US Senator Robert P. Casey Pennsylvania

Perhaps Sallie Krawcheck’s recent deal to buy 85 Broads, and Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In book are indicators that this is increasingly a hot button issue…but when government folks take notice and start speaking to the issue – you know that a subject has hit the proverbial “Tipping Point” in a good way. At MyCity4Her Media we’ve been interested in this particular subject for some time and recently had a very informative interview with women in business expert and high level commercial banking executive Ellen Fish of CFG Bank on MyCityHerRadio specifically to meaningfully discuss this issue. To listen to the post-show podcast - click here, to read our article about the state of women on corporate boards (published by Network 2000) in Maryland, click here.

Yesterday U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has written a letter to Mary Jo White, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), raising concern about the lack of diversity on America’s corporate boards and asking the SEC to take steps to address it. A recent report by the Alliance for Board Diversity found that only 13 percent of board seats among Fortune 500 companies were held by minorities.  The same report found that women were also seriously underrepresented in Fortune 500 boards, with men making up almost 85 percent of the seats.

“Minorities and women across the country and in Pennsylvania have the education, skill and experience to serve on the boards of America’s top companies.” Senator Casey said. “The lack of diversity on corporate boards is concerning and the SEC should make this a priority. Both in Congress and in the corporate world we would benefit from leadership that reflects the country.”

Here’s the entirety of the letter – we are curious what Ms White’s response will be if any…we will keep you posted.

Honorable Mary Jo White
Chairman
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549

Dear Ms. White:

I am writing to express my concern about the continuing lack of diversity in corporate boardrooms.  According to a July 2011 report by the Alliance for Board Diversity, only 13 percent of board seats among Fortune 500 companies were held by minorities.  The same report found that women were also seriously underrepresented in Fortune 500 boards, with men making up almost 85 percent of the seats.

This troubling under representation of women and minorities on corporate boards is unfortunately present in Pennsylvania as well.  A December 2010 report by the Urban League of Philadelphia surveyed the top 108 public companies in the Philadelphia region and found that African-Americans make up only 4 percent of board directors.  This is in spite of the fact that African-Americans make up 44 percent of the City of Philadelphia’s population, and 20 percent of the region as a whole.  In the Pittsburgh region, the 2011 Allegheny County Annual Report found that even though women represent a majority of the population in the region, they held only 14 percent of the board seats of Pittsburgh’s top 50 public companies.  Clearly, we must do a better job of encouraging companies to select board members with a variety of different backgrounds and experiences.

I understand the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken some steps in recent years to promote diversity in corporate boardrooms, including requiring companies to disclose any diversity policy they have with regard to the selection of board members.  I ask that you please update me on the efforts the SEC has taken so far, the effectiveness of these efforts, and what additional steps are being considered.

America must be the land of opportunity for all of its citizens.  Ensuring diversity among our Nation’s business leaders is an important step towards this goal.  I look forward to working with you to promote diversity in corporate boards.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.

United States Senator

To find out more about The Alliance for Board Diversity – click here.

To find out more about 85 Broads – click here.

To find out more about WIPP – Women Impacting Public Policy – click here.

What is the mission of your enterprise?

Paulding & Co. Co-Owner and Founder Terry Paulding

Paulding & Company, a Creative Kitchen, is dedicated to providing hands-on culinary experiences as a means to interactive growth within our client body. There is an alchemy that occurs when you pair people with good ingredients, sharp knives, and hot pans. Relationships develop along different lines than might happen in the office, or among a group of friends. Our mission is to foster this creative interaction and assure that the end results are meals that amaze and delight, which of course validates the experience in real time. We are a complex business with many facets, from corporate team development events to kitchen parties and rehearsal dinners, to kids summer programs that bring the youth of the community, who often miss the chance to learn to cook in two-worker parent families, in to learn the skills that will serve them for a lifetime. On a survival level, we have also maintained a presence as a caterer — something that has helped us in economic downturns when corporate perks like team development events were curtailed.

 What led you to partner up and pursue this path?

I started the business solo, and am still a sole proprietor. Build-out of the kitchen began in 2003 although I’d been doing the same thing on a smaller scale for quite a while before then, in a separate location. The concept grew organically over the years. My daughter returned to the Bay Area six years ago, and joined me. We work well together, and truly enjoy having a family company. Tracy conceived and runs the kids programs, and works with me on most of our adult events as well. My grandson Miles has grown up in the kitchen, as will the next baby, due in October.

 When did you get the idea to found your company?

I was recruited as a teacher in 1988, at Piedmont Adult School, which, until recent changes in state funding, had a vibrant program of varied offerings for the community at large. My Basic Cooking classes were extremely popular — I taught between 24 and 48 classes each year, in 6-week quarters, and often had students return for multiple quarters in a row. When we sold out a section, I usually added a second, ending up teaching two nights a week. I taught for Piedmont for 20 years, and in 1993 returned to school to pursue a culinary degree. I had found my experience, which was all in restaurants, was not rounded; I’d never, for instance, done pastry work, but needed to be able to teach it. As I taught, my students started asking me to run events with them. These varied from catering weddings to hosting cooking parties. I found a rental kitchen to work in, and since the kitchen was empty in the evenings and had a dining area, I moved my classes from the school’s inadequate cooking classroom (which was a “shared” facility with science and alternative school), and started hosting events for corporate groups, as well. Most of these were referrals from my students, who brought in their teams at work.

When that kitchen’s building was sold (to Pixar, it’s now a model studio), I was faced with a dilemma: I was 53, loved the direction my work was taking me in, but had no place to work. I had been very lucky finding the other kitchen, which was used from midnight on as a bakery for a local café, and during the day was rented to small producers — but there was nothing like it around once it was gone. So, I decided to build my own.

What motivated you to do so?

I loved the work, and felt that growing the business was viable. There was no real competition at that time, and I felt that there was a need for my services, and that I could develop a good business. I had the enthusiastic support of my students and friends and my family, as well.

How do you ensure your team building classes go great for all involved?

I’d sum it up with the word integrity.

Careful planning

Seasonal high-quality ingredients

Warm interaction, and an inviting, well organized and clean space to work,  makes every event begin well and go beautifully. Even people who didn’t come to build a team relationship find that inherent in cooking together, is the opportunity to get to know one another in a different way. A good example of this is the Pixar animators. I worked with all of them on Ratatouille, training them in hands-on cooking. They had lots of opportunities to watch chefs cook, from Paris kitchens to the French Laundry in Healdsburg, but in my kitchen they immersed themselves in the actual hands-on experience (see the Cooking101 video). Quoting one of the comments: “I think we had a great bonding experience as a team, during this cooking experience, just doing all this stuff we’ve never done as individuals.”

MyCity4Her’s Top 4 Tips for Effective Team Building

#1. Have a Clear Vision

Make sure that all team members hold the same vision, it will facilitate working together and help you get where you want to go better.

#2. Develop Common Goals

Ensure everyone has a voice and is part of the process. Sometime in haste good ideas are missed, or overlooked. By establishing clear common goals you increase buy in and ensure the exercise will be more productive for all involved.

#3. Clarify Roles & Responsibilities

Who’s on 1rst? 2^nd, or 3^rd is not just a funny Three Stooges skit – it’s important to figure out. When everyone knows their roles and responsibilities clearly – it facilitates progress, understanding and productivity.

#4. Take time to learn what your team members will need for success & have fun in the process!

Don’t forget to give importance to people having the tools, knowledge, training and information required to complete the exercise, project, or task successfully. Also remember to smile and have fun. Everyone will be better off for any positive team building experience if it is approached with candor, honesty, vulnerability (yes you read that right) and a positive spirit!

What do you enjoy most about being a business owner?

I love the autonomy to make my business the best it can be. Integrity of ingredients and process and having great chefs, keeping my kitchen up to my standards, making the decisions about every aspect of the business myself means that there is no deferring responsibility to others, no excuses, and that the measurable success is very gratifying.

 What if you knew THEN what you know NOW – would you (if anything) do differently?

This is a long list. I would of course have started younger. I’m turning 65 next year, and really, I’m just getting going.

I would have taken some business courses. I am really a novice at running a business, learning as I go.

I would have been much more careful in choosing a contractor. I went for cheap — I had some pressure there — and got hosed. You can take the “tractor” off the word, really…the guy was a con. And the Contractors State License Board, which I relied upon for the guy’s integrity, was many months behind in updating it’s website, so he wasn’t even still bonded. I lost a LOT of money, both in outright theft, and in having to re-do most of the infrastructure of the project.

 What do you believe, are the biggest challenges continuing to face women in business today?

In the restaurant business, back in my day at least, women had little chance for advancement. Now that’s all different, of course. I think women these days are limited by the realities of life. I watch my daughter, who has a 20-month old and another on the way and waited until she was nearly 40, struggle with the conflict of having to work and to find childcare.  She’s lucky because there’s so much family around, but my daughter in law has the same problem and no assistance and support from family because they live far away. I remember my own desire to stay home with my kids, not have to leave the day-to-day raising of my babies to others. Women who wait for a long time to have families, often find they’ve sacrificed that achievement in favor of a career with a company that has no loyalty to them, and from what I’ve seen, many are ultimately unhappy with that decision. We’d like to think that we’re exactly equal to men, but this whole feminist push to erase the inequalities means that we don’t embrace our differences anymore. I know the reality of life these days is that it takes two working parents to support a family, and I am thrilled to find many companies embracing the idea of on-site childcare, so there is some hope. But as a very-small business owner, I don’t have those kinds of options.

 What is the best business advice you’ve ever been given and why?

“If you build it, they will come” was what one friend told me.It’s proven to be quite true. He had faith in my abilities and vision, and this gave me confidence. Others have seen my vision too. Top Chef liked my kitchen enough to use it for season 1, so we were home kitchen to Top Chef SF. Clint Eastwood also found my vision appealing, and we ended up with 3 scenes in the movie Hereafter, shot in the kitchen and food-styled (what there was of it) by us.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love to play in the kitchen with enthusiastic people who are blown away by what good food they can create with a little guidance, and also, who enjoy tremendously the communion with their fellow guests. I meet a lot of really great people, and our business creates a lot of happiness. When I get emails like this one (from Anna Mindess, who celebrated her birthday in the kitchen Saturday night), it makes my day: “Just wanted to thank you again for making the best cooking party ever! The food was sooo delicious and everyone had such a wonderful time. The party exceeded all my expectations! Thanks for taking such good care of us!”

Do you ever get discouraged? If so, what do you do to stay enthused about what you do and stay motivated?

Of course I get discouraged! Sometimes the economy punches us in the gut – after all, when businesses are being cautious about spending, the first thing to go is often the perks like an outing to build team camaraderie. In 2008, we lost one major company’s business after the next…in one case, we had a dozen events cancel from one company all at once when they had word from above to curtail outside activities. There are times that are slow, and then, there’s the question of growth. It’s very hard to grow a business that is dependent on one person’s work, and yet that is precisely what makes our business such a success — our all-5-star Yelp ratings are the product of diligent care and impeccable standards, and it’s hard let down one’s guard for even a moment and still keep that kind of rating. The same can be said of our summer program — Tracy would be impossible to replace.

When things get me down, I put one foot in front of the next, a smile on my face, and sit down with my daughter and figure out how to bring new life into the business. I get involved with charities, community, the Chamber of Commerce, and do my best to reach more people, bring in more business by getting our name out where we are visible. Redesigning the website has been a tremendous boon in that regard, as we’re much easier to find on the internet, and our wonderful web designer, Rick Hawkins of Alchemy Design, made our site very accurately reflect our business in every way.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I love having time to spend with family. My husband often gets neglected since I work long hours. My grandchildren are a delight, and I’m blessed with having two of my three children living locally. I walk, I do exercises to strengthen my torn shoulder muscle — which is satisfying as I’m making progress — and I like to read, watch a bit of TV, and of course, cook for family and friends. I’d like to travel more, but am often too busy, although I’ve gone to see my new grandchild in LA, and we met up in the middle for a long beach weekend on the central coast recently.

What are some of the best resources, tools, organizations you’ve found that have helped you grow your business?

Broadly, the internet is the most helpful tool out there. I can find anything I need, research recipes, get ideas, look at tools and equipment. I’m a member of our local Chamber of Commerce, and host mixers annually as well as often cater for other events. I meet all the local business people, which is great for getting the word out. In the beginning, I got great help from SCORE, where I teamed up with a retired businessman, who was very realistic and encouraging in the formative times. I’ve honestly not reached out to too many organizations for help, but I have a great group of people around me who are peripheral parts of my team, from a very experienced bookkeeper, to my accountant, and my web designer, who has been a great sounding board over the years. Friends in the business are also a big help, and I have some that I often collaborate with on large catering jobs, which is a great advantage for me.

What is your top recipe to teach?

Wow, that’s a tough question! I guess the answer is whatever seasonal, delicious one I just thought up. This week, there are two: I had two loosely tapas-based events, one corporate and one private. Each came with specific do-don’t instructions. Like the party people not wanting any fish or seafood, and the corporate group, an economical menu. So for the latter, I put together one dish I just loved — a grilled toast topped with a green olive paste that had anchovies and almonds in it, then some of our house-made tuna confit, and finally, the group poached farm eggs. We garnished it with some chives from the garden. The second dish, for the party group, was a lot of fun. Cherries have just come into the farmer’s markets, so we tea smoked some duck, pickled some cherries in balsamic, and served them over arugula. Simple, absolutely delicious, and a big hit.

To find out more about Terry Paulding and her company click here.

The World Trade Center Institute (WTCI) and Jhpiego will host the 7th Annual Women Spanning the Globe on June 12^th at Baltimore’s Visionary Art Museum from 9:00am to 3:30pm. This leadership forum “for women, by women” was founded to share leadership learning, factors for success, and global business experience. It is a day for women in business to network, learn, get energized, and position themselves for greater responsibility and success. 

2013’s highly anticipated event continues to bring speakers that address some of the most relevant topics for women in business, including:

• “Women, Entrepreneurs & Global Innovation”
• “Religious Beliefs/Cultural Norms for International Business – Unique Challenges for Women”
• “Women, Gender Equality and Political Leadership”
• “Marc Pritchard P&G: ‘Communications in Today’s World’”
• “From Classrooms to Olympic Swimming Pools – One Mom’s Take featuring Debbie Phelps.”

With Senior Executive speakers representing a wide variety of industries, the day is sure to be jam packed with invaluable insights and advice. This year, the event will feature insightful speeches as well as the most networking opportunities yet per past attendee request.

WTCI invites the region’s business leaders to join fellow fun, fearless females at this inspiring event and celebrate women’s global achievements in business. For more information and to register, visit https://www.wtci.org/women2013/.

Blonde Marketing CEO
Kimber Goodwin

MyCity4Her 138th Preakness Cliff Notes, tips & more for women in business

The 138th Preakness is upon us, if you haven’t noticed Baltimore is getting more and more crowded and this weekend, Greater Baltimore City’s population will temporarily swell by an estimated 300K additional merry makers looking to capitalize on the horse racing tradition that is Preakness. We recently had the vivacious, bubbly and very savvy Kimber Goodwin, CEO & Marketing Maven at Blonde Marketing on MyCit4Her Radio who gave us the skinny on what to expect, where to go and how to look like a regular (in a good way) at the second of the Triple Crown horse races (Preakness is sandwiched in between the famed Kentucky Derby and more subdued Belmont Stakes.)

MyCity4Her Preakness Cliff Notes & Tips to Look Like a Pro (even if you aren’t)

#1. This is about fun- you want to have fun!

Preakness is a party steeped deep in Maryland horse racing tradition. The goal is to have fun, where ever you might be sitting – from the Infield (favored by younger professionals, college kids and the young at heart) which finds you literally (in the thick of it.) To find out more about the Infield, what you can bring, location and what’s going on click here. For a map of all areas to get a feel for where you might going if you’ve scored some free tickets, or are still trying to pick yourself – click here. The newly added International Pavillion will be hosted by Japan this year and we are looking forward to seeing our friends from the highly acclaimed Baltimore Four Seasons Hotel‘s Pabu restaurant including Executive Chef Jonah Kim.

The most coveted ticket at Preakness is the highly desirable corporate access ticket. Every year this level of sponsorship sells out and with good reason – it’s the place to “See and Be Seen” – and if you like or need to network with the “who’s who” of the business community, this is the place to do it. MyCity4Her’s founder and CCO always enjoys roaming this year where ever she’s fortunate to be based, and this year she’ll be headquartered at women-led PNC Bank where and other guests will partake in a festive, gorgeous buffet complete with refreshments (including the famed “Black Eyed Susan” traditional cocktail of choice) and comforts while placing bets and enjoying the merriment going on around them. “Tent hopping” is one of the most fun things to do at Preakness.

If you’re fortunate enough to be invited or are part of a corporate sponsor’s party be mindful of the…

MyCity4Her Top 4 tips for “tent hopping” with panache, class & more

#1. Don’t “Tent Crash”

Make sure you know a guest in the tent, or better – the host and the organization. We highly suggest you look up the corporate sponsors well in advance, and put out your feelers to see if any of your contacts will be on site that day so you can give a heads up if you plan on making a visit. To view this year’s corporate sponsors click here. If you are invited into the tent, be courteous respectful and mindful of the tent’s vibe and culture.

#2.  Wear fashionable yet comfortable shoes -whether you’re a man or woman

Sounds basic, but we mean it. Preakness is a long day…which means the last thing you want is to have your style cramped. Wear shoes that look great but also can be worn, on your feet for over 7 hours. You’ll thank us for the suggestion, and your feet will as well. That way you won’t be distracted, and you can focus on the fun and fantastic opportunity to network! Options for women include wedges, men traditionally wear white bucks, deck shoes or comfy Italian style driving loafers.

#3. Bring business cards and a fully charged cell phone

This is one of the top networking events and venues of the year, don’t be an amateur by showing up sans calling card and by all means bring a cell phone. Cell phones are critical for taking pictures, texting business contacts who are on site and catching up with them, not to mention calling the car service to advise you when to pick up. Sounds overly obvious, but the last thing you want to do is have a dead phone and no way to easily register people’s contact information.

#4. Dress for success

We can’t hammer this one home enough. Preakness is about show, and it’s about looking good. For men that can mean anything from a seersucker suit and straw hat, to a light summer suit with festive tie, or the most popular outfit which consists of navy blazer, freshly pressed cotton shirt, khaki’s & loafers with no socks.  Women will want to be dressed according to the weather. On cooler days be sure to bring a light shawl, or cardigan to cover up with should the temperature drop and dresses run the gamut from summer like cocktail attire to maxi dresses with a hat. (Need more style advice – keep reading (for our style recommendations and where to shop ideas) or listen to the MyCity4Her Radio show that aired by clicking here. In the last 10 minutes Monyka Berrocosa shares our recommendations for what to think about if you’ve yet to get your Preakness outfit decided on but hurry…you’ve only got 48 hrs!

Horse racing industry expert Kimber Goodwin’s Top Tips for betting like a Pro at Preakness

1. Learn the language

   

   Image courtesy of www.anddownthestretchtheycome.com

2. Understand the difference between “Win, Place & Show”

3. Start with smaller bets to help yourself get the hang of it and build your confidence!

Kimber also helped us understand the difference between the three levels of betting that qualify for payment (winnings)

Win = the Horse comes in First (highest risks and slimmest odds)

Place – the Horse you bet on comes in First or Second (less risk than betting on Win, but still slimmer odds than Show)

Show – the Horse you bet on comes in First, Second or Third (the lowest risk, and best bet if you’re a conservative person – betting is fun, but it can get expensive)

Kimber also says it’s important to pay attention to the Horse you’re betting on’s NUMBER – at the betting wicket, they will not know the horses name (because this changes with every race), so know your Horse’s NUMBER (not just the name) so you can bet swiftly and efficiently and look like a pro doing it! Remember though gambling carries risk, and can become a serious addiction. MyCity4Her does not endorse gambling per se and we advise you to keep it to fun and focus on the day’s festivities versus squandering money. If you want a retirement plan – betting at Preakness is probably not it.

MyCity4Her’s Fashion Recommendations for Preakness 2013

If you’re looking to make a “statement” and going to be in the corporate tent or International Pavilion we recommend you go see Ray at Ruth Shaw. Ruth Shaw is pretty much Baltimore’s premier serious designer shopping destination carrying brands such as Blumarine, Helmut Lang, Maxmara, Philip Lim (seen on many a red carpet this year), Piazza Sempione, and Sonia Rykiel – exactly the type of power and investment dressing you need to make the killer impression so be sure to check them out first. When asked for his suggested owner & Baltimore Style scion Ray Mitchener likes dresses by Alexander Wang.

“We love Alexander Wang! He has these chic dresses with mess insets to be a little provocative, but still very lady like and Lida Baday. For the younger crowd…Rag and Bone sexy , flirty dresses.”

Alexander Wang‘s Spring/Summer collection is a great bet for the successful woman who wants to be noticed with class, and obviously well suited with someone who has a great figure.

While you’re in Ruth Shaw, be sure and check out their neat new section of Giftables where you’ll find perfect ideas for this summer’s hostess gift giving occasions and more. Ruth Shaw is carrying exquisite giftables from the likes of , Agraria , Atelier Cologne , Etro Home  and John Derian 

To find out more about Ruth Shaw, why not stay in touch on Facebook? Like their page by clicking here.

If Ruth Shaw is not quite in your price point…we suggest you check out FRESH. Hard working Mom and woman business owner Heidi Slacum also has some great suggestions. Recently while in the store we say fabulous maxi dresses in popping and a propos colors like royal blue, and canary yellow. Heidi also carries more demure, practical outfits ranging from a fitted black “Jackie O” style dress to separates that can be mixed and matched to allow for flexibility and multiple uses and wears something any professional woman can appreciate. Sizes run from small (0-6) to more standard (6-12) in certain items.

Over the summer FRESH Boutique will be relocating to a beautiful, much larger space in the Woodholme area, conveniently just off of the Beltway to accommodate Heidi’s growing clientele and subsequent need for more square footage. To find out more about Fresh boutique click here. We might add that FRESH is a great place to shop for Prom, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitvah’s as well as finding just the right flirty dress for summer vacation.

Stay in touch with FRESH on their Facebook page and find out about upcoming events, news about the move, new store arrivals and more by clicking here.

We also love Wear It’s At where owner Stephanie Cohen Torrible (last year’s 2012 Spirited Woman in Business) has everything you could possibly want and because it’s upscale consignment you can wear Chanel on a Nine West budget. Our CCO & Founder loves Wear It’s At because it allows you to Reduce, Re-use & Repurpose – the perfect solution for someone who needs a lot of outfits for many occasions and doesn’t know what to do with them after one wearing…Find out more about Wear It’s At by clicking here, or “Like” them on Facebook as well.

To learn more about the Spirited Woman Awards & Stephanie Torrible, click here.

NEED a Hat?

There’s still time…

We have it on good authority that the go-to destinations for hats are in this order:

Hat’s in the Belfry - Located in Fells Point and right next to Cupcake, where owner Lisa Schatz specializes in fun, flirty cocktail dresses and on-trend closet additions that are perfect for the younger professional with a great figure.

Macy’s in Towson Town Center is rumored to have GREAT suggestions in a range of price points.

Last but not least we suggest your Mother or your Grandmother’s closet, vintage hats are always charming and beat just sticking any old straw floppy on your head.  Get creative with your hat and the style tip to keep in mind is “Over the Top Dress – Low key Hat”, “Over the top Hat – Low key Dress always making sure to choose a complimentary color”

However you enjoy this year’s festivities bring sunscreen and stay hydrated. We suggest water proof makeup and choosing a purse that is easy to carry if you’ve got your hands full with a drink and a betting roster.  Feel free to post your comments or suggestions to the above information in the space provided below and have a great Preakness!

If you’re looking to make a “statement” and going to be in the corporate tent or International Pavilion we recommend you go see Ray at Ruth Shaw. Ruth Shaw is pretty much Baltimore’s premier serious designer shopping destination carrying brands such as Blumarine, Helmut Lang, Maxmara, Philip Lim (seen on many a red carpet this year), Piazza Sempione, and Sonia Rykiel - exactly the type of power and investment dressing you need to make the killer impression so be sure to check them out first. When asked for his suggested owner & Baltimore Style scion Ray Mitchener likes dresses by Alexander Wang.

“We love Alexander Wang! He has these chic dresses with mess insets to be a little provocative, but still very lady like and Lida Baday. For the younger crowd…Rag and Bone sexy , flirty dresses.”

Alexander Wang‘s Spring/Summer collection is a great bet for the successful woman who wants to be noticed with class, and obviously well suited with someone who has a great figure.

While you’re in Ruth Shaw, be sure and check out their neat new section of Giftables where you’ll find perfect ideas for this summer’s hostess gift giving occasions and more. Ruth Shaw is carrying exquisite giftables from the likes of , Agraria , Atelier Cologne , Etro Home  and John Derian 

To find out more about Ruth Shaw, why not stay in touch on Facebook? Like their page by clicking here.

If Ruth Shaw is not quite in your price point…we suggest you check out FRESH. Hard working Mom and woman business owner Heidi Slacum also has some great suggestions. Recently while in the store we say fabulous maxi dresses in popping and a propos colors like royal blue, and canary yellow. Heidi also carries more demure, practical outfits ranging from a fitted black “Jackie O” style dress to separates that can be mixed and matched to allow for flexibility and multiple uses and wears something any professional woman can appreciate. Sizes run from small (0-6) to more standard (6-12) in certain items.

Over the summer FRESH Boutique will be relocating to a beautiful, much larger space in the Woodholme area, conveniently just off of the Beltway to accommodate Heidi’s growing clientele and subsequent need for more square footage. To find out more about Fresh boutique click here. We might add that FRESH is a great place to shop for Prom, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitvah’s as well as finding just the right flirty dress for summer vacation.

Stay in touch with FRESH on their Facebook page and find out about upcoming events, news about the move, new store arrivals and more by clicking here.

We also love Wear It’s At where owner Stephanie Cohen Torrible (last year’s 2012 Spirited Woman in Business) has everything you could possibly want and because it’s upscale consignment you can wear Chanel on a Nine West budget. Our CCO & Founder loves Wear It’s At because it allows you to Reduce, Re-use & Repurpose - the perfect solution for someone who needs a lot of outfits for many occasions and doesn’t know what to do with them after one wearing…Find out more about Wear It’s At by clicking here, or “Like” them on Facebook as well.

To learn more about the Spirited Woman Awards & Stephanie Torrible, click here.

NEED a Hat?

There’s still time…

We have it on good authority that the go-to destinations for hats are in this order:

Hat’s in the Belfry - Located in Fells Point and right next to Cupcake, where owner Lisa Schatz specializes in fun, flirty cocktail dresses and on-trend closet additions that are perfect for the younger professional with a great figure.

Macy’s in Towson Town Center is rumored to have GREAT suggestions in a range of price points.

Last but not least we suggest your Mother or your Grandmother’s closet, vintage hats are always charming and beat just sticking any old straw floppy on your head.  Get creative with your hat and the style tip to keep in mind is “Over the Top Dress - Low key Hat”, “Over the top Hat – Low key Dress always making sure to choose a complimentary color”

However you enjoy this year’s festivities bring sunscreen and stay hydrated. We suggest water proof makeup and choosing a purse that is easy to carry if you’ve got your hands full with a drink and a betting roster.  Feel free to post your comments or suggestions to the above information in the space provided below and have a great Preakness!

To get the skinny and what to know about Preakness – view our comprehensive Guide to Preakness 2013 by clicking here.

To understand your rights in the Province of Quebec click here to be directed to the Commision Des Normes Du Travail web site. To understand your rights in Canada click here to be directed to an informative post on BabyCenter.com including valuable links and directives related to province specifics.

Employee retention is an often overlooked cost-effective tool when it comes to effective business growth strategies. In highly skilled, or knowledgeable positions the estimated time to “up skill” a replacement employee can sometimes surpass 6 mos, not to mention add thousands of dollars of cost in terms of recruitment, training and development. All the more reason to consider the cost effective, albeit extreme to some concept of taking care of Pregnant workers not just because it’s the right thing to do – but because it’s good business.

This being said, keep a job opportunity open for a particular employee over a 2-3 month period can prove laborious, expensive and also hamper business continuity, particularly for micro-enterprise and very small business.

To read the MyCity4Her.com post on the Pregnant Worker Protection Act (ground breaking legislation in the process of being worked on to ensure American women workers have access to the same dignity and support women in Canada do) click here.

To keep abreast of the The Pregnant Worker Protection Act in the US - click here. For more information about Pregnancy and work in Canada click here & for Pregnancy and work in Quebec click here.

Employee retention is an often overlooked cost-effective tool when it comes to effective business growth strategies. In highly skilled, or knowledgeable positions the estimated time to “up skill” a replacement employee can sometimes surpass 6 mos, not to mention add thousands of dollars of cost in terms of recruitment, training and development. All the more reason to consider the cost effective (albeit extreme to some) concept of taking care of pregnant workers not just because it’s the right thing to do – but because it’s good business.

This being said, keeping a job opportunity open for a particular employee over a 2-3 month period can prove laborious, expensive and also hamper business continuity, particularly for micro-enterprise and very small business.

Senator Jeanne Shaeen D (NH)

Nevertheless, yesterday, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in the Senate, and Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Susan Davis (D-CA) and Marcia Fudge (D-OH) in the House, joined by the leaders of women’s advocacy organizations, unions, and business groups from across the nation, introduced critical legislation – the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act – to ensure that pregnant women are not forced out of jobs unnecessarily or denied reasonable job modifications that would allow them to continue working. Currently, pregnant working women around the country are being denied simple adjustments – permission to use a stool while working a cash register, or to carry a bottle of water to stay hydrated, or temporary reassignment to lighter duty tasks – that would keep them working and supporting their families while maintaining healthy pregnancies. The legislation will close legal loopholes and ensure that pregnant women are treated fairly on the job.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act aims to accomplish this by requiring employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and preventing employers from forcing women out on leave when another reasonable accommodation would allow them to continue working. The bill also bars employers from denying employment opportunities to women based on their need for reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

In recent and startling examples, Amy Crosby, a hospital cleaner in Tallahassee, Florida, was forced into unpaid leave from her job when the hospital refused to accommodate her doctor’s request that she not lift more than 20 pounds because of her pregnancy; Heather Wiseman, a retail worker in Salina, Kansas, was fired because she needed to carry a water bottle to stay hydrated and prevent bladder infections; and Victoria Serednyj, an activity director at a nursing home in Valparaiso, Indiana, was terminated because she required help with some physically strenuous aspects of her job to prevent having another miscarriage. For the well-being of pregnant workers, and for the sake of the economic stability of American families, our laws must be updated and clarified.

Some states have passed laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to ensure that pregnant workers have on-the-job protections. In those states – Alaska, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Hawaii, Illinois, Texas, and soon Maryland – pregnant workers already have the peace of mind they deserve.

The federal legislation has the support of a broad coalition of civil rights and women’s advocacy organizations, unions, and business associations, including: A Better Balance; the AFL-CIO; the American Association of University Women; the American Civil Liberties Union; the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; California Women’s Law Center; Equal Rights Advocates; Hadassah; the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center; Legal Momentum; the Main Street Alliance; the National Partnership for Women & Families; the National Organization for Women Foundation; the National Women’s Law Center; and many others. A letter of support from 138 organizations can be found HERE.

“Pregnant workers face discrimination in the workplace every day, which is an inexcusable detriment to women and working families in Pennsylvania and across the country,” said Senator Casey. “This bill will finally extend fairness to pregnant women so that they can continue to contribute to a productive economy while progressing through pregnancy in good health.”

“It is unconscionable that pregnant women are not fully protected on the job,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler. “When American families are struggling to make ends meet, we must do everything we can to keep people in their jobs and prevent families from falling through the cracks. Ensuring that a pregnant woman can receive minor and reasonable job accommodations to maintain a healthy pregnancy should be a no-brainer. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is an essential clarification of our laws that underscores our society’s support for pregnant women and their families.”

“With the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, women will get the reasonable protections they deserve while being able to continue working with a healthy pregnancy,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen said. “Women are a critical part of our workforce and we should do everything we can to support the expecting mothers who are working to provide for their families and contributing to the economy.”

“Working mothers-to-be must be treated fairly and without prejudice by employers,” Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said. “With Mothers Day fresh in our minds, true family-friendly policies should be easy to accomplish – but sadly that is not true. ‘Maternal Profiling’ should be against the law, and under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act it will be.”

“Women are not disposable workers who can be cast off if, and when, they are pregnant,” said Congresswoman Jackie Speier. “Welcoming women in the workforce also means women who are pregnant. They deserve the same treatment as any other employee who is in need of a temporary accommodation. I served in the California State Assembly during both of my pregnancies and understand the challenges that working women are confronted with during those nine months. In addition to the regular stresses that come with carrying a child, working women should not also fear losing their paycheck.”

“With more and more women working while pregnant, we need to make sure that their employers provide them the reasonable and necessary accommodations they need (such as access to water) to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy,” said Congresswoman Susan Davis. “It is unfortunate that Congress needs to even address this issue since any sensible person would consider it inconceivable to fire a pregnant woman for trying to care for the health of herself and her baby.”

“Women make up nearly half of the American workforce and their salaries are critical to their families’ economic security,” said Congresswoman Marcia Fudge. “Reasonable accommodations enable pregnant women to remain productive workers. I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation because workplace fairness is good for families, good for the economy, and good for our nation.”

“In a country that values family and fairness, having a baby should not mean losing a job and jeopardizing family financial stability,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is balanced, reasonable and badly needed legislation that would combat this blatant discrimination, which costs women and their families terribly. We thank Senators Casey and Shaheen and Representatives Nadler, Maloney, Speier, Davis and Fudge for championing this bill, and call on all members of Congress to prioritize equality for pregnant workers.”

“The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is consistent with the Main Street Alliance’s commitment to fairness in the workplace, job security and economic growth,” said Kelly Conklin, co-owner of Foley Waite Associates, an architectural woodworking company based in Bloomfield, NJ, and a Main Street Alliance executive committee member. “Weak customer demand is a top concern for small businesses. If pregnant mothers have to worry constantly about keeping their jobs, they’re not going to be renovating that nursery room to get ready for baby. The more we do to protect job security, the sooner we’ll see better economic growth.”

“As a longtime advocate of workers and a new grandmother, I take it personally that any woman would face discrimination on the job or lack of accommodations while she is pregnant,” said AFL-CIO executive vice president Arlene Holt Baker. “We have to stop treating working mothers as a burden and realize the contributions they make both on the job and in the home. Congressman Nadler’s Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will go a long way to supporting working moms and their new families and the AFL-CIO is proud to stand behind it.”

“The PWFA simply would require employers to extend the accommodations they already provide workers with disabilities to their pregnant employees,” said Emily Martin, vice president at the National Women’s Law Center. “By making these reasonable adjustments, pregnant workers could work longer under safe conditions and provide for their families. And employers would retain their trained workforce and avoid the costs of high turnover. This is a win-win proposition that Congress should support.”

“Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is common-sense legislation that would help prevent blatant discrimination against pregnant workers and enable millions of women, particularly those in low-wage and physically demanding jobs, to keep working and supporting their families. No pregnant woman in this country should have to choose between her job and a healthy pregnancy,” said Dina Bakst, president of A Better Balance.

“Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center is pleased to endorse the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Seventy-five percent of women in the workforce will become pregnant while employed. Yet far too many women are forced out of their jobs when they need them most – when they are expecting a new child. California enacted reasonable accommodations for pregnant women in 1999, and the law has been used countless times to enable women to keep their jobs and support their families while maintaining healthy pregnancies. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a common-sense public policy. No woman should have to choose between her health and her job,” said Sharon Terman, senior staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center.

“Legal Momentum strongly supports the PWFA,” said Elizabeth Grayer, president of Legal Momentum. “This bill provides long overdue safeguards that are particularly important for women working low-wage jobs with few benefits or flexibility, and for women working in non-traditional occupations. No woman should have to choose between a healthy pregnancy and supporting herself and her family. Reasonable, necessary accommodations for pregnant workers benefit employees, their families, and ultimately workplaces overall.”

“Working families need and want to keep working,” said Noreen Farrell, executive director of Equal Rights Advocates. “ERA strongly supports the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act because similar protections under California law make the case for federal change. Pregnant women are working with accommodations. Businesses are benefitting from happy and productive long-term employees. It is a win-win.”

“The economic health of most American families is dependent on working mothers. Seventy million women work outside the home, and three-quarters of them will have children during their lifetime. These women will work through their pregnancies, in fact they must to make ends meet. The last thing an expecting mom should have to worry about is job security, but far too many women face discrimination directly because of their pregnancies. That’s why we need the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. We need updated tools to ensure equal opportunity for all working women, which in turn will improve the bottom line for American families,” said Lisa Maatz, director of public policy and government relations at the American Association of University Women.

To keep abreast of the The Pregnant Worker Protection Act - click here.

Why Marketing to Your Client’s Pain Points is a Winning Strategy

As humans, we spend our lives seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. The same is true in web marketing.

Have you ever had a brain-splitting migraine you can’t seem to shake? A dark room, a cold compress and a double espresso later, you’re off to the drugstore. Here you find shelves of pain meds advertising a fast fix for Every-Bad-Feeling-You-Could-Possibly-Have: Headaches with flu symptoms. Seasonal allergy head colds. Headaches with upset stomach, restless leg syndrome, excessive perspiration and a bad case of the blinks… You get the idea.

But what you have is a migraine. Rather than a cure-all, what you need is the one pill that will stop your migraine pain. And when you find that medicine, the one that speaks directly to the pain you have, you’re going to pull out your wallet and buy.

It’s the same with your potential clients.

Whether they know it or not, your clients have pain. They need a problem solved, and they need it now. And when they find that one perfect solution, they are willing to pay the price—your price—to make their pain go away.

Now, it’s true the word “pain” has a negative connotation. But there’s nothing icky or manipulative about speaking to your client’s pain. Think of it as being clear, direct and intuitive. You are showing your prospects that you understand and empathize with what they’re going through—that you actually “get” their frustration and fear. By doing so, you are building a rapport with them that may later lead to a relationship.

Here are some tips for marketing to your clients’ pain:

1) In your web marketing materials, you want to speak specifically to your clients’ pain—right from the beginning. That means on your website home page, or the first place potential clients interface with your business. Ask them a question about what life is like with their pain. Show them an image conveying what this pain looks like. This is how you get their attention, and make them want to learn more.

2) In some cases, your clients know they have a challenge, but they may not know exactly what it is or how to fix it. This is where you come in. Find out what their actual pain points are, and call attention to those points in your web marketing. Describe their life with the pain, and what it’s costing them in terms of time, money and frustration. Again, the right image conveying their pain can do wonders here. Show them that you understand their challenge, where it stems from, and how it may impact their business and bottom line.

3) How do you know what your potential clients’ pain points are? Do your market research. Talk with your potential clients in informational interviews. Let them know upfront that this isn’t a sales call, but a way for you to gain ideas for how to do your business better. Ask them specific questions, and listen for the words they use to describe what’s bugging them. These are the same words you want to use in your web marketing language.

Other ideas for identifying pain points: Find out the terms people use when searching online for your product or service. Or better yet, look at the search terms people used that led them to your website. (If you’re not sure how to research these search terms, ask us at Graphic Beans—we can generate a keyword report for you.) Be sure to use these keywords on your site and in your web marketing materials.

4) Once you establish that the pain exists, help your clients envision what life—and their business—would be like without that struggle. Describe for them how much more time, money, energy and pleasure they will have once their pain is gone. Include an image of the pleasure they seek. And then describe how your product, service and value is the best way for them to get rid of their pain, right away.

If you can address what it is your potential clients are most struggling with, and offer them the one service or product that will solve that problem, chances are they will choose your business as their “drug of choice” every time.

Are you in pain because your online marketing isn’t winning you clients? Talk to us at communicate@graphicbeans.com. We’ve got the remedy for you.

Katrina Wagner is the Owner and Creative Principal of Graphic Beans, a Maryland based web design firm in the US that services clients all over the country. To find out more about Katrina and her company click here.

If you enjoyed the infographic about Mother’s Day created by FTD.com, please feel free to share it!

The phenomenon of the “mompreneur” is no secret. Now more than ever – lured by the flexibility of setting your own schedule, ability to “be there” for family and kids and just more opportunity to successfully explore the opportunities of entrepreneurship – more women are choosing to combine the career of being a Mom (which is a job in and of itself) with being a business owner.

Working Mom’s account for a large portion of women in business, professionals, consultants and women entrepreneurs. Not just here in our home town of Baltimore, Maryland but everywhere really.  The working Mom on the go – doing it all – is not just a trend, it’s a reality. In honor of impending Mother’s Day – Lesley Morrow penned a great guest blog about Gadgets and Goodies to help Mom’s who work from home -do so- better.

Lesley writes…

As a child, I often wondered if my mother would have preferred going into the office part-time and working from home the other part. There weren’t as many choices for women in those days. With innovations in communication technology, women can work from home — while still experiencing the joys of motherhood — and never miss a beat. Irene Chang Kwon, of WorkingMother.com, suggests a few helpful tools that working moms should seriously consider purchasing for their home office.

Anywhere, Anytime Office

With Microsoft’s new Office 365 Home Premium, all you need is a laptop and you can take your office where ever you go — to the laundromat, to daycare, or when you need a quiet place away from the family to get your work done. This updated version comes with OneNote for making lists and taking notes, which you can access on your smart phone with the OneNote app. FlashFill on Excel acts as a data assistant to eliminate monotonous unnecessary data entry. Where ever you go, you can organize your thoughts and work.

Tools for E-Commerce

Lots of moms sell their products and services through e-commerce sites. To run a successful e-commerce site, you’re going to need more than a PayPal account and e-cart on your site. One great way to connect with site users or offer assistance is to sign up with a reliable and easy to use web-based chat service. Live support by LivePerson can be used to communicate with customers on a desktop, laptop and now through mobile devices. You can have more opportunities to make a sale and even upsell if your customers can reach you for assistance at any time, any where.

Have a NeatDesk

Available at Office Depot, NeatDesk is the only scanner and digital filing system that you will ever need. This scanner can take three sizes of paper, digitize important information and can be used with Windows XP/Vista/7 processors.  Scan receipts, scraps of paper with ideas, phone numbers, business cards, invoices — anything you like. You can scan up to 25 documents per minute. Sure it’s a little pricey, at $379, but it’s a multipurpose machine that will make scanning and digitizing easier.

Charge Your Gadgets

If you’re like me, you probably forget to recharge your gadgets. I haven’t had any issues with this since I got the Converge docking station. It is a great place to store and charge iPads, iPhones, iPods and cameras. It comes with 4 USB plugin areas and delivers 110-240 volts, so everything can get juiced up at once.

These tools will help you to have a more productive time while working from home, so you can focus on balancing your life as mom and as a working woman.

MyCity4Her’s Top 4 Apps, Cool things, and more for Working Moms

Evernote – It’s no secret that pregnancy and motherhood can do some weird things to your brain’s ability to retain information, remember things, or stay organized. Evernote is a god send as it has ways for you to keep all the information you don’t want to forget…at your finger tips in an easily accessible way. Learn more by clicking here.

Audible – Being busy is something any entrepreneur can relate to – but a Mom who’s an entrepreneur and business owner takes that to a whole new level. Audible is an Amazon company that offers an amazing array of books that can be listened to (while you drive, while you fold laundry, while you rock baby with head phones….or while you grocery shop.) Featuring all the best business titles, as well as an amazing array of fiction, non-fiction and books in every discipline – including some great “how-to’s”. We love Audible because it keeps us in tune, and up to speed. In fact a working Mom we know is listening to Brene Brown’s awesome work “The gifts of Imperfection” a great book to read when you’re feeling overwhelmed and worried you won’t get it “all right” right away, or perhaps ever. Learn more by clicking here.

Dragon Dictation – Helps working Mom’s optimize time by using voice-recognition to type text messages, emails, reminders or status updates. Keeps hands free for other things like driving…among other things and is a real time saver. Learn more by clicking here.

Bipper – Bipper - a visionary, Mom-owned company based in Europe and Palo Alto, and headed up by Silje Vallestad, a Norwegian Mompreneur who thought cell phones could and should be used to make kids (and families) safer and feel more secure – has a suite of products to do just that. We have interviewed Silje on MyCity4HerRadio – listen to the podcast here. If you want to discover Bipper and it’s products , learn more by clicking here.

By Lesley Morrow, for MyCity4Her Media

Lesley is a stay-at-home mom, activist and theatre director. She loves being busy and writing about all her adventures.