The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 20, 2010
Contact:  Becca Colbaugh
Office:  405-943-4474
E-mail: bcolbaugh@ieew.org

“Dialogue with Women Entrepreneurs” in Anaheim, CA

Women business owners come together to discuss economic issues related to small business.

Women business owners from Arkansas will meet to discuss economic factors that are affecting small business. The meeting is led by the nonprofit, the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) in collaboration with DonorsTrust, another 501(c)3 organization. The mission is to gain critical knowledge and input on economic subjects important to women-owned businesses and what educational tools they need to help them grow their businesses.

WHAT: “Dialogue with Women Entrepreneurs” will bring together a cross section of Arkansas women business owners to discuss economic issues and what business tools they need to sustain their businesses.

WHO: Terry Neese, founder & CEO of IEEW
Susan Stewart, CEO of Charter Financial Group, Inc
Sandy Abalos, CEO of Abalos & Associates CPA

WHERE: Sheraton Park Hotel
1855 S. Harbor Boulevard
Anaheim, CA  92802

WHEN:

Aug. 21, 2010

9:30:                                Opening of Dialogue and Introduction of Speakers
9:40 – 10:15 a.m.:      Speakers- Terry Neese, Sandy Abalos, Susan Stewart
10:15 – 11:00 a.m.:     Input and Discussion with Women Business Owners

About the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women:
The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women is a 501(c)3 non-profit empowering women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial ventures and become more active public policy advocates. The Institute accomplishes this mission by focusing on education, mentorship and coaching women in the United States and abroad who are seeking to acquire entrepreneurial skills to help start and grow a business. Learn more at www.ieew.org.

Great story about Afghan women on NPR by Rachel Martin

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129357288&ft=1&f=1001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:   June 9, 2010

Contact:  Becca Colbaugh

Mobile: 918-693-1570

E-mail: bcolbaugh@ieew.org

AT&T Female Executives Find Common Connection with Afghan and Rwandan Businesswomen

DALLAS – JUNE 9, 2010 – Female executives from AT&T will sit down with Afghan and Rwandan women business owners to break bread and share business advice June 10 with the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program.

Nine of AT&T’s top executives will meet with the international students of the 2010 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program, a business, leadership and public policy training program, founded by Terry Neese and her non-profit organization, the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

The luncheon will give the program’s 24 aspiring Afghan and Rwandan businesswomen the opportunity for one-on-one conversations with women from one of the world’s leading telecommunications leaders, AT&T. Earlier this year DiversityBusiness.com named AT&T one of America’s Top 50 Corporations for Multicultural Business Opportunities, ranking No. 2 for outstanding support of women- and minority-owned businesses.

AT&T’s commitment to developing the nation’s future leaders and a strong global economy is evident in its efforts to support the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS mission of empowering and educating women.  AT&T senior-level female executives expected to attend this event taking place at Northwood University, include Charlene Lake, Senior Vice President Public Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Chief Diversity Officer, Cindy Brinkley.

Brinkley said that for a company that’s all about connecting people, the opportunity to connect with fellow businesswomen is mutually beneficial. “It is so rewarding for us to have the opportunity to connect women on a global level,” she noted. “What a privilege to sit down with a woman from another country to discuss life lessons and our careers. No matter who we are – Afghan, Rwandan or American – we all have to start somewhere as women in the business world. Our challenges – and opportunities – are more similar than one might expect.”

Neese says that the support from AT&T has gone above and beyond a traditional company’s call to corporate social responsibility. She added that AT&T is a company that understands the value of a diverse culture, and the power and potential of women to the economy.

“AT&T is proud to support the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women and the work it is doing for women around the world,” Lake said, who is on the advisory board to IEEW. “As a global company, we have the ability to contribute to a strong world economy.   Helping empower women business owners in war-torn parts of the world living in challenging cultures is a very real way of working toward that goal.”

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:   June 8, 2010
Contact:  Becca Colbaugh
Mobile: 918-693-1570
E-mail: bcolbaugh@ieew.org

Oklahoma woman selected for prestigious national business award

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – JUNE 8, 2010 – Oklahoma City businesswoman, Terry Neese, will be honored at the 2010 National Association of Women Business Owners’ conference on June 10 in Washington, DC, with the Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award.

Historically, the award recognizes a woman business owner who has made a significant contribution to the status and visibility of women-owned firms and to the empowerment of women entrepreneurs both nationally and internationally.

NAWBO leaders describe Neese as the perfect fit for the award for her blended entrepreneurial zeal and a sense of stepping up to do what is right for the greater good.

“Terry is the epitome of a business leader who has dedicated her professional career on the bedrock belief that when women are able to participate equally and fully in business, greater economic stability and peace ensues,” states the NAWBO Web site.

Neese, a serial entrepreneur, has been in business for more than 30 years, and most recently founded the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, a 501c3 that aims to empower women worldwide economically, socially and politically. With its PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program, the Institute provides long-term business and leadership training to women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda.

Neese, past national president of NAWBO, considers this award to be an ultimate honor, since Rudd personally inspired her to go beyond business and get involved in public policy.

“Gillian Rudd was my mentor,” Neese said. “Her work on the HR5050 legislation is what first broke the glass ceiling for women in business in the ’80s. Without her work, I truly can’t say I’d be where I am today.”

###

About The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women:
The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women is a 501(c)3 nonprofit empowering women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial ventures and become more active public policy advocates.  The Institute accomplishes this mission by focusing on education, mentorship and coaching women in the United States and abroad who are seeking to acquire entrepreneurial skills to help start and grow a business.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 8, 2010
Contact: Becca Colbaugh
Office: 918.693.1570
Email: bcolbaugh@ieew.org

United Parcel Service partners with women’s empowerment organization to create global network for entrepreneurs

DALLAS – June 7, 2010 – Female executives at UPS will meet with Afghan and Rwandan women business owners who are participating in the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program.

PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS provides business, leadership and public policy training to women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda. The program was founded by Terry Neese and her non-profit organization, the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

“To coordinate a global sisterhood of businesswomen is truly exciting,” Neese said. “We are thankful for UPS’ continued support and participation in PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS.”

The luncheon will give the program’s 23 aspiring businesswomen the opportunity for one-on-one conversations with women from UPS on Wednesday.

UPS is the world’s largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services.

###

About The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women:
The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women is a 501(c)3 nonprofit empowering women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial ventures and become more active public policy advocates. The Institute accomplishes this mission by focusing on education, mentorship and coaching women in the United States and abroad who are seeking to acquire entrepreneurial skills to help start and grow a business.

The Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award
The NAWBO Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award recognizes a women business owner who has made a significant contribution to the status and visibility of women-owned firms and to the empowerment of women entrepreneurs both nationally and internationally.  This award was named after Gillian Rudd, who served as a national president in 1987-88 and contributed both strategy and personal charm to NAWBO’s early political advocacy activities.  She also was instrumental in helping NAWBO establish the National Foundation for Women Business Owners—now known as the Center for Women’s Business Research.

The 2010 Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award is presented to Terry Neese who has blended her entrepreneurial zeal with her passion for building a legacy for future generations of women entrepreneurs. Terry served as NAWBO president in 1990-91 and went on to co-found Women Impacting Public Policy in 2001. In 2007, she founded the Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women whose mission is to empower women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial ventures and become more active public policy advocates. Through its program “Peace Through Business,” the Institute provides a training program designed to provide long-term business education for women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda through in-country educational programs, leadership development, mentoring and opportunities to “pay it forward.”

Terry is the epitome of a business leader who has dedicated her professional career on the bedrock belief that when women are able to participate equally and fully in business, greater economic stability and peace ensues.  NAWBO is proud to honor Terry Neese with the Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award.

For more information, visit the NAWBO website.