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Is SHE you?
Helping women business owners fully realize the SHE inside.
Successful
High Potential
Entrepreneurial
Benefits For Your Business As Our Preferred Client
• Receive your own “Board of Directors” and direct access to expertise from numerous business disciplines ranging from marketing to legal and finance, HR, accounting, operations, and more!
• Position your company for increased growth and profitability
Benefits For Your Business As Our Preferred Client
• Join an elite group of women who have learned how to break the $1M revenue barrier.
• Receive customized, personal mentoring and support from local professionals.
• Reach the business goals you have always dreamed of!
Who do we serve?
• Established women business owners looking to reach the next level
• Niche target market in Central Florida
• Businesses located in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties
• A variety of industries
Representative Graduates
• Julie Swatek, ScrapYourTrip.com
• Diana LaRue, Appleton Creative
• Gail Mears, Club Z! In-Home Tutoring
• Andrea Christy, Christy Distribution
• Stacy Ethun, Park Avenue Group
• Monica Taffinder, Grace Christian Clinic Counseling
ATHENAPowerLink In The News
ATHENAPowerLink Helps Scrap Your Trip Double Its RevenueOrlando Business Journal – January 26, 2009
Nine years ago, while on vacation with her family in the Utah desert, Julie Swatek decided to spend $17,000 to start a scrapbooking business related to travel, Scrap Your Trip — an online supplier that ships nationwide and to more than 80 countries.
And two years ago, she decided to try to take her firm to the next level by seeking help from the Rollins College Center for Entrepreneurship’s Athena PowerLink program, which provides business advisors to women who own their own companies.
The program’s advisory panel consists of volunteers who meet with the Athena PowerLink participant once a quarter for a year.
“What we tried to do was deal with the issues she was facing at the time: financial, cash flow, organizational and marketing issues,” said Thomas Kruczek, executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship.
The free program requires applicants to have 51 percent of the business owned and managed by a woman, have been in operation for at least two years, have at least two full-time employees, annual revenue of at least $250,000 and good reasons for needing an advisory panel.
Kruczek, also a member of Swatek’s panel, said her passion for her firm made her a great candidate for the Athena PowerLink program.
How Do We Serve?
• 100% volunteer driven
• On-boarding with business consultant team
• Advisory panel hand-selected for the woman-owned business
Requirements for Businesses
• To qualify, a business must meet the following criteria:- 51% owned and actively managed by a woman or women- In operation for a minimum of two years- At least two full-time employees (including the business owner), or a
number of employees whose total work hours add up to two full-time positions
- Annual revenues of at least $250,000 for a retail or manufacturing business, or $100,000 for a professional services business
- Owner should have clearly defined objectives and specific reasons for seeking an advisory panel
Also, Important…
• Our business owners must be COACHABLE!
• Commitment runs for a full 12-month period
• Scheduling is flexible - Meetings can occur monthly or quarterly, and individual meetings with advisory panel members is also encouraged
Two Open Enrollment Periods Per Year
• Fall 2011 – Begins on September 1st and closes on September 30, 2011
• Spring 2012
• We select up to three (3) women-owned businesses per cycle
How Can You Apply for the Program?
• Visit our Website to download an application at www.athenaorlando.org
• Contact Ashley Vann, Program Manager, ATHENAPowerLink at (407) 646-2446 or [email protected]
Application Process
• Submit application to Program Manager• One-time application fee of $100• Screening of applications• Governing Body candidate review• Site interviews• Shortlisted candidates attend interviews in front
of the entire Governing Body• Governing Body makes selection that same week
Advisory Panels
• We’re looking for volunteers to serve on our Advisory panels.
• Open to professional men and women.• Obligation lasts for a full 12-month period.• All areas of business including: sales, marketing,
banking, human resources, administration, insurance, legal services and accounting.
• Entrepreneurs welcome! – Share your experiences and knowledge.
ATHENAPowerLink Sponsors
Governing Body
ATHENAPowerLink is advised by a Governing Body comprised of prominent local professionals committed to helping women business owners.
Christi Adams Foley & Lardner LLP
Judi Awsumb Awsumb Enterprises
Cari Coats Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship
Laura Eidson Cosgrove Eidson Insurance
Esther Vargas-Davis UCF Business Incubator
Dwain DeVille Bikers’ Guide to Business
Mike Estes PNC Bank
Andrea Massey-Farrell Massey Communications
Karen Keene Dean Mead
Diana LaRue Appleton Creative
Shelley Lauten Myregion.org
Pamela Rogan NAWBO
Diane Sears DiVerse Media
Jean Seawright Seawright & Associates
Marni Spence LarsonAllen
Become Part of Our Online Community
• On the Web at www.athenaorlando.org
How Can We Help You?
QUESTIONS?
