Category: News

PWN is looking to add a few more great leaders to our Board of Directors team; are you interested?

The board consists of busy professional women who understand that family comes first; have a desire to lift up and support women in the corridor; who are willing to bring creative ideas to the board meetings that may enhance and evolve our membership and events.

Our current 2016 Board of Directors has taken amazing strides in increasing the PWN membership and we don’t want to lose that momentum. We are looking for a few more talented individuals to help us create even more buzz about this awesome group!

Are you worried about the time commitment this might take? Here’s a brief list of expectations from the board, but we are very flexible.

• Board members are elected to serve for three-year terms, with a minimum of four board members elected each year.
• Board members are expected to attend each board meeting the third Tuesday of the month.
• Board members are expected to attend each General Meeting Luncheon the fourth Thursday of the month. (No meetings in June or December.)
• Board members are expected to conduct themselves keeping in line with the PWN motto “Strengthening Professions, Developing Networks, Exchanging Knowledge,” while honoring our tradition of “Women Helping Women.”

Applications are being accepted through October, so submit yours today. We would love to have you join our team!

Download the PWN Board Member application here.
Download the PWN Board of Directors position full description here.

This month’s featured member is Samantha Valenta, Sales Agent for Choice Floors, Ltd.

In 2014 Samantha Valenta started working with a new company, Choice Floors, Ltd. The company specializes bringing you great flooring products, at great prices, with great service!  They have a design center on the Southwest side of Cedar Rapids, but their biggest asset to their customers is the ability to bring flooring samples directly to your home or project site.

Samantha’s biggest asset to the customer (on a personal level) is her background in interior design. “I have experience in both the residential and commercial sides of design and I have been selling flooring for almost four years. I love helping customers who may be confused about what to do with their floors and help them have the confidence to select the perfect finishes for their floors!”

Samantha travels around the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Corridor helping clients select the perfect finishes for their home and with the best pricing possibly. Recently she completed along with her company the new floors at the Commonwealth Senior Apartments in Cedar Rapids Historic District.

Samantha shares her story on why she is a member of PWN, “In 2016 I joined PWN because I wanted to have an avenue to meet business women and discuss issues that we have in owning our own businesses. I found the members to be successful in their careers and generous in giving of their time and talent.

In the past year PWN has grown tremendously and the group of ladies have such a diverse set of businesses and backgrounds that each meeting is a chance to meet someone new. PWN is a true demonstration of power in numbers!”

 

Professional Women’s Network is pleased to announce five local recipients of PWN Foundation Scholarships.

These women were chosen based on written personal essays outlining their character, educational and personal career goals and volunteerism.

Paige Zieser (Ely) attends Mount Mercy University and is studying Accounting. Ms. Zieser is employed with Terry, Lockridge & Dunn.

Jill Beaty (Hiawatha) attends the University of Dubuque/CR Campus and is studying Business Administration. She volunteers with Theatre Cedar Rapids and Professional Women’s Network and is employed as a Business Development Officer with Collins Community Credit Union.

Kristy Richmann (Waverly) attends Hawkeye Community College, preparing to be a Licensed Practitioner Nurse and is employed by the Waverly Health Center.

Marcela Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) attends the University of Dubuque/CR Campus and is studying Business. Ms. Rodriguez is employed by Honeywell in Cedar Rapids.

Melissa Luse (Cedar Rapids) attends Kaplan University and is studying Business Administration. Ms. Luse is employed by EMS Detergent in North Liberty.

Recipients will be honored at the annual Scholarship luncheon to be held September 22, 2016, at the Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids. To attend the luncheon, register here.

This month’s featured PWN Member is Sandra Ahrendsen, Continuous Improvement Specialist at The Gazette Company.

Below Sandra shares her story about how the PWN Scholarship helped her and what she is currently working on professionally.

“I used the PWN scholarship to pay for books primarily. Books range from $20.00 to $200.00 each. Because of the PWN funds my own money was freed up and put towards everyday expenses such as groceries and school supplies for my two children.

I am currently employed at The Gazette Company with the role of Continuous Improvement Specialist and Project Manager. In my role, I serve all business units as a partner and facilitator helping them achieve their business goals.

Without the support from my family, my employer, my friends and organizations such as PWN I wouldn’t be as far along, professionally, as I am today.

PWN provides an excellent opportunity for women in our community to build networks and business partners. I am excited to be part of the group for years to come!”

Say hello to Sandra at the upcoming meeting on September 22^nd at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

We received some valuable feedback, which we will work to incorporate to increase the value members receive from PWN.

One of the things you requested was more communication regarding our mission and how you can best leverage your membership.

We understand that you aren’t always able to make the monthly meetings, so going forward we plan to use the PWN Newsletter to increase awareness of the great things that are happening with PWN.

Here is a quick snapshot of some of the other things we are working on as a result of YOUR feedback:

• Increased opportunities for networking- we’ve added a monthly meeting in October dedicated to networking and will add more of these in 2017. Please remember to come to all monthly meetings for open networking from 11:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
• More advance notice of PWN Socials- we get it, you’re busy…and you like to plan ahead. We’ll do better about publishing the social calendar in advance and on the website. Unlike our standard monthly meetings, we are not going to hold these on a particular day/time of the month. Our hope is that by offering a variety that more people can attend these events. Check out the website for a list of the remaining 2016 social events.
• A greater awareness of the PWN Perks Program – all PWN members can take advantage of special offers and discounts offered by PWN Members. A formal announcement will be made once all of the new perks have been added.
• PWN Membership Directory- this is an online resource for members only. Join us for the August 25th meeting to obtain information about updating your profile and building connections with other members.

Congratulations go out to Barb Lindstrom and Lynn McArthur! They were randomly selected and will receive 50% discount off of their 2017 PWN Membership for completing the survey!

We will draw another winner of a free 2017 PWN Membership at the November 17th meeting. As a reminder, you are entered into this drawing for each guest you bring to a PWN Regular Meeting.

We are excited for the remainder of 2016 and hope you are too!

See you soon!

Stacey Mueggenberg and Amy McKelvy- Membership Committee Co-Chairs

I moved to Cedar Rapids 30 years ago to be a clothing buyer for a retail chain called, Seifert’s/Mark Henri; prior to that, I had managed stores in Wisconsin, Minneapolis, and Phoenix.

After the closing of Seifert’s, I focused on raising my three children and then eventually started working for the Cedar Rapids Community School District as a Paraprofessional.

It was one year ago when Danielle Rings (Franchise Owner at MODE Cedar Rapids) called and asked me if I would like to manage her new business MODE, a women’s designer clothing discount store. I was thrilled to get back into the field of women’s retail. Working here has given me the opportunity to help women find updated, quality apparel at a great price for their work and leisure lifestyle. It is nice to be back in a field that I love!

At MODE, we take pride in being great at customer service, which is a lost art these days with all of the on-line shopping. I know I have done my job well when a customer leaves our store with three pairs of designer denim jeans and a smile on her face.

I am excited to be connected with PWN as it gives me the opportunity to be surrounded by women in all different professions. If you are in the market for some great news clothes, I am always available to help with your apparel needs.

It’s the 26th Anniversary of Especially For You, this year on October 9, 2016.

Join the Fairfax State Savings Bank EFY team in the fight against breast cancer and FSSB will pay half your registration fee!

Simply fill out the EFY 2016_RegistrationForm, and return it to the Bank by September 9^th: PO Box 277, 409 Vanderbilt Street, Fairfax Iowa 52228.

Contact Elaina Kempin at 319-846-2300 with any questions.

A call for volunteers from Michelle Catlett, Corporate Events Director, at the American Heart Association.

You are invited to participate in a FUN volunteer opportunity with your co-workers, friends, and family at The Glo Run on Saturday, July 30th from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm.

This year’s theme is Run Through the 80’s and proceeds go to the American Heart Association.

Job Descriptions (will be assigned on the day of the event):

• Registration – checking runners in and giving out race materials
• Course Marshal – directing runners on the route (in pairs of two)
• Water Station – filling cups and distributing
• Paint Station – glo painting participants

Parking is free (for volunteers), you will receive a t-shirt and glo accessories for volunteering as well.

If you would like more information about this FUN opportunity, send an email to Michelle Catlett (michelle.catlett@heart.org).

I started with Northwestern Mutual in the summer of 2014, after working in various marketing positions. Never was a career in finance on my radar and now I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

Being a career-changer in this industry can be both scary and exciting. I provide my clients with a customized approach to financial planning. The financial marketplace is large and can be intimidating and I hope that through meeting with my clients I can alleviate some of the stress that finances can bring us.

I joined PWN to network with other women and because helping women understand finances and their options is a passion of mine. I believe in “Women Helping Women” and enjoy meeting people.

Please give me a call if you are interested in learning more about financial planning; consultations are always free.