February 15, 2010

Advertiser Spotlight: Deaf Initiatives and Keepsake Theme Quilts

Posted by TaLisa Sheppard under Out & About, Women | Tags: , , , , |
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Did you ever want to do something really good for a group of people facing a challenge, and in return receive a great product for yourself?
 
We want to share the story of Keepsake Theme Quilts, a company that creates employment for Deaf women through a Columbus-based business converting customers’ personal collections of T-shirts into beautiful, functional quilts; with the proceeds going toward providing educational support for deaf children and their families. 
 
Keepsake Theme Quilts fulfills a quest to employ Deaf women – who experience limited access to the job market.  The women work together in an environment where sign language is used by all, free of communication barriers – creating beautiful, functional quilts from anyone’s personal collection of t-shirts.  (www.Tshirtquilts.com) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The concept of Keepsake Theme Quilts is that, while not only providing an excellent product to customers and employment to Deaf women, the proceeds from this business are designed to support events produced by their affiliate – Deaf Initiatives – improving the educational outcomes of younger deaf and hard of hearing Ohioans.  (www.DeafInitiatives.org)
 
Through targeted efforts, Deaf Initiatives achieves the following outcomes:
·         Deaf women and adults become independent, tax-paying, members of society with the personal satisfaction and opportunities of self-fulfilled lives.
·         Parents of deaf youth learn how to maximize success for their children.
·         Deaf students graduate from high school, seeking higher education and careers.
 

Each order is meticulously crafted, deeply appreciated, and supports the mission.  The customer not only receives their memories crafted into a precious quilt, but they have the satisfaction of knowing that their purchase goes toward two greater causes:  the employment of Deaf women, and educational improvements for deaf and hard of hearing children.    

   

 Do something good! ~ Get something great! ~ Let the preservation of your memories improve the lives of others!

 

January 13, 2010

Out & About with the Columbus Council on World Affairs: Human Trafficking – In Ohio?

Posted by TaLisa Sheppard under Out & About, Women | Tags: , , , , , , |
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Human trafficking is in Ohio.

I recently attended a luncheon at The Athletic Club in downtown Columbus, provided by the Columbus Council on World Affairs (CCWA). This event focused on human trafficking in our community and beyond. The keynote speaker was Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, the Executive Director and CEO of The Polaris Project , one of the largest anti-trafficking organizations in the United States and Japan. The Polaris Project works on all forms of trafficking; serving both citizen and foreign national victims of human trafficking.

Prior to this event, I did not have a very informed idea of human trafficking and only equated it to prostitition. For those of you who do not know what it is, let me take a moment to define it for you.

Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery. It is sexual exploitation that often rests under the guise of domestic servitude.  It’s forced labor. It’s victims are girls, boys and on any given day affects 100,000 children.  Human trafficking has yet to be taken seriously in our court systems. It is a violation of our most basic human rights and overwhelmingly affects women.  It is slavery.

During the course of the luncheon, Ambassador Lagon, eloquently painted the picture of human trafficking as a web of organized and unorganized crime and corruption,  labor traffickers, and unregulated business operations. He presented statistics of  it’s victims, issues related to legislation, funding, and traffickers.

Did you know that 14,500 victims of human trafficking enter the United States annually?   Over 200,000 children are affected by human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in the United States every year. Human trafficking touches us on the global, national and local level – and yes, it’s in Ohio.

Due to Ohio’s proximity to various borders, our  interstate highways (which make it easier to transport victims),  the number of truck stops, the number of immigrant workers, and the number of women and children that live below the poverty line, Ohio is a state that is very attractive to human traffickers.  

Human trafficking generates roughly $32MM annually. The slave traders see it as a business.  Human trafficking operations are not just limited to domestic prostitution rings, but also brothels, escort services, “massage” parlors and large criminal networks.

Ambassador Logan told us that “human trafficking has a supply side and a demand side. It is this demand that pulls victims into human trafficking.”  

Demand? Who is driving demand?

For some reason I found myself grappling with the term demand.  Is demand married? Does demand own a business?  Is demand sitting in corporate America? Is demand my neighbor? The reality is the people who commit this crime come from various backgrounds.

I’m sure that we could have a lively conversation about the root causes of human trafficking child neglect, poverty, the ripple effect of an over sexualized society – but I was more interested in actions items and what I could do to help.  There were many people at the luncheon who shared in this need for action.  The following tips on practical ways to help were provided by Ambassador Lagon and the Polaris Project website:

Get Informed – Visit the Polaris Project website (www.polarisproject.org)and get informed about what’s going on globally and locally.

Raise Awareness – Watch a documentary on human trafficking with your family, friends and spread the word to your personal network.

Shop smart – Often human trafficking is conducted through unregulated labor operations and brokers. Get a copy of the List Produced by Child and Forced Labor of corporations that make products from the hands of forced labor. Choose to not purchase those products.

Report a tip at 888-3737-888 - The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a national, 24/7 hotline available to answer calls from anywhere in the United States.  Call to report a tip; connect with anti-trafficking services in your area; or request training and technical assistance, general information or specific anti-trafficking resources.

Get Active – Call your legislators!  Did you know that only $12.5 Million in government monies is dedicated to human trafficking?  This is a joke! We need funding and tougher laws – laws that recognize human trafficking as a crime and laws that punish the criminals and not the victims.  Find a local program in your community that provides services to victims and helps to empower them to start a free and healthy life. Organizations such as Gracehaven in Dublin, Ohio  – provides girls who have been exploited with shelter and educational services. I’m sure they would love your support.

Take a look at President Obama’s declaration. President Obama declared January “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” — as the month is bookended by the anniversaries of the Emancipation Proclamation and the dispatching of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution for ratification.

In honor of  National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, I plan to view a documentary with my family and friends to spread awareness to my personal network.

Do you have suggestions for a documentary that focuses on this issue? Are there other practical ways you plan to help that I didn’t mention? Can you think of ways our government and community can minimize the “demand” for human trafficking? 

I’d love to hear from you!

TaLisa Sheppard, Director of Finance & Operations, The Women’s Book.

 

December 14, 2009

Know Your Numbers

Posted by TaLisa Sheppard under Keys to Entrepreneurial Success, Know Your Numbers
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 I have always been amazed at the picture that can be painted by the analysis and frequent examination of a financial statement.  Each ratio or indicator can serve as a brush stoke that provides insight into the health of an organization.

 Although many business owners are driven by the bottom line they often do not have time to examine line items on their balance sheets or profit & loss statements. It is very important that you or someone on your team, takes the time to know the ratios, trends, cost drivers, and numbers that are particular to your organization. This knowledge is very important to the survival and success of your firm.

 This blogpost, Know Your Numbers is about the lessons I learned as a management accountant during the past 10 years of my career. I look forward to sharing my knowledge of accounting and operations management with The Women’s Book network in hopes to encourage women business owners and non-profit leaders to develop a deeper understanding of their financials.

 This blog will focus on the following topics:

  •  Operational Metrics
  • Financial Measurement Tools
  • Forecasting Analysis
  • Internal Controls & Risk Management

Whether you are an entrepreneur, corporate executive or small business owner, I hope that you will find my posts helpful. Do you have questions about your financials? If so, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to email your questions to talisa@thewomensbook.com.

Until next time,

TaLisa Sheppard, Director of Finance & Operations, The Women’s Book
 

December 8, 2009

Out & About with the Girls Scouts Ohio’s Heartland Council

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I left the Girl’s Scouts Leaders for Tomorrow Luncheon last Friday deeply inspired and very much so wanting to earn a badge of my own. I don’t remember having the opportunity to participate in Girls Scouts when I was a little girl but after listening to personal tributes from current girl scout troopers, every girl should know about this organization and what they do to empower girls.

Although the coveted  Thin Mints and Tag-a-longs were placed at each of the tables as complimentary favors, this organization does more than sell cookies.  Girl Scouts – Heart of Ohio offers Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) programs which allows for girls to explore the sciences in fun and creative ways. They offer a host of camps throughout the year and  also partner with United Way to offer a Financial Literacy Program.

Their mission is “to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place”. They are well on their way as The Girls Scouts of Ohio has reached over 6,000 girls! (That’s a lot of girl power.)

One of my favorite parts of the program was the dynamic video which showcased girls and women in the community who have been touched and empowered by the Girls Scouts program.

 Although it may be too late for some of us to earn a badge, we can certainly make valuable contributions to this organization. To find out more about donation opportunities or to learn how you can volunteer please check out their website at www. gsohioheartland.org.

Best,

TaLisa Sheppard

Director of Finance & Operations

The Women’s Book

 

December 7, 2009

2010 Nominations for Profile Women Leaders Now Open!

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Hopefully by now you’ve had the opportunity to read the profiles of the dynamic women leaders listed in 2009 Columbus edition. The Women’s Book is pleased to announce that we are accepting nominations for the 2010 Columbus edition.

Do you know a woman or girl who is making a difference in the community – she’s excelling and giving back?  Nominate her for The Women’s Book 2010 edition!

 The following are a few details about the nomination process:

 The nomination program begins November 29, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. EST on and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on January 8, 2010.

Nominations can be made by any person who is a legal resident of the United States.

All nominations must be submitted on line or through the following link: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dE10aWtOWHBBam1SNTR6ZzdleWRCTEE6MA.

Only one entry by each nominator is allowed.  

 We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your nominations! For additional information please visit www.thewomensbook.com.

 

November 30, 2009

Out & About with Grandview Chamber’s of Commerce Women Enriching Group

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When I received an Evite from Michelle Wilson, Executive Director of the Grandview Chamber of Commerce, for their recent event  held at St. Christophers Church, I knew that I had to attend.

Earlier this year, the Grandview Chamber started Women Enriching (WE), a group that provides additional networking opportunities for women in the Grandview community.  Michelle, a Grandview native, has a passion for connecting and empowering local business owners in the community. WE was an extension of this passion and the foresight of several board members who formed the group.

Dina Baghdadi of KeyBank, one of the Grandview Chamber Board members, shared that WE allows women in the Grandview area to socialize in a fun way and intentionally engages people to help their neigbors and grow their business at the same time.

The event began with women donating canned goods for gift baskets that will be prepared by St. Christophers during the holidays and included wine tasting and a holiday floral presentation from Fresh Flowers & Events in Grandview.

Women Enriching meets quarterly and centers their discussions and presentations around fun and unique topics. I enjoyed myself at this event and am always excited to see organizations create opportunities to reach women in their community. For more infomation about WE and the Grandview Chamber of Commerce visit their website at www.grandviewchamber.org or give them a call at (614) 486-0196.

TaLisa Sheppard, Director of Finace & Operations, The Women’s Book

 

October 22, 2009

Out & About with New Directions Career Center

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New Directions Career CenterYesterday I attended an event in Downtown Columbus that celebrated  thirty years of New Directions Career Center’s (NDCC)  service to women in the community. I was greeted by Donna Stevenson, President of NDCC’s Board, with a glass of pink champagne, a shopping bag and directed to great appetizers and to network with women who attended the event.

Patricia Fletcher and Hellen Corder  from AARP said they loved the event and felt pampered from the moment they arrived.  AARP Columbus works closely with New Directions Career Center and refers clients to participate in the program. Carol Ventresca, Executive Director of Employment for Seniors, also raved about the event and her close relationship with NDCC to find support, advocacy and network opportunities for mature job seekers.

“This event was hosted by Vivian Harvey and is part of our 30-for-30 series this year, in which  volunteers host events to help raise money and awareness of our organization” explained Donna. NDCC has certified counselors on staff and a large volunteer base that enables them to provide a wide range of services to women in transition, who are seeking to enter back into the workplace.

I also met mother and daughter, Shirley Piwinski and Nicole Sherrod as they were browsing through a collection of unique magnets that were for sale. Nicole is a volunteer for the organization and owner of The Elocin Group, an employment law consulting firm based in Marysville, Ohio. “Everything they do here makes sense. They take you from ground zero all the way to the interview. It’s simply a responsible organization and I don’t know of another organization that looks at the full spectrum” said Nicole.  

Nicole’s thoughts were shared by Ana Parker, who designed and donated a custom broach for the event. Ana retired from The Ohio State University in the 80′s and found the services of NDCC to be of great value during her time of transition. 

This organization has touched the lives of thousands of women in the Columbus Community due to the passion and drive of women like Linda Danter. Linda is the Executive Director of New Directions Career Center and has been with the organization for years.

“There is nothing more rewarding than helping women find a career that rewards them personally and becoming financially independent” said Linda. 

To find out more about New Directions Career Center, the services they offer and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.newdirectionscc.org.

 

October 16, 2009

Out & About with The Women’s Foodservice Forum

Posted by TaLisa Sheppard under Out & About | Tags: , , , , , , |
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The women behind our food.

Have you ever taken a moment to think about the huge operation that goes into preparing your favorite salad, burger or dish? Well, there are a host of women who make everyday contributions within the foodservice industry to make certain that your favorite dish and experience at your favorite restaurant is just right!

 I received an invitation a couple of weeks ago,  from Shellie O’Toole, Managing Director of Member Services of the Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA), to attend a networking event for women who were in the foodservice industry.  We discussed the ORA’s effort to empower women in the industry here locally and Shellie introduced me to the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF). The focus of this group is to develop gender-diverse leadership talent for all segments of the foodservice industry.  This is a well organized group that provides excellent networking opportunities across the country.

Yesterday evening, Wendy’s International hosted a well organized networking event for the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF)  at their headquarters in Dublin, Ohio.  The focus of this event was centered around the topic of Networking and more specifically How to Expand Your Circle of Influence through network mapping.

I never heard of network mapping prior to this event and learned that network mapping is simply, yet strategically, planning for alliances that will help improve your personal and professional circles of influence.

Debbie Hamernick, president of SYSCO Central Ohio, was the keynote speaker. She shared inspirational stories of her personal and business networks and how they created opportunities for her throughout her career. She encouraged the group to develop a networking plan and reminded us that network development is ever evolving and often changes as we grow and change. Debbie encouraged the group to volunteer, to be approachable, and get comfortable with having people in your network that challenge you.

I learned from Debbie,  the value of being creative when starting a conversation and the importance of mentorship. I was inspired by her story and plan to take a few moments this weekend to further develop my personal network map.

WFF created an opportunity for me to meet women like Lisa Walker, National Director of Real Estate for Wendy’s International, Lynne Schroeder, Field Marketing Manager for Dunkin Brands, Tammy Doctor, Sales and Marketing Director for Haynes Manufacturing (WBE),  Angela Vallera, Account Supervisor of RMD Advertising, Heidi Orsini, Director of Breakfast Development at Wendy’s International and Linda Bernard, Research & Development Manager at Wendy’s.

 Thank you to the Women’s Foodservice Forum for creating the opportunity for me to connect with such dynamic women in the foodservice industry.

 For more information about the WFF check out their site –  it will be worth your while!