National Women's Organizations

Ahlers Designs Announced as Winner of Digital Growth Contest in Rhode Island

Grand Prize Includes a Free Year of Service from Cox Business

The winner of the Digital Growth Contest, co-sponsored by Cox Business and Ladies Who Launch, is Gail Ahlers, owner of Pawtucket-based Ahlers Designs (AhlersGifts.com). The contest - to support female business owners in several markets throughout the U.S. - was organized and managed by the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) and is an important component of its Cable Means Business initiative.

As the winner, Ahlers will receive a prize package of services from Cox Business and the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center. Other prizes to be provided by Ladies Who Launch include a virtual business roundtable discussion facilitated by founder Victoria Colligan and a feature on the winning business owners at Ladies Who Launch.com.

"This contest brought in a number of fascinating business success stories and provided us a unique opportunity to support women-owned small businesses," said Mark Scott, vice president of Cox Business. "Cox Business is thrilled to have been involved in this effort to recognize and support such talented women, especially during these tough economic times."

"I am so pleased to be selected for the Digital Growth Grant in Rhode Island," said Ahlers following a surprise presentation at her business this morning. "It's so meaningful for a company like Cox to reach out and invest in small businesses like mine as we try to take our companies to the next level. It's an investment in my company and the companies I support as an American designer and manufacturer."

The Internet-based contest, which began in October 2008, required women business owners to write a brief essay expressing their views on the opportunities, challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. A number of entries were received in Providence and other participating markets, representing a range of industries including catering, property management, educational consultants, computer services and marketing firms. Judges included representatives from Cox Business, the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center at Johnson & Wales University and Ladies Who Launch who reviewed and scored the entries.

Women in Business - New England

Leading Women Rhode Island, Massachusetts www.leadingwomen.biz

Welcome to Leading Women where it is our mission to inspire, power and honor the success of women leaders in organizations. Recognized for our singular and innovative focus on developing women leaders, Leading Women provides cutting-edge leadership programs, learning forums, strategic networking events and online solutions that provide what women need to succeed from career-start to the C-suite and corporate boards.

Leading Women of SENE has grown to over 2000 individual and corporate members of professional to senior-level executive. We support the internal networks and leadership development at companies like Amgen, Pfizer, Sensata, GTECH, BCBSRI, LGC&D, and many more. To explore the many ways that Leading Women can support your organization initiatives and internal women's network, visit Corporate Partnership. Are you ready to LEAD ON? Power Up Your Success Quotient!

The Center for Women & Enterprise

Boston, Providence, Worcester www.CWEonline.org

At the Center for Women & Enterprise, our strategic alliances and resource partners are critical to our strategy in serving entrepreneurs to manage finances and start and grow successful businesses.

We have relationships with over 100 economic development, market research, community, educational, nonprofit, corporate and public organizations to empower women to break the cycle of poverty, overcome barriers to entrepreneurship, and achieve financial independence.

We deliver the most value to our clients by working collaboratively with thought leaders in the industry throughout New England and nationwide. Our website resources are only a representation of the types of knowledge and entrepreneurship advice available to our clients.

Our approach is to disseminate to you:

• Knowledge capital from our strategic alliances
• The latest market research information
• Best practices and advice to help you start and grow your business
• Sources that will leverage your experience with CWE to prioritize next steps for your business innovation and performance
• Advances in public policy impacting women in enterprise, their families, and the community at large

Please give us a call at the CWE office most relevant to your needs. We will work with you to recommend resources that will help you solve your business problems and accomplish economic growth and opportunity.

Exploring Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Certification (WBENC) www.wbenc.org

New England companies get certification through CWE- other states have certification through other organizations.

If your business is at least 51% women owned, managed and controlled, you could qualify for this certification which provides a rich business network and access to a world of corporate contracts. Pursue supplier diversity contracts with Fortune 500 companies, large entities, and municipalities nation wide. The Center for Women & Enterprise is a the New England regional partner organization for the largest women business enterprise third party certifying entity in the nation, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) (www.wbenc.org). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Information sessions will be held online via Microsoft Live Meeting.

National Women’s Organizations

Ladies Who Launch - entreprenueurship and creativity as a lifestyle

If you’re looking for solid information, advice, and solutions geared specifically toward women entrepreneurs you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to the Business Resources section of the Ladies Who Launch Web site.

As women entrepreneurs, our business accomplishments are often dictated not just by drive and determination but by our lifestyle choices as well. We work non-traditional hours to accommodate children, we find inspiration in books and movies, and we’ve got a knack for networking that comes from the heart. Women entrepreneurs know that business resources are the nuts and bolts that will give them that entrepreneurial edge. From PR advice, to online marketing how-to’s, to book recommendations, this Resource section provides essential tools, tips, and up-to-date thinking to help you launch and succeed.

National Association Women Business Owners

NAWBO is an organization committed to the expansion of women owned businesses by providing high level educational programs and a public policy arm which specializes in lobbying local, state and Federal government.
Women are leaving corporate America to start their own enterprises; women owned businesses are growing by twice the rate of our male counterparts. In fact, more than a third of all privately held companies in America are now owned by women; those companies employ about 27 million people, reports the Small Business Administration. The main reasons they are leaving is because they desire flexibility and control over their own destiny.

Their stress levels are down and they are doing what they want to do by taking ownership of their lives. NAWBO offers a great opportunity for women to come together to build off of each others' experiences and to network.