Featured Success Stories of Our Certified WBEs

Speaking of success, did you know that if all the women business owners in the USA were their own country, they would be the 5th largerst country in the world! Also interesting, almost 70% of the 8 million women business owners started their companies since the year 2000. (Source, CFWBR)

Meet Anita Tang, Royal Roots
Gloria Apostolos started County Court Reporters, Inc. in 1980. County Court Reporters, Inc. offers freelance court reporting services, and their primary clients are law firms. "I recertify annually as a WBE because I feel strongly that it is something we must uphold and stay current on," says Gloria. Within the first year she was able to hire six employees and by the second year she expanded to a second office space in Wheaton, IL. Today County Court Reporters, Inc. employs over 30 people and has several offices in the Chicago Metro area

Meet Gloria Apostolos, County Court Reporters, Inc.
Anita Tang started Royal Roots Global Inc. in Chicago, IL in 1994. Royal Roots Global Inc. is a consulting firm focused on U.S. - China business and provides crossborder strategy to U.S. and Chinese companies. After becoming NWBOC certified we found ourselves more involved in the development of women-owned business and minority-owned business," says Anita. The company's services include research, project strategy advisory, negotiation assistance, strategic partner identification and introduction, licensing, and sourcing, among others. The company is headquartered in Chicago, IL with strategic partners in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, China

Meet Nancy Peckham, Valicaom Corp.
Nancy Peckham started Valicom Corp. in 1991 in Fitchburg, WI with a background in sales and management for a long distance carrier. Valicom helps enterprise and mid-market clients across the U.S. improve financial and operational performance by providing visibility and control over telecommunication expenses. "NWBOC certification has made a huge difference to us in our business," says Peckham.  "Many of our clients have supplier diversity programs and our services are not only important to them in saving money and creating greater operational efficiencies, but also in satisfying their supplier diversity goals and requirements. Certification has also helped us to win several large client contracts." As a provider of telecom expense management (TEM) solutions, Valicom offers a comprehensive portfolio of expense and spend management opportunities tailored to the unique needs and situations of each client. Valicom works with a variety of markets including energy utilities, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services and financial/insurance companies.

Meet Deborah Luster, Can Do Kid
Deborah Luster started Can Do Kid, Inc. in Mill Valley, CA to let kids of all ages know that they CAN DO ANYTHING! Luster started by writing a children's book, for ages 2-8, called I Can Do Anything!  The book is now being sold in many Barnes and Noble and Toys R Us stores, as well as high end hotels and on Amazon.com. Soon after her book, she launched an energy nutrition bar called CAN DO KID that energizes the minds and bodies of kids. The all natural gluten-free bar is made with organic ingredients with 9 grams of protein and 16 essential vitamins. The bars are sold across the country in natural food stores, gyms, zoos, REI and some grocery chains.  Luster has now expanded to include an energy bar for adults called the CAN DO BAR and a second book featuring a neighborhood of CAN DO KIDS called I Am Happy Just The Way I Am! Luster says that NWBOC certification has made a difference in saving her company money. "Most food companies have to pay a lot to get into stores, we save money by showing our Woman-Owned Certified status."

Meet Cara Barbineau, Blue Marble Media
Cara Barineau started Blue Marble Media in 1995 in Atlanta, GA, because she saw an opportunity to bring video production and web development together into one company that specialized in message and image as opposed to technology, because very few existed at that time. "Certification has helped us land projects with the CDC here in Atlanta and has also benefited us with getting a foot in the door with large corporations who have government obligations to contract with a certain percentage of woman-owned businesses," says Cara. Blue Marble Media has also launched Cooper Maron Commissioned Films, a new division working with private individuals to create family history documentaries, tribute films and other types of personal films.

Meet Trisha Emerson, Emerson Human Capitol Consulting, Inc.
Tricia Emerson started Emerson Human Capitol Consulting, Inc. in 2001 in Alameda, CA.  The consulting company helps organizations capture the benefit of their change initiatives, whether it is a new strategy, technology, or way of working.  Emerson's services include Training Design, Development and Delivery; Management; Communication Planning and Execution; and Organization Design and Development. "NWBOC certification serves as validation and facilitates the procurement process," says Tricia of the importance of being WBE Certified. Today Emerson has Fortune 500 clients all across the US and plans continuous, steady, predictable growth so they can provide long-term employment for their exemplary staff.

Meet Wendy Kaufman, Balancing Life's Issues
Wendy started Balancing Life's Issues in 2001 in Ossining, NY after 10 years of being an independent consultant.  As nation-wide corporate training company, Balancing Life's Issues services individual companies, hospitals, school, work life providers and EAPs.  The company offers lunch and learn seminars on topics from wellness to leadership, parenting and eldercare. "Being a certified WBE gives validity to our company and allows us to network with other woman-owned businesses," says Wendy of NWBOC certification. Balancing Life's Issues has grown from a single trainer organization to having over 500 consultants today reaching clients in all 50 states.

Meet Crystal Arlington, Affiliated Grounds Maintenance Group
Crystal started Affiliated Grounds Maintenance Group in Erie, PA in 1999.  Specializing in commercial landscape maintenance, lot sweeping, and snow and ice management services, the company is one of the few that has both Nationally Certified Landscape and Snow Professionals on staff. "Being woman-owned brings supplier diversity to the table. Corporate America is now looking for minority and women owned business's to build relationships with. Since I am in an industry that is mainly male oriented, it gives me the edge for presenting services I can offer," says Crystal of being NWBOC certified.  "I also have certifications in snow and landscaping. I am the only woman in North America that has this dual certification."  Currently serving clients in 25 states, Crystals aspires to be one of the largest national outdoor maintenance companies.

Meet Debra Dupree, Vitali WORCS
Founded in 1986 and based in San Diego, CA, Vitali WORCS provides solutions and resolution of high conflict business and employee relationships.  Effective and resourceful approaches to human resource and business challenges are facilitated, improving the financial bottom-line while achieving productive and fruitful outcomes. "NWBOC certification has enabled Vitali WORCS to compete in major contract negotiations with such organizations as the City and County of Los Angeles where such opportunities would never have been available to a small enterprise.  Its prominence on the website has in turn linked with other certified professionals where new friendships and new business opportunities have emerged."   Services include Coaching, Consulting, Training, and Conflict Management practices for sole proprietors, family businesses, non-profits, and small businesses.  These strategies are accomplished trough work climate studies, leadership and conflict assessments, employee interviews, group facilitation, and individual coaching.

Meet Helene Abrams, Enterprise Resource Planning
In 1998, Helene started eprentise in Orlando, FL with a technology based on understanding how the data in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems could be changed. The technology, calle 'eprentise' offers transformation software solutions for Oracle's E-Business Suite users who want to consolidate multiple EBS environments into a single data center in order to operate globally from a single database environment. After three years of development, eprentise software is quickly becoming an industry standard to address the changing business needs of large organizations. "Certification as a woman-owned business has made a great impact on our company in that a large majority of Fortune 1,000 companies and government agencies have a certain percentage of their budgets allocated for minority- or woman-owned businesses.  The NWBOC certification has made it simple for potential customers to identify us as a woman-owned business, and it has given them an added incentive to become a customer." Today, eprentise operates in a global marketplace with clients in five continents and in 11 time zones. The company plans on expanding to other enterprise software platforms to give any company the ability to transform their existing systems to match changing business requirements.

Meet Jan Hall, Advertising in Motion
After twenty years in the corporate world Jan Hall decided that it was time to step out on her own. Jan started Advertising In Motion, a Christian centered business in Hudsonville, MI that started out as a company providing promotional products to help businesses grow and make a lasting impression on their clients. "NWBOC Certification has opened doors for us and made us the preferred vendor for some clients. It has also allowed us to help some of our clients achieve their goals of working with diversified companies." Today, Advertising In Motion has expanded to include, marketing consulting, strategic planning, marketing material development, branding services, website and social media consulting, compensation consulting, and promotional services. "We are a relationship oriented business. As we get to know our clients and their business goals, we are better able to help them achieve success."

Meet Patricia Phillips, Take-and-Bake Pizza
Patricia Phillips started her entrepreneurial career trying out several occupations before discovering the concept of Take-and-Bake pizza. With tenacity and plenty of trial and error, Patricia developed her industry award winning pizza and opened her first "Patty's Pizza" in Beverly Hills, California. "Being a member of NWBOC has assisted us in being recognized by many of our larger accounts.  It is definitely an added bonus to being a Woman Owned Business and we are looking forward to tapping into more of what NWBOC has to offer," says Patricia. Today, Patty's take and bake restaurants serve take and bake pizzas, fresh salads, sandwiches and a host of special items while her wholesale division reaches hotels, theme parks, restaurants, convention centers, sports arenas and caterers all over the United States. Patty's newest venture is "Keeping Kids Healthy!" through her new line of LIL DEV'S whole-wheat, healthy kid's pizzas that are really starting to make waves and are available in supermarkets around the country! 

Meet Dr. Elizabeth Abramowitz of Administrative Services, Inc.
In 1979, Dr. Abramowitz left The White House, where she had been the Assistant Director of the Domestic Policy Counsel for Education and Women's Affairs.  In that position she worked on several key women business owner issues; most importantly, the U.S. Department of Commerce Task Force on Women Entrepreneurship and the government-wide review of all federal policies impacting on women's equity.  Elizabeth was determined to commit the time and personal resources required to beat the high failure rates for new businesses and survive longer than 18 months.   She and a college friend and fellow psychologist went on to start and run two successful companies. The next major entrepreneurial change came in 1997 when they started Administrative Services, Inc. (ASI).  The company began in back office administrative services and by 2003, had expanded ASI  (also called ASIWorks, Inc,) into a federal contractor with minority women business owner certification in several states. In 2008, they managed over $50 million for their clients. Today, ASI has over 30 full-time staff. NWBOC certification has made the difference for ASI. "First, it helped us get our Missouri contracts, and has improved our competitive standing in our bids for work in several states," said Elizabeth. "Also through the National Women's Business Owners Corporation newsletter, I feel part of the community of other women entrepreneurs.  I do learn from their business stories. Thanks to NWBOC, ASI is registered vendor on the Nebo's website. I look forward to partnering with members to bid on contracts."

Meet Sam Montross of Cadence Keen Innovations (CKI)
Sam Montross started Cadence Keen Innovations (CKI) in 1996 with the intention of solving an age-old problem: how to combine two twin beds when a larger bed is needed. Montross, CKI sole owner, said the invention evolved from her role as an owner of ski rental property. "To finish our rental unit, we put queen beds in every room except one, which had a set of twin beds for guests who wanted to share a room but, perhaps, not sleep together," Montross explained. "But invariably, we would find that some guests had pushed the twin beds together which is not only uncomfortable to sleep upon, but unsafe." Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Montross sells her products predominately to catalogs and the hospitality industry.  What began with the bed doubling system has expanded into a line of waterproof, anti allergen mattress and pillow products.  With CKI clients located across the United State and around the world, NWBOC certification gives Montross's business a leg up.  "I think being able to say or display that I am NWBOC certified gives the claim absolute validity," said Montross. CKI has just patented a new product called the Bed MadeEZ.  "With the heavy mattresses sold today, lifting the mattress to change linens is a difficult task," said Montorss.  "This product allows one to effortlessly lift it." CKI introduced the Bed MadeEZ at the International Hotel & Motel show in November and reports it was a big hit. They plan to sell the product to hotels, cruise ships as well as to consumers.

Meet Hollis Brookover of Morningside Products
Hollis Brookover, owner of Morningside Products, founded her company in 2004 with the purpose of giving everyone access to healthy and natural body care products.  She didn't believe that anyone should have to read the fine print on the bottle to know if they were getting safe, quality ingredients. Morningside products include hand soaps and lotions, body soaps and lotions, bubble baths, and body butters marketed in four lines - Originals, Simple Originals, Lumiere and Morningside. Morningside Products formulates and sells high quality bath and body products to retail buyers throughout the US and Canada.  The products are manufactured in and shipped from Garden City, Idaho. NWBOC Certification has benefited Morningside Products in two important ways:  Recognition and Opportunity. 
Recognition:  In 2006 the US Department of Commerce recognized Morningside for outstanding achievement in exports during the Idaho World Trade Day.  Later that year Brookover traveled with then Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne on a trade mission to Mexico to explore the Mexican market.
Opportunity:  In 2008, through Supervalu's Supplier Diversity Program, Morningside was able to successfully present two of its product lines for sale in the SuperValu family of grocery and drug stores.  The Originals and Simple Originals brands can now be found in many Albertsons, Acme and Jewel Osco stores.

Gilly Hitchcock of FPC Bangor, Inc.
Gilly Hitchcock began her own company in 1998 because she wanted to draw on all her skill sets and still have some flexibility to raise a family.  Located in Farmington, Maine, Gilly is the sole owner of Fortune Personnel Consultants (FPC) Bangor, Inc. With clients all over North America, FPC Bangor's role is to partner with Human Resources, develop lasting relationships, and complete executive searches that work.  Acting as Executive recruiter, Gilly and FPC Bangor have placed over 200 executives in industries that include pulp & paper, specialty chemicals, power generation, construction, environmental and real estate investments. "We are recognized for our professionalism, quality of service and solid industry experience, resulting in successful searches and satisfied customers," said Gilly. NWBOC certification has made a very positive difference for FPC Bangor and created great networking opportunities for Gilly. In just a few years, FPC Bangor has expanded from an office of one to a total of five people.  Their future plans include working with their core industries and clients helping to supply people with the up-coming baby boomer retirements.  For more information on Gilly or FPC Bangor, visit www.fpcbangor.com.

Meet Bobbie Ruch of Acloché, LLC
George C. Ruch Sr. and Betty Lou Ruch started Acloché LLC in Ohio in 1968. Their daughter Roberta "Bobbie" Ruch started working for the company in 1973 and when her father died in 1983, Bobbie began running the company. At the time she was Vice President and today she commands the company as President and CEO. Since 1968, Acloché has taken a consultative approach to providing customized Human Resources strategies and workforce staffing solutions of 15,000 people annually in a network of 11 locations to over 1,600 client organizations in Central Ohio. Acloché is 100% women owned; Bobbie owns 51% while her daughter Georgia owns the rest. "The NWBOC certification is very important to us and we are in the process of launching a marketing initiative to make the most of our affiliation," she said. "Market-driven organizations leverage human capital to stay in step with the dramatic economic and technological changes driving business strategies and plan execution," said Bobbie. Acloché opened two new offices recently, one in Bucyrus and one in Washington Court House.

Meet Sandra Foland of Baron Sign Manufacturing
After living in Italy for 11 years, Sandra Foland started Baron Sign Manufacturing in Riviera Beach, Florida, in 1983. Originally, she did sign painting for outdoor advertising, but with the advent of technology and die-cut vinyl for signs, she more than doubled the business. "One piece of equipment led to another and I grew to include larger exterior signage as well as interior signage for commercial projects," she said. Sandie's husband joined the business in 1986 and they purchased a 10,000 square foot building to expand. Three years later they added two more buildings, equaling 17,000 square foot for designing and manufacturing interior and exterior signs. "Certification has given me the opportunity to be listed as an approved sign contractor for government agencies, airports and negotiated construction," said Sandie. "It has allowed me to showcase my business as a full service sign manufacturing company, equal to any larger sign manufacturing company. It was the lack of any professional sign company in the area and expansion of computer equipment that has propelled us to be the largest design/build sign manufacturing in South Florida."

DRB Electric Wins Ethics in Business Award
DRB Electric, owned by Denise and Randy Bake in Albuquerque, N. Mex., received Samaritan Counseling Center's New Mexico Ethics in Business Award. The competition, which gives three awards annually to a for-profit business, recognizes those companies, non-profit organizations and individuals who have successfully integrated ethical business and social responsibility into their daily decision-making. Certified by NWBOC, DRB Electric provides electrical contracting, maintenance, and installation of electronic transport systems to commercial, industrial and residential customers.