Working Order Wins International Award

For Immediate Release            
Contact:
Marty Stahl
Cell: 412.589.2612
Randy Morris
740-593-9887                  

Volunteers of America Working Order program wins
International Business Incubator Award

PITTSBURGH, Pa., May 20, 2014 – Working Order, a program of the Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania, has been named National Business Incubation Association’s 2014 Dinah Adkins Incubator of the Year in the general and special focus category. The National Business Incubation Association is the world's leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship.

Working Order’s goal is to increase opportunity for self-employment for individuals with disadvantages and/or disabilities who find traditional employment requirements difficult due to acquired or developmental disabilities. Opportunities for traditional employment can be limited by transportation challenges, unpredictable changes in health, a life-long or newly acquired disability and/or the need for additional support on the job. Working Order has proven that the option of self-employment creates additional opportunities for meaningful community engagement and full inclusion in the workforce, for people with disabilities. The program provides coaching, training and referral to resources which help individuals become successful business owners resulting in increased independence and improved quality of life through entrepreneurship.

Randy Morris, director of Member Services for NBIA said, “Volunteers of America’s Working Order program was unique among our finalists this year.  We are pleased to recognize this small business incubator for persons with disabilities and other disadvantages.”

Marty Stahl

Marty Stahl, director of Working Order said, “We are thrilled to be recognized by NBIA. Our success is in our ability to provide the tools and guidance to the people we serve which results in their individual success.”

Since 1996, Working Order has served 636 persons in the greater Pittsburgh area and helped 203 participants launch and/or grow their businesses in fields including graphic design, bookkeeping, tax preparation, grant writing, virtual office assistance, hair dressing, cleaning services, massage therapy, sculpture, portraiture, dog training, lawn care, accessibility construction, career transition coaching, golf instruction, event planning, care managing and more.

Outcome metrics from Working Order’s 2013 survey of entrepreneurs reveal that through coaching, training and access to resources, participants have become more self-sufficient and more financially independent.

Volunteers of America has served Pennsylvanians since 1896. The agency currently serves more than 28,000 citizens annually across the commonwealth through programs located in Allentown,Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Wilkes-Barre.

People served include individuals with disabilities; at-risk children and youth; families in emergency situations; those in need of employment; elderly individuals and couples on fixed incomes; persons with severe and chronic mental illness; families with limited incomes; infants, children, and adolescents that have been abused, neglected, and/or exploited; children with behavioral challenges and educational deficits; women who are homeless; pregnant teens and teenage mothers; and homeless veterans and their families.


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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

SBA Award Nominations Sought

PITTSBURGH  DISTRICT OFFICE          
Release Date:  December 2, 2013 Contact:  Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103
Release Number: PGH14-03        Janet.Heyl@sba.gov
                                                                        Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs

Make a Big Deal out of Small Business
Nominations being accepted for local and national
Small Business Administration awards


PITTSBURGH – It’s time for community leaders to make a big deal out of local small business owners and perhaps catapult them to center stage in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) annual awards program designed to honor entrepreneurial excellence.

“We know small businesses are the backbone of the economy and employ approximately 50 percent of the nation’s workforce, said Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director.  “Additionally, successful small businesses help spur economic activity and civic pride through charitable donations of both time and money to assist their neighbors and better their community.”

According to Knoblock, an SBA nomination is the ideal platform to recognize an entrepreneur who exemplifies success in both the business and community sectors.

“We all know that small business owner that goes the extra mile to not only provide good jobs to area residents, but continually steps up to the plate to improve the neighborhood, because it’s their neighborhood too” he added. “Now is your chance to recognize that individual.”

This spring, the SBA will set aside a day -- National Small Business Day – to honor the nation’s top small business owners. In Western Pennsylvania, the SBA will set aside three days to laud the region’s Small Business Person of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Exporter of the Year.

For more information on the nomination process, including all necessary forms, please contact the Janet Heyl of the Western Pennsylvania SBA District Office at 412-395-6560, ext. 103 or email janet.heyl@sba.gov or learn more online at: http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov/user

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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.
                                                                                                                                                                           

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

The Queen of Marketing Expands

The Queen of Marketing Expands Her Territory

Becky Auer, the Queen of Marketing, has expanded her territory into the world of networking/educational meetings and events by acquiring the business calendar website, www.BusinessCalendar.org this past week.

"Our goal is simple: to provide Pittsburgh entrepreneurs and business owners a place to find (and post) business meetings and events that would benefit them and their business," Auer says.

Auer continues, "Networking is a critical component to every business owner's overall marketing plan." BusinessCalendar.org was one of the first online business calendars in Pittsburgh, starting 15 years ago. It has helped thousands of people find the meetings and events they want to attend.

"The acquisition of the Business Calendar was a no brainer. We already provide outstanding marketing information to entrepreneurs in the city...now is the time to help them get out there even more and start developing referral partnerships to drive huge amounts of business!" Auer exclaims.

Becky Auer's Director of Operations, Weston Lyon, adds, "We have been posting on this calendar for years and are really excited to now help with its growth. We have big plans for the Business Calendar and its subscribers!"

Auer concludes, "Yes, we do! It's going to be fun to help even more business owners in Pittsburgh reach their goals by helping them get out, get noticed, and get business!"

For more information, visit www.BusinessCalendar.org.

Becky Auer is known as the $6.5 Million Woman. She runs the No BS Marketing Meeting - the ONLY meeting in Pittsburgh that teaches Direct Response Marketing - as well as the Profit Catapult Business School, an online school that teaches marketing to over 400 members world-wide.

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Profit Catapult Business School Inc. | Up A Notch Marketing, LLC
9572 Perry Highway
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15237
United States
(412) 369-9994

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Rieva Lesonsky Tweet Chat in September

NEWS RELEASE


August 10, 2012                                                                                        
Contact Information:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Linda Handley, Founder
                                                                                                                   
Phone: 412.475.9010

 E-mail:info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.com




GrowBiz Media and SmallBizDaily.com CEO Rieva Lesonsky to Engage Pittsburgh Entrepreneurs in September #SmallBizPgh TweetChat

PITTSBURGH – Los Angeles-based entrepreneur, speaker and small business expert, Rieva Lesonsky (@Rieva) will provide insights and answers to questions from Pittsburgh-area small business owners via Twitter in Building Bridges for Business’ (@bridges4biz) monthly TweetChat on September 18 at 7 PM EDT.

Lesonsky, who is co-founder and CEO of GrowBiz Media and SmallBizDaily.com and served as the editorial director at Entrepreneur magazine for over 20 years, will offer information and resources on securing capital, networking, marketing strategies and women’s entrepreneurship in a free one-hour online event. Her expertise on the subject has led to frequent national media appearances, such as the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox Business News, The Martha Stewart Show and Oprah.

“Rieva has made small business her business,” said Linda Handley, founder, Building Bridges for Business. “Through her career as a small business writer and editor and also as an entrepreneur, she has demonstrated a passion for small business success. We look forward to working in conjunction with her to provide our local small business owners with valuable insights that will help them ignite further success for themselves.”

The virtual event, which is aimed at providing valuable, free resources for small business owners, will feature Lesonsky, who will answer a set of questions from Building Bridges for Business and other questions posed by entrepreneurs from the region and can be followed live using hashtag #smallbizpgh on either twebevent.com or tweetchat.com.

The TweetChat will be presented by Building Bridges for Business, as well as its partners, including Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh Mayor’s Office, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center and the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University.

For more on the event, visit Building Bridges for Business’ homepage at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org, follow Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz) on Twitter or contact Building Bridges for Business by e-mailing info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES FOR BUSINESS
Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., Building Bridges for Business aims at empowering and educating the region’s small business leaders by providing resources to start, manage, grow and promote their businesses.

Since its inception in November 2010, the organization has hosted three sold out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's main adviser from the Small Business Administration. In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched Pittsburgh's first-ever small business TweetChat.


ABOUT RIEVA LESONSKY

Rieva Lesonsky, founder and CEO of GrowBiz Media, is a widely recognized small-business expert and author of the bestselling book Start Your Own Business. Former Editorial Director of Entrepreneur Magazine, Rieva has been meeting with, consulting to and speaking to America’s SMBs—and the big corporations that want to reach them—for over 25 years. This experience has given her an inside perspective on what entrepreneurs want, how to connect with them, and how to help them grow successful businesses. Rieva has worked with B-to-B marketers including American Express, Dell, State Farm and many others, and with organizations including ASBDC, SCORE and the SBA, to market to and educate entrepreneurs. She is nationally renowned small business speaker who has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox Business News, The Martha Stewart Show and Oprah.

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Local Teen Awarded 2012 Teenpreneur of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Marcia Liggett

(724) 728-5134
ambersballoons@gmail.com

LOCAL TEEN CEO WON BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE’S 2012 TEENPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

While Spreading the Message of Entrepreneurship Across the Country and Globally

Amber speaking at Beaver County Women's Conference

BEAVER, PA – (June 1, 2012) - On Thursday, May 24th, sixteen-year-old Amber J. Liggett, CEO of Amber’s Amazing Animal Balloons was awarded the 2012 Black Enterprise Magazine’s Teenpreneur of the Year Award, becoming the only youth to receive an award from the prestigious publication this year.  “The annual Black Enterprise Small Business Awards recognize those entrepreneurs who have found their niche, possessing the right strategy and skill to eventually grow their small enterprises into sizable entities within their industries.” Natasha Gore, events coordinator of Black Enterprise Magazine explained that “This award recognizes entrepreneurs, like Amber, age 19 or under, committed to the tradition of black business achievement.” http://www.blackenterprise.com/events/2012/05/25/2012-teenpreneur-gallery/

Amber with some of her Amazing Animal Balloons

Creating masterful balloon art and providing entertainment are just a part of what Amber Liggett, a high honor student at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School achieves through her amazing business.  Now heading into its seventh year, Amber’s Amazing Animal Balloons has expanded to include not only balloons, but face painting, spin art, sand art, cotton candy, and soon temporary tattoos.  This philanthropic teen organizes, conducts and participates in fundraisers for various organizations.  Additionally she encourages and assists other teens with their entrepreneurial endeavors, including teaching workshops at Community College of Beaver County (CCBC).  As an instructor at CCBC, Amber teaches balloon and entrepreneurial workshops, and will be instructing at the annual Autism Camp for the third summer in a row.  “To touch a child’s life is to change the future,” said Amber, as she expressed her desire to help other youth achieve personal greatness.  She has already begun training other youth to face paint, as well as assisting her ten-year-old brother Robbie Liggett with his business, Robbie’s Remarkable Photography.  Amber’s long term goals are to have a million dollar business, which she is currently developing through a partnership with Carmen Scott Dawson, President of the Adreamz Institute, the nation’s first Cisco Entrepreneur Institute in North America (located in Erie PA).  Additionally, Amber participates in programs locally with The Beaver County Youth Entrepreneurship Collaborative, a partnership between CCBC, The Franklin Center of Beaver County, and Entrepreneuring Youth.

Amber is no stranger to media and public speaking appearances as she spreads a motivational message of self-empowerment, positivity and entrepreneurship to others. She appeared on PBS’s nationally syndicated BizKid$, and John Delano’s Sunday Morning Business Page, has been interviewed on multiple radio shows and in newspaper articles.  Amber inspires youth and adults alike.

See samples of Amber’s amazing balloons at her website:

www.ambersballoons.com

To reach Amber with questions or for an interview, call:


Marcia Liggett (Momager)      

Tel: 724-728-5134
Cell: 724-312-1221
Email: ambersballoons@gmail.com
Website: www.ambersballoons.com

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

LA Comes to the 'Burgh via PR Twitterchat

NEWS RELEASE

April 10, 2012                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
                               
Contact Information:     

Linda Handley, Founder
Phone: 412.475.9010

E-mail:info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.com

Los Angeles PR Firm Founder and Expert Business Builder Lisa Elia Featured Guest for May 15 #SmallBizPgh Twitterchat 

PITTSBURGH, PA – Award winning entrepreneur and public relations expert, Lisa Elia, will answer questions via Twitter on May 15, 2012 between 7 pm and 8 pm EST in Pittsburgh's small business Twitterchat presented by Building Bridges for Business (bridges4biz).

The virtual event, which is aimed at providing valuable, free resources for small business owners will feature Elia, who will answer a set of questions from Building Bridges for Business and other questions posed by entrepreneurs from the region and can be followed live using hashtag #smallbizpgh on either twebevent.com or tweetchat.com.

“Lisa’s drive and passion for women’s entrepreneurship and her field of public relations will provide local entrepreneurs with prime advice on how they can achieve their dream of owning and developing their own small businesses,” said Building Bridges for Business founder, Linda Handley. “She brings business expertise to the table, as well as insight on how to appropriately market and promote business on a large scale, which will be an added bonus for our attendees.”

The Twitterchat will be presented by Building Bridges for Business, as well as its partners, including Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh Mayor's Office, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center and the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University.

For more on the event, visit Building Bridges for Business' homepage at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org follow Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz) on Twitter or contact Building Bridges for Business by e-mailing info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

Since its inception in November 2010, the organization has hosted three sold out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's main adviser from the Small Business Administration. In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched Pittsburgh's first-ever small business Twitterchat.

About Lisa Elia

Lisa Elia is a publicist, media trainer and CEO and founder of Lisa Elia Public Relations, a full-service PR firm in Los Angeles. She is an expert media trainer and speaker who has become known for her Women of Influence Program, media training services, annual events, and private coaching programs.

She has secured placements for her clients in major media outlets, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNN, Redbook, In Style and hundreds of others. She has positioned clients for book deals, endorsement deals, positions as contributing editors to magazines and even their own TV shows.

As an entrepreneur herself for over 20 years, Elia has spoken at many events for entrepreneurs, sharing tips on publicity, internal communications, positioning oneself as an expert and a variety of other topics. She has created programs to teach people how to do their own PR and to improve their on-camera presence.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Economics of Entrepreneurialism, Wealth and Globalization

The Economics of Entrepreneurialism, Wealth and Globalization


Presented by:

Congressman Mike Doyle, 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania

Allegheny County Chief Executive, Rich Fitzgerald

Charlie Batch, Founder of Best of the Batch Foundation, Pittsburgh Steelers QB

Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Department of Commerce

Small Business Administration, Washington D.C.

Allegheny County Department of Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Christian Evangelistic Economic Development

Christian Management Enterprises, LLC



Please join us on

Friday, March 30, 2012, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

at the Hosanna House

807 Wallace Avenue

Wilkinsburg, PA 15221

8:00 AM Registration and Breakfast

8:30 AM – 12:00 PM Guest Speakers and Small Business Networking Mixer

Break-Out Sessions and Faith-Based Round Table Discussion

Break-Out Sessions Include:

First National Bank: How to Secure Bank Financing for your Small Business

CEED: Skills to Wealth Small Business Assistance Information Session

Allegheny County M/W/DBE: How to do Business with the County

Economic Development Administration: Key Priorities and Accessing Funding

Speakers Include:

Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, JR., CEO, Christian Management Enterprises, LLC

Bishop Loran E. Mann, Prelate, Vermont Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction (Opening Prayer)

John Thompson, Mayor of Wilkinsburg (Welcome)

Congressman Mike Doyle, 14th Congressional District of Pennsylvania

Charlie Batch, Founder of Best of the Batch Foundation, Pittsburgh Steelers QB

Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Chief Executive

Ruth Byrd-Smith, Director, M/W/DBE Department of Allegheny County

Willie C. Taylor, Regional Director, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

Cedric Grant, Director, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Department of Commerce

Jerry Flavin, Small Business Administration, Washington D.C

Rufus Idris, Executive Director, Christian Evangelistic Economic Development



This event is free and open to the Public

There will be light refreshments and an International Dance Performance



Please RSVP to CEED by Monday, March 19th

Email: info@usaceed.org

412.450.8070

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Susan Solovic Tweetchat Presented by Building Bridges for Business

NEWS RELEASE

February 22, 2012 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information:
Linda Handley, Founder
Phone: 412.475.9010
E-mail:info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.com
Mail: 342 South Highland Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Susan Solovic, March 13, 2012 7pm Be among the first in Pittsburgh to join us for a TWEETCHAT #SMALLBIZPGH Building Bridges for Business


PITTSBURGH, PA – Award winning entrepreneur and author, Susan Solovic will answer questions via Twitter on March 13, 2012 between 7 pm and 8 pm in Pittsburgh's first small business Twitterchat presented by Building Bridges for Business (bridges4biz) Sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Solovic is an award winning entrepreneur, a CEO, a journalist, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com and USA Today bestselling author, multi-media personality, and attorney is our guest.

The virtual event, which is aimed at providing valuable, free resources for small business owners will feature Solovic, who will answer a set of questions from Building Bridges for Business and other questions posed by entrepreneurs from the region and can be followed live using hashtag #smallbizpgh on either twebevent.com or tweetchat.com.

The Twitterchat will be presented by Building Bridges for Business, as well as its partners, including Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh Mayor's Office, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center and the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University.

For more on the event, visit Building Bridges for Business' homepage at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org, follow Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz) on Twitter or contact Building Bridges for Business by e-mailing info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org. Since its inception in November 2010, the organization has hosted three sold out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's main adviser from the Small Business Administration. In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched Pittsburgh's first-ever small business Twitterchat.

A woman of many talents, Susan Wilson Solovic is an award-winning entrepreneur, a CEO, a journalist, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com and USA Today bestselling author, multi-media personality, and attorney. But behind every achievement, Solovic embodies ideas that make her universally—and intimately—relatable to all entrepreneurs: hard work, fortitude, and persistence. In a world of quick and questionable viral fame, Solovic is a rare commodity: she is what she preaches.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Nominate An Exceptional Woman for Tribute to Women Leadership Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CONTACT:
Laura Harwin
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
412-255-1279

YWCA seeks nominations for 2012 Tribute to Women Leadership Awards

Nomination deadline is February 8

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 19, 2012): Do you know an exceptional woman who has made a difference for other women in our community? It’s time to nominate her for a 2012 Tribute to Women Leadership Award. The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is currently accepting nominations through Wednesday, February 8.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh launched the Tribute to Women Leadership Awards in 1983 to affirm its mission to empower women and girls to reach their personal and professional goals. Since then, the YWCA has honored the accomplishments of more than 200 exceptional women, saluting them for helping to shape the direction of our region and improve the lives of others.

This year’s awards will highlight women in the following categories: Arts & Culture, Business & Industry, Civic & Community Service, Education, Entrepreneur, Health & Human Services, Professional Services, and Science & Technology. Besides these eight award categories, the YWCA has added a Young Leader award category this year to honor a young woman between 25 and 40 years of age who has demonstrated exceptional leadership early in her career. The addition of the Young Leader Award is consistent with the YWCA Board of Directors’ decision to create a Young Leaders Board last year. The nomination form for all categories is available online at www.ywcapgh.org.

The YWCA invites nominations from individuals, businesses, professional groups and community organizations. Selecting the winners is the responsibility of the YWCA’s 2012 Tribute to Women Event Committee, comprised of a diverse group of professionals representing the award categories.

Awards will be presented at the 30th annual Tribute to Women Leadership Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 16, at the Westin Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue, downtown.

Proceeds from the event benefit the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s programs and services. For more information about Tribute to Women, call 412-255-1261 or email ttw@ywcapgh.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is a women’s membership movement committed to the elimination of racism and the economic empowerment of women and girls. To learn more about the YWCA’s programs and services, visit www.ywcapgh.org or call 412-391-5100.
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Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Twitterchat with Melinda Emerson for Pittsburgh Entrepreneurs

NEWS RELEASE

January 5, 2012
Pittsburgh, PA

FORBES - INFLUENTIAL WOMAN FOR ENTREPRENEURS FEATURED GUEST AT JANUARY #SMALLBIZPGH TWITTERCHAT

Melinda Emerson will provide live answers and resources via Twitter for Pittsburgh Entrepreneurs

PITTSBURGH, PA – Influential entrepreneur and author, Melinda Emerson (@smallbizlady) will answer questions from local entrepreneurs via Twitter on January 17, 2012 between 7 pm and 8 pm in the third installment of Pittsburgh's first small business Twitterchat presented by Building Bridges for Business (bridges4biz).

The virtual event, which is aimed at providing valuable, free resources for small business owners and leaders in Allegheny County, will feature Emerson, who will answer a set of questions from Building Bridges for Business and other questions posed by entrepreneurs from the region and can be followed live using hashtag #smallbizpgh on either twebevent.com or tweetchat.com.

The Twitterchat will be presented by Building Bridges for Business, as well as its partners, including Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh Mayor's Office, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center and the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University.

The #smallbizpgh Twitterchat is free, allowing interested users to engage and participate using smart phones, tablets and computers.

The third installment, in a series of Twitterchats, the #smallbizpgh Twitterchat is the first of its kind in Pittsburgh, allowing small business owners to network and ask questions from reputable and proven experts.

“The vision for the Building Bridges for Business community is to create an environment where entrepreneurs can grow and advance their business, support other business owners and develop as entrepreneurs who give back to their community,” says Building Bridges for Business founder, Linda Handley, who is also an entrepreneur, author and business adviser.

For more on the event, visit Building Bridges for Business' homepage at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org, follow Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz) on Twitter or contact Building Bridges for Business by e-mailing info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

Building Bridges for Business

Building Bridges for Business was founded in 2010 by entrepreneur, author and business adviser, Linda Handley in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Mayor's Office, the Allegheny County Executive's Office, Duquesne University and Chatham University to provide resources for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County entrepreneurs on business growth, promotion, management and to aid indviduals hoping to launch a new business.

Since its inception in November 2010, the organization has hosted three sold out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's main adviser from the Small Business Administration. Other events have featured key local small business figures. In 2012, Building Bridges for Business will host three more events, which are also expected to sell out.

Building Bridges for Business' goal is to create an organization that truly serves the Pittsburgh area's business owner and struggling entrepreneur by connecting them with resources and people who can guide them to success.

“We want to bridge the valuable resources in Western Pennsylvania with business owners and residents who want to start a business,” says Building Bridges for Business President, Amanda Wodzenski.

In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched Pittsburgh's first-ever small business Twitterchat in September 2011 to offer vital resources from small business experts to entrepreneurs via Twitter.

Melinda Emerson

Melinda Emerson is a Philadelphia-based author, speaker and small business coach whose proven techniques have aided over 2500 small business owners in growing their business.

She has been featured on NBC Nightly News, in the Wall Street Journal,U.S. News and World Report and Black Enterprise. In March 2010, Emerson published her first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months: A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

Known as @smallbizlady on Twitter, Emerson also hosts her own weekly Twitterchat using hashtag #Smallbizchat.

Emerson's day job is as founder, president and CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, a full-service multimedia production firm, which she founded in 1999. Clients of Quintessence Multimedia include Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Comcast and Radio One. The firm has received eight Telly awards for outstanding production.

Prior to her work at Quintessence, Emerson worked as a television producer for ABC and NBC. Emerson has also been an adjunct professor at Delaware State University and featured as a guest lecturer at a variety of colleges and universities.

Emerson is a graduate of Virginia Tech and has also attended executive education programs at Harvard University, Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia. She resides in suburban Philadelphia with her husband and son.

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Entrepreneurial Leadership Series Features Marilyn Landis

Empowering Entrepreneurs Theme for SBA National Business Forum

Small Business Administration

News Release


PRESS OFFICE



Release Date: May 16, 2011 Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202) 401-3059

Release Number: 11-32 Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs

SBA Kicks Off National Small Business Week 2011

In Washington, D.C.

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Business Forums on Social Media, Exporting and Strategies for High Growth, High Impact Firms Free to the Public

WASHINGTON – The nation’s top entrepreneurs will gather this week to be recognized for their entrepreneurship, growth and success during the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week celebration, May 18-20, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

Under the theme "Empowering Entrepreneurs,” the three-day event at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Conference Center will highlight business owners from 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, whose business achievements have contributed to job creation, the economy and to the nation’s recovery. The National Small Business Person of the Year will be named from this group on Friday, May 20.

Awards will also be presented for notable achievements in disaster recovery, government procurement, small business advocacy, and to top-performing SBA resource and lending partners.

Featured Speakers at National Small Business Week will include:

Administrator Karen Mills, U.S. Small Business Administration

Deputy Administrator Marie Johns, U.S. Small Business Administration

Valerie B. Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island)

U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-Louisiana)

Gail McGovern, President and CEO, American Red Cross

Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson of Radio One Inc., and Chair of SBA’s Advisory Council on Underserved Communities

Steve Case, Co-founder of AOL and Chair of Startup America Partnership

Bill Rancic, Reality Show Star, Executive Producer and Author

Seth Goldman, President and TeaEO, Honest Tea

National Small Business Week will also feature a series of small business forums that are open to the public. The forums address real-world topics that affect small businesses, including Growing Your Business While on the Go, Social Media, Exporting Tools for Success and Strategies for High Growth, High Impact Firms.

The public can register for the free forums onsite starting at 1:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 18. Events during National Small Business Week can be viewed virtually through SBA’s free, live webcasting accessible online at www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/webcast.php. Visit www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com to register for forums, and for the full Small Business Week schedule. A list of the 2011 state winners can be found online at

http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/index.php?page=winners.

National Small Business Week 2011 Schedule of Events

(Subject to Change)

Wednesday, May 18

1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Registration Open

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area

Sponsored by Microsoft

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Growing Your Business While on the Go - A Road Warrior's Perspective

Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom

Sponsored by AT&T and SCORE

Speaker: Bill Rancic

Thursday, May 19

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Registration Open

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area

Sponsored by Microsoft

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Cyber Café Open

Mandarin Oriental, Hillwood Room

Sponsored by Google

8:30 am – 9:45 am National Awards Breakfast Honoring Procurement Award Winners

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Raytheon

10:00 am – 11:15 am Forum #1: Social Media: Get Your Business Connected

Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom

Sponsored by Intuit

11:30 am –12:45 pm Forum #2: Strategies for High Growth, High Impact Firms

Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom

Sponsored by Careerbuilder

Speaker: Seth Goldman

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Phoenix Awards Luncheon

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Sam’s Club

Speaker: Sen. Jack Reed

2:30 pm – 5:00 pm Networking Time – Visit Sponsor Tables, SBA Officials and the Cyber Cafe

Mandarin Oriental Exhibit Areas

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Congressional Reception

Hart Senate Office Building, Room SH-902

Speaker: Sen. Mary L. Landrieu

Friday, May 20

8:00 am – 2:00 pm Registration Open

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area

Sponsored by Microsoft

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Cyber Café Open

Mandarin Oriental, Hillwood Room

Sponsored by Google

8:30 am – 9:45 am Breakfast Honoring the Entrepreneurial Development and Lender Award Winners

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Northrop Grumman

Speaker: Steve Case

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Forum #3: Exporting Tools for Success

Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom

12:30 pm – 2:30 pm National Awards Luncheon Honoring State Small Business Winners

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Sam’s Club

Speakers: SBA Administrator Mills, Valerie B. Jarrett

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Networking Time – Visit Sponsor Tables, SBA Officials and the Cyber Café

Mandarin Oriental Exhibit Areas

7:30 pm – 11:00 pm Champion Award Winners Gala

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Visa and Avaya

Speakers: Deputy Administrator Johns, Cathy Hughes

Media Contacts:
Dennis Byrne
dennis.byrne@sba.gov
(202) 205-6567

Cecelia Taylor

cecelia.taylor@sba.gov
 (202) 401-3059



Small Business Week 2011 sponsors and cosponsors include: Association of Small Business Development Companies, AT&T, AVAYA, CareerBuilder, Dun & Bradstreet, Google, International Franchise Association, Intuit, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, National Association of Development Companies, National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, National Association for the Self-Employed, National Small Business Association, Nomadic Display, Northrop Grumman, Office Depot, Raytheon, Sam's Club, SCORE, The Neat Company, Verio, Visa, the Wall Street Journal, and

Women Impacting Public Policy.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor’s, donor’s, grantee’s, contractor’s or participant’s opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting sbw@sba.gov. Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2011.
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The Big Idea Competition Showcases Pitt Student Entrepreneurs

Student Entrepreneurs Shine at Pitt

The Big Idea Competition brought together over 250 student entrepreneurs, faculty and alumni, regional entrepreneurs, investors, program sponsors and champions of entrepreneurship...as $20,000 was awarded to our emerging business leaders. A special thank you to the Bob and Rita Randall Family and The Charity Randall Foundation and the ongoing support and dedication.


Below you will find a summary of the Big Idea winners. If any of you would like to be connected with any of the winners, please contact the University of Pittsburgh. Thank you for your collective energy and enthusiasm as we continue to build a powerful entrepreneurial network to support the entrepreneurs of tomorrow!

Business Growth Idea

First Place: Justin Mares (BA Finance '12) RoommateFit LLC provides colleges and universities a matching service for effectively pairing incoming freshman roommates via a research-based personality test.

Second Place: Aaron Ingley (BSBA Management and BA in History '11) and Julia Erickson (BA Business and Political Science '12) Barre LLC develops, markets, and distributes real food bars, with unprocessed raw ingredients, to dance and dance-related studios such as yoga and Pilates.

Third Place: Karleen Leveille (MBA Strategy '12) KLeveille Entertainment and Publishing is a multi-service boutique entertainment company specializing in original programming, casting, show development, image, and television consulting.

Interdisciplinary Team Idea

First Place: Benjamin Dippel (BSBA Accounting and Finance '12), Maxwell Pless (BS Mechanical Engineering '12), Thorin Tobiassen (BS Mechanical Engineering '11) and Micah Toll (BS Mechanical Engineering '11) The Pulse Motors "Personal Electric Vehicle," along with a novel business model, will change the way people commute around cities.

Second Place: Robert Gradoville (MS Civil Engineering '11), Kevin Horn (BA Finance and International Business '11), Barbara Pavliakova (MPH Epidemiology '11), James Price (MID Development Planning and Environmental Sustainability '11) and Daniel Scarnecchia (MPIA Human Security '11) YAKU Consulting is a socially responsible business enterprise that enhances the value of new and existing village water infrastructure in developing countries.

Third Place: Melanie Rodrigues (PhD Molecular Biology '12), Steven Ruperto (MBA '11) and Donald Taylor (PhD Bioengineering '13 and MBA alum '05) Hot Metal Brewing LLC is a craft brewing company creating recipes symbolic of Western Pennsylvania history - an American Pale Ale called Elevation, a Strong Scotch Ale called Highlander, a Dark India Pale Ale called Shades and an Oatmeal Stout called Shardt.

Product/Service Idea

First Place: Daniel Bishop (MD/PhD Biomedical Engineering '17), James Fisher (MD/PhD Chemical Engineering '17), Daniel Ludwig (MD '14) and Jason Sanders (MD/PhD Epidemiology '14) The RoomQ System, a technology to improve hand hygiene in hospitals, is designed to reduce hospital acquired infections (HAIs).

Second Place: Chengliu Li (MS Electrical Engineering '11) eFinger, a simple unobstructive device that tells a computer the posture of one's hands, consists of tiny magnets attached to finger tips and an electronic wristband.

Third Place: Joshua Stachel (PhD Electrical Engineering '12)

The cardiac rhythm management device (CRMD) interference mitigation technique is a simple method of modifying a radio signal such as those in RFID, Wi-Fi, or cellular telephones - the goal of this modification is to mitigate electromagnetic interference on CRMDs such as pacemakers and internal defibrillators.

WILDCARD Winner

Oreste "Rusty" Scioscia (BS Engineering '11)

The Safe-Jump System is a brand new and safe alternative to the trial and error method of judging the necessary speed to clear a ski jump.

Dr. Michael S. Lehman

Director, Student Entrepreneurship
Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence
The Power to Prosper℠
University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
1800 Wesley W. Posvar Hall, 230 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone 412-648-7873 Fax-412-648-1636
http://www.entrepreneur.pitt.edu/

Volunteers of America Working Order Awarded Grant

Volunteers of America
Pennsyvania
1650 Main Street

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15215

Media Release

Tel: 412.782.5344

Fax: 412.782.5373

Web: www.voapa.org





For Immediate Release
April 5, 2011

Contact:

J. Patrick Serey
412.792.5344 x 212
pserey@voapa.org



Volunteers of America Receives Grant from FISA Foundation




Pittsburgh, PA – Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania’s Working Order Program has been awarded a grant of $25,000 by the FISA Foundation.



“The FISA Foundation grant is important to our organization,” says J. Patrick Serey, Chief Development & Marketing Officer and Vice President, Southwestern Region. “These grant funds will enable us to serve individuals with disabilities and disadvantages through Working Order, our small business incubator. Working Order supports entrepreneurship for individuals who find traditional work options to be difficult,” says Serey.



About Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania serves more than 26,000 people each year across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through 30 separate programs.



About the Working Order Program

Working Order is the only small business incubator in the United States designed to develop and support entrepreneurship as a best fit alternative employment option for individuals with disabilities and other disadvantages. Operating in Sharpsburg since its inception in 1996, the Working Order program is currently able to serve 60 – 75 small business owners at any given time with our individualized program model. The award-winning program staff provides business plan writing, financial literacy, branding strategies, marketing support, shared office resources, trial work opportunities, feasibility testing, and ongoing coaching. The program includes essential services of community mentors, business organizations and other entrepreneurial supports. No other entrepreneurial program offers as comprehensive and inclusive an approach to creating self-employment as an option for individuals with disabilities who want to continue to participate in the marketplace.



About FISA Foundation

The mission of FISA Foundation is to build a culture of respect and improve the quality of life for three populations in southwestern Pennsylvania: women, girls and people with disabilities. For nearly 100 years, FISA has been led by women and focused on responding to unmet community needs. Originally founded in 1911 by an organization that became known as the Federation of Independent School Alumnae to improve the lives of poor and working class women, the organization underwent a metamorphosis over the years. In 1956, to meet the needs of people with disabilities, the Federation converted its convalescent home into Harmarville Rehabilitation Center, which became recognized internationally for excellence and innovation. In 1996, Harmarville was sold, and the FISA Foundation was established to continue the charitable work of the Federation in the southwestern Pennsylvania region. Learn more about FISA at www.fisafoundation.org.

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