My Busy Day Gourmet

Wayne County Women's Network truly enjoyed the My Busy Day Gourmet experience. We get together once a month and this was something out of the ordinary where we could share each other’s company and go away with healthy, delicious meals for our family.

Small Business of the Year Finalist 2007

CryoPlus, Inc. was nominated for Small Business Award. We were one of the five finalists. Sign Design was the winner! It was exciting just to be nominated and make it as far as a finalist!

American Red Cross Community Heroes Awards

Traci Hanger-Hoffman nominated me for a Community Leader award. I WON! Hereos come in all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life, under entirely different circumstances. Hereos are all around us. They are usually people who don't draw much attention to themselves other than to help others when in need. I was among 26 individuals who were nominated as Wayne County Heroes who lended a hand to the down and out, helped out when called upon or made Wayne County a better and safer place to live. May 17, 2007. Here is the story Traci wrote:
Imagine a family in extreme need – we all know them: A single parent who lost his/her job and is struggling to provide food for the family; A parent with a sudden illness that has wiped out the family’s financial reserves…We all know the many different stories. Christmas is coming and there is nothing left to spend on gifts for the kids or even a special meal on the big day. Disappointment is looming large in the faces of the children. Despair haunts the parents. That is where Kathi gets involved. Seven years ago, and every year since, Kathi has organized a shopping trip with her mother and her sisters, to provide Christmas for one of these less fortunate families. She gets information from a local church, or from a community agency, or from someone who knows someone. She collects the names, ages, sizes and wishes of each child in the family and of the parent(s) too, and she and her cohorts go shopping. And they shop and shop and shop. And they cook. By the time they are done, they deliver Christmas, complete with a meal and gifts for everyone, to one desperate family. Every Christmas for the last seven years, and for the foreseeable future, Kathi organizes her family to donate their time and resources to this endeavor. No fanfare. No publicity. No formal organization. Just the goodness of her heart reaching out to a family in need. Very heroic indeed.

NBRSA Nationals at Kelbly's Sept. 2007

The NBRSA Nationals were hosted by Kelbly's Inc. in North Lawrence, Ohio Sept. 17-22, 2007. The benchrest competition coincided with George and Karen Kelbly's 50th wedding anniversay. My husband, Hobie, and I had a party for them at our home, serving 135 guests. Cathie Harris, country singer from Milan, TN. performed beautifully!

Jennifer Downey- Speaker for Women's Network

Entrepreneurs must be versatile in the skills they bring to their businesses. Jennifer Downey, President of Ambiance Incorporated, brings the skills honed in a career as a professional fashion model, an over-the-counter stock trader and a public relations specialist to her venture into the retail side of business.

Downey is not only multi-talented, but a pioneer as well. In 1978, Downey became Cleveland’s first female Over-The-Counter stock trader, a business still dominated by men. By 1985, she was President-Elect of the Cleveland Security Traders Association.

Before taking office, Downey was offered a chance to head Ambiance. She had met Ambiance founder Henry Keiluhn in 1982, becoming a consultant to the company, helping redirect Ambiance’s focus towards couples. Downey used her business acumen to keep the company’s finances in order, and her acting and modeling skills to become a fixture on local radio and television and in the print media as Ambiance’s spokesperson.

Under her leadership, Ambiance has grown to eight locations and an E-Commerce Internet web site at www.Ambiance.com. With Downey at the helm over the past 20 years, Ambiance has continued to grow through good and bad economic times.
Feb. 13, 2007

Cleveland/Akron Athena Banquet 2007

Karen Gilkison, Fike Agency, Rita Shisler, Shisler Cheese House and I went to Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights for the Cleveland/Akron Athena Banquet Sept. 27. Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis, President of Saint Joseph Academy and Teresa Carter, President of OMNOVA Solutions Foundations were the recipients.

The ATHENA awards, first prsented by the ATHENA Foundation in 1982, recognize the efforts and successes of business people around the world. The awards honor those who have helped women reach their full leadership potential, demonstrate creativiity and initiative in the professions; and improve the quality of life for others in the community.

DeLores Pressley-Believe in the Power of You

Wayne County Women's Network presented DeLores Pressley as their speaker at the Wooster Inn, Sep. 25. Ms. Pressley's topic was "Believe in the Power of You." She has appeared on the OPRAH show, Entertainment Tonight, as well as every major talk show on television. A delightful and inspirational speaker, she left all those in attendance with ideas and goals to achieve.

Wayne Co. Athena 2007

It was one of the highlights of my life to award the 2007 Athena Award to one of my best friends, Rita Shisler, owner of Shisler Cheese House in Kidron, Ohio.