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WBG Connects is going virtual, we're holding our meetings on Zoom. Please check out the events calendar and register for upcoming Zoom meetings.

We are business women, meeting to share interests, experiences and insights. A WBG Connects meeting is an opportunity to learn, expand your network of business contacts, find inspiration & qualities to develop and to share your expertise with others.

Hello WBG Members -Past & Present & Future-

During these continuing uncertain times, we invite you to join us for the WBG Connects Monthly Zoom Breakfast Meeting.

We hope you'll join us to Network, provide Support and Hear from our fabulous Speaker on Friday, December 11 at 8:00 AM sharp!

Grab your mug of coffee or cup of tea and Sign in to Zoom!

Mia Hewett - an international speaker, best selling Author, world-class business coach, and is the founder of Aligned Intelligence® presents on "How to Say What You Do That Has People Feel Intrigued, Wanting to Know More About How You Do That... And It's Not What You Think!".

If you are not a member please contact Heather@HHCaremanagement.com to receive a meeting link.

December 11 Presentation - Mia Hewett

"How to Say What You Do That Has People Feel Intrigued, Wanting to Know More About How You Do That... And It's Not What You Think!"

In business, have you ever wondered why two people can sell the same identical product or service, be in the same market, in the same area of town and one will be producing extraordinary results and the other is always barely getting by?

Join Mia Hewett...International speaker, best selling Author, world-class business coach, who has co-owned and operated multiple seven-figure businesses as she shares with you "How to Say What You Do That Has People Feel Intrigued, Wanting to Know More About How You Do That... And It's Not What You Think!"

About Mia

Mia has co-owned and operated multiple seven-figure businesses, is an international speaker, best selling Author, world-class business coach, and is the founder of Aligned Intelligence® She helps entrepreneurs (or those that want to be entrepreneurs) who know they are “Meant for More" stop secretly struggling with fear, self-doubt, and anxiety, so they are Free to Be Themselves, Feeling Confident to Accomplish their financial goals... without having compromising who they really are.

www.miahewett.com

COFFEE CONNECTS is going VIRTUAL

Now that our first snowfall has come and Covid 19 restrictions are tightening, it’s time to take Coffee Connects online!

OBJECTIVE: Create a smaller group setting on Zoom to get to know members of the WBG group in a fun way so that we’re comfortable referring business to each other.

MEETING : Third Thursday of the month—November 19^th at 8 a.m. We will meet for 40 minutes total, start with a quick check-in for each of us. Next we’ll do breakout rooms where we can engage in a topic in smaller groups. Then we’ll wrap up together.

SIGN UP soon using the link below (The event is limited to 12 participants.)

QUESTIONS: Email Valerie Gaines atpeacereiki@gmail.com or Jeanne Richardson at Jeanne@bluedynastyent.com.

Previous WBG Connects events

November 13th Presentation - Susan Finn

Digital Marketing as an Act of Service

Something magical happens when you finally realize you can show up honestly, truly, fully as yourself. You find that you begin attracting those you were looking for, and seeking you as well. The Rise Above Noise process guides entrepreneurs through 5 steps to show up on their own terms. The process protects the entrepreneur from chaos and confusion while offering them the road map to save time and attract ideal clients.

About Susan Finn

Susan Finn, Digital Marketing Strategist with Rise Above Noise.

Susan believes that every heart-centered entrepreneur has a gift to offer.

She believes that marketing is an act of service to those who are currently searching for exactly what you offer.

Susan has created the 'Rise Above Noise' 5-pillar process which offers heart-centered entrepreneurs a step-by-step guide to create a digital marketing strategy that saves time, attracts clients, and allows you to show up with consistency and in your own integrity.

www.riseabovenoise.com

COFFEE CONNECTS: A reminder that we will be meeting next for outdoor Coffee Connects on Thursday, October 15th at 8 a.m. at Whole Foods Market, 442 Washington Street, Wellesley. Grab your favorite beverage from the coffee bar inside the store and come find your seat outside. With 7 picnic tables and 3 round tables, there is plenty of room to spread out and let the networking begin! Please email Valerie Gaines at atpeacereiki@gmail.com so that we have a count. Or, if the mood strikes you, show up that day.

October 9th Presentation - Dr. Reiff-Hekking

5 Steps to Bust Through Your Task List, Conquering Procrastination and Overwhelm

Does this sound familiar….

You keep putting off the “big stuff” because you just don’t know where to start. You keep telling yourself that if you could just sit down and grind through it, you’d be fine.
You know you can’t do it all, but surely you can find time for just this one more thing.

In this action-packed session you will learn:

WHY the biggest, most important projects you’ve planned to do slide into the next day . . . still don’t get done and continue to hog space on your To-Do list.
HOW to bust through procrastination. You’ll find out how to take control of your task list and STOP the feelings of being weighed down, overwhelmed, and confused.
WHAT positive self-talk really is, when it works, and why it’s only a piece of the solution you need.
You’ll walk away with tools to take into your life and start to use right away!

About Dr. Reiff-Hekking

Dr. Reiff-Hekking is a Coach and Time Matters Expert with almost 20 years of experience helping people create and achieve their goals. She draws upon her background and experience as a psychologist and researcher to create elegant out-of-the-box solutions for her clients.

She was on the faculty at UMass Medical School for 6 years, founded True Focus Coaching in 2005, and was a coach on staff at the Hallowell Center for more than 5 years. As a business-savvy entrepreneur, she grew a successful coaching practice during a down economy.

Dr. Sarah Reiff-Hekking is passionate about helping smart, creative adults that have a hard time managing their time and their tasks, figure out a way that works for them. She believes that there are no ‘perfect’ time management systems – you have to find a system that works for you. She also believes that solutions are found by paying attention to the present moment and, that just like Michelangelo had to chip away at the stone to find the statue, we have to get rid of all the extra stuff that isn’t the core of your life. She offers private and group coaching services. More at www.TrueFocusCoaching.com

Liz Powers is the co-founder and Chief Happiness Spreader at ArtLifting, a business that empowers artists impacted by homelessness and disabilities. Liz was selected for Forbes “30 Under 30” and Boston Globe’s 2015 “Game Changers.” Liz has given keynotes to crowds of 5,000. She has spoken at TEDx, Lean StartUp Conference, FedEx HQ, Fidelity, and South By Southwest.

She has worked in social service and given speeches about social change for the last decade. Her impact has been featured in the New York Times, TODAY Show, and Washington Post. She graduated from Harvard with honors and earned a MSc at the University of Edinburgh.

Liz Powers began her mission in Boston when she was 18. After securing a grant from Harvard to create art groups in homeless shelters, Liz was immediately struck by the incredible talent that she saw. Amazing works of art were being produced only to end up forgotten in the closets and basements of shelters. After observing that the same problem existed at thousands of art programs across the country, Liz became committed to helping share their creations with the world. She realized that art could be a transformational path to financial stability for these artists and countless others nationwide; they just needed a digital marketplace to connect with a larger audience. This invisible talent needed to become visible. In November of 2013, Liz and her brother Spencer Powers founded ArtLifting with four Boston artists. During their first week of operations, those four artists earned thousands of dollars and were interviewed by national and local media—truly a life-changing experience for each of them. Today, ArtLifting has expanded to 19 cities across the United States.

LET'S LUNCH – in person! 6 feet apart! Wearing masks!

Linden Square in Wellesley

September 16^th, noon

Pick up lunch from Sweetgreen, a sandwich from The Linden Store or brown bag it and join me for company, support, and a few good laughs!

There are outdoor tables in front of Sweetgreen. I will be there!

Rain date: September 17.

RSVP to Betsy Millane betsymillane@gmail.com please.

August 14th at 8:00 AM sharp! Presenter: Aicha Kelley - "Navigating Seniors Through COVID 19"

Aicha Kelley
Assistant Director of Programming,
The Needham Center at the Heights

will speak on the topic:

Navigating Seniors Through COVID 19

Aicha Kelley attended high school at Hampden Academy in Maine. She moved to Boston for college at Northeastern University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in African American Literature.

After working years in the restaurant and hospitality industry with her husband, they moved out of Boston to raise their family.

Aicha began teaching creative writing at the Walpole Recreation Department and soon she began running a music and arts festival,

which was the start of her love of programming!

After 15 years there, she accepted a job at the Needham Aging Services, where she quadrupled the program offerings within 18 months and was promoted to her current position as Assistant Director of Programming and Transportation Services.

The Needham Center at the Heights

300 Hillside Ave,

Needham Heights, MA 02494

(781) 455-7555
akelley@needhamma.gov

WBG Connects General Meeting:

February 14, 2020

Breakfast Meeting: Friday January 10th from 8:00AM – 9:30AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)
Presenter: Hélène Vincent

After a debilitating accident in 2016, Hélène Vincent, a Boston millennial left her corporate job and ran for Elected Office. Over the next 18 months, she knocked on 13,758 constituent doors, raised over $85,000 and came in 3rd place in a crowded field. She also experienced firsthand the extra difficulties facing women candidates. Come hear from her experience about why so many women have decided to run for office, what their experience is like and what we can do to help them.

WBG CONNECTS GENERAL MEETING
January 10, 2020

Breakfast Meeting: Friday January 10th from 8:00AM – 9:30AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)
Presenter: Marian Ryan, Middlesex District Attorney

We are excited to announce our speaker, Marian Ryan, Middlesex District Attorney.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan is an accomplished trial and appellate prosecutor, an acknowledged leader in the battle against the opioid crisis, an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform, and a creative, collaborative innovator in developing crime prevention programs.

She has created within the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office a robust juvenile and young adult diversion program, a drug diversion option and a restorative justice initiative and helped build a Conviction Integrity Unit. Under her leadership, the Office implemented the practice of not requesting cash bail in low-level non-violent offenses to avoid the impact of pretrial detention. Her support of these efforts is important because of its improbability.

She has successfully prosecuted many of Middlesex County’s most complex and violent cases and herself been the victim of a brutal attack. Yet, from those experiences, she has developed a deep understanding of how to best protect the public safety and administer justice with compassion and fairness.

WBG CONNECTS GENERAL MEETING
December 13, 2019

Breakfast Meeting: 8:00AM – 9:30AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)

Holiday Networking Breakfast

Presented by: Members & Guests

Join members and guests for a holiday networking breakfast. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards and holiday cheer.

So we know to expect you please click here to register.

For complete membership and registration information, visit www.wbgconnects.com/join-now. Dues are $275 per year.

WBG Connects General Meeting

November 8, 2019

Breakfast Meeting: 8:00AM – 9:30AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)

Join us for our annual fundraising breakfast! This year our organization will be supporting "Centre Street Food Pantry." Come and hear more about this new organization from Amy Less, President. Don't forget your checkbook or credit card.

Amy Less is President of the Board at the Centre Street Food Pantry and is responsible for the oversight of the organization. Centre Street Food Pantry's mission is to provide families within our community with consistent access to nutritious food in a dignified and sensitive environment. As many as 90 families shop each time we are open and more than 20 new families come to us each month. Our shoppers are from Newton, Brighton, Watertown, Waltham, Needham, Wellesley, West Roxbury and Brookline. Come learn about food insecurity in our community and how you can help.

So we know to expect you please click here to register.

But wait there's more ......
WBG Connects Member, Susana Brown has coordinated a Centre Street Food Pantry Tour and Shelf Stocking Event:

Date: Wednesday, October 30 from Noon - 1:30 PM
Place: Centre Street Food Pantry, 11 Homer Street, Entrance on, Furber Ln, Newton Centre, MA
For more information and to RSVP please contact Susana at 617-877-4092 or email susanacbrown@gmail.com

For complete membership and registration information, visit www.wbgconnects.com/join-now. Dues are $275 per year.

October 11th, 2019 WBG General Meeting

October 11th, 2019

Networking 8:00am to 8:30am

Program 8:30am to 9:30am

Wellesley Community Center

219 Washington St
Wellesley , MA 02481

Are You Losing Business Because of Poor Phone Skills?

Did you know it costs over $200 just to get the phone to ring? The phones are often your first point of contact with your business. This is typically where a first-impression is formed. This quick interaction, can either make-or-break a sale. Don’t give clients or prospects a reason to call someone else!

Our speaker is Image and Brand Expert Lisa Shorr of Shorr Success. Join us for an enlightening and interactive discussion demonstrating key strategies on how to answer the phone consistently, while sounding confident and engaging building strong relationships.

This is one event you don’t want to miss, the growth of your business depends on it! Click here to Register today!

Staples Studio – Customer, Communities, Connections

Friday, September 13th 2019

Breakfast Meeting – 8:30AM – 10AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)

Join Colette Desmond Fearnley to learn how Staples, a trusted advisor of their customers, has built strong communities over the past three years in their existing coworking spaces.

Presently the Staples Studios are entering the next phase that includes state-of-the-art Podcast Studios in partnership with major media consultants. In addition, Staples communities can communicate with their customers in a whole new way via podcasting. Podcasting is easy and simple! You have a monologue or a conversation with a co-host about a matter that is important to your community and share it over the internet.

Staples’ first showcase for the Coworking, Podcasting and Spotlight Studio is located on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton and the next to expand will be the Spotlight Studios in Danvers and Norwood. Coming soon thereafter will be Co-working, Podcasting and Spotlight Studios in Needham, Government Center, Cambridge and Somerville.

Let us know to expect you by clicking here to register.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Catalysts, Challenges and Rewards: Women Running and Serving on Local Boards.

Presented by: Dr. Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson

Dr. Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson is the interim director for the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Boston, and interim graduate program director for the Gender Leadership and Public Policy (GLPP) graduate certificate program.

In prior academic and administrative roles at the Heller School, Nsiah-Jefferson headed efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and was the concentration head for Women and Gender Studies for the Master’s in Public Policy Program. She has also served as affiliate faculty with the Health, Science, Society and Policy Program, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program, and the African and Afro-American Studies Department with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Brandeis University.

Dr. Nsiah-Jefferson’s research interests relate to the simultaneous intersections between aspects of social difference and identity, and forms of systematic oppression, at micro and macro levels, and their impacts on various social outcomes.

Let us know to expect you by registering here

The Grommet's mission is to level the playing field to help the best products win — and help innovative small businesses to succeed. While most companies are only concerned with getting you to buy what they’re selling, they’re focused on bringing you things worth buying.

The Grommet was founded to launch undiscovered products and help them succeed. Since 2008, The Grommet has launched more than 3,000 products in 16 categories, including many that are now household names, including FitBit, Food Should Taste Good, GoldieBlox, IdeaPaint, Lovepop, OtterBox, PopSockets, SimpliSafe, SodaStream, and S’well, among others. Every weekday The Grommet reveals a new, undiscovered product and shares the story behind each one through a written story, video, and photography—as well as where the idea came from, where it’s made, and how it’s produced. Only 3% of the products reviewed by our Discovery team are selected for launch. For more information, visit http://thegrommet.com

Please let us know you're coming by clicking here to register.

Join WBG Connects on Friday, February 8th and hear from SPARK Kindness, Inc. SPARK is a non-profit organization with an innovative approach to bullying and violence prevention. SPARK stands for “Successful Positive Authentic Resilient Kids” and has the mission of supporting kind and empowered youth & communities.

Christine Fortune Guthery is the Founder/President/Executive Director of SPARK Kindness, Inc. SPARK is a non-profit organization with an innovative approach to bullying and violence prevention. SPARK stands for “Successful Positive Authentic Resilient Kids” and has the mission of supporting kind and empowered youth & communities. SPARK (formerly known as the Natick Parents against Bullying & Cyberbullying) has over 2,600 parent members. Since 2010, the organization has conducted dozens of programs on bullying prevention and promoting kindness and resiliency to parents, schools, and community organizations. SPARK works to strengthen collaboration between parents and schools so that young people flourish.

In 2011, the group founded the Natick/Metrowest Anti-Bullying Coalition (ABC). The Natick/Metrowest ABC is a group of over 60 organizations working together to end bullying. In 2013, the Natick Anti-Bullying Coalition received the Martin T. Meehan Award for Educational Leadership (along with the Natick Public Schools), presented by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

Going forward, the mission of SPARK Kindness is to:
*Provide programs and resources to youth, families, schools & communities to support raising KIND and EMPOWERED youth.
*Assist communities in building their own Anti-Bullying Coalitions as well as other community supports, such as parent program series.

When encouraged, kindness spreads like wildfire and can create positive change in a community. Let’s SPARK a kindness revolution together! Click Here to Register

NEXT WBG CONNECTS GENERAL MEETING
December 14th, 2018
Breakfast Meeting – 7:15AM – 9AM
Location: Wellesley Community Center (219 Washington St., Wellesley)

Join us for our annual fundraising breakfast. This year our organization will be supporting "Horizons for Homeless Children." Come and hear more about this fine organization from Kathie Carroll Day, Managing Director and Deanna Dwyer, Director of Marketing & Communications. Don't forget your checkbook or credit card.

Click here to Register Today.

Horizons for Homeless Children
Homeless children have twice the rate of learning disabilities and three times the rate of emotional-behavioral disorders than children who are housed. For parents, homelessness is a traumatic experience that leaves them feeling very disempowered.
At Horizons, we provide high-quality early education and opportunities for play so children can keep up with their peers. We support their families and help them reclaim that power, so they’re able to get their families on a path to future success.