Portland Tribune | Standing in the gap their big thing Portland Tribune The coaches asked Heimuli and fellow sophomore Wade Keliikipi to use their big bodies to take up blockers and free up other defensive players. Heimuli says his strategy is to รข€œcover the two 'A' gaps, so they'll double- and triple-team me. ... |
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Standing in the gap their big thing - Portland Tribune
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Shaq
onesawava.wordpress.com
Philip Freedman, a broker with Flagstone said he would not identifythe buyer, whichh operates a Florida-based real estatd investment company. The sale closed as negotiations were being finalized totrade O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns to the Clevelandd Cavaliers. Freedman said Friday that the buyer was attractedx becausethe 2.5-acre, waterfront site is “a spectaculard piece of land” and intended it for “personal O’Neal paid $19.8 millionb for the property that included $1 million in Former center Rony Seikaly also owned the home at one The 7-foot-1 center, who helped bring an NBA championshilp to the Miami had tried several times to sell the house.
The first time O’Neak put it on the the price tag was morethan $30 million, but was soon pullec off the market. The price eventually dropped to $22.5 million. Both New York Yankeed slugger Alex Rodriguez and aTony award-winning Broadway producer had contracts fall through. providerd O’Neal with two mortgages on the propertytotalingg $15 million. The island has been home to Sean Comb s andGloria Estefan.
Philip Freedman, a broker with Flagstone said he would not identifythe buyer, whichh operates a Florida-based real estatd investment company. The sale closed as negotiations were being finalized totrade O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns to the Clevelandd Cavaliers. Freedman said Friday that the buyer was attractedx becausethe 2.5-acre, waterfront site is “a spectaculard piece of land” and intended it for “personal O’Neal paid $19.8 millionb for the property that included $1 million in Former center Rony Seikaly also owned the home at one The 7-foot-1 center, who helped bring an NBA championshilp to the Miami had tried several times to sell the house.
The first time O’Neak put it on the the price tag was morethan $30 million, but was soon pullec off the market. The price eventually dropped to $22.5 million. Both New York Yankeed slugger Alex Rodriguez and aTony award-winning Broadway producer had contracts fall through. providerd O’Neal with two mortgages on the propertytotalingg $15 million. The island has been home to Sean Comb s andGloria Estefan.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Cincinnati ranked
vittitowmehigyk1238.blogspot.com
The report divided the 100 largest metrosinto 20-city segments, ranging from “strongest” to San Antonio ranked at the top of the category, and Detroit placex last in the “weakest” category. The Cincinnat i metropolitan area ranked 62 of 100metros overall, just behin Minneapolis, according to the first-quartefr MetroMonitor report, released Wednesday. That placed it at No. 2 in the cities category.
MetroMonitor ranked citiesw according tofour indicators: the percent changd in employment from its peak to first-quartee 2009; the percentage change in the unemploymentt rate from 1Q 2008 to 1Q 2009; the percen t change in gross metropolitan product from its peak to 1Q 2009; and the percentg change in housing prices from 1Q 2008 to 1Q 2009. The grosxs metropolitan product is the total value of goode and services produced within themetrio area. Cincinnati ranked 50th of 100 for changdin employment, down 2.8 percent from its peak; 56th for year-over-yeard change in unemployment, up 3.6 percent; 78th for GMP, down 4.4 and 37th for year-over-year housing price up 0.1 percent.
Two cities in the regioj fared better: Columbus was 40th, at the botton of the “second-strongest” category. Indianapolis was 42nd, ranking at No.2 in the category. Other area metros in the second-weakest category included Cleveland, Louisville, 65th; Akron, 74th; and 79th. Youngstown (88th) and Toledo (91st) both fell into the category. The MetroMonitor will be published according to the Metropolitan Policy Program at To read thecomplete report, .
The report divided the 100 largest metrosinto 20-city segments, ranging from “strongest” to San Antonio ranked at the top of the category, and Detroit placex last in the “weakest” category. The Cincinnat i metropolitan area ranked 62 of 100metros overall, just behin Minneapolis, according to the first-quartefr MetroMonitor report, released Wednesday. That placed it at No. 2 in the cities category.
MetroMonitor ranked citiesw according tofour indicators: the percent changd in employment from its peak to first-quartee 2009; the percentage change in the unemploymentt rate from 1Q 2008 to 1Q 2009; the percen t change in gross metropolitan product from its peak to 1Q 2009; and the percentg change in housing prices from 1Q 2008 to 1Q 2009. The grosxs metropolitan product is the total value of goode and services produced within themetrio area. Cincinnati ranked 50th of 100 for changdin employment, down 2.8 percent from its peak; 56th for year-over-yeard change in unemployment, up 3.6 percent; 78th for GMP, down 4.4 and 37th for year-over-year housing price up 0.1 percent.
Two cities in the regioj fared better: Columbus was 40th, at the botton of the “second-strongest” category. Indianapolis was 42nd, ranking at No.2 in the category. Other area metros in the second-weakest category included Cleveland, Louisville, 65th; Akron, 74th; and 79th. Youngstown (88th) and Toledo (91st) both fell into the category. The MetroMonitor will be published according to the Metropolitan Policy Program at To read thecomplete report, .
Friday, December 23, 2011
Investment group plans $50M project - Charlotte Business Journal:
lebexab.wordpress.com
The Mooresville-based investment company says the $50 million projectr will create 150 jobs innortu Charlotte. According to a rezoning application filed with the city of the project calls for indoor andoutdoor retail, a 150-room restaurants, offices, conference space and indoor and outdoor kartingb and racing. Charlotte City Council will vote June 15 on theproposeds rezoning. If the application is approved, the site will be callef “Metrolina Speed and Sport The first phase of the project is slated for completionhin April.
“Our goal is to create an affordable familhy racing and entertainment destination with an amateur sports focusx and we believe Charlotte is the prim locationfor it,” says Simon Weber, president of Speedwag Investment Group. “We are committed to revitalizing the propertty in a way thatcelebratezs Metrolina’s rich history, embraces green technology and attractds national and international sports competitions as well as tourism dollars.” Wes Jones, president of of Charlottew has been named architect on the project. The Metrolinwa Expo property totals more than 135 acres and includez parkingfor 20,000 The site is on Old Statesville Road in the Derit a community.
Speedway Investment Group was foundedc in 2008 for the specifi c purpose of redeveloping the Metrolina site and creating an amateutsports destination.
The Mooresville-based investment company says the $50 million projectr will create 150 jobs innortu Charlotte. According to a rezoning application filed with the city of the project calls for indoor andoutdoor retail, a 150-room restaurants, offices, conference space and indoor and outdoor kartingb and racing. Charlotte City Council will vote June 15 on theproposeds rezoning. If the application is approved, the site will be callef “Metrolina Speed and Sport The first phase of the project is slated for completionhin April.
“Our goal is to create an affordable familhy racing and entertainment destination with an amateur sports focusx and we believe Charlotte is the prim locationfor it,” says Simon Weber, president of Speedwag Investment Group. “We are committed to revitalizing the propertty in a way thatcelebratezs Metrolina’s rich history, embraces green technology and attractds national and international sports competitions as well as tourism dollars.” Wes Jones, president of of Charlottew has been named architect on the project. The Metrolinwa Expo property totals more than 135 acres and includez parkingfor 20,000 The site is on Old Statesville Road in the Derit a community.
Speedway Investment Group was foundedc in 2008 for the specifi c purpose of redeveloping the Metrolina site and creating an amateutsports destination.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Queen's pays $2.5M to settle Feds' claims - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
pabigy.wordpress.com
million to settle lawsuits thatalleged Hawaii’s larges hospital overbilled government health care programs for prescriptiom medications, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. The settlement was the resulft of two whistleblower lawsuits broughft by formerpharmacy technicians, who alleged that Queen’s overbilled the state’s Medicare and Medicaied programs, as well as the federal health insurance prograk for military dependents, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Edwarc H. Kubo Jr.
The lawsuitzs were filed under the federal and state FalseClaimd Acts, which allow the government to claimm up to triple the damages, plus penalties, for submittingh false claims to government programs. The two former employees allege Queen’s submitted fake billws for anti-psychotic medications that were dispensed by the hospitao pharmacy from 1999 to 2002 and were authorized by a but not necessarily bya psychiatrist, as The hospital was also accused of billing from 1999 to 2006 for servicews provided by medical residents who were supposede to be supervised by otherf doctors, but that the supervisionh did not occur, Kubo’sd office said.
Under the settlement, Queen’s paid $2 million to the federal whichshared $400,000 of the proceeds with the two former employees, and $500,000 to the attorneys for the two Queen’s will also maintain a compliance program to ensur e its billings conform to the rules for five yearsd under a corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Departmentt of Health and Human Services. Queen's issued this " denies any intentional but after five years of discussionsz and negotiations with the has agreed to settles this matter so that its resourcee may be spent on providingb quality health care rather than onlegal
million to settle lawsuits thatalleged Hawaii’s larges hospital overbilled government health care programs for prescriptiom medications, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. The settlement was the resulft of two whistleblower lawsuits broughft by formerpharmacy technicians, who alleged that Queen’s overbilled the state’s Medicare and Medicaied programs, as well as the federal health insurance prograk for military dependents, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Edwarc H. Kubo Jr.
The lawsuitzs were filed under the federal and state FalseClaimd Acts, which allow the government to claimm up to triple the damages, plus penalties, for submittingh false claims to government programs. The two former employees allege Queen’s submitted fake billws for anti-psychotic medications that were dispensed by the hospitao pharmacy from 1999 to 2002 and were authorized by a but not necessarily bya psychiatrist, as The hospital was also accused of billing from 1999 to 2006 for servicews provided by medical residents who were supposede to be supervised by otherf doctors, but that the supervisionh did not occur, Kubo’sd office said.
Under the settlement, Queen’s paid $2 million to the federal whichshared $400,000 of the proceeds with the two former employees, and $500,000 to the attorneys for the two Queen’s will also maintain a compliance program to ensur e its billings conform to the rules for five yearsd under a corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Departmentt of Health and Human Services. Queen's issued this " denies any intentional but after five years of discussionsz and negotiations with the has agreed to settles this matter so that its resourcee may be spent on providingb quality health care rather than onlegal
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tennessee lenders so far steering clear of ARC loan program for small businesses - San Francisco Business Times:
yfimuna.wordpress.com
As of July 6, 251 loans were fundef with a valueof $8.2i9 million, but none in Tennessee, says David public information officer for SBA’s Tennessee office. “Atf this point I don’t know of in Tennessee, he says. “Banks are in a training phase; they have a learnintg curve.” Loans have so far been done in 35 statea by 121 lenders for 151different industries, Tiller says. More than 3,0009 individuals from 1,300 institutions participated in the ARC informatiomn andtraining session, Tiller The program is schedulefd to end Sept.
30 or when the allocated $350 million runs out, whichever comes But the fact that no businessesin Tennessee, much less have applied is worrisomr to some business advocates. “I hate to see an area like the Mid-Soutn that needs an economic boost miss out on somethingy because it got bungled in implementationb or for whatever reason bankws decided not todo it,” says business and estate planning attorney John Windsor Jr. with Windsor Law Firm PLC. Windso r contacted more than a half dozen banks for clients to see if lenders were underwritinARC loans.
Conversations with two lendersx revealed concerns about guaranteeing the loans and confusiomn with some of the terms spelled out inthe program, one beingt an understanding of a “viablde business.” The SBA defines a viable businesa as “one that has been profitable in the past but is just beginninhg to struggle with making loan and can reasonably project that it can get back on trackj with the infusion of ARC loan fundzs and the benefit of deferred payments.” Some bankerx believe the legislation is too ambiguoue and the risk too great. “The thrusr was they just don’t know what they can and can’f do,” Windsor says.
Anthony Wilkinson, president and CEO of the Okla.-based , says the program has received a very lukewarmn reception fromhis members. The association recently sent a six-pager letter to the SBA with 40 questions directly from Wilkinson says. Lenders were concerned with mainly technical issuex such as how tofile claims, how fast they will get paid and referencees to 7(a) loan requirements even though ARC is not a 7(a) “Some lenders are takingh the view it’s a lot of work for a $35,0009 loan,” Wilkinson says.
As of July 6, 251 loans were fundef with a valueof $8.2i9 million, but none in Tennessee, says David public information officer for SBA’s Tennessee office. “Atf this point I don’t know of in Tennessee, he says. “Banks are in a training phase; they have a learnintg curve.” Loans have so far been done in 35 statea by 121 lenders for 151different industries, Tiller says. More than 3,0009 individuals from 1,300 institutions participated in the ARC informatiomn andtraining session, Tiller The program is schedulefd to end Sept.
30 or when the allocated $350 million runs out, whichever comes But the fact that no businessesin Tennessee, much less have applied is worrisomr to some business advocates. “I hate to see an area like the Mid-Soutn that needs an economic boost miss out on somethingy because it got bungled in implementationb or for whatever reason bankws decided not todo it,” says business and estate planning attorney John Windsor Jr. with Windsor Law Firm PLC. Windso r contacted more than a half dozen banks for clients to see if lenders were underwritinARC loans.
Conversations with two lendersx revealed concerns about guaranteeing the loans and confusiomn with some of the terms spelled out inthe program, one beingt an understanding of a “viablde business.” The SBA defines a viable businesa as “one that has been profitable in the past but is just beginninhg to struggle with making loan and can reasonably project that it can get back on trackj with the infusion of ARC loan fundzs and the benefit of deferred payments.” Some bankerx believe the legislation is too ambiguoue and the risk too great. “The thrusr was they just don’t know what they can and can’f do,” Windsor says.
Anthony Wilkinson, president and CEO of the Okla.-based , says the program has received a very lukewarmn reception fromhis members. The association recently sent a six-pager letter to the SBA with 40 questions directly from Wilkinson says. Lenders were concerned with mainly technical issuex such as how tofile claims, how fast they will get paid and referencees to 7(a) loan requirements even though ARC is not a 7(a) “Some lenders are takingh the view it’s a lot of work for a $35,0009 loan,” Wilkinson says.
Friday, December 16, 2011
StartupNation's 2009 top 200 leading moms in business - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
asafevboriegum.blogspot.com
In an effort to honor the triumphs, tribulations and achievementd of moms running successful businessesacross America, StartupNation.com launcheds its first annual , sponsored by , and set out in searc h of the top 200 moms in According to the Centet for Women's Business Research, there are 10.6 milliohn women-owned businesses in the United Statesd generating $2.5 trillion in annuakl revenue. With women starting businesses at nearlyt twice the rateof men, it's no surprise that mother make up the fastest growing segment of new businessw owners.
The thousands of contestantse in this first annual competition illustrateed just how dynamic moms are in their adding color to the traditional 1950a mom portrayed in black and white TV The list ofthe —ranked ordered based on votes accumulated—has now been announced. The contestt clearly struck a chorf as the contestants reached out to their circlesa togenerate support. More than 620,000 votes came pouring in. The StartupNation editorial staff looked past the buzz and took its own tallh to identify the themes and trends commojn among the winning moms andtheir businesses. Perhaps those listed below will help explain whatmakee mom-owned businesses tick.
One thing that make moms so easy to love and so successful in business isthat they'rde motivated by more than just dollar signs. money is still a drivingv factor, but making a difference runs high on thelist and, many even trumps money. Authors Kira Gouldr and Lance Hosey address the topic of a greenedr gender intheir book, Womenb in Green, stating that studiee show that women are more likely than men to suppor t environmental causes through voting, activism and consumer choices. That conscientiousnesse often extends to the types of businesses moms choosdeto start.
Take the 50th ranked Margaret founder of Beaulily and creator ofthe , a soft fabrifc muff designed to provide warmth and activity for the elderly. Her inspiration for the TwiddleMufd came from her desire to ease the discomforr thather 90-year-old grandmother was sufferingg from due to the diminished use of her Although her grandmother providec her with the initial inspiration for the it's now the thousandes of customers benefitting from her creation that keep her motivated to continue. "Knowing that I've maybe made somebody's life a little more comfortable or easy makez it well worth the issues that I face as I go aboutg growingthis business," says Light.
She has since extended her productr line, incorporating cat and dog designs as well as differen t colors to meet the various demands of her growing listof customers. We came across several mom-owned businesses among the Top 200 wher e the childrenwere involved, but we were struck most by Yana Berlin, ranked #1 in the Top 200, launched , a sociap networking site geared toward womemn over 40, in 2006. Now, the site has thousands of members from around the world including theUnitee Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
And its successw is in large part due to her four children and nephea who help out with variousd aspects of the business ranginhg from helping her navigate the technical challenges of startingb a social networking site to spreading the word through publicx relations to keeping the businessw profitable with strategicfinanciakl budgets. Berlin never thought that Fabulously49 and Beyond would becomr afamily business, but it has - to the poinf that it's difficult for her familhy to talk about topics other than the Overall, the experience of startinb a business has been life-changing and has even inspirecd Berlin's eldest child to help other small businese owners with the public relations side of "Once children see their parents are doing something and they help their parents, it really sets them on the righr track.
" Berlin is not the only one to involver her children. Statistics show that familyu companies are responsible for 60 percent ofthe nation' s employment and 78 percent of new jobs created. evidence indicates that women-owned family businesses are better preparedd for transition scenarios and have higherr success rates than businesses controlled by theiemale counterparts. Victoria Colligan, founder of the women'x networking group, , and a promoter of this year'd Leading Moms in Business competitionhas noticed—as we did—how appealing it is to moms to wear the boss hat.
Calling the shots allows moms the flexibility and control they need to be the perenniall jugglersthey are. "Fo Moms, control over their lives, is the numbeer one reason they are inspirexto launch," says Colligan. This treasured flexibilityg isa trend, according to the Bureayu of Labor Statistics, which has confirmed that nearlt 26 percent of working women with children unde 18 work flexible schedules today comparedr with just 14 percent in 1991.
In searc h of flexibility, many moms turn to startingv their own businesses in order to obtain contropl overtheir schedules, stating that, despite the fact that startinyg and running a business can be an extremelg difficult task, they'd have it no otheer way. Nina Rodecker, founder of , is one such mom. ranked #3 among the top moms, had alwayds known that she wanted to start a businesds ofher own, but it wasn't untik she was pregnant and the cravingzs kicked in that she found her a catered cotton candy machine rental service.
Now, with an infant and a businessto nurture, she has found a way to make it all work in "I spin the cotton candy, returmn phone calls, reply to emailss when my baby's sleeping or when he's calm, I scheduls events and pick up orders when I know that there's no priort engagement, and I always allow extra time [to accounty for my] baby's crying," says Rodecker. Many mom-owner businesses are proving that some of the best businessesw are those that cater to hobbies women like to do at Take scrapbookingfor Scrapbooking.
com believes that the industry has the potentiakl to grow to $4 billion in the next ten In addition, with the down economgy forcing consumers to enjoy "staycations" and appreciate all that's home is becoming more of a treasurec place than ever. Kate Rothacker has found successd by creatinga home… away from As founder of the , ranked #22 in the Top 200 Leadin g Moms in Business, she offers her guests a scrapbookingy retreat where they can treasure their bond with others, and share meals The business is doing so well that Rothacker just opened a second location.
"Ig is something that [guests] want to remembe and come back to," says "They're looking for a place of comfort." On many of the main social networking sites, women outnumbet men by a considerable amount, but we also found that mom business owners are at the front of the curver when it comes to using sitesd like Facebook and email marketing solutionsfrom turn-keuy providers like to generate awarenesse for their businesses.
In anticipation of StartupNationprovided "Vote for Me" widgets that contestants could seamlessly incorporate into their emails, sociak networking profiles and Rothacker uses both social media and emaik marketing to get the word out about Cozy Crop House. She releaseed some of the first picturezs of the new locationb onher business's Facebooik page and created an exclusivs Yahoo! group for her past guests so that they coule network with each other.
It might be Rothacker'sa use of email marketing, though, that really helped her win the "It was a great way to ask peoplee to help spread the word to people who basically share the same interestswithout ‘Would you please tell peoplre about our business,'" says Rothacker. If the level of participation among contestants and voters in the firstr annual Leading Moms in Busines s competition isany indication, this is a hot sector of the smalll business economy. And it appears to be the ultra passionate moms that are creatingthat heat.
Being the cleveer marketers they are, contestants leveraged theidr participation in the competition as a way to generatee positive interest and awareness around their It helped that moms were able to monitod their progress in the competition by viewingtheir "popularity which ranged from "cool" to "on depending on the number of votes they had "There is certainly a bit of status connected with beinb on fire and that was very exciting," says Berlin, the winner by a was incredulous as her supporters carried her to the win.
And, perhapsw most importantly, Light enjoyex an increase in saless thanks to the interest and word of mouth that the competitiom generated forher business.
In an effort to honor the triumphs, tribulations and achievementd of moms running successful businessesacross America, StartupNation.com launcheds its first annual , sponsored by , and set out in searc h of the top 200 moms in According to the Centet for Women's Business Research, there are 10.6 milliohn women-owned businesses in the United Statesd generating $2.5 trillion in annuakl revenue. With women starting businesses at nearlyt twice the rateof men, it's no surprise that mother make up the fastest growing segment of new businessw owners.
The thousands of contestantse in this first annual competition illustrateed just how dynamic moms are in their adding color to the traditional 1950a mom portrayed in black and white TV The list ofthe —ranked ordered based on votes accumulated—has now been announced. The contestt clearly struck a chorf as the contestants reached out to their circlesa togenerate support. More than 620,000 votes came pouring in. The StartupNation editorial staff looked past the buzz and took its own tallh to identify the themes and trends commojn among the winning moms andtheir businesses. Perhaps those listed below will help explain whatmakee mom-owned businesses tick.
One thing that make moms so easy to love and so successful in business isthat they'rde motivated by more than just dollar signs. money is still a drivingv factor, but making a difference runs high on thelist and, many even trumps money. Authors Kira Gouldr and Lance Hosey address the topic of a greenedr gender intheir book, Womenb in Green, stating that studiee show that women are more likely than men to suppor t environmental causes through voting, activism and consumer choices. That conscientiousnesse often extends to the types of businesses moms choosdeto start.
Take the 50th ranked Margaret founder of Beaulily and creator ofthe , a soft fabrifc muff designed to provide warmth and activity for the elderly. Her inspiration for the TwiddleMufd came from her desire to ease the discomforr thather 90-year-old grandmother was sufferingg from due to the diminished use of her Although her grandmother providec her with the initial inspiration for the it's now the thousandes of customers benefitting from her creation that keep her motivated to continue. "Knowing that I've maybe made somebody's life a little more comfortable or easy makez it well worth the issues that I face as I go aboutg growingthis business," says Light.
She has since extended her productr line, incorporating cat and dog designs as well as differen t colors to meet the various demands of her growing listof customers. We came across several mom-owned businesses among the Top 200 wher e the childrenwere involved, but we were struck most by Yana Berlin, ranked #1 in the Top 200, launched , a sociap networking site geared toward womemn over 40, in 2006. Now, the site has thousands of members from around the world including theUnitee Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
And its successw is in large part due to her four children and nephea who help out with variousd aspects of the business ranginhg from helping her navigate the technical challenges of startingb a social networking site to spreading the word through publicx relations to keeping the businessw profitable with strategicfinanciakl budgets. Berlin never thought that Fabulously49 and Beyond would becomr afamily business, but it has - to the poinf that it's difficult for her familhy to talk about topics other than the Overall, the experience of startinb a business has been life-changing and has even inspirecd Berlin's eldest child to help other small businese owners with the public relations side of "Once children see their parents are doing something and they help their parents, it really sets them on the righr track.
" Berlin is not the only one to involver her children. Statistics show that familyu companies are responsible for 60 percent ofthe nation' s employment and 78 percent of new jobs created. evidence indicates that women-owned family businesses are better preparedd for transition scenarios and have higherr success rates than businesses controlled by theiemale counterparts. Victoria Colligan, founder of the women'x networking group, , and a promoter of this year'd Leading Moms in Business competitionhas noticed—as we did—how appealing it is to moms to wear the boss hat.
Calling the shots allows moms the flexibility and control they need to be the perenniall jugglersthey are. "Fo Moms, control over their lives, is the numbeer one reason they are inspirexto launch," says Colligan. This treasured flexibilityg isa trend, according to the Bureayu of Labor Statistics, which has confirmed that nearlt 26 percent of working women with children unde 18 work flexible schedules today comparedr with just 14 percent in 1991.
In searc h of flexibility, many moms turn to startingv their own businesses in order to obtain contropl overtheir schedules, stating that, despite the fact that startinyg and running a business can be an extremelg difficult task, they'd have it no otheer way. Nina Rodecker, founder of , is one such mom. ranked #3 among the top moms, had alwayds known that she wanted to start a businesds ofher own, but it wasn't untik she was pregnant and the cravingzs kicked in that she found her a catered cotton candy machine rental service.
Now, with an infant and a businessto nurture, she has found a way to make it all work in "I spin the cotton candy, returmn phone calls, reply to emailss when my baby's sleeping or when he's calm, I scheduls events and pick up orders when I know that there's no priort engagement, and I always allow extra time [to accounty for my] baby's crying," says Rodecker. Many mom-owner businesses are proving that some of the best businessesw are those that cater to hobbies women like to do at Take scrapbookingfor Scrapbooking.
com believes that the industry has the potentiakl to grow to $4 billion in the next ten In addition, with the down economgy forcing consumers to enjoy "staycations" and appreciate all that's home is becoming more of a treasurec place than ever. Kate Rothacker has found successd by creatinga home… away from As founder of the , ranked #22 in the Top 200 Leadin g Moms in Business, she offers her guests a scrapbookingy retreat where they can treasure their bond with others, and share meals The business is doing so well that Rothacker just opened a second location.
"Ig is something that [guests] want to remembe and come back to," says "They're looking for a place of comfort." On many of the main social networking sites, women outnumbet men by a considerable amount, but we also found that mom business owners are at the front of the curver when it comes to using sitesd like Facebook and email marketing solutionsfrom turn-keuy providers like to generate awarenesse for their businesses.
In anticipation of StartupNationprovided "Vote for Me" widgets that contestants could seamlessly incorporate into their emails, sociak networking profiles and Rothacker uses both social media and emaik marketing to get the word out about Cozy Crop House. She releaseed some of the first picturezs of the new locationb onher business's Facebooik page and created an exclusivs Yahoo! group for her past guests so that they coule network with each other.
It might be Rothacker'sa use of email marketing, though, that really helped her win the "It was a great way to ask peoplee to help spread the word to people who basically share the same interestswithout ‘Would you please tell peoplre about our business,'" says Rothacker. If the level of participation among contestants and voters in the firstr annual Leading Moms in Busines s competition isany indication, this is a hot sector of the smalll business economy. And it appears to be the ultra passionate moms that are creatingthat heat.
Being the cleveer marketers they are, contestants leveraged theidr participation in the competition as a way to generatee positive interest and awareness around their It helped that moms were able to monitod their progress in the competition by viewingtheir "popularity which ranged from "cool" to "on depending on the number of votes they had "There is certainly a bit of status connected with beinb on fire and that was very exciting," says Berlin, the winner by a was incredulous as her supporters carried her to the win.
And, perhapsw most importantly, Light enjoyex an increase in saless thanks to the interest and word of mouth that the competitiom generated forher business.
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