Make Mine a Million - Count Me In

Meet the 2006 Business Owners and read their blogs:
		Valarie King-Bailey of OnShore Technology Group, Inc Chicago, IL OnShore Technology Group is a multi-dimensional innovative Chicago-based company dedicated to providing advanced technology, marketing and engineering solutions for global businesses. The company was founded in 2004 by Valarie King-Bailey (48), an African-American with an MBA in Information Systems and a BS in Civil & Environmental Engineering. She started the business with the goal of helping to keep technology jobs on America’s shores. OnShore Technology specializes in helping clients align and integrate technology with the core mission of their businesses. www.onshoretech.com
		Christine Cunneen of Hire Image LLC Johnston, RI Hire Image conducts pre-employment screening, including background searches, drug testing, credit reports, motor vehicle records, education verifications, employment verifications, professional license verifications, and more. To separate her business from the competition, Hire Image provides exceptional customer service and a state of the art web-based ordering system. Christine (38) was a CPA working with small businesses when she took an Entrepreneurship class and helped a client work on a business plan. Seeing the growth potential of the business, she persuaded the client to join forces with her, and in 2005 formed Hire Image. www.hireimage.com
		Theresa Daytner of Daytner Construction Group Mount Airy, MD Daytner Construction Group is a commercial construction consulting group specializing in owner’s representation and construction management on projects in the $10 to $50 million size range. Theresa, 42, is the daughter of an entrepreneur and ran two other businesses before she convinced her husband to come work for her and started DCG in 2003. Historically, DCG’s clients were commercial developers; more recently DCG has targeted the federal contracts market and Theresa has her eyes on the residential market as well. daytnercorp.com
		Mary Dierker Ardapple of Apple’s Bakery Apple’s Bakery is a public home styled bakery designed to facilitate customers daily conversations while enjoying the best Midwestern hospitality and quality scratch farm style cookies, pies, tea breads, cinnamon rolls and more. Mary's blog
		Kelly Driscoll of Digication, Inc, Providence, RI Kelly, 28, is Co-Founder and President of Digication, founded in 2002. Her company represents an entirely new concept in educational software. Designed by educators for educators, Digication’s Campus & Spotlight products combine the best elements of social networking and learning management systems to create a community of users who can learn and grow both inside and outside the classroom. The software is easy to master and simple to use, with all the connectivity, file sharing and e-portfolio tools teachers and students want. www.digication.com
		Amelia Moran Ceja of Ceja Vineyards Ceja Vineyards is an ultra premium producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc from the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Amelia's blog
		Melinda Earl of Stone Impressions San Diego, CA Melinda, 49, is the majority partner of Stone Impressions, a manufacturing company that makes decorative natural stone tile products using a patented process that Melinda invented. Stone Impressions primarily manufactures murals, listellos and accent tiles. They have over 300 unique designs created by the company and also produce custom work for clients who supply their own artwork. They have been in business since 2003. www.stoneimpressions.com
		Allison Evanow of Square One Organic Spirits Square One Organic Spirits, LLC is a female-owned and managed spirits business dedicated exclusively to the development and marketing of organic spirits. We want to have fun socially while being environmentally socially conscious. Allison's blog
		Julie Fogg of Active Port Active Port designs, installs and supports converged telephone systems with voice mail, IP telephony (VoIP) and call center for enterprise organizations nationwide such as Marriott and Charter Communications. Driven by unparalleled customer service and technical expertise, Active Port was invited to resell Nortel’s enterprise line of telephone systems in 2006 and joins the ranks of equipment resellers such as Verizon and Qwest Communications. Julie's blog
		Julia Frink of Dogwalks Dogwalks.com is dedicated to offering exceptional care, personalized service and active, safe walks for dogs in San Francisco. Julia's blog
		Molly Fuller / Anne McCarten-Gibbs of Hands on Gourmet Hands On Gourmet offers interactive cooking classes for corporate team building and private celebrations. Our events are educational, memorable, and most importantly FUN! blog
		Theresa Mills Hinton Comprehensive is a company with a Professional staff that provides medical utilization review and medical case management. We also provide medical bill review, legal-medical review and always strive to provide quality services to our customers. Theresa's blog
		Patricia Kelly of Limerick Limerick designs and manufactures pj’s comfort jr.® electric breast pump, the only 1 pound, affordable pump, designed by women for women, that can be used from hospital, to home, to work. Limerick’s patented designed soft silk-like silicone breast cups and advanced technology mimics a baby’s sucking pattern making pj’s comfort jr.® the most comfortable, effective and easy to use pump on the market. Patricia's blog
		Susan Knapp of A Perfect Pear A Perfect Pear from Napa Valley is a unique line of gourmet food products blending together all natural, primarily organic ingredients to give the everyday cook gourmet results with novice effort. Our extraordinary product line includes award winning jams, jellies, salad dressings, marinades, vinegars, maple syrup, pancake mix and chocolate sauces which are available in select fine food stores and our gourmet food club online. Susan's blog
		Lynne Lambert of Prak Productions, Inc. Chappaqua, NY As an actor living in Brooklyn, Lynne Lambert had a brainstorm while riding the subway: NYC subway themed products would be popular both with tourists and with New Yorkers. From there grew her ideas to start a company making fashion apparel and accessories under license from the New York MTA, from Coney Island USA, and with the Z-Guides Company. The NYC Subway Line products have been a big success, showing up regularly in films and on TV. Up next? “We’ve started with the Z-Guide street map of London on accessories, and will expand to make fashion lines for famous cities around the world,” says Lynne. www.nycsubwayline.com www.ConeyIslandLine.com www.LondonLineZ.com
		Gina Lyons of Lyons Marble and Granite Besides providing utmost customer service, it is also our constant goal to continue to provide a positive experience in assisting homeowners and other business owners with their projects by providing the best quality of service in the fabrication and installation of granite, marble, soapstone, limestone and all other natural and man-made stones. Gina's blog
		Fiona Macaulay of Making Cents International, Inc. Washington, DC Making Cents International is a small woman-owned training and consulting firm committed to poverty alleviation through the provision of services to assist the development and support of microentrepreneurs. Making Cents specializes in strengthening the capacity of entrepreneurship education and business development providers to deliver targeted, high quality services that assist entrepreneurs to start, grow, or expand their enterprises. Fiona Macauley, 33, started Making Cents after two years working in microenterprise in Southern Africa. Since its founding in 1999, Making Cents has provided technical assistance to over 4,000 business service providers from 43 countries. makingcents.com
		Bonnie Marcus of Bonnie’s Style Press Westport, CT "Where fashion meets paper." Bonnie's Style Press is a fashion-forward invitation and greeting card company specializing in chic, stylish greeting cards and wedding invitations featuring illustrations from New York City fashion designers. The unique designs are embellished with hand-painted sparkles, ensuring that each card is as special as the sender. Bonnie Marcus, 35, founded her company in 2002 after having worked for many years in the fashion industry and as a wedding and special event planner. www.BonniesStylePress.com
		Kimberly Martinez / Lisa Harrington of Bonitas International Bonitas International creates and distributes “functional” jewelry. The company’s signature products include a collection of ID necklaces and retractable badge reel jewelry which enables ID wearing women around the world to display their employee id badge with style. blog
		Diana Mercer of Peace Talks Meditation Services, Inc. Peace Talks Mediation Services, Inc., teams lawyers and therapists as mediators to help couples resolve divorce and custody issues in a sane, sensible and fair way at a reasonable cost. Diana's blog
		Marie Moody of Stella & Chewy’s, LLC Brooklyn, NY Marie, 39, founded her pet food company three years ago when her dog was diagnosed with an illness that could only be cured by putting him on a diet of raw meat. Stella & Chewy's is a wholesaler of all-natural, raw and freeze-dried pet food for dogs and cats. The diet is 96% free-range meat and bone, and 4% organic fruits and vegetables; it mimics what carnivores would eat in the wild. Because it is raw, all of the enzymes and nutrients are still alive, thus providing maximum health to pets. It is available fresh-frozen and freeze-dried. The company has doubled its sales every year. www.stellaandchewys.com
		Robin Moorad of Imago Associates Imago Associates purchases, recycles and re-sells used commercial furniture to small and large businesses reducing waste and contributing to profits. A “green” company dedicated to the idea that profitability drives possibilities. Robin's blog
		Nandini Mukherjee of Indian Bread Co. New York City, NY Nandini, 33, is the founder and President of Indian Bread Co. (IBC) Her company started three years ago with the purpose of serving fresh, flavorful and portable Indian food, offered at the best possible prices. Though the food is ethnic (South-Asian) in nature, she has packaged it in a way that would be acceptable to a New Yorker who is always on the move; as the ever-appealing handy and portable sandwich. IBC provides quality food at affordable rates to its target clientele - students and young professionals. The restaurant is located on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village www.indianbreadco.com
		Garnett Newcombe of Human Potential Consultants Human Potential Consultants, L.L.C. (HPC) is a woman-minority owned employment solutions company.HPC specializes in government project management (workforce-centered), staff and management training and support staffing services. Garnett's Blog
		Christie Nightingale of Premier Match, LLC New York, NY Premier Match is an upscale matchmaking service for single professionals seeking long term relationships and marriage. The service is very specialized, highly confidential and does not rely on computer matching or videotaping. Premier Match, which began in 2001, serves clients from the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Christie Nightingale, 42, Premier Match’s founder, has forged strategic relationships with other similar matchmaking firms in the Midwest and on the West Coast. www.PremierMatchmaking.com
		Vanessa O’Neil of Cedar Spring Cedar Spring is the exclusive government distributor (Value Added Reseller) for the following best-of-breed manufacturers; Mobile Medical International Corporation, Primus Diagnostics and Global Biotechnologies. Each of these companies offer the most advanced, life saving technological solutions for our local, state and federal government agency needs. Vanessa's blog
		Kerrie Paige of NovaSim NovaSim develops and implements simulation-based software tools that support our clients in making complex, high-stakes process decisions. Because our simulation models help the decision makers "try out" various scenarios and predict the results on the system with great detail, our clients can avoid costly mistakes that might alienate their customers. Kerrie's blog
		Elizabeth Perelstein of School Choice International, Inc. Mamaroneck, NY School Choice International is a global educational consulting firm working with families being relocated. When families are moved by their businesses, SCI services are part of the relocation packages – SCI finds schooling for children of employees in the new location. Elizabeth (51) had been working as an educator when her family was moved to London. The realization of how difficult it was to find information about education alternatives for her children sparked her to start SCI in 1998. www.SchoolChoiceIntl.com
		Linda Russell of Mugshots Photography Mugshots Photography creates exciting school portraits and products that raise children’s self esteem and parents want to buy. We accomplish this by empowering community-based professional portrait photographers by with training necessary to offer schools a low impact photo day, fast professional service and an online order and distribution system which allows parents to sneak-a-peek, order their photos, participate in school fundraising and so much more. Linda's blog
		Rosana Santos of Big Chef We produce a wide variety of delectable frozen Hors d'oeuvre and Canapés, with a one year shelf life. In addition, we are Custom Food Creators. Our product is served in hotels, convention centers, country clubs, airlines and at events. Our food is a sensorial experience, a fusion of aromas, colors, tastes, textures, and presentation that delight the palate and satisfy the senses. Rosana's blog
		Renee Schofield of Tongass Substance Screening Ketchikan, AK Renee is the 44 year old owner of Tongas Substance Screening/AK-STAR. TSS conducts drug & alcohol testing for federal and non-federal programs and has been in business for seven years. TSS’ trained phlebotomists carry out a variety of substance collection and analysis procedures, such as: blood testing; drug testing in saliva, breath, hair and urine; paternity specimen collection; crime & trauma scene cleaning and decontamination. TSS performs audiograms, EKGs, respirator fit testing and spirometry testing. AK-STAR is a sister company that is a state accredited training school for phlebotomists. Other trainings are also offered, including CPR/First Aid classes as well as continuing education for healthcare providers on such topics as blood-borne pathogens and Hepatitis A, B, C. Renee is very active in her community and has a dream of building an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation center one day.
		Gina Stern of d- Parture Spa Newark, NJ Gina is a 36 year old Latina business woman. She owns d_Parture Spas -- three full service spas located in airport terminals – two at Newark Airport and one at in Orlando. She offers manicures, pedicures, haircuts, hair coloring, waxing facials and massage. Gina sell travel sized grooming products, bath and beauty to toothbrushes; even earplugs and relaxing eye masks. Her theme is “how you can travel without the usual stress” making d_Parture spa the most relaxing airport experience. Travelers with delayed flights have a reason to treat themselves to a relaxing massage, haircut, facial, manicure and pedicure while waiting for their flight to finally take off. D_parture spa stocks up on travel size. She carries a handpicked selection of high-end products from around the world. She has been in business since 2003. www.departurespa.com
		Dawn Stokes of The Texas Driving Experience Fort Worth, TX Utilizing the major race tracks and venues at Texas Motor Speedway, Texas Driving Experience teaches high performance driving, accident avoidance, and team building to adults, teenagers and corporate groups. TDE is known for its fleet of yellow, 405-horsepower Z06 Corvettes. TDE’s founder, Dawn Stokes (47) told us that when she was looking for financing to buy TDE’s signature automobiles, she had to go to many banks before anyone would take her idea seriously. Now she owns nine cars (two are debt-free) and TDE has helped more than 1,000 people improve their driving skills and have fun at the same time. www.texasdrivingexperience.com
		Caroll Stoner of Stoner Innovations, Inc. Haddonfield, NJ Caroll Stoner, 43, is the inventor and producer of the Ornament Safe, a product which utilizes hangers made specifically for ornaments that go with you to the tree for easy decorating and un-decorating. The hangers are placed on adjustable shelves inside a plastic storage case lined with acid free, convoluted foam. Caroll has been selling her product on QVC for three years and is the process of inventing another storage device for hobby materials. www.ornamentsafe.com
		Jinsoo Terry of Advanced Global Connections Advanced Global Connections, helps international business executives more effectively assimilate into American business through intensive communications training and unique cultural immersion techniques. These customizable training programs realize results immediately and give executives the confidence to negotiate 'win-win' transactions for their companies. Jinsoo's blog
		Damaris Valero of Animus Group Key Biscayne, FL Damaris Valero, 40, founded her company in 2003 and feels that it help merge her career and personal interests. Animus Entertainment produces lifestyle content for television and new media outlets. Animus programming aspires to inspire, empower and entertain. Animus also provides consulting to companies who want to reach the US Hispanic market. www.animusgroup.com
		Sandi Webster of Consultants 2 Go, LLC Newark, NJ Consultants 2 Go is a certified minority and women-owned consulting firm that provides marketing and analytic solutions to Fortune 500 companies. All C2G consultants are seasoned professionals with over ten years of experience. C2G has four divisions: Professional Services, Marketing Solutions, Analytics, and Electronic Payments Practice. C2G targets financial services and telecom companies that have a need for unbiased, complex analyses and market campaign tracking. C2G was literally forged out of the ashes of September 11th, when Sandi (45) and her business partner were forced to leave their offices near the WTC and subsequently lost their jobs. This was the catalyst they needed to finally go into business for themselves, as they had so often talked about. www.consultants2go.com
		Kris Wittenberg of SayNoMore! Promotions At SayNoMore! Promotions, we understand the power of impression. We specialize in bringing client messages to life through the creative execution of promotional products and corporate gifting programs designed to entice, excite and acknowledge. Kris's blog
		Renee Wood of The Comfort Company Geneva, IL The Comfort Company is an online retailer of unique and appropriate sympathy gifts. All of the products are intended to be given to, or purchased by, people who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Many of the products have been custom designed in response to requests from customers. Renee, 41, began her company in earnest in 2002, but the inspiration for the business came in 1998 when her sister-in-law lost her father and Renee designed a unique and special pendant for her. Other people who saw the pendant wanted similar gifts for grieving loved ones, and The Comfort Company was born. www.thecomfortcompany.net
		Doreen Zayer of Relax on Cloud 9 Staten Island, NY Relax on Cloud 9 is a full service spa which has been in business since 1995. Doreen Zayer, 46, began as a licensed massage therapist. She opened her first massage center in 1995, purchased the building where her spa currently is in 1997, and opened a second location in the Hilton Hotel in 2002. www.relaxoncloud9.com
Meet the 2005 Business Owners and read their blogs

Meet the Coaches:: Coaches are responsible for being the key advisor to the business owner. They coordinate a team of coaches with specific expertise in business development, marketing, operations and finance.
		Sharon Hoffman Avent Sharon is president and CEO of Smead Manufacturing Company, a privately held, woman-owned company that manufactures and distributes home and office filing systems, supplies and record management software. Sharon has been dedicated not only in her commitment to Smead, but also to numerous charitable and non-profit associations in the area. Sharon has received numerous prestigious awards for her business acumen and philanthropic efforts. She was honored by The Business Journal as one of Minnesota’s Top Businesswomen (1999) and as a Woman Changemaker (2004). In 2003, she was the first woman to be presented with the Spirit of Life Award given by the National Office Products Council for the City of Hope, a world-renowned cancer facility. She was the recipient of Office Depot’s Corporate Visionary Award, and was presented with the Applause Award by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council for her efforts to expand opportunities for women's business enterprises. She was honored by the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) as the Woman Business Owner of the Year in 2006.
		Cary J. Broussard Author, From Cinderella to CEO-Dallas, TX Cary J. Broussard is one of the country's top experts in marketing to women and diverse populations. She is well known for creating Wyndham's Women on Their Way program, which generates hundreds of millions of dollars each year and has transformed the experience of women business travelers.
		Lisa Marie Casey Lisa Marie Casey has spent almost twenty years in technology, serving the financial services community. She was a senior member of JPMorgan’s Technology and Operations organization with extensive background in management, business strategy, organizational and operational analysis and design, and information technology lifecycle development. She has expertise in start-up business case analysis, due diligence and presentation to funding community, including successfully launching two start-ups. Her experience spans software development, the management of major systems implementation projects for bulge bracket firms, consulting to Fortune 100 companies, running a 300 person technology business as well as working as an investment banker in the technology sector. She has a BSc from the State University of New York at Albany and an MBA from the New York University – Stern School. She currently serves on the Board of Morganae Foundation and the Grace Church Advisory School Board.
		Linda Coughlin President & Founder of Metro-Home Linda Coughlin is President and Founder of Metro-Home, the premier provider of short-term and extended stay housing solutions for corporate employees and individuals. Popular with business travelers throughout Europe and Asia, these fully furnished residences have traditionally been called “service apartments.” Coughlin’s path to the business was anything but traditional. When she left a sleepy suburb of Phoenix in September 1979 to embark on a retail-marketing career in San Francisco, she expected a challenging transition. Although she came from a family of entrepreneurs, Coughlin was unprepared when her first boss at Macy’s told her she could not go home for Christmas, and when another boss said she could not go home for her grandmother’s funeral. It was a tough initiation, but good preparation for developing a strong business focus.
		Lois Eichacker Women's Business Development Center-Chicago, IL A Business Consultant providing coaching and procurement assistance to experienced women business owners. She is working on the WBDC's Emerging Business Program to provide comprehensive services to emerging and established women-run businesses including capacity building, business development/market expansion, and financial counseling.
		Gay Gaddis T-3 (The Think Tank)-Austin, TX Gay Warren Gaddis is president and CEO of T3 (The Think Tank). She started her company in 1989 with a cashed in IRA and two employees. Today, T3 is the largest independent agency wholly-owned by a woman in the country, with offices in Austin and New York, $130 million in capitalized billings, and a staff of more than 140.
		Nely Galan Galan Entertainment-Venice, CA Regarded as one of the entertainment industry's most dynamic creative executives, Nely Galan has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between Latin culture and mainstream American media. Galan was dubbed the Tropical Tycoon by New York Times Magazine and named one of the most powerful young executives in Hollywood by Entertainment Weekly. Nely also serves on the Count Me In Board of Directors.
		Linda A. Hamilton, CPA Linda is Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in taxation, accounting and consulting. Linda began her career in public accounting at Coopers & Lybrand where she worked in both the audit and tax practices serving emerging business companies. Linda has been quoted in major periodicals including the Wall Street Journal and is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics, including tax planning, managing and growing a business, and design and implementation of accounting systems. A firm believer in giving back to the community, Linda served as the taxation facilitator during a White House conference on Small Businesses and assisted the New York small business community in making recommendations of key tax issues affecting them. She recently made a presentation for the Governor’s Office on real estate investing and taxation before The New York State Women’s Advisory and the New York City Advisory Council.
		Stephanie Hanbury-Brown Stephanie Hanbury-Brown spent 20 years in financial services in Sydney, London and New York. The majority of her career was with J.P. Morgan where she headed several global businesses including positions as Global Head of Futures and Options, Head of International Private Banking and COO of Global Equities. Since leaving the firm in 2000 she has enjoyed various adventures, including spending time with her teenage children, building a new house and sailing half-way around the world with her family. In 2004 she began the process of re-engineering herself to become a venture investor, and has done so by working alongside Amy Wildstein, the Fund Manager for Boldcap Investors, where she has been an investor since 2001, and by joining New York Angels. She recently founded Golden Seeds LLC, which targets women-owned businesses and commenced operations with a forum for angel investors and a consulting practice. She obtained a Batchelor of Arts from the University of Sydney. Currently she retains board positions with Foster Wheeler Limited, Design2Launch and Morganae Foundation.
		Joan Horton
		Kathryn Keeley The Keeley Group, LLC Kathy has been a social entrepreneur for 26 years working with various community and public start-up organizations. Her career has focused on building public-private organizations and partnerships to that address issues related to poverty among women and children. She established her own consulting firm to provide business planning, economic development, strategic planning, and opportunity development to nonprofit organizations and small businesses.
		Clarice Kennedy Chairman and CEO, CCN, Inc., NY Dynamic, energetic and determined, Clarice Kennedy parlayed a degree in computer science into an extraordinary business opportunity. At age 24– and two years out of college Clarice Kennedy opened CCN, Inc. 16 years later, CCN, Inc. is a leading provider of IT Service Management (ITSM), with 160 employees and revenues are over $12 million. CCN’s charge is to help corporate IT departments standardize, manage, and enhance their operations through people, process and technology services. Today, Ms. Kennedy oversees the company’s daily operations and the management of Fortune 500 accounts such as JPMorganChase, Royal Bank of Scotland, Merrill Lynch and Pfizer. Ms. Kennedy graduated in 1986 with a B.S. in Computer Science, from Buffalo State University, Buffalo, New York. A triathlon competitor, she lives on Long Island with her husband and three sons (her biggest achievement).
		Julie Levi Progressive Promotions, Inc. Julie is Founder and President of the 18 year old promotional products agency that enables its clients to increase sales, build brand awareness, increase employee morale, through the use of promotional items. Servicing clients like Kraft Foods, American Express, CitiGroup, Ogilvy, Avis/Budget, Orbitz and many others.
		Margaret Magnus ACC Communications, Inc.-Long Beach, CA Former owner and CEO of a $6 million publishing company serving the human resources profession, Margaret has worked with several organizations as a coach and facilitator to assist in creating a cohesive vision and articulating action plans that can achieve measurable results.
		Ginny McGarrity Kensington International-Chicago, IL Vice President at Kensington International, a retained executive search firm serving clients that range from $5 million to $30 billion in size across all industry sectors. Prior to search, Ginny had a successful career in consumer package goods marketing, managing national brands with revenues over $300 million.
		Cheryl Mayberry McKissack Nia Enterprises, LLC and NiaOnline-Chicago, IL A Chicago based research, online community and marketing services firm providing data solutions for the growing and specialized market of African American women and their family. Founder and CEO, Cheryl also serves as an adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship at her alma mater, Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.
		Marci Rinkoff, CPCC Marci is a professionally certified coach and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations such as ChevronTexaco, Ernst & Young, Knight Ridder Corporation, University of California, and Visa. In addition to coaching, her expertise includes leadership development, values-based sales skills, and career development. Her company, MBR coaching, specializes in teaching managers how to coach staff tocreate better lives for those in the workplace. As a business consultant with the American Productivity & Quality Center in 1990, Marci discovered that coaching was the key to success in building high performing companies and has been coaching ever since. Marci is one of the head coaches and mentors for the Make Mine a $Million Business program and the writer of the Monthly Explorer©, a newsletter to support business leaders seeking powerful solutions to developing business and has been featured in various publications for her holistic approach to coaching. Marci has been a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show, completed marathons, cycling centuries, led international tours throughout the Middle East, is a co-founder of the East Bay Theatre Group in Northern California and is always ready for the next great adventure! "It is an honor and a pleasure to support the amazing group of women in the M3 program!"
		Vivian Shimoyama Breakthru Unlimited-Manhattan Beach, CA Providing business planning and strategic planning services to a range of organizations from Wall Street financial services companies and Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and non-profit organizations, Breakthru Unlimited Founder and President, Vivian has built relationships with businesses throughout the country in order to team on projects, and connect large corporations, government agencies, small businesses, and community organizations.
		Catherine Simpson Fort Worth Women's Business Center-Ft. Worth, TX The founding executive director of the Fort Worth Women's Business Center, Catherine along with her staff and over 300 volunteers, assist more than 6,000 men and women annually to develop their entrepreneurial skills while promoting the growth of new businesses in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
		Marie de Lourdes Sobrino Lulu's DessertÆ Corporation-Anaheim, CA Founder and CEO of Lulu's DessertÆ Corporation, established in 1982, Maria's company is ranked among the largest and fastest growing Hispanic owned businesses in the United States. Ms. Sobrino's business and community efforts and dedication to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses have won her much recognition by corporations and the media.
		Kathleen Thurmond Best Washington Uniform-Long Beach, CA Kathleen Thurmond has been President and CEO of Best Washington Uniform, an industrial uniform rental laundry, for the past 11 years. She sold the company 2 months ago. She is active with Rotary, Women's Presidents Organization, on the Boards of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and the International Business Association as well as on the Boards of 2 non-profit organizations.
		Dresdene Flynn White Action International-Alpharetta, GA A GOLD Master Coach, Dresdene is no stranger to success as both a business owner and a strategic business partner in the corporate world Leaving a lucrative career in corporate human resources and consulting, she started on her entrepreneurial journey by joining ACTION International Georgia as a business coach.
		Jennifer Wybraniec OPEN from American Express(SM)-New York, NY Jennifer is the Director of Customer Acquisition for small business loans and lines of credit at OPEN from American Express. Specifically, she develops strategies to enhance the product's value proposition with the goal of attracting new customers and improving the overall line of credit experience for existing customers.

The Make Mine a $Million Business™ has one goal: to help women-owned businesses surpass the million-dollar revenue mark.

Founded by Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence with OPEN from American ExpressSM, the program provides a combination of money, mentoring and marketing tools that women entrepreneurs need to help grow their businesses to a million dollars and beyond.

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