Next meeting is September 12th, 2017

Innovation, Professor to Successful Entrepreneur

Johnny Park, Spensa Technologies

A journey of transitioning from a Purdue engineering professor to a technology startup founder, and some lessons learned along the way. Johnny Park will be sharing his innovation success story as well as helpful innovative tips for all business owners. This is a must-see presentation. Johnny is a headliner for Purdue Innovation. It is an honor to have him speak to our group.

Speaker Bio:

Johnny Park is the Founder and CEO of SpensaTechnologies. Spensa offers hardware and software solutions to help growers and trusted advisors better protect their crops from pests such as insects, weeds, and disease.Spensa gathers high-resolution data, models that data to reveal insights, and clearly presents the findings to help make the most informed decisions possible. Prior to Spensa, Johnny was a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. Johnny and his wife Lisa first met when they were both Freshman at Purdue, dated for 5 years, and have been married for 18 years. They have 4 children aged 16, 14, 12, and 10.
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Thank you...
Thank you to Lori Bauerle with Indoff Office Interiors, for donating a gift to our September speaker, Johnny Park, Spensa Technologies.
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August Guests
Mary Arth-employee at Art of Framing
Carla Barnhart-employee of Stanley Steemer
Jessica Dill-Doulas of Greater Lafayette
Sarah Lamar-Rubia Flowers
Melanie Nemacheck-Health by Mel
Stephanie Sweet
Voltisa Vasili-V's Delicacies
Tasha Williams-Custom Forms, Inc.
Nathalie Duval-Couetil-Speaker
1 Additional Guest

27 Members
10 Guests
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Art Journaling Workshop

September 6th - October 11th-Five Sessions
Art Journaling Workshop
AWBO Members receive 50% off
Info: http://mailchi.mp/efcd956e30d3/youre-invited?e=[UNIQID]

Joanna Retherford, Revision PS

Officer Spotlight
Amanda Snider
Metamorphic Fitness

Amanda Snider is on AWBO’s board for communications this year. She is a NASM certified personal trainer and the owner of Metamorphic Fitness. She graduated from Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and completed her master’s degree in Health and Kinesiology specializing in Sport and Exercise Psychology. She started Metamorphic Fitness, an all-women’s personal training studio, in 2009.

Metamorphic is an all-women’s facility with female certified personal trainers. It is an inviting place where women need not feel self-conscious as they might at a large fitness facility. Our clients are women who want more accountability and do not want the typical gym environment. Metamorphic is about more than just working out though. I want every woman who comes in to be able to translate what she has learned into a lifestyle change where her whole family can benefit.

I focus on proper spinal alignment and engaging the core in order to move better and with less pain in daily life. We often don’t realize just how good we can feel by doing simple daily exercises that help us to move better and feel better. My style of training is accessible in that I can teach my client a workout she can do anywhere.

I typically meet my clients when they have reached one of the lowest points in their lives. Sometimes my services are a last resort for these women after they have tried everything else without success. They are often unhappy, in pain, and ready for change. I love when I can help empower this woman to feel strong and confident through the physical and mental transformation of a healthy lifestyle. I can almost see her light up from the inside when she realizes that anything is possible.

If you would like to know more about Metamorphic Fitness, please visit metamorphicfitness.com or contact Amanda Snider at 765-543-1259.

Member Testimony
By Sarah Ruh, Co-Founder, Fireglow Creative


From the first AWBO meeting I attended, I immediately saw the value in being a member of this group. I do most of my work online from my home office, working with clients in other states by phone, email, and video conferencing. In many cases, I’m working with people I’ve never actually met face-to-face. It might be easy for me to retreat behind my computer screen and not engage with the local business community at all – but what a mistake that would be!

Even if you’re someone who sees your customers and staff members every day, business ownership can still be an isolating experience at times. The good news is, we don’t have to go it alone. AWBO provides an opportunity to make connections and form friendships with women who understand what it’s like to be the boss. There is a wealth of experience and knowledge within the membership, and I love how AWBO members encourage and support each other as we all grow and learn together.

Our guest speakers have provided valuable expertise in areas like law, finance, insurance, marketing, and more. Even when I think I’m already familiar with the topic, I have never left a meeting without learning something new. I usually also have a list of things I want to research further, and several business cards from new connections. I hope to see you at the next meeting!

Sarah Ruh
Co-founder, Fireglow Creative
www.fireglowcreative.com
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Next meeting is August 8th, 2017

A Note From Your President...

It was a warm summer day when the door opened at work. A man stepped inside with both hands raised in the air, asked, “May I come in? I promise I’ll put my hands in my pockets and I won’t touch anything.” As he placed both hands in his pockets, I replied, “Of course, you are welcome to come in.” That was the beginning of getting to know Jim. We later learned he had previously been in a serious life altering accident, which caused him, among other things, to communicate differently and sometimes with more difficulty.

Jim came in many times, even after we moved to our new location. We never knew what mood he would be in, so we learned to proceed cautiously when he entered the store. We wanted to avoid upsetting him.

One time he said, “Ma’am, I have a question.” I said, “Yes, sir?” He replied, “Don’t call me sir.” I said, “Well, you just called me ma’am, and I’m a woman so I called you ‘sir’ because you are a man, right?” He said, “You got me there” and our friendly conversation continued. Another time he came in and saluted us saying, “Permission to come aboard Captain?” He was saluted back and told, “Permission granted.”

Most of the time, Jim came to buy foreign coins because he saw value in them and bought them to give to his favorite people. One day after making his purchase, I heard him say, “Just keep the change. I don’t want it back.” Even though it wasn’t much, I told the employees to put the change in a bag each time and subtract it from his following purchase.

He passed away a few years ago and we miss him. When I went to the visitation I told his family how he had touched the lives of our entire staff.

This year something very special happened. While at school one day, our young grandson was telling a teacher about his new watch. Among the questions the teacher asked him was where he had purchased it. When he told her it was from our business, she began to cry and told him, those were the people who were so kind to her brother.

So, I believe that we, as business owners and women, should never forget to be kind and compassionate to everyone we meet. It might be a client, customer, teller, server, cashier, lawyer, preacher, nurse, doctor or police officer. We may never know what difficulty they may have experienced or what they may be facing. Bring sunshine into their day, and we can go home with a smile.

TOUCH SOMEONE’S LIFE TODAY!

Melony Ramsey, President
Empowering Women

Next meeting is August 8th, 2017
Eliminating Biases in Portrayals of Women Leaders & Entrepreneurs

Nathalie Duval-Couetil, MBA, PhD

Speaker Bio:

Nathalie Duval-Couetil is the Director of the Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, Associate Director of the Burton D. Morgan Center, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation at Purdue University. She is responsible for the launch of the university’s multidisciplinary entrepreneurship program, which involves over 1800 students each year. For undergraduates, she has established courses and experiential initiatives focused on entrepreneurship fundamentals, venture development, professional development, and women and leadership. At the graduate level, she co-teaches a technology commercialization course called “Life of a Faculty Entrepreneur: Discovery, Development and Translation.”

Nathalie’s research focuses on entrepreneurship pedagogy and assessment; entrepreneurship education and STEM; student intellectual property policy; graduate student professional development; and women and leadership. This work has been funded through grants from the National Science Foundation, Burton D. Morgan Foundation, Kern Foundation and VentureWell. She has also worked on entrepreneurship capacity building projects with international partners.

Prior to academia, Nathalie worked in the field of market research and strategy consulting in Europe and the U.S. with Booz Allen and Hamilton and Data and Strategies Group. She received a BA from UMass Amherst, an MBA from Babson College, and MS and PhD degrees from Purdue University. She serves on the board of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) and has held leadership roles in other professional organizations.

3 Minute Speakers