Radio Interview about SIMPLEnetworking: Creating Opportunities...The new form of success!
Podcast in Atlanta, GA: The Small Biz Brain, Being Beautiful and Culturally Acceptable