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Table of Contents

32nd Annual Award Celebration

......................................................................................................................................................... 5

New website launched ............................................................................................................... 5

Client Success Story ...................................................................................................................... 6

New WBE Forum Chairs ................................................................................................................ 6

WBENC Summit and Salute ......................................................................................................... 8

......................................................................................................................................................... 8

Welcome Newly Certified Women Business Owners ............................................................... 8

Welcome New Corporate Members ......................................................................................... 8

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ...................................................................................................................... 9

Stay Connected ......................................................................................................................... 12

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Thank you to all of our

attendees and sponsors for

joining us at the 32nd

Annual Awards

Celebration.

Ronia Kruse

Nancy

Niezgocki

Helen

Ford

Jacqueline

Woodstock

Rosemily

Geyer

Mickey

Ellis

Keynote Dr. Simone

Ahuja Paula Tutman and

Lynn Perenic

Live Auction

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Kendal

Summers

Rita

Hillman

Michelle

Cloutier

Joan Smith

& Ann

Dahmer

Carol

Kirkland

Teresa

LeFevre

Mark and

Erin Sarafa

Partner of

The Year

Office of Women’s

Business Ownership

Corporation

of the Year

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New website launched

After our rebranding, we

began to compile a new

website that reflects the

mission and vision for Great

Lakes WBC. Visit

www.greatlakeswbc.org to

view the new capabilities of

the site.

RIM Custom Racks

WBE Title Sponsor

General Motors Co. Corporate Title Sponsor

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Client Success Story Julie Johnson completed our business planning course in Ann

Arbor in October 2002. She was able to utilize the training to help

start The Weekly Newspapers in 2003 in the Florida Keys. Since

then, she has doubled the newsprint publication to 48 pages and

created an on-line presence at www.timeoutmagazine.com

After 3 years, she was able to purchase the magazine and start

Keys Weekly (on-line). In 2006, she bought the Time Out Magazine

and will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary in May!

She says, “Information I learned in that initial class worked and I

am a success that grew out of that program. Thank you!”

Thank you to for

selecting us as a recipient of the

#CitizensHelpingCitizens Manage Money

program. CEED Lending will use the $25,000

awarded to educate entrepreneurs on

putting a loan package together and

building a business plan.

Through Citizens Helping Citizens Manage

Money, Citizens Bank supports organizations

like ours help our neighbors and communities grow by improving their understanding of

how to manage their finances. This year, they continue their commitment to Citizens

Helping Citizens Manage Money with a new social media campaign, volunteerism and

by providing more than $1.3 million in support of financial education programming

throughout 2016.

New WBE Forum Chairs WBE Forum Chairs play a critical role in representing Great Lakes WBC at quarterly WBE

Forums. WBE Forums connect new and existing women business owners to resources,

connections and training. Hear from some of our newest WBE Forum Chairs!

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Catherine Koch, President, K-Tec Systems

“By serving as WBE Forum Chair, I hope to learn about Women Owned

companies that I didn't know before, do business with them,

watch them grow and give back to other Women Owned businesses”.

Denise Booms-Pepin, CEO, CBI Telecommunications Consultants

“I am very excited about being a Co-Chair because it will give

me an opportunity to help, mentor and support woman just

getting started on their business journey, as well as women newly

acclimated with the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council.

It will also provide an avenue for me to support up and coming

women who are learning about being a certified woman owned

business. From a personal standpoint, this position will also help

me build new relationships with fellow WBE members, network

outside our WBE region and meet corporate sponsors more regularly. I strongly believe

in our ability to work together and build each other up as business owners and

members of the community”.

Felicia Harris, President and CEO, El Shaddai Consulting “We Are Everything HR”

“I have over 30 years of managerial experience, and there is

nothing more fulfilling than to help someone accomplish

their goal. I thank Great Lakes Women's Business Council for

the opportunity to chair the forum. I am humbled and

excited to be working with Cathy Koch, K-Tec Systems, and

Christina Spagnuolo-Concord, Antina Promotions”.

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WBENC Summit and Salute The Great Lakes WBC Certification team was happy to attend the WBENC 2016 Summit

& Salute in Phoenix. In addition to the workshops and networking, we applauded the

2016 WBE Business Stars including Serafina Schorer, CEO, RIM Custom Racks.

Congratulations Serafina!

Welcome Newly Certified Women Business Owners

Welcome New Corporate Members

B.L. Harroun & Son, Inc.

Brighton Employment Inc.

Carts Gone Wild, Inc.

Chelsea Steel Company,, LLC

Corp Publishing, LLC

Crest Performance Group, LLC

DataSpec, Inc.

Detroit Automotive Solutions,

LLC

DNK Presents

H & H Metal Source

International, Inc.

ILE Excavating, Inc.

Integrated Supply Chain

Solutions, LLC

Jarvis Handling Equipment Co.

Lavender Mobile Spa

M3D Experiences Inc.

Master Mfg., Inc.

Maya Jig Grinding and Gage

Co.

Michigan Business and

Professional Association, Inc.

MRB Enterprise Inc.

MYWAY LOGISTICS LLC

National Business &

Professional Association, Inc.

NCG LLC

Olive Seed LLC

Placeman Cable LLC

Sahasra Technologies Corp.

SeaDrain, L3C

Spring Dynamics, Inc.

Strategic Market Research

Group, Inc.

Suite 2012 LLC

THE GIL SALES COMPANY LLC

Tresty Lynn Bilendo

Universal Solutions

Management Inc.

WBE Business Stars Shine Bright! Certification team gathers to

applaud WBE Business Star,

Serafina Schorer

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Two of our WBEs are receiving awards this year for the

2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards, an annual

tribute to the world’s top women entrepreneurs.

Audrey Taylor and Leigh Ann Sayen

The annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards is widely considered one of

the most prestigious recognition programs for women business owners. To win,

nominees must demonstrate that they have fast-growth businesses, mentor or

actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship, and stand

out as leaders in their communities. Many of the honorees also serve as leaders

of the key organizations that support the growth of women’s entrepreneurship.

For more info, visit their web site.

Netlogx named as winner of the “For Profit Employer of the Year” award at the

10th IMPACT Awards Luncheon. The award is presented in recognition of

unwavering dedication to experiential and superior mentorship.

Audrey Taylor, netlogx CEO and Managing Member, said, “Mentoring is one of

the cornerstones at netlogx and I am delighted by this recognition of the

company’s commitment to providing information, encouragement and support

to help interns succeed.”

Audrey Taylor, netlogx

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ALOM receives awards for sustainability and leadership

ALOM, a certified WBE, provides a full-spectrum of quality-driven

supply chain management services to leading global brands.

ALOM received the 2015 Green Supply Chain Award for the second consecutive

year from Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine. This award recognizes ALOM

for successfully embedding green and sustainable strategies at the core of its supply

chain operations, and working to achieve measureable goals in environmental

stewardship and operational efficiency.

ALOM was also recognized by Supply & Demand Chain Executive for its visionary

industry leadership and cross-management expertise with the naming of three

executive staff members as 2016 Supply Chain Pros to Know: Hannah Kain, President

and CEO; Lisa Dolan, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy, and Subu Subramanian,

Vice President of Operations.

Lisa Dolan, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy at ALOM, a

global leader in supply chain management, was presented with

the 2016 Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead award in

Washington, D.C.

The annual STEP Ahead award competition is conducted by the

Manufacturing Institute to honor women who have

demonstrated excellence and leadership throughout their

distinguished careers in the manufacturing industry. Dolan’s

recognition is the second consecutive STEP Ahead award for

ALOM. In 2015, ALOM President and CEO, Hannah Kain was named a STEP Ahead

recipient.

The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to

examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through

recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong

female talent.

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University Moving & Storage of the Detroit

Metropolitan Area Earns Top Van Line Agency

Award for 2015

University Moving & Storage, a full-service

relocation company and agent for North American Van Lines, has been named

the winner of the highly-coveted 2015 Moving & Storage Agent of the Year

Service Excellence Award from the American Moving & Storage Association

(AMSA). University was selected for the award by a panel of experts from more

than 2,400 eligible organizations across the country. The company will be

presented with the award during the AMSA 97th Annual Education Conference

& Expo in New Orleans.

“We are thrilled and humbled by this honor from the prestigious AMSA

organization,” said Elise Benedict, owner and CEO of University Moving &

Storage. “I could not be prouder of the entire University team, who consistently

demonstrate an unwavering commitment to quality with each and every

move.”

Gov. Rick Snyder appoints two of our women business

enterprises; Darlene Lee, Darling Communications, Sara

Schroeder, of Saginaw, and Beverly Wall, Languages

International, Inc., to the Michigan Women’s Commission.

The 15-member commission improves the quality of life for

Michigan women, including providing support for veterans,

fighting human trafficking and assisting business owners.

“I appreciate the commission’s commitment to enhancing the

lives of Michigan women and look forward to the future contributions of these

appointees,” Snyder said.

Grand Rapids Business Journal names ‘The 50 Most Influential Women in West

Michigan’

Once again, Grand Rapids Business Journal has honored women leading

businesses and communities in West Michigan with their “50 Most Influential

Women in West Michigan”. This year, we are proud of our members, Beverly

Wall, CEO and President, Languages International, Inc., Rhoda Kreuzer, Founder

Beverly Wall

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and Owner, Partners In Action, and Floriza Genautis, CEO, Management

Business Solutions for their recognition Click here to view the GRBJ supplement

with honoree profiles. Congratulations!

Stay Connected

Livonia (Headquarters): 734.677.1400

Detroit: 734.677.1400

Indianapolis: 317.920.1400

WWW.GREATLAKESWBC.ORG