Terry Neese, Founder & CEO
Dr. Terry Neese is a wife, a mother, “Gema” to 2 grandchildren, pilot, mentor,advocate, national political strategist and entrepreneur are all words that describe the many facets of Terry Neese. She will be the first to say, “I don’t understand all the fuss, I’m just a girl from Cookietown”, but she has spent the majority of her life helping women achieve their dreams and become advocates.
Terry started her entrepreneurial career 30+ years ago as a young woman with a dream. Her personnel firm, Terry Neese Personnel Services, has found careers for more than 25,000 individuals and generated over $2.7 billion in payroll to her community. She faced many adversities in building her multimillion dollar firm including a devastating fire and highway construction, which closed access to her business for over two years.
Being involved and giving back to the community and state has been important to Terry. She became actively involved in public policy issues which led her to seek the office of Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor. She is the first woman to make it to the general election for this seat. Terry has always been involved in women’s organizations for networking and women’s issues because it is her passion. She became the national president of National Association of Women Business Owners, the largest women’s association of its kind. From that experience and her experience in politics, Terry founded Women Impacting Public Policy and the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (formerly WIPP Institute). Terry knew the power behind uniting women’s voices to implement change. She single handedly united almost 50 national women’s organizations and individual members from all 50 states to form the largest women business owner’s grassroots association. By testifying before congress and making Capitol Hill visits to their elected officials, women entrepreneurs are finding their political voice because of Terry.
Whether she’s writing white papers as a Distinguished Fellow for the National Center for Policy Analysis, speaking in front of a crowd, or organizing women from as far as Afghanistan and Rwanda, Terry is an inspiration to men and women all over the world.
Sandy Abalos
Sandra A. Abalos is the Managing Partner of Abalos & Associates, P.C., a full service CPA firm that provides accounting, tax planning, compliance services, profit enhancement, management advisory services and estate planning to businesses in the small and mid-size range. Abalos & Associates has been ranked a top accounting firm in Arizona by a number of publications.
With over 25 years of successful accounting experience, Sandra has become nationally recognized in the areas of taxation, independent contractor status and estate tax reform. As a delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business (WHCSB), Sandra has taken small business issues to Washington, D.C., where her voice has been heard. She drafted and co-sponsored the number one issue to come out of the conference: the need to clarify the definition of independent contractor status for small businesses.
Spending countless volunteer hours and her own resources to champion tax-related issues supportive of small business, Sandra served as National Tax Issue Captain for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) at the WHCSB, as well as the Region IX Implementation Tax Chair for the WHCSB from 1995-2005. Sandra met the President, advised national officials about upcoming tax code revisions and testified before Congress on these same matters. She was instrumental in the passage of the Small Business Tax Bill, known as the Small Business Jobs Protection Act, and advocated and won a 100 percent health deduction for the self-employed, an increase in depreciation expensing and a reduction of the alternative minimum tax for small businesses.
Within her own community, Sandra is currently the Director of Public Policy for the Phoenix Metro Chapter of NAWBO. She sits on the Board of Directors for Western National Bank and the Phoenix Tax Workshop Advisory Board, and was named to the IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee for 2000-2001. Recently appointed to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) National Advisory Council, she has served as Director for the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA) and the Phoenix Industrial Development Authority.
After earning her Bachelor of Science with a major in Accounting at Arizona State University in 1979, Sandra became a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Arizona in 1980. She obtained her Master of Accountancy with an emphasis in Taxation from Arizona State University in 1986. Over the years, Sandra has received numerous awards and was most recently named the 2005 U.S. Small Business Administration Arizona Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. She was named to the 2004 Business Journal Valley Influential Class, and was named the 2003 Arizona Small Business Person of the Year. In 2002, she was named the NAWBO Business Owner of the Year, and was awarded the 2001 Public Service Award by the ASCPA. Her greatest honor to date was being recognized as the 1996 SBA National Accountant Advocate of the Year.
Sandra has an outstanding record of public policy leadership, business excellence and community effectiveness. Her awards, achievements and history of recognition on a local and national level make her one of the nation’s top businesswomen.
Education
- Certified Public Accountant – State of Arizona – 1980
- Master of Accountancy – Major in Taxation – Arizona State University 1986
- Bachelor of Science – Major in Accounting – Arizona State University 1979
- Business Organizations
- Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- National Association of Women Business Owners
- Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
- 1995 White House Conference on Small Business Delegate
- SBA Region IX WHCSB Taxation Implementation Chair
- Phoenix Tax Workshop – Advisory Board
- National Federation of Independent Business Guardian Advisory Council
- Abalos & Associates Member of AthenaPowerLink® Program
Awards
- 1996 SBA Arizona Accountant Advocate of the Year
- 1996 SBA Region IX Accountant Advocate of the Year
- 1996 SBA National Accountant Advocate of the Year
- 1996 NAWBO Public Policy Advocate of the Year
- 1998 Impact for Enterprising Women Distinguished Honoree
- 1999 Working Woman Magazine – Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
- 1999 Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Finalist
- 2001 Arizona Society of CPA’s Public Service Award
- 2002 NAWBO Business Owner of the Year
- 2003 Arizona Small Business Person of the Year
- 2003-2008 Arizona Business Magazine – Abalos & Associates Named Top Accounting Firm in Ranking Arizona
- 2004 Business Journal – Valley Influential Class of 2004
- 2005 U.S. Small Business Administration -Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year
- 2007 Enterprising Women – Enterprising Woman of the Year
- 2007 Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility
Kathy Bennett
Kathy L. Bennett is the President & CEO of Bennett Packaging & Display of Kansas City, Inc., a manufacturer of high-quality packaging and display products, ranging from standard brown shipping cartons to deluxe point-of-purchase display products. The business in addition provides structural and graphic design, fulfillment, co-packing, warehousing, and distribution services.
Founded in 1987, today Bennett Packaging & Display is a certified woman-owned enterprise and a family-managed business that employs over 150 people in three locations; Lee’s Summit, Mo., Wichita, Ks. and Bentonville, Ak. In 2009, sales exceeded $38,600,000.
The company has been recognized and the recipient of several national awards for printing & structural design within their industry.
Bennett Packaging was honored in 2006 & 2007 by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce as a “Top 10 Small Business of the Year.” The award is given based on outstanding key elements of growth, sustainability in revenue, employee relations, and a commitment to community service in Kansas City. Kathy also received the “Women Who Mean Business” recognition in 2005 from The Kansas City Business Journal and recently received an “Enterprising Woman of the Year” award in the over $25 million category in 2008. In 2009, Bennett was listed in Ingram’s as one of the top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Kansas City.
Kathy Bennett has over 25 years of management experience and expertise in manufacturing, sales and marketing, inventory management, corporate finance, and business process development.
Bennett Packaging & Display is a member of the Chambers of Commerce of Missouri, Kansas City and Lee’s Summit. Kathy serves on the Board of Directors for Summit Bank, Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council (Benefactor Level), Kansas City Council of Women Business Owners, National Association of Women Business Owners, Women Impacting Public Policy (National Level) and numerous industry specific trade organizations.
Kathy is also a proud sponsor of “Peace Through Business”, a program bringing Afghan women to the United States for a mentoring program to encourage entrepreneurship. And most recently has become a new board member for IEEW, Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.
Janet Harris-Lange
Janet Harris-Lange is national President of the National Women Business Owners Corporation. NWBOC was the first national certifier of women business enterprises providing certification as well as procurement opportunities. She has been a small business owner since 1972 and is president of Agenda Dynamics, Inc., a meeting, event and association management company in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. Agenda Dynamics, Inc. is certified as a woman business enterprise with the State of Florida.
She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Florida Atlantic University and began her professional career as a French and Spanish teacher.
Among her accomplishments, Janet has been a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) since 1982 and served as its national President in 1991-1992. She was a member of the Small Business Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from 1993-1996 and was a delegate to the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business, and co-Chair of the Florida Delegation for the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business.
Her awards are numerous including the 1993 Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Inc. Magazine and the Gillian Rudd Leadership Award in 1994. She has been featured in many publications, and on television and radio and authored a monthly article for a business magazine for women. Janet is twice widowed and has an adult son and several stepchildren.
Sylvia Medina
Ms. Sylvia Medina is the President and CEO of North Wind, Inc. North Wind, Inc. is an engineering and construction company that provides a full suite of environmental services and selected traditional construction services.
Ms. Medina began North Wind, Inc. with a clear vision for positively impacting the environment, developing impeccable customer relations, and employing highly skilled professionals with a passion for work in their areas of expertise. Her technical and business insights have contributed to North Wind’s award-winning customer service and remarkable small business growth since its inception in 1997. North Wind has successfully launched business operations from more than 19 independent office locations. North Wind’s geographical coverage includes offices located in the majority of the western and southern United States, the East Coast, and Alaska. North Wind’s net worth has experienced sustained growth since its inception, and revenues have more than tripled since 2003. This trend is due, in part, to the addition of patent-pending innovative technologies, research and development initiatives, significant investment in capital equipment and machinery required to self-perform full-service programs, and persistent diversification of customer base.
Now with over 20 years of experience serving the environmental industry as both a corporate executive and environmental engineer, Ms. Medina is recognized in the industry as a leader in small business innovation and unmatched customer responsiveness. North Wind’s customers include Department of Energy, Air Force, Army, Army Corp of Engineers, Navy, Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as many contracts in the private sector.
Sylvia grew up in northern Arizona and attended college at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, New Mexico, where she received Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Environmental Engineering and Biology. After graduating from New Mexico Tech, Ms. Medina relocated to Idaho, where she made numerous contributions as an environmental engineer at the Idaho National Environmental Laboratory (INEL). During her five year employment period at the INEL, she returned to college at the University of Idaho and received her Master’s of Science degree in Waste Management with an emphasis in Chemical Engineering.
In addition to her work in the environmental industry, she serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations, including:
• Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP)
• Idaho State University Foundation
• Snake River Animal Shelter, LLC (President)
• Grow Idaho Falls
Martha Parker
Martha Parker has developed and managed award-winning consumer education and brand communications programs for private sector clients including Mobil Chemical, Coca-Cola, Weyhauser, Tenneco Packaging and not-for-profit clients including BRBA – the Business Alliance for Sustainable Purchasing, Corrugated Packaging Council, National Recycling Coalition and the National Football league (NFL).
She founded Parker Associates in 1996 in order to focus exclusively on strategic communications. Prior to founding Parker & Associates, Parker was president of a $20 million marketing and strategic communications company, (Providence, RI). Previous positions include legislative aide in the US. House of Representatives, (Washington D.C.), Special Assistant to the Dean, Yale School of Architecture, and marketing management with a banking corporation.
Parker has been recognized by :
- Who’s Who of American Women
- Accredited by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) (holds Senior Counselor status),
- Certification in management (PMP) from the Project Management Institute of America.
- B.S. degree, Communications, the University of Illinois, MA degree,University of Rhode Island,
- Graduate studies at Harvard University (2003), Graduate School of Education, Project Zero. Currently in the MPA program, Harvard University, Kennedy School
- National (Founding) Partner, Women Impacting Public Policy (consortium of 500,000 women in business), and member of the national policy committee.
- National Board, Alliance of Business Women International (San Diego, CA)
- Board of Directors, Ars Cognita, Inc., focusing on artificial Intelligence (Manchester, NH)
- Board, LISTEN, Upper Valley Charitable organization
- Parker is a resident of Grantham (Eastman), New Hampshire, and currently serves as volunteer in the NH Adult Literacy program
Valerie Shondel
Valerie Shondel is CEO and Chairman of the Board of SelectoFlash one of the largest printing firms in the country. Following in the footsteps of her father, James Peepas, the founder of the company, and later her mother Estelle Peepas who ran the company for twelve years, Valerie is now owner and manages the day-to-day business. This year SelectoFlash will celebrate 50 years in business under second generation ownership and management.
SelectoFlash takes your image where it needs to go. Inside. Outside. Overhead. Underfoot. Anywhere. Everywhere. We partner with customers to create Consultative Graphics Solutions in 5 areas: Fleet and Transportation, Interior and Exterior Environmental Graphics, Outdoor Durable Media., POP and DOT/Conspicuity. We can handle your job from beginning to end, including design, production, nationwide installation, and fulfillment.
SelectoFlash produces screen printed and digital graphics from their manufacturing facility in West Orange, New Jersey. SelectoFlash provides the highest quality graphics for a wide range of clients. From Fortune 500 companies to small local businesses including clients such as Anheuser Busch, UPS, Target, U-Haul and Home Depot.
Valerie is involved in many organizations including the IEEW, WBENC Forum, Enterprising Women Magazine Board of Directors, WIPP Executive Advisory Board, WPEO Steering Committee, WPO Platinum Group, C200 Protegy Group and SGIA.
Beyond her business and family there is one other love of Valerie’s life: her music. Indicative of her lifelong love of music, Valerie earned a degree in Piano Performance and Musicology from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Her talent and ongoing commitment to music have enabled her to experience things that other musicians only dream of. She has held faculty positions at Wake Forest University, Greensboro College and Eastern Music Festival. A highlight of her career was to perform as an Organ Soloist at the Cathedral de Notre Dame in Paris, France. And she regularly performs with many of New York City’s top musicians. Besides these experiences, Valerie continues to share her musical talents with her church as a pianist and organist.
On a local basis, SelectoFlash is a member of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and they support St. Barnabus Hospital ICU Children’s Center, the “Make a Wish” Foundation, the West Orange and Kinnelon Volunteer Fire Departments, the Bone Marrow Transport Society of West Orange and many other community organizations.
Desma Reid-Coleman
Desma Reid-Coleman is a highly successful Detroit Businesswoman who has owned and operated as many as seven businesses simultaneously since first hanging out her shingle as an entrepreneur on July 1, 1994. Desma currently owns and operates four primary businesses, which include:
Fashion $en$e Upscale Resale featuring apparel and accessories for the entire family, with specialization in the St. John knit line of clothing
- Lady Valet Concierge and Valet Parking Services for business events, private parties, residential and commercial affairs that also provides coat check, bartending and service personnel
- Quality Professional Services, a human resources consulting, mediation and business development firm
- QPS/BagPort LLC, a luggage cart concession business originating in Germany and ensuing from her prior ownership of the luggage cart concession at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from 1999-2004.
With QPS, Desma is the only minority partner to own such a concession at any major airport in the United States. However, she is currently playing a key role in insuring that she will not remain with that status! She is initiating the DBE involvement of a well established African American businessman in the inaugural luggage cart franchise program at Philadelphia International Airport, the fifth largest commercial airport in the United States.
Long active in the Detroit business community, Desma initiated a monthly networking luncheon (The Sisterhood Collaborative) for four years which connected women together professionally across a wide spectrum. She is active with her alma mater, the University of Michigan, as an Emeritus member of the Center for the Education of Women (CEW) Leadership Advisory Council, and former Vice Chair of the Alumnae council (2005-2007).
Desma is the recipient of numerous community, civic, and institutional awards – DTE Energy Entrepreneurs Award, University of Michigan Distinguished Alumna in 1997, and Small Business Award of Distinction by the Michigan Business and Professional Association just to name a few.
Desma served with distinction as President of the Greater Detroit Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), is the past chair of the NAWBO PAC, and served on the NAWBO National Board of Directors from 2003-2007, concluding with her role as the chair of the 2007 annual Women’s Business Conference in Atlanta, GA. In addition, she has served on over fifty boards such as the Skyline Club Board of Governors (a Clubcorp facility), the National Black MBA Association Detroit Chapter, the National Political Congress of Black Women, Spaulding for Children Adoption and Foster Care Agency, and many more over the past 15 years.
Essence Magazine (September 2007) featured Desma in an article entitled “How I Got Rich” in a Black Women’s Guilde to Accumulating Wealth. In addition, she is featured in a chapter of the June 2007 book The Millionaire Zone by Jennifer Openshaw detailing the ‘life net’ concept of business success.
Desma holds a master’s degree in business management from Central Michigan University and is an avid golfer. However, she is most proud of her role as the mother of four accomplished and wonderful adult children, two sons and two daughters, ages 25-33.
PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® Chairperson
Betsy DeVos, PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Chair
Betsy DeVos is Chairman of the Windquest Group, a privately held multi-company operating group, founded in 1989.
Active in Republican politics since college, Betsy DeVos served a two-year term as Chairman of the Michigan Republican State Committee (MRSC) which she was elected to at the MRSC convention on January 25, 2003. She previously served as Chairman of the Michigan Republican State Committee, from May 1996 to February 2000. Her political involvement and activities have spanned more than 25 years.
Betsy is also very active in the community and currently serves on a number of national and local boards including the Alliance for School Choice, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Kids Hope USA, The Acton Institute, Compass Arts and the Education Freedom Fund, a Michigan foundation that provides scholarships for low-income children to attend schools of their choice.
PERSONAL
Formerly Elisabeth Prince of Holland, Betsy is married to Dick DeVos. They have two sons and two daughters, ranging in age from 23 to 14. They enjoy travel, boating, and skiing together as a family. A graduate of Holland Christian High School, Betsy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Political Science from Calvin College in Grand Rapid, Michigan.
PRINCIPAL POLITICAL OFFICES and ACTIVITIES
- Chairman, All Children Matter, Present
- Chairman, Michigan Republican Party, 2003-2005
- Member, MI Executive Committee, Bush-Cheney ’04, Present
- Member, Trust Fund Board, Library of Congress 2003-Present
- Member, Leadership Team, W Stands for Women, Bush-Cheney ’04, Present
- Chairman, Great Lakes Education Project PAC, 2001-2002
- Chairman, Choices for Children, 2001-2002
- National Finance Chairman, National Republican Senatorial Committee, 2000
- Chairman, Michigan Republican State Committee, 1996-2000
- Republican National Committeewoman-Michigan, 1992-1997
- Chairman, Spence Abraham for U.S. Senate Committee, 1994
- Member, Board of Trustees, American Council of Young Political Leaders, 1995-Present
- RNC Budget Committee, 1992
- Delegate, Republican National Convention, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000
- Alternate Delegate, Republican National Convention, 1984
- Chairman, Fifth District Republican Committee, 1989-1992
- Chairman, Kent County Republican Committee, 1984-1988
- Co-Chairman, Kent County Republican Finance Committee, 1983-1984
- Precinct Delegate, 1986-Present
- Delegate/Alternate Delegate, Michigan Republican State Conventions, 1980-Present
- Vice-Chairman, Bush/Quayle State Steering Committee, 1992
- John Engler for Governor Committee, 1990
- Co-Chairman, Bill Schuette for U.S. Senate Committee, 1990
- Co-Chairman, Michigan Republican State Committee Lake Michigan Barbecue, 1988-1991
- Co-Chairman, Kent County Bush/Quayle Campaign, 1988
- Delegate to China, American Council of Young Political Leaders, 1988
- Volunteer, “ScatterBlitzer” Ford for President, Kent County Republican Committee, 1976
- Numerous other campaigns, local and statewide
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
- Member, Board of Directors, Alliance for School Choice, Present
- Member, Board of Trustees, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Present
- Member, Board of Directors, Children First America – 2004
- Member, Board of Directors, American Education Reform Council, -2002
- Member, Board of Directors, Kids Hope USA, Present
- Ministry Leadership Team, Kids Hope USA -2005
- Member, Board of Directors, Compass Arts, Present
- Member, Board of Directors, Education Freedom Fund, 1995-Present
- Member, Board of Directors, Acton Institute, 1995-Present
- Co-chairman, “Heartbeat” fundraiser for the American Heart Association, 1995-2002
- Member, Board of Directors, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 1993-1996; 2001-Present; Executive Committee, 1995-1996, 2002-Present
- Member, Board of Trustees, Blodgett Memorial Medical Center, 1986-1997
- Member, Board of Directors, Grand Rapids Economic Club, 1993-1998
- President’s Advisory Council, Calvin College, 1993-1995
- Member, Advisory Board, The Potter’s House School, 1994-Present
- Member, Board of Trustees, Ada Christian School, 1992-1995
- Grand Rapids Christian School Association – Capital Fund Drive, 1990-1993
- Member, Michigan International Year of the Family Council, 1994
- Member, Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, Governor Engler Appointee, 1991-1992
- Chairman, Ada Christian School Education Foundation, 1991-1992
- Member, Board of Trustees, Kendall College of Art & Design, 1986-1992
- Member, Board of Trustees, Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids, 1990-1992
- Member, Board of Trustees, Grand Rapids Area Medical Education Committee, 1990-1991
- Member, Board of Trustees, Worldwide Christian Schools, 1988-1991
