Celebration of Success Business Magazine

Celebration of Success Conference Business Magazine

www.celebrationofsuccessconference.com

Celebration of Success Conference Business Magazine We are thrilled to present “Celebration of Success Conference - Business Magazine”.

We wanted to continue the momentum of our wonderful Small Business Conference that we hosted in April 2013. There were so many fabulous speakers, sponsors and roundtable presenters! We wanted to continue to share their knowledge and expertise.

HUGE thank you’s continue to go out to our sponsors, speakers, vendors and roundtable facilitators. Please visit them and help us thank them!

We hope you enjoy this issue and we look forward to bringing you future issues.

Thank you as a past attendee, future attendee and a reader of our business magazine! We appreciate your support!

Catherine Monceaux

CEO Founder ShabbyLaneShops.com NashvilleSteals.com ShabbyLaneShoppingEvents.com CelebrationofSuccessConference.com

Celebrate your Success!

If you are a small business owner, you deserve to celebrate daily! You have made it! The economy has not been the kindest to start and maintain a business in. But, You did it!

Here are a few of my personal thoughts to help your business continue to “Celebrate”.

How do you stand out in a crowd? I do not like to say how do you stand out amongst your competitors, as I do not like that word competition. We should all compliment each other. But think of the ways that you can “Stand out”.

Are you in this for just the money? Chances are you are not. If you are, it is not the right reason. Your reason should be to help others with your amazing product or service. Providing over the top customer service. You do not have to be a non profit or charity to help others. You can help people daily by providing a better product and a great customer experience.

Do you communicate well or at all? Make sure to communicate well with your customers, clients, etc. Good communication and timely communication can be a great way to stand out in a crowd and provide great customer service.

Do you participate in Social Media? I am not a social media expert. But, I do know without a doubt, social media (as time consuming as it might be for a business) can really grow your business. Or, if done unprofessionally, can really hurt your business. Some social media outlets, allow people to show their negative side. Even on your personal page, something negative can affect your business. Please do not think that your personal business does not affect your “business”.

Never Give Up! Unless you are in this “just for the money” I will quote Dave Ramey from the “Entreleadership” conference I was privileged to attend. If you truly love what you do and your heart is in it, “NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, GIVE UP! With that being said, you may have to make some changes in your business, but you never have to give up!

Catherine Monceaux CEO Founder ShabbyLaneShops.com NashvilleSteals.com ShabbyLaneShoppingEvents.com CelebrationofSuccessConference.com

RUNWAY TO SUCCESS Strategies for Reaching Professional and Business Goals Success is a matter of choice and added value in the eye of an individual, business or customer.

What one considers success may not be the same for another; what works for one business may not work for another and what one customer sees as value may not be what another customer sees as value.

So it is clear that being successful requires an assessment of many factors. However, there are some common strategies that are critical to reaching our professional and business goals. Let’s look at the top five...

STRATEGY NUMBER ONE • Create a Vision of The Destination. When we decide to go on vacation we first define our destination. The same goes for our professional and business goals. In most cases we plan our vacations more thoroughly than we do our professional and business goals. It says in Proverbs 29:18....Where there is no vision, the people perish. Empowerment and motivation are birthed with a vision.

STRATEGY NUMBER TWO • Develop a Step-by-Step Plan. Once we know where we are going it is critical to develop a plan and a timeframe for getting there. Establishing a monthly goal of accomplishment is extremely important in maintaining and achieving our vision. I suggest as a monthly minimum goal completing at least three forward steps of the plan. Forward movement will encourage and motivate you to stay on track.

STRATEGY NUMBER THREE • Establish Benchmark Points. Benchmarking is a process of aligning an expected accomplishment with a planned timeframe. It is a checkpoint for knowing we are on target with our implementation plan. If the targeted accomplishment has not been reached...it requires checking the ‘why’ and realigning the plan. This is a point where changes and a refocusing of efforts are so critical. Without attention to benchmarks and progress the plan and vision can die a natural death.

STRATEGY NUMBER FOUR • Identify Necessary Endings. The processes of realignment mentioned in STRATEGY NUMBER THREE requires identifying necessary endings that are getting us off track and keeping us from our goals. Necessary endings can show up as lack of attention, a focus on other life events, personal energy, available resources, etc. In other words at this strategic point we must look at what we need to stop and start doing in order to maintain forward movement on our professional and business vision.

STRATEGY NUMBER FIVE • Celebration and Adjustment.

It is time to re-visit the vision to see if changes are needed. The gift of forward movement is celebration and visibility of necessary adjustments. It is never possible to see with total clarity the future; only as we move forward do we have that opportunity. We can guess and predict in the planning stages; but living the experience gives us the proof. Celebrate what has been gained and outline a plan for the next phase. Celebration and plan adjustment are important keys on The RUNWAY to Success!

Patricia Leonard President, RUNWAY TO SUCCESS Speaker, Career and Business Coach, Author and Workshop Trainer www.linkedin.com/in/epatricialeonard www.facebook.com/patricia.leonard1 www.patricialeonard.net

Patricia is founder and leader of a monthly group coaching event for those in career transition, business owners looking for growth, professionals searching for clarity of direction and organizations seeking succession planning and leadership development.

She believes that one must begin in order to win. Her background in Corporate America includes roles in human resource management, training, corporate consulting, new business development and outplacement services.

She has consulted with companies in the service, banking, manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, retail and financial industries; and taught classes as a university adjunct professor.

For the last twenty years, Patricia has focused on helping those who are looking for personal and professional fulfillment and organizations seeking more effectiveness in managing their resource base. .

5 Steps to Stop the Busyness and Build Your Business Whether you realize it or not, almost everything you do on a daily basis is essentially a habit.

What often happens is that when you are working at the same thing for a while, you get pulled into the “busyness” of day to day issues and forget to take the time to manage your business. I call that Whack-a-Mole Syndrome, like the children’s game, where you expend an awful lot of energy beating down items that pop up but at the end of the day you really have not made any forward progress.

Many businesses have a plan, a plan that outlines the major items you need to accomplish to achieve your goals. Unfortunately, that plan is barely worth the paper it’s printed on until you get results.

What you need is to align projects to your plan. Your overarching objective should be to complete projects that produce profit.

Follow these 5 steps to project management and learn how you can be successful.

1. Scope Projects are defined as activity that has a distinct beginning and end and is intended to accomplish a specific objective. The first logical step in managing a project is to clearly define its scope. What is the objective? What do you expect the outcome to be? In other words, what does success look like?

Be very specific in your definition to include these 3 items: • Money – What is the project budget?

• Resources – What people, tools, materials, etc. do you need?

• Time – What is the target to complete the project?

2. Roles/Responsibilities Clarify who is responsible for what, and what level of authority each person will have. You want to outline who has ownership of each area of your project and who is the ultimate decision maker. It is perfectly fine for the person with responsibility to have help, but that person is the one who will ultimately be held accountable for results.

3. Plan

Create a plan. You need a list of the activities or tasks that get you to your . Who does what when? What tasks are dependent on other tasks? Be specific.

Make sure you have milestones in your plan for completion of major sections of the project. For example, if you are building a house, you would have milestones for the foundation, framing, utilities, etc.

4. Measure Progress

Find a way to measure the progress of activities regularly. Are you tracking to plan? If not, what is getting in the way? Don’t just take someone’s word for it, though. Verify that the appropriate tasks are done.

5. Keep score

There are two primary components to measure: • Financials/budget – project cost to date and expected cost at completion • Key performance indicators in your business that the project is expected to impact, such as sales volume, profit, etc.

The best way to improve your business results is to improve your project management skills.

Focus your energy and your resources on those things that have the most direct impact on your bottom line. There’s no place for whack-a-mole in your business.

Position your company for growth with our free whitepaper, Designing for Growth, available at http://JoanneEckton.com/resources. Joanne Eckton is a Business Performance Architect, helping business owners get their teams energized and focused on driving business results.

Joanne Eckton joanneeckton.com

Three common reasons why Small Business owners are not getting feedback, and why you should not let this happen to you There are 3 common reasons why a business or organization does not have a customer feedback mechanism in place, and is not listening.

1. “ I don’t have time for it, I am so busy already” (Aka - I am anticipating bad feedback that I will have to spend time fixing) If this is your reason, then I ask you - “ Do you have time to lose your business?”

Most likely, you are spending the majority of your time doing things that are not bringing in new business or sustaining your current business. And this is because you haven’t asked your customers what they want.

Remember the saying Work Smarter, Not Harder?

If you are busy working on random ‘stuff ’ within your business, and not working on the targeted ‘stuff ’ that your customers want, you are working Harder.

It is time to get Smarter, start listening to your customers.

2. “It is too expensive, I can’t afford it right now.”

What is expensive to a small business is hiring a full time marketing or analytical employee for this type of work.

Hiring an expert to determine the best and most cost effective way for you to tap into what your customers are saying is easy. The adage is true about it costing more to acquire a new customer than to retain current customers, acquisition usually requires a discount, or a giveaway.

Use that money instead to invest in retaining your current customers by learning what they want.

3. “I didn’t realize I should be listing to my customers.”

Okay…as a small business owner, you can say this once. But after you read this article, you can no longer use this excuse.

Of course you should be listening to your customers, because their friends are listening to them, and then determining if they want to do business with you!

Positive word of mouth referrals are the best marketing tool you have. Loyal customers are worth 10 times their first purchase, making them very valuable to a small business.

As a small business, you have a greater chance of up selling, and cross selling to an existing customer than to a new customer who has not interacted with you before.

If you haven’t started listening to your customers, rest assured. There are many ways that a small business can begin to gather feedback.

Start by thinking about what you want to find out.

Are you interested in knowing if you are easy to do business with? The most common way your customers contact you? What other products/services your customers would be interested in?

Then determine what areas of the business your have influence over and ask about those areas.

It serves no purpose to ask your customers about things you cannot influence or change.

Lastly, decide how you will get their feedback. Will you do a web-based survey? Will you have a comment card they can fill out? Will you set up a toll free number to capture feedback after the interaction?

Assisting the small business owner in creating an appropriate, cost effective feedback mechanism is what we do at Listen, Learn, Live LLC. To learn more about how we can help you, contact Donna Drehmann at 615.804.9238.

Ready to start Listening?? www.listenlearnlive.org LIKE us on Facebook www.facebook.com/listenlearnlive FOLLOW us on Twitter @askyourcustomer

Successful budgeting basics, part 1: 10 tips for making your budget work Publisher: Kelly Burkart - Courtesy of USBank Connect Having a budget is key for any successful business, but creating a budget is just the first step. Consider these important tips for making your budget work.

Adjust as you go. It’s important to remember that the budget you so carefully created isn’t etched in stone. You’ll need to make adjustments, especially at first, to improve the accuracy of your data. Over time your skill will improve as you see how accurate your budget is.

Expect surprises. You may discover you over- or underestimated some categories on your budget. That’s to be expected. If you adjust your estimate in one category, try to shift the amount to another. For example, if your phone bill consistently runs $25 more per month than you estimated, look for ways to cut $25 from your monthly office supplies.

Plan for emergencies. In spite of your best-laid plans, there will be times when revenues fall short or unexpected expenses occur. That’s why it’s wise to put aside money every month in an emergency fund. And when you find yourself with excess cash, add at least part of it to that fund. Consider putting this money in an interest-earning account that you can access easily.

Review monthly. Go over your budget every month to see if you’re meeting your projections. It’s important to be aware of areas where you’re off-target and make corrections before they become major problems.

Maintain positive cash flow. Your monthly review will reveal if you are experiencing cash flow shortfalls. If you need short-term funding to keep yourself in the black, include a plan to pay it back in a timely manner.

Don’t be too rigid. A budget can help you avoid overspending, but don’t let it hold you back if a viable opportunity arises. If there’s a conference that could provide valuable contacts, or an opportunity to save on a piece of equipment you must have, it can be worth it to stretch your budget. Just don’t make it a habit.

Save before you spend. Look for ways to save before you spend. Strategies you may already use for personal expenses can work for your business, too. Savings such as bundling phone and internet services, buying a refurbished computer instead of new, or shopping for used store fixtures can add up.

Keep it simple. If you find your budget is forcing you to account for every paper clip and cup of coffee, look at ways to simplify your categories so you don’t waste time micromanaging.

Expect to make mistakes. If you make an error such as overestimating profits or underestimating costs, adjust your budget and get back on track. You’re not a poor manager, just human.

Keep going. The most important part of having a budget is using it consistently. If things are running smoothly, don’t get overconfident. If times are tough, don’t give up. A budget that gives you a realistic view of your finances is one of your most valuable business planning tools.

Now that you have your budget working, the next article in this series will offer suggestions for fine-tuning your budgeting skills. www.usbankconnect.com

Successful budgeting basics, part 2: 6 ideas for every small business owner Publisher: Kelly Burkart - Courtesy of USBank Connect The first article in this series provided tips for making your business budget work. This article will show you ways to fine-tune your budgeting skills, whether you’re just starting out or are running an established business.

Let your business plan be your guide. If you’re starting a new business, a budget should be part of your initial business plan. To a certain extent, any budget is a best guess at what profits and expenses will be, so expect to make adjustments as you go along.

If you’ve been working for a while without a budget (or without a business plan), start one now. It’s never too late and you won’t regret it. The Small Business Association website has extensive information on creating business plans including financial projections.

Use your emergency fund wisely. Miscellaneous expenses, contingency fund—whatever you call it, make sure you have a category in your budget for unexpected expenses. Then get in the habit of making regular contributions to it.

Once you have an emergency fund, be careful about when and how you access it. Coming up short on payroll or not having enough cash to pay bills are valid reasons to tap into this fund. A new coffee machine may not be.

Know how your business measures up. Budgeting shouldn’t be done in a vacuum. Research how companies similar to yours set up their budgets and what are typical incomes, expenditures, profit margins, etc. If you belong to a trade association or attend industry events, take advantage of these opportunities to educate yourself.

Know when to save. There is no lack of opportunities to spend your profits. Before you do, ask yourself if it’s something you want or something you need. To make the decision more black and white, determine if the purchase is a taxable business expense. If not, postpone your decision for a week or two, then revisit whether it’s a “want” or “need.”

Know when to spend. Following a budget is similar to following a healthy diet. You can’t have everything you want all the time, but if you always feel like you’re being deprived, you’re doomed to run off the rails. Allowing yourself an occasional treat will help you stay on track. If you follow your budget faithfully, at the end of the year you’re more likely to have funds available to splurge on “wants” like office upgrades or the latest smartphone.

Keep tipping the scales in your favor. Part of the fine-tuning process is remaining on the lookout for ways to cut expenses and increase revenues. Make this part of your regular budget review, not only to see how close you are to your projections, but also to find ways to improve your cash flow.

Budgeting may never be on your list of fun things to do, but it can be a source of security knowing where your stand financially, and a point of pride when your diligence pays off and you reach your goals. www.usbankconnect.com

Don’t Give Up on Tenacity An Excerpt from Selling Simplified “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.”

– Louis Pasteur I cannot think of any other profession that’s as closely associated with the term “rejection” as a career in sales can be. I once heard that rejection is as natural to a salesperson as trail dust is to a chuck-wagon cook. It simply comes with the territory.

No matter how fantastic your sales skills are, sometimes hearing “No” will just happen. Instead of internalizing it and letting it discourage you, realize that you are only that much closer to a “Yes!” Too many agents give up too soon.

Begin with having the correct frame of mind. Every person getting into the profession of sales deals with this. It’s not about you; it is about what fits the customer’s needs best. Let me repeat that: It is about what fits the customer’s needs best. So there is no need to take it personally if the prospect doesn’t like something you have listed.

Personally, overcoming rejection was something I struggled with when I first began my real estate career until I found some techniques that worked for me.

First, I would literally tell myself, “I am now closer to a ‘Yes!’” Second, soon I began to realize that one person was not the end-all be-all to my business that day. By having more prospects to work with, I automatically watered-down the impact of any single “no sale.”

Selling is a game of statistics. Sales professionals get paid by the number of times they close the deal, not by the number of times they strike out. Keep score and know your sales effectiveness numbers so that you can improve your batting average.

Rejection is part of the journey toward success, so don’t be insulted or get upset when it happens. In fact, get excited about how you just got closer to your “Yes!” Tenacity is a powerful character trait to develop— and sets you apart from the crowd. As the quote by Wayne Dyer goes, “It’s never crowded along the extra mile.”

Please visit www.beyourtop.com/eshop/selling-simplified to purchase Michelle’s book.

Michelle Moore

Author, Speaker, Leadership Coach, and Sales Trainer www.BeYourTop.com www.facebook.com/leadershippower Twitter: @BeYourTop

Do you Network?

Networking is a great opportunity to meet other small business owners.

You have the opportunity to learn about their products and services as they learn about yours.

I always say “We are ALL consumers of products�. Your next client or associate could be sitting right next to you at anytime. If you attend expos and conferences, do you network with the other vendors? If you do not, you could be missing a great opportunity!

Good networking is not being pushy with your product or service. Taking time to listen about the other products and services could be beneficial to you also. Make sure the networking session is not all about you. Great friendships have been made at many networking meetings. Referrals and connections are usually the outcome of a great networking event.

So do you network? If not, will you start?

There are many great local networking groups. Attend a few and you can decide which ones work best for you and your schedule.

Happy Networking!

Catherine Monceaux

CEO Founder ShabbyLaneShops.com NashvilleSteals.com ShabbyLaneShoppingEvents.com CelebrationofSuccessConference.com

Did you attend our conference?

If so, Thank you!

If not, you will not want to miss the next one!

Click to watch Conference video highlights!

www.celebrationofsuccessconference.com

Meet our Speakers Tami West began her career with a Bachelor’s degree in biology and spent the next ten years working in hospitals, physician’s offices, and research labs. Tami changed careers in 1995, becoming a public school teacher, and in 1999 she obtained her Master’s degree in education.

In 2005 Tami left teaching to focus on helping women deal with worry, fear, stress, and anxiety. She published her book Life Without the Monsters the next year. Her more recent publications include, Balancing Your Career and Your Life, Discovering Happiness in a Stressful World, and Learning to Sleep.

Tami recently completed her research for her PhD in Human Development. Because her passion is to help people understand the reasons behind their stress, fears and anxieties, her research is centered on those very issues.

She speaks to groups across the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. www.tamiwest.com Ally Lopreet has become a nationally recognized personality through her widely popular internet radio show, THIS LITTLE PARENT STAYED HOME, where she is diligently chipping away at her mission to help 1 million parents bring their personal careers home. It is on her weekly live show that she is able to help challenged career parents deal with the sometimes overwhelming prospect of starting a new business while still running a household, and creating a haven in which parents across the nation will continue to thrive and get the support they need in their personal journeys.

Known as the Work/Life Balance Parenting expert, Ally Loprete’s career began when she founded the widely popular OurMilkMoney.com, an online search directory that lists the products and services of thousands of self-employed parents in more than 120 cities across the country. In addition to inspiring a movement of work-at-home moms and dads who support each other with their own purchasing power, Ally has created an abundance of opportunity for parents who are seeking alternatives to expensive daycares and long hours away from home. www.ourmilkmoney.com Mike Coleman is a web consultant, professional speaker, and writer located in Nashville, Tennessee. He works with business owners and professionals who want to increase revenue and be more effective in their marketing. His diverse client list includes authors, speakers, musicians, music industry professionals, CEOs, associations, sales professionals, insurance agents, financial advisors, and other professional service providers. As a writer, he has authored several audio products and written a book on small business marketing. Mike has been the featured speaker for chambers of commerce and associations, and was a guest speaker at the regional conference for the PGA in Franklin, Tennessee. He has presented public seminars on topics, such as email marketing, internet marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and traditional marketing strategies. He also recently partnered with Constant Contact as an Authorized Local Expert. You can visit his website at mikecoleman.net.

Ward Wilson Regional President US Bank.

Patricia Leonard is a dreamer living the song in her heart verse by verse and lyric by lyric…and is a cheerleader for those who dare to dream…and pursue their dreams! She is an inspirational speaker, performer, seminar leader and success coach.

She enjoys inspiring and guiding others to discover their goals and motivating them to keep reaching for the stars. Her book and one-woman show titled “Wearing High Heels in a flip flop World” is focused on coaching and encouraging readers and audiences to get out of their flip flop lives and start living.

Patricia says, she is a woman living her best authentic self and encouraging others to discover and embrace the person they are and desire to become. She speaks on various subjects such as personal branding, leadership, personal choice and passion and purpose.

Her career background is in human resource management, talent development and corporate training. She has consulted with companies in the service, banking, manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, retail and financial industries; and taught classes as a university adjunct professor. Patricia has a degree in Human Resource Management, is certified as a Career Coach and Consulting Hypnotist and is MBTI qualified.

Her desire is to play a key role in shifting her clients personal and professional lives to one full of hope, fulfilled dreams and inspired living. Her motto for living is: Life is a gift, the way we wrap it is our choice. She believes that life is too special to live half-fulfilled. www.patricialeonard.net Joanne Eckton is a Business Performance Architect, helping business owners design their business to put the right people in the right jobs and make sure the work flows smoothly throughout the organization.

She is the founder and CEO of Nashville Success Summit, a local mastermind community providing small business owners with team building and leadership training along with peer-to-peer advisory groups.

Joanne spent more than 24 years in Fortune 500 companies such as Verizon and IBM, where she led large, complex projects with team members from all around the world. She now shares her knowledge and skills with small to mid-sized business owners, providing them with simple strategies to get results faster and more efficiently.

She is a professional speaker and author of “Make Your Job Great: How to Step Up, Own Your Space and Get Your Boss off Your Back”.

Joanne resides in Nashville, TN with her husband and daughter, Alexis. Her son, Anthony, is a sophomore at FSU. www.nashvillesuccesssummit.com www.JoanneEckton.com Donna Drehmann is a Customer Experience leader across multiple industries including Telecommunication and Insurance. She combines her customer experience expertise with a specialty in Net Promoter Score™ and survey design. She is a Certified Net Promoter Score Associate™ (2008) and has been applying that methodology to the customer experience and customer survey design for several years. Throughout her career, Donna has achieved proven success in increasing CSAT and Net Promoter scores, developing initiatives that drive reduction in customer complaints, and utilizing proactive methodologies and analytics to determine what is best for the customer. These skills and a sincere passion for the customer will be brought to you each time you agree to let Listen, Learn, Live LLC work for you. www.listenlearnlive.org

Aimee Jackson Fortney is, “Not the Perfect Cook” - appearing on WSMV Channel 4 News, Mondays and Fridays at 4:30 and often on More at Midday. Aimee is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food writer and motivational speaker. Aimee’s goal is to keep families out of the drive thru and cooking easy, healthy meals at home, on a budget, convincing everyone that if, “Not the Perfect Cook” can do it, so can you!

Aimee married her best friend Michael and they have a precious daughter, Michala. www.nottheperfectcook.com

Rachel Albertson, a wine loving California native, is the owner of Southern Social Media.

The company merged with an online information powerhouse (InfoRule) in March to provide social media services to a larger amount of small business owners. InfoRuleSM will be a white label social media service provider. One of the areas Rachel most enjoys is working with small business owners to find success through social media.

Rachel, her husband, and 3 children moved to Murfreesboro 7 years ago. In that time, Rachel graduated from the University of Phoenix with an IT Degree (2011), ran the marketing department of a tire and auto repair company, and started her own business. Past clients include Nascar great Sterling Marlin, the Williamson Herald, software company E-Solution Professionals, and local organic retailer Nature’s Greenlife,LLC. She has also worked with several start up projects within Middle Tennessee. Rachel and her husband do in home wine tasting events on the weekends.

When not working, Rachel volunteers her time to help raise money for children with cancer and their siblings go to Camp Horizon; just outside of Kingston Springs, TN. The camp has previously been funded through the American Cancer Society but is now an independent non-profit.

Stella Parton - There are times in life when you know you have met an intrinsically spiritual person who simply lights up a room. Anyone who has had the opportunity to see a Stella concert will agree that her allure and her passionate voice will make you think an angel has descended.

Stella learned her first song when she was only five and made her radio and television debut when she was nine. It is from such an early age that she realized how much she loved to entertain an audience. What makes Stella’s performance so intriguing is her interpretation of lyrics. Stella explains this by saying “When I sing a song I am an interpreter of feelings and nothing moves me as much as seeing a person in the audience being touched by something that I have sung or said.” Stella explains performing for a live audience as “being able to tell a great story and have it ride on a melody is like taking an audience on a magic carpet ride.” Her voice is authentic and unadulterated yet dynamic and compelling. Stella herself is a contrast of sensibilities. Although tiny and petite, her enduring voice will take you from that of a little girl to that of a secure woman and have you jumping in your seat for more.

Stella has chosen to live a creative life full of imagination, hope and possibility. This was evident when she began writing songs as a little girl and has since written hundreds of songs and traveled and performed internationally.

Stella’s current project is her new CD, “Testimony” and Stella says “this is some of the best material I have written in a while.” Testimony includes everything from country to pop to rock. The first song “Virtuous Woman” has a nice upbeat, toe tapping sound with an inspiring quality that only Stella could conceive. Stella’s angelic voice, charm and “shoot from the hip” humor make her a must see for audiences around the globe. Stella says “Every time I walk on stage I look at it as if it is the first and the last opportunity I will have to make a difference in the life of someone in the audience.” www.stellaparton.com

Thank you to our Small Business Conference Platinum & Gold Sponsors!

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Roundt able Discussions

Patrenna Singletary Women’s Empowerment: Moving Beyond the Obstacles in Life!

Business Over Coffee Nashville Presents: Saturdays with Singletary - www.blogtalkradio.com/search/ patrenna-singletary Phyllis Nichols

Grow your Sales Confidence www.soundadvicesales.com www.alliesinbiz.com

Donna Drehmann Listening, Learning and Living...the steps to a great customer experience. www.listenlearnlive.org

Patricia Leonard “Evaluating Your Business Endings...

Necessary for New Beginnings” Inspirational Speaker, Coach, Trainer, Actress Patricia Leonard & Associates www.patricialeonard.net

Joanne Eckton Taking Care of Business – While Still Taking Care of Yourself Nashville Success Summit www.nashvillesuccesssummit.com www.joanneeckton.com

Nicole Harrison Building your Business with Fire Resistant Materials.

Harrison’s Innovative Promotions (H.I.P.S) www.hipshelp4u.com

Kristi Rhodes Delivering reliable and secure payment solutions to help businesses succeed!

Payment Solutions Consultant U.S. Bank Payment Solutions | Elavon www.usbank.com/paymentsolutions www.elavon.com/acquiring

Douglas Jahner Small Business Lending Small Business Specialist U.S. Bank

Coffee Break Sponsors

Nashville Wraps - www.nashvillewraps.com Business Over Coffee Nashville Presents: Saturdays with Singletary - www.blogtalkradio.com/search/patrenna-singletary Blue Heron Studios - www.theblueheronstudio.com Eagle Communications - www.eaglecommunications.net Sassy Beach - www.sassybeachjewelrydesigns.com Bead Smitten - www.beadsmitten.com Antiques and Teacups - www.antiquesandteacups.com Lavie Charmante - www.laviecharmante.com Coeur d’ Alene - www.coeurdalenegifts.com Angel Heart Designs - www.angelheartdesigns.com Shabby Rose Boutique - www.shabbyroseboutique.com Savon Marie - www.savonmarie.com Charmed South - www.charmedsouth.etsy.com

Giveaway Sponsors

Tory Johnson - Spark & Hustle - www.sparkandhustle.com Southern Women’s Show Nashville - www.southernshows.com David Dutton - Nashpreneur www.nashpreneur.com Patricia Leonard - www.patricialeonard.net Tami West - www.tamiwest.net Nashville Wraps - www.nashillewraps.com Coach Jenn Lee - www.coachjennlee.com Ally Loprette - www.ourmilkmoney.com Nashville Wraps www.nashvillewraps.com Romantic Homes Magazine Stampington & Co Dove Chocolate Discoveries - www.mydcdsite.com/chocolatelovers Lia Sophia - www.liasophia.com/kathysipes Team Beach Body www.tammydevereux.com Prayer Notes by Cynthia - www.prayernotes.etsy.com Pampered Chef - www.pamperedchef.biz/jene Teresa’s Country Treasures - www.jewelrybyteresascountrytreasures.com Bizarre Marketing - www.promostuff4u.com Coles and Colomy - colesandcolomy.com Angel Heart Designs - www.angelheartdesigns.com Rose Blossom Cottage -www.roseblossomcottage.com

Meet our Vendors

Rodan & Fields Dermatologists - www.complexion911.myrandf.com Stella & Dot Independent Stylist - www.stelladot.com/sites/juliestevenson Dove Chocolate Discoveries - www.mydcdsite.com/chocolatelovers Batter of Joy - www.batterofjoy.com Clever Container - www.clevercontainer.com/Jackie Princess House - www.princesshouse.com/jchandler Pretty Discoveries - www.prettydiscoveries.com Jamberry Nails - www.nailsuwant.jamberrynails.net Flash & Trash and a little bit of Sass!

Origami Owl - www.kayroseblog.com The Blue Heron Studios - www.theblueheronstudios.com It Works Global - www.funwrapparties.com Grace Adele - www.LoveStyle2.com MICHE - www.handbagdesigns.miche.com Lu Lu Avenue Jewelry - www.luluavenue.com/sites/bab Protecting Yourself and More Avon - www.youravon.com/octaviaharris www.youravon.com/scalvin Scentsy www.scentsbyterri.scentsy.us Thirty One - www.mythirtyone.com/BAB Slim Down Diva - www.slimdowndiva.com Our vendors are a huge part of this conference! They are a large contribution to our sponsorship. Great appreciation goes out to them! Please visit with our vendors in person today & online!

Visit our vendor shows in 2013 to see these vendors & more!

www.tammydevereux.com

Sharon Rowley Senior Manager

tnchocolatier@gmail.com

www.mydcdsite.com/chocolatelovers Prayer Notes by Cynthia Christian Bookmarks, Coasters, & Notepads Personalize Your Gifts with Names prayernotesbycynthia@yahoo.com

www.prayernotes.etsy.com

Laise Originals Jewelry

MARY KAY

Erica Jones, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant (901) 937-9704 ejones1281@marykay.com www.marykay.com/ejones1281

“One Woman can”

www.laiseoriginals.com

Kathy Twitty’s Glitter Creations To illuminate the beauty of spirit through each unique glittering creation while uplifting the heart of those who purchase any of Kathy’s Creations. www.facebook.com/pages/Kathy-Twittys-Glitter-Creations

Paige Stromen Advanced Sales Director (615) 499-4596 (901) 277-3291 pmschef@comcast.net www.pamperedchef.biz/paigestromen

t tac !

Con Today e M

Susie Reel 615 414-0298

Tighten, Tone and Firm your skin in 45 minutes with this no mess application... you can do it yourself! www.WrapToLose.com www.FunWrapParties.com

www.facebook.com/FunWrapParties

Jackie Lendley j_a_lendley@yahoo.com www.MyCleverBiz.com/Jackie

Shabby Lane Shops INDEPENDENT DESIGNER

Brittney Sells

931-703-8280 sellsbrittney@gmail.com www.britt.origamiowl.com

Catherine Monceaux

owner ~ creator 615 305-5954 shabbylaneshops@comcast.net Have you seen us on TV?

www.shabbylaneshops.com

Sincere thanks to all that made this conference possible! Our sponsors, large & small, speakers, roundtable facilitators, vendors, and advertisers!

Your support has been incredible! You are amazing! I celebrate YOU! With much heartfelt thanks!

Catherine Monceaux

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©2012 U.S. Bank. All rights reserved. Applications subject to credit approval. Contact your banker for rates and terms. Standard fees apply. Member FDIC. 120215