CONNECT AND GROW WITH WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNIT Y

!
June 2011

Mona Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House

Johnson-Gibson
“People Make Me Happy” `
1
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Mimi Zelman

Now that we are in the last part of the year, are

you on track meeting your goals? If you are, that
is wonderful and should be congratulated! If you
are not there yet, what are you going to do to
catch up and meet those goals? First, what is
your or who is your target market? What are you
doing to reach those people?

All lot of businesses fall into the trap of not

believing in enough advertising! Businesses need
to have name recognition and branding. Set up a
budget and bigger is not always better, have a few
smaller ads in more places to reach the people
you need to.

Utilize social media, this avenue is free and

reaches your audience in a different way. To have
good branding all of the above should be in your
marketing plan. If you don’t know how to do this,

“
you can contact me and I can refer you to people
that can.

We at Women With Know How would love to earn

Utilize social media,
this avenue is free and
your business and we have a plan to work with all
budgets. We will be offering video ads in the next
few months. What a great way to send your
message and compliment to display ad for very
low cost. Why wait? Give us a call!

”
reaches your audience in a We are very excited that our new logo will
different way. debut soon! Let me know how you like it!!
Till next month, Mimi

2
 CONTENTS

FEATURES

16 26 34 36
COVER STORY PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS FOOD
Mona Johnson-Gibson SPOTLIGHT Vilma Betancourt-O’day Grilling Up A
Lena Lumelsky Summer’s Feast

DEPARTMENTS
YOUR CAREER 10 Business 22
Janis White
Robyn Crigger

WELLNESS 12 FINANCE 28
April Oliver
Vickie L. Bunzey

®
 ®

Serving Charlotte
Visit Our and Charleston
PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT
Online Store Mimi L. Zelman
mimi@womenwithknowhow.com
Cover photography:
Dustin Shores
You know your stuff,
now show the world! DESIGN AND PAGE
PRODUCTION
The Resource People
info@TheResourcePeople.com
Whether you’re heading to your company’s
board meeting or your daughter’s soccer VICE PRESIDENT OF
MARKETING
practice, you’ll be stylin’ when you show the Wendy Whitehurst
world that you are a Woman With Know-how.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Vilma
Janice White
We’ve handpicked a select group of items
Vickie
all in rich black, to showase the gorgeous Robyn Crigger
fuchsia pink and silver metallic embroidered CHARLESTON
message that tells everyone you are truly Contact Mimi Zelman
704-491-1207
a woman to be reckoned with. mimi@womenwithknowhow.com

For more advertising information call

Mimi at 704-491-1207 or email her at:
mimi@womenwithknowhow.com
Copyright © 2011

www.womenwithknowhow.co
4
Press Release
Olivia Kole Fashion
Show
O livia Kole Fashion House will debut their
Fall 2011 Prêt-a-Porter Collection at a fashion
show presented by Butter NC on June 16th from
6:30-10pm. The event will take place at the
Outdoor Plaza of the NC Music Factory with an
after party at neighboring Butter NC to follow. A
portion of the proceeds for the event and silent
auction will benefit A Child’s Place.
Further complementing Olivia Kole’s stunning fall
line, Perry’s at SouthPark will decorate the
models with select fine, antique and estate
jewelry pieces. Over the past 30 years, Perry’s
has gained recognition as one of the nation’s
finest antique and estate jewelers. Guests will
have a chance to bid on select Perry’s jewelry
pieces at a silent auction during the pre-party
from 6:30-9:15. The auction will include several
pieces worn by the models as well as other
beautiful and elegant pieces. Attendees are
invited to attend an after party at Butter NC,
immediately following the fashion show. There
will be a meet and greet with signings in the
upper lounge of the club immediately following
the show from 10:15-11PM.
Bask Restaurant will provide hors d’oeuvres.
Tickets can be purchased online at
www.ticketleap.com, keyword “Olivia Kole.” For
more event information, please call
704.295.1565. Dress to impress.
5
About Perry’s at SouthPark
Perry’s at SouthPark has been in business for
over 30 years and has been established as one of
the nation’s finest antique and estate jewelers.
Ernest Perry, the company’s owner and
president, has more than thirty-five years
experience and expertise in fine, antique and
estate jewelry. Perry’s consigns, buys, sells, and
trades vintage, antique and estate jewelry, gold,
coins, diamonds, silver, platinum, and much
more.
About Olivia Kole Fashion House
Olivia Kole is a unique fashion house and couture
clothier focused on the creation of custom pieces,
with a limited prêt-a-porter collection offered each
season. They are committed to assisting non-
profit organizations for disadvantaged children
and equine rescue centers.
About A Child’s Place
Homelessness for children isn’t just about where
they lay their heads at night; it’s about where their
heads are during the day at school, too. Founded
in 1989, A Child's Place (ACP) ensures homeless
students are in school, physically and mentally
prepared to learn, and connects homeless
parents with services to address their housing
crisis. The only nonprofit in the country focused
on homeless children’s education, ACP will help
some 2,200 of the 4,453 homeless students
attending Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools this
year.
 YOUR CAREER
Robyn Crigger, CEO Compass Career Management
Talent Management- Why Is It Important To A Company?
For the past thirty-five years or so, businesses have had a
fairly dependable, hard-working, and skilled workforce. Of
course, part of that is due to the excellent training that
employers offered. However, one of the largest generations
of workers (Baby Boomers) is now preparing to retire.
Over the course of those 35 years employers would
recognize talented or aggressive employees, who wanted to
grow and expand their abilities. Most employers were
consciously aware of the need for future management or
business leaders. Therefore, businesses would have plans
to develop those capable employees, who had the potential
®
for jobs with more responsibilities.
For example when my husband graduated from college with
his Masters degree and chose to be in the grocery business,
the company exposed him to all aspects and levels of the
business, particularly since he was going to become a
human resources management executive. It gave him great
insight to understand all the “workings” of the business. In
addition, the company also trained him in union negotiation,
many legal aspects of the business, as well as media
training. That company was an excellent employer – training
a talented employee to develop and grow into his full
potential, while meeting a company’s needs. Though the
phrase wasn’t used back then, this process would now be
referred to as “Talent Management”.
Unfortunately, many employers today have been so plagued
by a distressed economy, that they have mainly focused on
surviving. This really hurts employers now since the Baby
Boomers will soon be retiring, and their talent pools have
received little or no training. A big portion of Boomers hold
leadership or management positions. As they exit, many
companies do not have people trained to be effective
supervisors, managers, or executives.
6 1#1233415#$%6788#71441"#$%
Programs like Leadership Training,
Team Building, and Executive
Coaching have fallen to the side
while companies have tightened
their spending to survive. The worst
of the recession may have slightly
eased, however, companies still
need to be cautious. On the other
hand training and coaching NEEDS
to be resumed in order to avoid
serious casualties as the Boomers
leave.
Talent Management is a process
that all organizations and companies
need to have in place, which helps
them prepare for Succession
Planning. Eventually, all those hard-
working, mature employees will be
ready to take their retirement and
turn the keys over to the next
generation. That time is quickly
approaching!!! Companies would be
wise to select a human resource
partner to help them through this
transition. It is unfair to drop
unprepared, untrained workers into
supervisory or management slots.
That is devastating for a company!
Take action today!!!
For More Information:
MORE INFO
!"#$%&'()&*#"(+,#-#./01%**#
.%&))&#2%(%3)0)('#4/56'7/(*#
!!!"+/01%**+%&))&"#$%&
'()*+&,*-./0))&
 WELLNESS Vickie L. Bunzey, Certified Holistic Health Coach
What’s Making You Fat?
One last bag of chips, one
last indulgence in pie, one
last Friday night pizza party,
one last piece of chocolate.
Monday morning my diet
starts. I will be good, I will
eat healthy, I will exercise,
and I will fit into my skinny
jeans. How many Mondays
have you started out with a
new mantra of “I will be thin,
I will be healthy?”
Unfortunately, this is a yo-yo
cycle of dieting that too
many women know only too
well and can’t seem to stop.
No matter what you do, you
can’t seem to keep the
weight where you want it.
The good news is that it may
not be all your fault. The
bad news is that no one is
telling you how to stop the
yo-yo dieting.
Understanding the factors of
weight gain will help you
lose the weight forever.
First, know where you stand.
Grab your tape measure. A
woman with a waistline more
than 35 inches may be faced
with increased risks for
health problems. This
statistic comes from a study
7
done of over 100,000 men
and women.
Over a 10 year period, those
with a larger waist line were
more likely to die from heart
disease, cancer and
respiratory disorders as
those whose waists were
slim. This was true with
people whose body shape
changed to a larger waist
size but did not significantly
gain weight.
Increased abdominal fat
can lead to inflammation,
higher cholesterol and
insulin resistance and
ultimately many other
health problems.
Why do so many of us suffer from excessive belly fat?
Here’s the top 10 countdown.
10. Medications
Stop and think about the TV commercials you
watch. It seems to me that every other
commercial is for some drug fixing a health
concern. The number of people who are on
medications is growing daily. Medications can
decrease metabolism regardless of changes to
the diet, and the medications can change
hormone levels in the body. This impacts our
ability to lose weight and keep the weight off.
9. Disease and Illness
Thyroid Disease, Diabetes and Cushing’s disease
(increased production of corticnl in the body) have
become common ailments. Again, people end up
gaining weight and undergo medical treatment for
the disease as well as to slow down weight gain
or decrease the weight gain. Hormone levels are
out of balance, metabolism is hindered and weight
is hard to lose.
6. Portion Sizes
America is the land of supersized portions.
Portion control is a leading factor in weight gain.
We tend to over eat foods that are high in fat and
calories, and do it on a daily basis. Most of us
don’t know what a healthy portion size is. We are
served on oversize plates and drink from
oversized cups. We have lost control of our
portions.
5. Skipping meals
Weren’t you told in school not to skip
4. Low Fat Foods
8
8. Genes
It’s true, you can be predisposed to gaining weight
easier than your friend. Research shows that
even though your chances of gaining weight may
be higher than someone else, environmental
factors and individual lifestyle choices play a
much bigger role in a person being overweight
then genetics.
7. Stress
Fight or Flight. This is our bodies natural system
to deal with stress. When stress increases, our
bodies prepare for us to fight or run. When stress
levels rise, cortisol is released in the blood
stream, causing changes in the body. Cortisol
helps release sugar, stored in the muscles and
liver, into the blood stream for quick energy use.
This hormone is responsible for accumulation of
fat in the abdomen which is hard for the body to
get rid of. As long as there is stress, cortisol
remains high making it hard to lose weight.
breakfast because it’s the most important meal of the
day? Skipping meals is bad. It slows down your
metabolism. Your body is lacking the nutrients it needs
to refuel. Skipping a meal usually leads to overeating
because you are so hungry by the time you stop to eat.
When you are overly hungry, food choices are usually
quick and easy and portion sizes are large. Of course
this leads to weight gain from too many calories and,
guess what, the extra calories are stored as fat.
We have been told that fat is bad and thus the low-fat food craze. Just because a label says low
fat does not mean lower calorie (or healthy). When buying a low fat product, remember to look at
the label and see how many calories and what the serving size is. Because low-fat food products
are highly processed food, they do not satisfy our body so we tend to eat more. Many times it is
better to each the real food and just use portion control. Processed foods are a problem in
themselves. For multiple reasons, they hinder weight loss.

3. Lack of exercise
It is important to practice both strength training and cardiovascular exercise. By performing both types of
exercise you can help increase the amount of calories burned. Many people do less and less exercise and
eat more calories. The combination of lack of exercise and high calorie intake is why we gain weight. The
more strength training you does the more muscle you gain, which leads to higher metabolism. A higher
metabolism burns more calories at rest and during exercise.

2. Slow Metabolism
Muscle will burn more calories than fat which is why need more muscle than fat. It is a common
belief that as we age, we lose more muscle. This is only true if we do not remain active.
Continuing to do strength and cardiovascular exercises will keep the lean muscle mass needed to
keep our metabolism burning. With a properly running metabolism, the worry over calories is
lessened. I am living proof of this.

1. Poor Food Choices

The fact is that generally our diets are not good. Our diets are filled with processed foods that are
easy to prepare and full of empty calories. Portions are large and meals are lacking essential
nutrients from foods like fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Fast food and
prepackaged foods can lead to extra weight around the waist due to a lot of fat and extra calories.
Eat real food. It’s what your body
needs.

Next Monday start over the right way.

Diet and exercise will help monitor
weight gain. Making better food
choices, the right portions and not
skipping meals will help you lose
weight. Understanding the causes of
your weight gain, will help you take
control. Keep a journal. Studies show
that people who keep a food and
exercise journal double their weight loss.
Consider a health coach. Successful
people whether they be an athlete or in business, work with coaches. Next Monday start over and make it
a lifestyle for the rest of your life. End your yo-yo dieting.

9
10
 Mona Johnson-Gibson Executive Director, Ronald
McDonald House of Charlotte

“People Make Me Happy.”

By Mimi Zelman and Mara Campolungo, Partner, Sandbox
Solutions. InYourSandbox.com

Just seeing Mona Johnson-Gibson graciously

stroll through the Ronald McDonald House
makes one say, “WOW!” even before you know
anything about her life. Once you hear her
speak and share her thoughts about life, people
and her mission to lead the Ronald McDonald
house, you will be left saying WOW as well.

We had the privilege of meet Mona and it

became readily apparent she is indeed a
Woman With Know-How. Mona is generous and
gracious with her time and talent and she
possess an internal glow that truly defines her.

She radiates confidence, compassion, fortitude

and open arms for everyone she meets.

What follows include highlights of our favorite

“Mona-isms” from our 1:1 meeting with her.

“Happiness is the key to the whole world.”

She lives it, she breathes it and she believes

it! And she brings happiness to every facet of her role and to everyone she meets.

11
12
“People make me happy”

And the feeling is mutual.

“I have the most wonderful husband, the most wonderful

family, the most wonderful friends, the most wonderful job
and the most wonderful house in the most wonderful
location. Life is wonderful!”

Mona is a woman who exudes gratitude. She is able to

recognize all that has been given to her, both good and bad and
turn it into a positive part of who she is.

“Life for me today doesn’t get any better.”

What else can be said?!

Mona is the master at
“I have always worked in the helping others field. I just like connecting and it is a simple
helping people and meeting different people.” formula: Acknowledge that
we are all a community of
Those that have had the pleasure of meeting Mona quickly feel people working our best to
her generous spirit and authentic willingness to be of service to showcase the best possible
others. us.

“I feel like everything I have done in my life up to this point, “I am living my bucket list
career, personal, school, has prepared me for this job as every day, hour by hour,
the Executive Director of the RMH of Charlotte. This is accomplishing more than
where I have been striving to be, I am here for a reason. yesterday and meeting
There are no coincidences.” more people and more
challenges.”
Mona has allowed her life to take it where it needs to go, with a
healthy dose of hard work, fortitude and a willingness to let her Mona is a living example of
experiences direct her. how we should all live our
lives: fun-loving, caring,
“The best advice is to surround yourself with good people, living life to its fullest, but as
people smarter than you, loyal to you, kind to you, believe she also said, not “crazy
in you. Be part of groups, network, and get to know lots of stupid.” Her life has purpose.
people, really know them. Be real and sincere, remember
everyone matters. Always do what you say you will do and Mona is an extraordinary
always follow up, show people you care, listen. These are woman who has touched her
also the kind of people I choose as my mentors. People world with countless acts of
who can help me grow into what I can become, support and kindness and has made an
love me” eternal contribution to others
whom she will never know
on earth.
13
 Your caring participation will
make an impact on a child’s
life.

Opportunities to get involved

include:

• Donate cash or in-kind

items/services
• Volunteer your time and
Their primary goal at the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte is to talent
provide families a safe, comfortable and supportive environment • Sponsor or partner with
while their children receive medical treatment at nearby medical us
facilities. To serve families during their stay, they offer the following • Host your own event or
services: help in other ways
• Include Ronald
• Health and wellness programs McDonald House in
• Connection to ministry and spiritual support your planned giving
• Educational support for school-age children
• Transportation Contact Information:
• Sibling activities
• Holiday and birthday recognition Ronald McDonald House of
• Parent interaction and sharing Charlotte
• Nightly family meals 1613 E. Morehead St.
• Weekly family-friendly activities Charlotte, NC 28207
Phone: 704-335-1191
Email: info@rmhofcharlotte.org

Mona Johnson-Gibson is the

Executive Director for the Ronald
McDonald House of Charlotte, a
home away from home for
families of seriously ill children
being treated at the children's
hospitals in the area. Mona is
responsible for the overall
administration and management
of the house and staff. She holds
a Bachelor's degree in Criminal
Justice and a Master of Arts
How You Can Help
degree in Counseling from UNC-
Charlotte and has more than 25
Realizing our vision for the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte years of experience in the fields
would not be possible without the compassionate efforts of so many of human service, marketing,
friends from our community – individuals, corporations and our training and administration.The
dedicated Staff. With your support we can continue to provide the Ronald McDonald House of
much needed services that support children and their families during Charlotte opened its doors to
a difficult time. families on May 9, 2011!

14
15
 Business Coaching Janis White

Coach Early And Often

E ven the best organizations want to
improve employee productivity in
order to grow overall business performance and
corporate value. But the tool most often used to
evaluate and improve performance—the performance
review—really isn‘t capable of helping organizations
reach their overall goal.

The biggest strike against performance reviews is that

they are the equivalent of looking in the rearview
mirror to see where the employee has been—and
perhaps failed. Why not look ahead to see where the
employee can successfully go? Additionally, since
performance reviews occur once a year, if at all, they
require us to look back over a long period of time. They
make the manager look petty (!Let‘s talk about your
performance on that project nine months ago…"), and
even if viewed positively, any corrective solutions are
generally too late to do any good.

Here‘s a helpful idea: Coach early and often. Early, to

catch potential problems before they happen. Often,
because the continuous interest shown in, and feedback
given to, employees through coaching guarantees better
performance.
Coaching provides counsel in real time and clearly
identifies goals in the context of the employee's job.
Good coaches understand the current reality of the
employee's world, and are aware of issues that might
prevent a worker from reaching his or her goals. Good
coaching provides the right environment
to development strategies that allow an employee to
achieve his or her goals.
16
Imagine a husband and wife sitting down on their anniversary each year for a formal chat: !First, let‘s review all the
things you‘ve done well over the last year and then we‘ll set goals for the coming year." Doesn‘t sound like much of a
relationship, does it?

I‘m certainly not suggesting that a manager should be married to his or her employees, but a healthy marriage is a
relationship built on daily dialogue and frequent two-way communication. The same culture of dialogue can benefit
employees and managers alike. Conversely, a once-a-year meeting more likely resembles a gripe fest: while one side
lists frustrations and shortcomings, the other side could be taken aback and either retreats or goes on the defensive.
The bottom line is that no one wins.

Janis White, SPHR founded SMART Talent Solutions as a Strategic Business Partner with Profiles International after
personally using the suite of assessments in her previous role as the Human Resource Manager for Compass Group,
Inc. Profiles has been known as "the worlds innovator and leader in employee evaluations" since their inception in
1991. They provide assessments grounded in advanced behavioral science that we continually validate through our
team of PhD Psychologists and Psychometricians. The assessments are delivered effortlessly through our state-of-the-
art virtual assessment centers. Our assessment reports are written for mangers and contain practical insight and
advice to get the most from their people. Our business is both high-tech and high-touch, and laser-focused to help our
clients succeed.

Develop a Strong Organization -

Invest in Your Talent
Compass Offers:
TALENT MANAGEMENT
! Assess your workforce & determine potential leaders.
! Provide training for growth & leadership opportunities.
! Clarify company expectations for leaders.

EXECUTIVE COACHING
! One-on-One support for future leaders
! Enhance performance, productivity & effectiveness
! Strengthen & expand talent
! Improve communication skills

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
! Perform SWOT analysis on management team
! Select members of your “A-Team” & recruit others
! Customize programs for all to reach full potential

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
! Confirm core preferences (values) of workforce
! Identify and address major conflicts of workforce
! Stress importance of mutual respect and communication

RETIREMENT WORKSHOPS
! Provides ERISA 404C requirements
! Unbiased financial education, valued by employees.

OUTPLACEMENT: We remain Experts in this

industry of Change Management.
(704) 849-2500
info@CompassCareer.com

www.CompassCareer.com

17
 PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT Mimi Zelman

Lena Lumeisky
Owner of Woland Technology

How did you get started in this

business?
®
My husband and I moved to
Charlotte, North Carolina from
London in 2005. We had no roots in
the city, no family close by who
knew where to find good parks and
playgrounds where we could take
our two (now three) young
daughters, where to look for good
pediatricians, summer camps,
schools, you name it. Once we
settled in, I realized how helpful it
would have been if someone had a
website where I could find all of this
information ahead of time. That’s
how KidsInChlarotte.com was born. I
took all of the information I could
think of that might be helpful to
parents who are new to Mecklenburg
County and put it in one place on the
Web.

18
It went live in October 2005 and I hope it
has been a useful tool for parents like me
and my husband, who are moving to the
area. It was a dry run for Woland
Technology, and looking back I’m pretty
happy with the way it turned out.
Currently, KidsInCharlotte gets 25,000
visitors a month, on average.

What is your background-what were 9/11. It seemed like a good opportunity to

you doing before this business? become a full-time mom, and I took it. A
year later, we moved to London, where our
I have a Masters degree in Computer
second daughter, Polly, was born. A few
Science from the University of Michigan,
years after that, we moved back to the
but I didn’t start out creating websites.
U.S., where our third daughter, Mia, was
Most of the programming I’ve done before
born, and I began to write KidsInCharlotte
Woland – working at large financial
on a whim. Once that project was done,
institutions like Goldman Sachs, Deutsche
and I realized I could do it flexibly enough
Bank and Merrill Lynch – involved designing
to accommodate my children’s schedules, I
customized software systems for their
formed Woland Technology and hung out
sales, trading and back-office operations:
my shingle (or meta-shingle if we’re talking
complex database-driven applications
about Google). The technical side wasn’t
written over many months by teams of
very hard after my experience at the New
programmers around the world. It was
York investment banks. Plus, I quickly
everything you might expect from working
realized how much I love working with
on Wall Street during the tail end of the
different kinds of businesses, meeting new
Dot-Com era: long hours, lots of pressure,
people, entrepreneurs from every
and no end of colorful personalities and
background, who have so much enthusiasm
general craziness. Despite the stress, it
and such amazing ideas. It’s a lot of fun
was a great experience that taught me a
and very gratifying to know, and to be told,
great deal about how to manage projects,
you’ve done a great job.
motivate my employees, and deliver a
product my clients appreciated.
Incidentally, when your clients have
included Wall Street securities traders,
there’s not much any other client can do to
shock or upset you. It’s a very high bar.

The fork in my road came with the birth of

our first daughter, Rebecca, right around
the collapse of the Dot-Com bubble on Wall
Street, and two months to the day before

19
What are some interesting statistics
about your business?
We’ve been in business since 1996. We
now work with over 70 clients and our
business is growing at more than 50%
per year based on revenue.
What is unusual or unique about your
business, in comparison to your
competitors or similar businesses?
Woland Technology doesn’t try to be all
things to all people. We focus on web
design and internet marketing, and we do
it really well, in my opinion. We are agile
enough to service many different
industries – real estate, education,
fashion, retail, industrial – but we
succeed on our strengths, which are,
first, designing responsive, functional and
elegant web sites that meet or surpass
our clients’ expectations, and second,
providing the dedicated support that our
clients need once their sites go live. We
concentrate on building what, for many of
our clients, will be the public face of their
company – the mental impression that
20
their potential customers will form in the
first 15 seconds after hyper linking in
from a Google list of, literally, thousands
of search results. If we’ve done our job
properly and the site stands out – holds
the customer’s attention – everything has
to work seamlessly to provide them
quickly with the information they are
looking for, or, in an e-commerce site,
lead to a sale. If it’s not working as
intended, we collaborate with the client to
make sure it does. For some of our
clients, what’s important is that we’re
local – their concerns or spontaneous
ideas are not funneled through a call
center in the Philippines. It reinforces
their trust in our ability to support their
business in a committed way.
Our other secret weapon is our alliance
with Paper Blossom Marketing, a fantastic
Charlotte-based company specializing in
social media and marketing, run by Kelly
Yale and Shannon Hawk. They are
experts at enhancing corporate brands
and getting companies linked into
Facebook and Twitter, all crucial to a
strong Web presence. Our collaboration
with Paper Blossom has been a huge
boon to our clients. It has without
question provided both our teams with
opportunities we would not have had
working separately.
Finally, a lot of web designers start out in
graphic arts and migrate to the technical
side. My experience in the IT world meant
Woland was established, first and
foremost, on a solid technological
foundation. To be sure, there is no “right”
or “best” way to get started in web
design. But having a strong techie
background enabled me to do more
complex projects such as e-commerce
sites, photo galleries, and database-
intensive services like Chai Expectations,
an online matchmaking site. One project
involved creating from scratch a web-
based payroll application for a local
company with nearly 900 employees.
Building a software application like that is
not really web design – but you’d be
surprised at how much they have in
common.

So, what’s unusual or unique about

Woland? It’s a young company helping
other young companies build their
business and seize the remarkable
opportunities that the Web offers. We
build websites for entrepreneurs. We
know the challenges they face and
understand a basic fact: what they often
need is not so much a service provider
but a partner.
What are some of the greatest
challenges in your business?
I think web design is one industry that
has not become commoditized yet. Maybe
it’s gradually approaching
commoditization, but it’s not there yet.
Still, many companies select a web
design firm with the commodity paradigm
in mind. A startup company on a budget
may balk at an estimate because their
friend offered to write them a site “just as
good” for a quarter of the price – in their
spare time. An established company with
a seven figure turnover may need to
rationalize their large marketing budget
by massively overpaying for their
website, when they could have gotten a
better, more professional result from a
smaller, more engaged and nimble shop.
Granted, it’s hard to tell if a company is

21
worth its salt without doing research,
talking to the owner, looking at the
portfolio, understanding what the service
contract says – it’s all time-intensive
work. How much easier to fall back on the
common assumptions that all web design
companies are basically the same, and
you get what you pay for. Common, but
wrong.
So, one of the greatest challenges for me
is exploding the commodity myth through
marketing, making personal connections
with potential clients as well as with
teammates, like Kelly and Shannon at
22
Paper Blossom. And, of course, through
hard work and creative approaches to
each client’s needs.
Another challenge is keeping up a with a
rapidly evolving industry. The Web didn’t
really exist, functionally, until the mid-
90s. That’s only fifteen years ago. The
most cutting-edge technologies and tools
available to do what we do at Woland
may be obsolete in five years. If we don’t
keep pace, so will we. It’s exciting, but it
requires a strong technical background
and a constant willingness to learn from
everyone on the Woland team. In
addition, running this company requires
enough discipline and pragmatism to
realize that a client may not want or need
the latest untested whiz-bang feature on
their website. But what they will need
almost certainly is a site that looks great
on multiple platforms, like a home PC and
a tablet computer (e.g., an iPad).
23
What would you like our readers to
know about your journey in
business?
The aphorism about the fox and the
hedgehog is, “the fox knows many little
things, but the hedgehog knows one big
thing.” As much as I love the technical
aspects of my business, the “hedgehog”
side of it, I accomplish more by being a
bit of a fox: sharpening my networking
skills, finding a common language with
my clients and employees. Learning to
recognize what I’m good at, and focusing
on that without losing sight of the
interpersonal relationships that really
drive my business.
 FINANCE April Oliver, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

A Return To Work & To Retirement Savings

I t isn’t unusual in these times

for individuals to be
retirement or to deal with family care-giving issues.

temporarily out of the
workforce. In some cases this
is a voluntary act such as a
maternity or paternity leave or
planned early retirement.
Challenging economic times
and changing demographics
have also made it more
common for some to leave
work because they have to,
through a layoff, forced early
Time away from work not only means a loss of current income, but
also, in most cases, the suspension of contributions to a retirement
plan. If there is no cash flow due to a time off, chances are that
money is not available to continue funding your nest egg.
So if you are getting back into the workforce or intend to soon, you
have an opportunity to look at your financial circumstances in a
whole new light. Can you free up money for retirement savings
once again? Here is a process to help you determine what is
possible in your situation.

24
 Step 1 – Take care of regular expenses and debts

Make sure your cash flow can pay for your lifestyle. First and foremost, that means paying for necessities like
food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Limit extraneous expenses until you are into a steady routine with
work and with managing your paycheck.

In addition, make sure you can continue to pay off any debts that remain on your personal books. Car loans,
student loans and credit card debts must be paid on time. If it is possible, pay more than the minimum
monthly payment required on high-interest credit card debts in order to reduce the principal balance each
month.

Step 2 - Manage your spending

When paychecks start rolling after a period without them, it is easy to feel “rich” again and quickly turn on
the spending spigot. After all, depending on the circumstances of your time away from work, you may have
significant pent-up demand for items you’ve delayed purchasing.

Find out what retirement savings options are available through your employer. If you can contribute to
a plan (such as a 401(k) or 403(b) plan), you should make that arrangement as soon as you can. The
closer you are to retirement, the more you should be saving, as your time to let wealth accumulate in
your investment accounts is limited.

April M. Oliver, CFP®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner
Advisor is licensed/registered to do business with U.S. residents only in the states of CA, CO, FL, IA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NY, OR,
PA, SC, TN, TX, VA.
Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member
FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients.

© 2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights

feeling is understandable, but it is important to spend money responsibly. You already know better than most
the challenges created when cash flow from an employer or your own business stops. This is not the time to
begin careless spending habits, but instead to prudently manage your income.

Step 3 – Pay for your future security

Take advantage of your improved cash flow position to save for your future. The importance of saving for
retirement cannot be overemphasized, regardless of your economic position. Today, you have the ability to
work and generate income. There will come a time in life when this will no longer be possible.

If you’ve been away from work for a while, you should be particularly inspired to resume a serious retirement
savings regimen. You have a keen understanding of the financial challenges involved when regular
paychecks don’t arrive. This is similar to what most Americans face in retirement. Their well-being is
If offered, be sure to capitalize on the opportunity to take advantage of an employer match of all or
dependent, in large
youpart,
put on
intothe
foresight they had to save will
money for your
their contributions
future financial
part of the amount your plan. Many employers match bysecurity.
up to 3
25
percent of your salary – giving you a built-in return on your investment. This is, in a sense, “free”
money that shouldn’t be passed up.
 Family Features

Manage Your
Mailbox
Customize How Businesses
26 Contact You.
30
There are many ways to learn
about the local and national
businesses that serve the
community – whether through
mailed catalogs, e-mail,
online ads, you name it. Just
as consumers use a variety of
ways to find information,
businesses use different media
to market themselves to
potential customers. You may
use some of those sources and
not others, but you have the
ability to easily customize
how local businesses contact
you – and it’s easier than you
may think.
Direct Mail.
The Direct Marketing
Association’s (DMA) Mail
Preference Service lets you
opt-out of receiving
unsolicited commercial mail
for five years. Register at
www.dmachoice.org, or mail
your request to: DMAchoice,
Direct Marketing Association,
P.O. Box 643, Carmel
NY10512. This will not stop
mailings from companies that
do not use this service, Bulk
Mail or Current Resident
Mail, but it will reduce your
junk mailings by quite a bit.
If you do not wish to receive
prescreened credit card offers,
you can opt-out at
www.optoutprescreen.com, or
1-800-OPT-OUT. You will
have the choice of opting out
for five years or permanently.
To opt-out permanently, you must begin the process at the website,
then return a signed Permanent Opt-out Election form, which you
will be sent when you register.
• Stop unwanted catalog deliveries by visiting
www.catalogchoice.org.
Online Ads.
Online marketers can track your Internet usage, gather data about
you and tailor ads to you based on that information.
• The Network Advertising Initiative has an online opt-out
tool that lets you select member companies from which you
wish to stop receiving ads. Visit
www.networkadvertising.org. It won’t eliminate all of them,
but you should see fewer ads.
• The Google Ad Preferences site lets you opt-out of all ad
categories, or you can add or remove selected categories at
www.google.com/ads/preferences.
• Yahoo has an Ad Interest Manager that lets you do pretty
much the same thing. Visit the Privacy section at
www.yahoo.com.
Phone Books.
Phone books are a valuable resource for consumers looking for
local business information. Research shows 7 out of 10 U.S. adults
use Yellow Pages directories each year, but if you choose to get
your local business information elsewhere, you’ll be glad to know
there’s an easy way to adjust or stop your print deliveries. Visit the
National Yellow Pages Consumer Choice and Opt-out Site at
www.yellowpagesoptout.com to select which directories you wish
to receive, as well as to learn more about the industry’s sustainable
production efforts and how you can reuse and recycle your old
directories.
Email.
• The DMA also has an Email Preference Service (eMPS) that
lets you opt-out of receiving unsolicited commercial email
from DMA members for six years. Register at
www.dmachoice.org.
• Make sure your email spam filters are activated. Send the
filtered emails to a specific folder so you can check to make
sure that non-junk emails don’t get automatically deleted.
27
Telemarketer Calls.
The National Do Not Call
Registry lets you opt-out of
receiving telemarketing calls
at home or on your mobile
phone. Once your number has
been on the registry for 31 days, most telemarketing calls should
stop. This will not stop calls from political organizations, charities,
telephone surveyors and companies with which you have a
business relationship or those that you’ve given express written
agreement to receive their calls. Register at www.donotcall.gov or
call 1-888-382-1222.
28
 Penny
Pinching

Travel Tips For Summer

29
 According to the U.S. Travel Association,

B eing on a strict budget may mean

making sacrifices along the way, but with
lodging is the second highest source of
travel spending in the country (second only
to food). But your accommodations don’t
have to break the bank.
a little smart planning – and shopping –
First, consider what type of hotel will best
your well-deserved vacation getaway
suit your travel needs. Will your trip be filled
need not be forsaken.
with sightseeing, tours and excursions that
keep you away from your room most of the
The Internet, including online travel
time? Or do you prefer to spend a leisurely
agencies, branded
suppliers and other
websites, is the leading
source of travel
information,
surpassing referrals
from friends and
acquaintances and
travel books,
according a 2009
survey by the U.S.
Travel Association.

With so much
information available at
your fingertips, it’s easy
to plan ahead and
manage your travel
spending. Not only that,
a wide range of travel
coupons are available
online to help trim costs
even further.

Follow these tips from

the cost-conscious
experts at
CheapSally.com to make
your vacation dollars
work hard for you.

Accommodations:
30
stay at the hotel, enjoying its onsite
amenities and attractions?
Depending on your preferences, you can
allocate your spending to the elements that
matter most. In other words, if exploring is
on your agenda, save some cash by
booking a lower-cost hotel with fewer
amenities.
Online tools will allow you to search by
amenities, location and even by other
travelers’ ratings. Many sites offer hotel
discounts, as well as tools to determine
which arrival dates offer the best rates.
Flights: Pack light. Most airlines now
charge for checked baggage, and extra fees
apply if you exceed quantity and weight
limits. Remember, you’ll have to double
those fees if you want to return home with
your luggage.
Start early and do your homework. Several
services are available that help you
compare rates, as well as the number of
stops and travel schedules, side by side.
31
You’ll get better rates booking well in
advance. And never make an online
purchase without checking first to see
whether any discount codes are available to
bring your price even lower.
Car Rentals: Beware of extra expenses
with the add-ons, taxes and fees.
Whenever possible, return the car with a
full tank of gas. Know that airport car
rentals are at a premium. If you can
arrange for other transportation – such
as a hotel shuttle – look for rental
locations near, or even at, your hotel that
are likely more competitively priced.
Be sure to try variations in your
pick-up and drop-off dates and
times. Even minor alterations can
impact your price, for example,
taking you out of the daily rate and
into weekend pricing.
Vacation Packages: Numerous airlines
and travel sites offer vacation packages with
myriad features. Flights and car rental, car
rental and hotel, all three - you name it. In
addition to discounts on the key elements of
the package, many also offer steeply
discounted – or even free – add-ons such
as entertainment tickets or meal vouchers.
For the best deals, look for last-minute
packages, where prices have been slashed
to help fill vacancies, or for off-season
destinations.
To find more travel savvy tips and savings,
visit www.CheapSally.com.
 Participants heard from women owned
As a woman business owner, are you aware small businesses about successful business

Women in Business Forum

BY - Vilma Betancourt-O'Day

of the numerous resources available to you strategies, value-added business

within the State of North Carolina? Did you development relationships, increasing sales,
know that many of the services and training marketing strategies, supplier diversity,
are free? government procurement and the various
business certifications.
Thanks to Tammie Following is a synopsis of the
C. Hoy, Regional various speakers, the
Community services they provide and
Development websites you may visit for
Manager at The more information.
Federal Reserve-
Charlotte (TFRC) Did you know that North
for coordinating Carolina Governor Beverly
the “Women in Perdue signed Executive
Business Forum”. Order Number 13 on May 7,
TFRC hosted this 2009? “It is expected that
free event on May each agency will issue an
16, 2011, during aspirational goal of at least
Charlotte’s Small ten percent (10%), by dollar
Business Week in amount, of the State’s
partnership with purchases of goods and
the Charlotte services that will be derived
League of from HUB firms.”
Businesses, North (http://www.governor.state.
Carolina Institute nc.us/NewsItems/Executive
of Minority OrderDetail.aspx?newsItemI
Economic D=438). What is a HUB firm?
Development, The term "Historically
National Underutilized Business" (HUB)
Association of means a business that is: at
Women Business Owners-Charlotte and least 51% of the business is owned,
other local small business partners. operated and controlled by one or more
32
citizens or lawful permanent residents of the
US who are members of at least one of the
following groups: Black, Hispanic, Asian
American, American Indian, Female,
Disabled or Disadvantaged.
According to the OFFICE FOR HISTORICALLY
UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES PURCHASING
(GOODS AND SERVICES) AND
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS REPORT for fiscal
year end 09/10, Women Business Enterprises
(WBE) had the highest percentage of
participation (3.56% out of 6.54%). For
construction projects, WBEs were granted
the highest percentage of contracts
(12.42% out of 18.49%, $96,481,757 out of
$143,619,332).
How can we help Governor Perdue meet
the 10% procurement goal she has set? We
must get our small businesses HUB certified
and register as vendors with the State of
North Carolina. Bridget Wall-Lennon, State
Director for the North Carolina HUB office,
discussed the role of the HUB office and
how it can help small businesses. As an
experienced government contractor, I am
a strong advocate for the programs, time
and effort that Governor Perdue, Ms. Wall-
Lennon and the HUB staff put forth in
helping small businesses in our region. For
more information on the required
documentation for this particular
certification and for procurement
opportunities, please visit
http://www.doa.state.nc.us/hub/prog-
certification.htm.
Did you know that the Small Business
Administration (SBA) has a Women-Owned
Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract
Program which became effective February
4, 2011? Lynn Douthett, North Carolina
District Director, spoke about the final rule
33
which authorizes contracting officers to set
aside certain federal contracts for eligible
Women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) or
economically disadvantaged women-
owned small businesses (EDWOSBs). There
are over 300 6-digit North American Industry
Classification Systems (NAICS) codes that
are eligible for Federal contracting under
the WOSB Program. (Please visit:
http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/
gc_wosb_naics_grids.pdf for the specific
NAICS Industry Codes). For more
information on this program, please visit:
http://www.sba.gov/content/contracting-
opportunities-women-owned-small-
businesses.
Ms. Douthett introduced the winners of two
very coveted awards: the 2011 SBA
Women in Business Champions of the Year
for the State of North Carolina and REGION
IV which includes Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Sherrie Aycock and Tara Olson, Co-CEOs
since 1996 of AllPoints Research, Inc., a
marketing research firm which offers
services in business strategy and
communications. Ms. Aycock participated
in the Women Entrepreneurs panel and
shared with us tips on how AllPoints keeps
their employees engaged, resulting in a
productive and proactive environment.
Congratulations to the AllPoints team on
their significant achievements.
(http://www.allpoints.biz)
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
certification and its benefits, which includes
opening up opportunities and speeds up
the sales process, was discussed by Robyn
Lake Hamilton, President of the Carolinas
Minority Supplier Development Council.
Your business must be at least 51% ethnic
minority owned by a U.S. Citizen in order to
qualify for this certification.
(http://affiliate.nmsdc.org/carolinasmsdc)
As a Site Visitor for the National Women
Business Owners Corporation, I discussed
Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
certification, capability statements and the
importance of having your business
certifications posted on your website.
(NWBOC.org)
La-Tasha Best-Gaddy, Assistant Director of
Business Development North Carolina
Institute of Minority Economic Development
(NCIMED) made introductions and
moderated the two afternoon panels. The
NCIMED partnered in 2000 with the SBA to
form The Women’s Business Center. Their
mission is to promote economic self-
sufficiency for all women of North Carolina
through entrepreneurship. This organization
provides, among many other services,
excellent workshops, seminars and online
webinars. I highly recommend
participating in their events.
(http://www.ncimed.com/index.php?optio
n=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemi
d=33)
Joyce Siler, Director of the Women’s
Business Center, where she oversees the
development of education and training
programs that address the needs of women
entrepreneurs, was the moderator for the
Women Entrepreneurs Panel. Ms. Aycock
participated on this panel, along with Lynn
Ivey, founder and CEO of The Ivey
(http://theivey.com), a not-for-profit adult
day care center located in South Park, and
Jessica Hope Murrell Berryman, owner of
Lango Kids RTP,
(http://www.langokidsrtp.com) where
children between the ages of 18 months
and 11 years are taught how to be fluent in
French, Mandarin and Spanish.
34
The Resources for Women-Money, Market
and Management panel included Hilary
Coman, Principal of the Coman Company
(http://www.comancompany.com), Cathy
Critz, Principal at Solutions FYS
(http://www.solutionsfys.com) Roberta
McCullough, Financial Services Director of
the North Carolina Minority Support Center
(http://www.ncmsc.org) and David A. Willis,
Principal at NuLevel Strategic Solutions
(http://www.nulevelsolutions.com). Some
topics discussed were strategic planning,
market analysis, optimizing manufacturing
and business processes, business
innovation, capital formation and funding
available through credit unions.
The high energy in the room was
contagious and I believe that everyone
who was in attendance acquired a vast
amount of knowledge. The State of North
Carolina provides us with very effective
business resources whose mission is to help
women and minority business owners and I
urge you to contact them.
Contact Information:
Vilma Betancourt-O'Day
Women Wrule
803.517.4030
vilmaoday@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/vilmabetancourtoda
ywomenwrule
Grilling Up F

A Summer
Feast

35
Grilling Up a Festive Summer Feast
Simple cooking tips to create a delicious barbecue

(Family Features) Summer is filled with
family picnics and barbecues, but you need
to make sure that those burgers and pasta
salads aren’t served with a side of bacteria.
Celebrity Chef Cat Cora is an expert at
overcoming the complexities of cooking with
exotic ingredients, including ostrich, oysters
and venison; but even working with everyday
staples, like chicken, beef, eggs and fresh
vegetables, can present cooking challenges.
These foods can carry common bacteria,
such as E. coli, Salmonella and Staph — all
of which can thrive throughout the cleanest
kitchen. To help spread awareness about
better kitchen practices, Chef Cora partnered
with Ultra Palmolive®
Antibacterial Dish Liquid, offering tips and
providing simple solutions to help prevent
cross-contamination in your kitchen.
Research shows that bacteria can easily
spread to kitchen surfaces while preparing
even the most simple of meals.
—Bacteria on a cutting board can double
after ten minutes of use, whether cutting raw
meat or vegetables.
—Ten percent of bacteria on a cutting board
can transfer to lettuce during chopping.
—E. coli that remains on washed and dried
dishes can survive up to three days.
“Like all moms, I want to provide the best for
my family while creating memorable meals at
home,” said Cora. “Cleaning throughout the
cooking process gives me peace of mind that
I’m doing all I can for my family.”

Grilled Vegetables and Ginger Citrus Mayonnaise Serves 6 to 8

• (2) each crookneck or summer squash,

• baby zucchini, large whole carrots,
• large fennel or 3 medium fennel bulbs
• (5) to 6 shallots
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked
• black pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Ginger Citrus Mayonnaise
• (3) juicy oranges, grapefruits, Meyer
• lemons, mineolas, tangerines,
• Mandarins, blood oranges, etc.,
• cut in half (6 halves total)
• (3) tablespoons (or more for desired
• consistency) store bought preferred
• mayonnaise
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
36
• (1/4) teaspoon cayenne pepper
• (1/2)teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat grill for vegetables.

To make the mayonnaise, squeeze all the juice out from 5 of the 6 citrus halves into a saucepan and
bring to a boil over high heat. When juice begins to boil, lower heat to medium-high and reduce juice until
thick and syrupy, being careful not to let it burn.
Remove from heat, pour into a bowl, and allow to cool slightly. (At this point you can grill the vegetables).
Whisk in mayonnaise, ginger, and cayenne pepper until smooth. Squeeze in juice from last remaining
citrus half, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cut all veggies in half lengthwise, rub all sides sparingly with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and black
pepper. Grill, cut side down first, for 4 to 6 minutes if small, 5 to 8 minutes if large pieces. Flip so skin
side is down, and grill all an additional 1 to 2 minutes, until all veggies are firm but easily sliced with a
knife. Serve on platter alongside bowl of ginger citrus mayonnaise or drizzled on top of vegetables.

Greek Burger Sliders with Avocado Tzatziki Serves 4

1 pound lean ground beef
1/3 cup Kalamata olives, chopped
3 tablespoons crumbled feta
1 teaspoon dried dill
3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon chopped scallions
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
(or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano)
4 brioche rolls, split and toasted
4 lettuce leaves, washed and dried
4 tomato slices
4 cucumber slices (optional)
4 thin slices red onion (optional)
Stir together all avocado tzatziki ingredients (see recipe) and chill in fridge at least one hour or
longer.

37
38