Sondra Ames, co-founder of Wonderland Bakery, was presented the California Small Business Award for the 35th District by State Senator Tom Harman, as reported May 2 in the Daily Pilot. The award ceremony will be held in Sacramento later this month.

Wonderland Bakery also is among four companies selected in a competition to provide branded merchandise for national NAWBO. The company was featured April 18 in Jan Norman's OC Register blog. Sondra's cookies and tins bearing the NAWBO logo are now sold at www.nawbo.org.

In the April 24 edition of OC METRO Business, publisher Steve Churm commended Sue Parks, founder and CEO of WalkStyles, Inc., for her work in promoting the health benefits of walking, and for her energetic commitment to the community.

Sue Parks was also featured in the April 16 USA Today for her We Who Walk Tour - 5-mile walks in all 50 capital cities, from Sacramento to Annapolis, over a period of 50 weeks. What an accomplishment!

Sue Parks was quoted in Lowe's online newsletter on April 29. In an article about wellness programs in the workplace, Sue's advice included the tip that bosses must participate to create incentive and set good examples.

Camille Jayne, founder of Matters at Hand, will emcee the annual Comerica Women's Business Symposium on May 9 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. Camille's role in the festivities was cited in OC METRO Business on April 24. Additional NAWBO members and corporate members participating are Steve Churm, Kim Shepherd, Tracey Downey-Racen, Cheryl Barrett, Michelle Beauchamp, Gloria Robbins, Barri Carian, Nella Webster, Laura Hieb, and Bridgett Maheu.

In the April 10 edition of L.A. Times publication THE OC GUIDE, readers were encouraged to sign up for a Chocolatier class with Tracey Downey-Racen, owner of Downey's Chocolate in Laguna Niguel. Chocoholics welcome!

Zov Karamardian, executive chef Zov's Bistro was featured in Greer's OC on April 29. Zov answered Greer's '20 Questions' revealing that she's a night owl who loves to read and learn in whatever spare time running her popular restaurant allows her.

Susan's Healthy Gourmet, owned by NAWBO-OC past president Susan Johnson, was the subject of an article in the April 24 issue of OC METRO Business. Susan's prepackaged meals provide busy families with a convenient, economical, healthy solution when there's simply no time to cook.

Angela Woodside, NAWBO-OC member and owner of landscape design company Angeffects, Inc., was interviewed for the April issue of OC Vision, the California Landscape Contractors Assn. magazine. A true landscape artist in the outdoors and on canvas, Angela will also be sharing her expertise in a monthly column.

Judy Fox-Brandt, NAWBO-OC member and principal of Fox & Company, was the focus on an entire column by the OC Register's Frank Mickadeit on March 27. Frank publicly lauded Judy and husband, Ray Brandt, for introducing him to the work and needs of Working Wardrobes, the terrific non-profit organization founded by Jerri Rosen. Good job Judy!

Rachel Owens, NAWBO-OC board member and president of Succession Strategies and Tri-Circle Financial and Insurance Services, got some ink in the March 27 issue of OC Metro Business for her new appointment as president of the board of directors of Serving People in Need (SPIN).


Zov Karamardian, NAWBO-OC member and founder of Zov's Bistro, was the subject of a photo Q&A feature in the Daily Pilot on March 28, just before her First Anniversary celebration at her second location, Zov's Cafe & Bakery in Newport Coast. Zov's Bistro also was included when executive dining columnist Fifi Chao highlighted local restaurants with great lunches in the March 3 OCBJ.


Vanessa O'Neill, NAWBO-OC member and founder/CEO of Cedar Spring Inc., was honored in the March 13 issue of OC Metro Business as one of the 20 Women to Watch in 2008. Vanessa is a past recipient of the Make Mine A Million $ Business Contest.


Susan Johnson, NAWBO-OC member and founder/CEO of Susan's Healthy Gourmet, had coverage as part of a March 31 in-studio segment on KABC-TV with Food Coach Lori Corbin who discussed the new company's purification meal plan, and also was covered by Jessica Lee in the March 24 OC Business Journal.

Hilary Kaye, NAWBO-OC Director of PR & Advertising and president of HKA, Inc. PR, was featured in the March 27 OC Metro Business as one of four honorees who received Vanguard University's Ethics in America Awards, in addition to national honoree Dennis Prager.


Twelve of NAWBO-OC's enterprising entrepreneurs were included in this year's nominees for the OCBJ Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards. The nominees' bios were published in the Feb. 11 OCBJ. Nominees included Sondra Ames, Tracey Downey-Racen, Cara Good, Susan Johnson, Amy Kaplan, Zov Karamardian, Hilary Kaye, Kelly Moore, Sue Parks, Kim Shepard, Jamie Welsh and Greer Wylder.

The Orange County Register, in partnership with Kim Shepherd's Decision Toolbox, has launched a full-service recruitment solution for employers interested in finding the most qualified applicants from their recruitment efforts. Click here to find out more.

Kimberly Gerber's company, Excelerate, Inc. was featured in Jan Norman’s blog on February 29, ‘Be Trustworthy’. Being trustworthy is just one of the topics that participants will learn in Excelerate’s new open enrollment workshop series focused on the role of communication in building and sustaining both personal and professional relationships, scheduled for launch in Q2, 2008.

Cara Good, CEO of WunderMarx|PR, appeared as the in-studio guest on the March 2 KTLA TV show, "Making It!" She explored how to transition a business into the "green market." She cited NAWBO member 10% Solution as an example.

Tracey Downey-Racen, NAWBO-OC member and owner of Downey's Chocolates, was included in a OC Business Journal article on February 18 that discussed retail trends in OC. Tracey reported that Valentine's Day business was "brisk" and she is forecasting a good year.

Sondra Ames, NAWBO-OC member and Chief Visionary of Wonderland Bakery, enjoyed national coverage in Spring 2008 Entrepreneur's Startups and BusinessWeek Small Biz (March/April 2008) and a variety of local and national media outlets reporting Wonderland's new national partnership with Errand Solutions in Chicago.

Susan Johnson, NAWBO-OC member and CEO of Susan's Healthy Gourmet, was interviewed on radio programs on Let's Dine Out on KTIE (Inland Empire) and Healthy Wealthy & Wow on Grapevine Radio (Internet).

Zov Karamardian, NAWBO-OC member and CEO of Zov's Bistro, had coverage of the famous Zov's Burger in Restaurants & Institutions' "Burgermania II: Love At First Bite" (March); an interview on KDOC-OC Daybreak (Feb. 26); and local coverage of February's month-long "Month of Love" events.

Kim Shepherd, CEO of Decision Toolbox, was featured in the January 3 OC Metro Business' cover story on "Pump Up Profits: 14 Ways to Boost Your Bottom Line." Also, a feature story bylined by Kim was published in the Monday Business Section of the OC Register on January 7. The article was titled, "Generation Y: You don't pick them, they pick you."

Cynthia Stamper Graff, CEO of Lindora Inc., was part of the January 24 OC Register story about OC Deputies and Santa Ana Police vying to lose weight in the "Battle of the Badges." Lindora is running—and covering the costs of—the 10-week program.

Kimberly Gerber, NAWBO-OC's VP of Membership and CEO of Excelerate, received full-page treatment, with photo, in the January 17 OC Metro Business. The article on Kimberly focused on ways to enhance your company's sustainable value.

Sondra Ames, co-founder/Chief Visionary of Wonderland Bakery, was featured in the January CHOC Foundation Newsletter after hosting the Wonderland Tea Party for CHOC cancer patients. Also, Allyson Wonderland Storytime Bear by Gund was featured as the Editor's Pick in January's OC Family.

Zov Karamardian, founder/CEO of Zov's, received coverage in the Daily Pilot and OC Metro as part of Newport Beach Restaurant Week; also coverage in Daily Pilot, OC Metro, Tustin News and Great Taste for the February "Month of Love" activities now under way at the three Zov's locations.

Hilary Kaye, NAWBO-OC's Director of PR/Marketing and president of HKA, Inc., offered the Tip of the Day of Jan Norman's January 29 Blog (OC Register)—she recommended that business owners who are "reluctant speakers" tap into the Toastmasters organization.

Lorraine Reafsnyder, HR Advisors, is featured in a book entitled Seed Start-up and Venture Investing: The Ins and Outs on Starting a Successful New Business. The 274-page book guides investors, entrepreneurs and start-up executives through the process of creating, funding and managing start-up companies. Lorraine attracted eight new HR On-Demand clients since December 2007.

Erin Stafford, Stafford Image Consulting, was asked to be the fashion expert on KDOC for two segments on their morning show Daybreak OC. She also founded the personal shopping program at South Coast Plaza, and was featured in an article on MSN entitled "How to Succeed in the Fashion Industry."

NAWBO member Kim Shepherd and her company, Decision Toolbox, was featured in the cover story on virtual companies in the Jan. 17, 2008 issue of OC Metro.

Jan Norman quoted WunderMarx|PR co-founder and CEO Cara Good in her Dec. 7 Orange County Register article, "O.C. business owners feel pain at the pump" Cara was also featured in the Dec. 27 Entrepreneur.com article, "Volunteering as a Benefit".

Janet O'Connor of O'Connor Creative, Inc. was recently featured in the issue of TIC Monthly magazine and e-mail newsletter for starting her new business. The publication is geared to securities profesionals in the 1031 and Tenant in Common industry.

Cheena Chandra, NAWBO-OC member and owner/designer of Cheena Chandra Jewelry enjoyed coverage of her line of jewelry in the Orange Pulp: Local Flair section of the January 2008 Coast Magazine.

Terri Stout, TS Investigations, Inc. was recently interviewed for the Women in Power section of the February issue of 944 Magazine.

Certified Financial Planner™ Robin Giles contributed to an article in the November edition of Money magazine. She provided money advice to characters in the hit television show How I Met Your Mother as part of the magazine's regular feature "Unsolicited Advice."

"Inspired Work" blog recently wrote a piece about NAWBO member Kim Shepherd and her company, Decision Toolbox: "Kim Shepherd has created an extraordinary culture that has virtual workers from Atlanta to New Zealand. Virtual work offers the flexibility of losing brick and mortar expense, and access to an extraordinary talent pool that simply will not fit into the previous constructs of work."

Josefina C. de la Cruz, CPA was recently featured on "Making It" on KTLA channel 5. The show included an interview with Josie and a tour of her CPA firm. Josie recalled her humble beginnings in the 1980's, venturing out to start and grow her own company, while keeping a balanced life as a wife and mother. see show

Judee Slack, NAWBO-OC member and owner of Slack Tax Inc, offered excellent end-of-year tax suggestions in her byline article, "Time for Companies to Make Year-End Tax Moves" in the Business Monday section the Nov. 26 issue of the OC Register.

Sandra Robbie, NAWBO-OC member, was interviewed for OC Metro's Hot 25 story (Oct. 25) on Sylvia Mendez, the civil rights icon whose story Sandra is helping promote.

Camille Jayne, Immediate Past President of NAWBO-OC and CEO of Matters at Hand, was featured in a Nov. 26 article in OC Business Journal on Marwit Capital’s interest in OC-based companies, particularly women business owners. Marwit Capital is a NAWBO-OC corporate partner.

Joyce Salter, NAWBO-OC corporate partner and principal with Haskell & White LLP, had news briefs in the OC Register, OC Metro and OC Business Journal about her appointment to the Working Wardrobes Board of Directors.

Jacquelyn Tran, NAWBO-OC member and president of Perfume Bay, was featured in a photo profile, Global Scents, in the December Entrepreneur Magazine and a feature in the November Inc. magazine, plus other news hits i.e. AP, Forbes, OCBJ, and others.

Sondra Ames, NAWBO-OC member and co-founder of Wonderland Bakery, had coverage of her new South Coast Plaza store and Wonderland Adventure Collection in Coast Kids, OC Business Journal and OC Register.

Zov Karamardian, NAWBO-OC member and founder of Zov's Bistro, had coverage in the Tustin News and on the Food Frenzy and Greer OC’s blogs on her Dec. 3 Winter Winemakers Dinner.

Susan Johnson, NAWBO-OC member and CEO of Susan's Healthy Gourmet, was included in The OC Mom's Little Black Book article in the December Coast Kids, which described her kids' meals delivered to your door. Susan's Healthy Gourmet, was also recently named one of the 100 fastest growing businesses in Orange County by the Orange County Business Journal.

News, Wants & Needs
of NAWBO-O C members

Kimberly Gerber, Excelerate, Inc., and team signed new corporate deals with Allergan, Southern California Edison, and Dow Chemical for training and coaching. Also, as a result of client request, Excelerate will be conducting an East Coast Communication Workshop to be held in Atlanta, GA in Q2.

Since February 7th, Karen Gifford, Gifford Management, has signed four contracts with companies ranging in revenue from $11 to $56 million, including one NASDAQ company. Services are for CEO coaching, growth financing and transition strategies. One of the clients is a referral from NAWBO member Patti Cain Stanley.

Lydia Welton, Principal of TEAMsmarts, has signed a contract with Deloitte Consulting to provide leadership training and coaching for new managers and senior managers in its Financial Advisory Services division.

Eugenia Francis, TeaCHildMath, says her workbook, Teach Your Child the Multiplication Tables, has been published in Spanish for the Hispanic market in the US and for international distribution. My TeaCHildMath trademark is now registered in Mexico, the European Union and Australia. She has donated 500 workbooks to military families across the U.S.

Gerrie Adams' Xengaru Fun Foods, was taken in to the new Whole Foods in Irvine/Tustin during the holidays. Pizzettos have also been taken on by RAINBOW® Natural Foods, a wholesale distributor of natural and organic products based in Colorado. Rainbow services over 1200 customers in the central United States with more than 17,000 products.

Debbie Douglas, Douglas Advisors, landed the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market account, whose parent company is UK-based Tesco—the third largest retailer in the world. Douglas Advisors was selected above global PR companies for the U.S. launch of 300 stores, and scored placements on every network for the initial market launch.

Michelle Beauchamp, Sandler Sales Institute, will be training new TeamLogicIT franchise owners throughout the United States and their existing franchises via tele-web on the Sandler Sales system. They came as a referral from the Mission Viejo franchise who is so happy with Michelle’s work, he introduced her to the president.

Mickey Stubler, Back Bay Fitness, announces the March 3 opening date of her new studio. She says this has been a huge undertaking—especially with what's happening in the economy—and she accomplished it in three months.

Hilary Kaye, NAWBO-OC's Director of Marketing/PR and president of HKA, Inc., is proud to announce two new clients: Farmers & Merchants Bank and Susan's Healthy Gourmet. Hilary and her team at HKA are providing both companies with proactive public relations campaigns.

Jenny Rosoff, Village Green Foods: October was our biggest sales month in our 16 years of business, and we will have our biggest sales year ever…reaching $3 million.

Judy Greenspon, NPI Services: Recently received ISO9001: 2000 certification. The audit was conducted by International Standards Authority, Inc. (ISA) on September 6th and 7th at NPI's Costa Mesa headquarters. "This effort demonstrates to our customers our commitment to high quality standards and service."

Kelly Robertson, CSI (Capitol Security and Investigations): An investigative and security training company, CSI recently obtained several new contracts including The City of Long Beach, The Water Department, and McKesson Pharmaceutical. Also, Kelly was appointed to Assembly Member Betty Karnette's Small Business Advisory Counsel, where she will advocate for small and women-owned businesses.

Traci Downey, Downey's Chocolates: Experienced 500% growth in 2007, recently closing new deals with American Airlines, Metro Pacific Bank, The Resort at Pelican Hill, Pepsi Bottling, TrafficEngine.com.

Terri Stout, TS Investigations, Inc.: Believing that the current dating environment has a great need for background checks, Terri recently established the dba OC Love Check. "These people need to be checked out." Upon targeting that niche, Terri landed a new dating agency in Orange County, and beginning in February will provide background checks for their clients.

Elise Rainey, Elise's Joy: For five years, Elise dreamed of helping women who lost their breasts to cancer. It took her three years to develop confidence in permanent makeup. She recently treated her first two clients for their repigmentations. "Now I am living my dream."

Denise Kennard, Competent Care Home Health Nursing: 2007, her first full year of overseeing all aspects of the business, was the most productive year ever, with $2.5 million in skilled nursing services, in-home caregiver business increasing 700%, and four positions added to office staff. Denise also found time to serve on two California Association of Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) state committees: Policy Advocacy and Public Affairs and Licensing.

Estate Planning Attorney Darlynn Morgan, of Morgan Law Group, was recently elected to the Board of Directors of Orange County Women Lawyers, an organization that supports the betterment of women in the legal profession.

NAWBO-OC's Mentoring Program founded by Dee Elliott of You Gotta Go Travel, has grown from 16 women to 46 women in 3 years. Dee is now in the process of licensing the program, but will always let NAWBO-OC use it for free with her oversight!

10% Solution, started in May 2007 by member Jamie Welsh, provides certification for businesses meeting their rigid standards in three areas: philanthropy, volunteering and green sustainability. In October the company launched their website, and in November they secured their 5th customer and presented to Oprah's lead development person.

WANTS & NEEDS
Office space to share: Video production company looking to share office space with web marketing company. Contact Diana D'Itri 949 643-9157.

Office Space in beautiful San Juan Capistrano, freeway close. Attractive building, restaurants, retail nearby. 3 Offices: 80, 120 & 168 square feet, some with window/balcony, month-to-month/yearly lease, furnished/unfurnished. Call Lauraine at 949-248-0800.

Room for lease in Newport Beach near airport in tranquil location. Use of fax, phones available. Health care practitioner or someone in related field preferred. Acupuncture practice currently in offices. Call Kacie at 949-474-7079.

Want to barter services? Or share office space or an assistant? Connect with NAWBO members who have similar needs using our news submission form!

Also see: Employment & Freelance Opportunities Page!