Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce

ATHENAPowerLink^® Program
Applications will be accepted for Spring Enrollment: April 19 - June 1, 2010
Funded in part by Foley & Lardner LLP, Prudential, Wachovia, PARC Management, Driver, McAfee, Peek & Hawthorne, Health Designs, Myers Seth Pump, Inc. Griigs Law Firm, Baker Distributing, Women Business Owners of North Florida, 690 WOKV and the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Jacksonville's ATHENAPowerLink^® program, one of only 23 nationwide, targets women-owned businesses that are at least two years old and beyond the initial start-up difficulties. In essence, the program "links" the business owner with a panel of unpaid advisors who agree to work with her for one year to meet her business goals and objectives. Business owners learn to network, access capital and implement best practices from these volunteer advisors.

Business Owner Requirements
Businesses are selected from a field of applicants by a governing body made up of volunteer community members. Once the specific needs are determined, local professionals are recruited to provide the necessary guidance. The business owner is then linked with a volunteer advisory panel that is tailored to fit the company's needs.

To be considered, the company must meet all of the following criteria:
• Business must be at least 51 percent owned and actively managed by a woman
• Minimum of two (2) years in operation
• Minimum of two (2) full-time employees (including the owner)
• Annual revenues of at least $250,000 for retail or manufacturing businesses
• Annual revenues of at least $100,000 for service businesses
• Clearly defined company objectives and goals
• ATHENAPowerLink^®'s assistance in meeting those objectives/goals.

Advisory Panelist Requirements
Panel Members are leaders and professionals in their fields who bring expertise to the business and are selected based on the specific needs of the business owner. Each panel commits to working with the business owner for one year. Panel Members can serve more than one time.

About ATHENAPowerLink^®
The PowerLink^® program began in 1992 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when two businesswomen recognized that female entrepreneurs often lack access to valuable advisors and mentors. The premise was simple – panels of volunteers willing to advise women business owners on important issues can help them achieve greater success. Today, as ATHENAPowerLink^® expands across the country, the program continues to help women grow their businesses…now in Jacksonville!

"Thank you so much for the support, resources, continuous cheerleading and for waking up my spirit and my bsuiness! ATHENA focused on sales, marketing and legal - focus, focus, focus. The theme for my ATHENA group was Jerry McGuire, the movie. One quote we focused on was "What we need is few bigger deals." We watched the movie and shoutred, 'SHOW ME THE MONEY.'" - Pegine Echevarria, Team Pegine, ATHENAPowerLink^® graduate August 2008.

Click here to download an application

Business Advisory Councils^SM
Enrollment begins again in August 2010.
Sponsored in part by New York Life, The Coleman Law form, EverBank of Florida, and Women Business Owners of North Florida (WBO)

You are invited to join one of these peer-to-peer mentoring roundtables which are designed to share ideas, take part in creative brainstorming, network, create a support system, and increase confidence. Topics addressed include organizational structure, marketing, public relations, cash flow, other financial matters, employees and strategic planning among other business issues.

Our goal is for women business owners to come in with issues and concerns and leave with ideas and solutions. Each BAC is facilitated and limited to 14 members. The annual fees range from $250 to $550 ($100 discount based upon WBO or Chamber membership). To join one of our roundtables, contact the JWBC at (904) 366.6640.

• Emerging Business Advisory Council - annual gross revenues of up to $100,000
• Growth Business Advisory Council - annual gross revenues of $100,000 to $1 million
• Accomplished Business Advisory Council - annual gross revenues of over $1 million

Click here to download a BAC Application

Financial Matter$^SM
Applications accepted April 1 - 30, 2010
2009 Sponsors included: SunTrust Bank, Ennis Pellum & Associates, CPAs, Hunter & Associates, PA, Xerion Consulting, Jacksonville Business Journal and 690WOKV.

Seeking Women Business Owners and Mentors

About this Program

Financial Matter$ links a woman business owner with an accountant and a financial expert, for a six-month period (July-December). Working from an established curriculum the mentor teams meet for two hours each month; the mentors teach the participant how to use financial and accounting information to improve management and business decisions. The Financial Matter$ program is suited to any business from emerging through accomplished.

Woman Business Owner Commitment
- Attend the orientation session
- Participate intwo-hour monthly meetings with mentors
- Attend three facilitated workshops
- Be open and honest about your business and complete assignments
- Celebrate your accomplishments at the graduation reception

Mentor Responsibilities
- Complete the vounteer form (no charge)
- Attend the orientation session
- Participate in two-hour, monthly meetings with your mentee
- Attend workshops for your personal learning and to support your mentee
- Monitor and report your mentee's progress
- Celebrate her accomplishments at the graduation reception

Requirements to apply

- The business woman must own at least 50% of the company, and actively manage it

- Have been in business for a minimum of six months; a maximum of 18 years

- Have minimum annual revenues of $25,000; maximum of $10 million
- Utilize an accounting system capable of producing financial statements such as a cash flow, income statement, and balance sheet

Why Participate?

Women business owners participate in Financial Matter$ to gain valuable insight and access to expertise. Participants learn about cash flow management, management of accounts payables and receivables, inventory management, and the relationship between all financial statements.

“Financial Matters gave me confidence with a capital “C.” Mindy Malone, Malone Air Service

“Both my mentors were wonderful and I definitely received more than my money’s worth!” Karen Kelton, Kumon Intracoastal Math & Reading Center

Cost

$350 for Chamber members or $375 for non-Chamber members. The fee is tax-deductible and an investment in your future. A deposit of $100 must accompany the application, with the balance due at Orientation (partial scholarships and payment plans available).

For more information contact:
Pat Blanchard, Director, 904.366.6640 or pat.blanchard@myjaxchamber.com

Click here to download an application.

Marketing Matters^SM
Applications will be accepted Oct. 1 - 31, 2010
Sponsored by CenterBank, Amy Lynn Calfee:Creative Advertising and Marketing Services, Wilder Business Success, Inc., gathering now.com, Red Hawk Strategies for Business Jacksonville Business Journal and WOKV 690AM

Marketing Matters^SM helps participants discover the basic elements of a marketing plan, strategies and tactics to implement stated objectives, and how to track and measure effectiveness.

The benefits of this mentoring experience include:
• Learning the primary functions of a company, including marketing and innovation
• Understanding that profit is the reward for serving customers well
• Seeing the whole business from the point of view of the customer
• Creating a marketing approach for their business

To be eligible to participate in Marketing Matters^SM applicants must meet the following criteria:
• own 50% of the company, or greater, and actively manage it
• have been in business for a minimum of six months
• have minimum annual revenues of $25,000.

Program cost is a tax deductible $350 investment (partial scholarships and payment plans available) from the business owner. Once accepted, the woman business owner is matched to a two-member, volunteer mentoring team representing the marketing and public relations professions. Mentors are selected from a local pool of consultants, agencies and practitioners and matched to the needs of the each woman business owner.

After the initial Marketing Matters^SM orientation, mentoring teams meet once a month for six months. Mentors will assess the woman business owner’s situation, introduce marketing concepts, and show her how to apply what she has learned to her business.