August WBN Luncheon: From the Bottom to the Top: How to climb the executive ladder from within your company.

The August Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Network (WBN) luncheon is 11:30AM on Thursday, August 11^th at the East Bay Café on the Novell Campus (1800 South Novell Place, Provo; building just to the West of the Novell tower off of the University Avenue/1860 South exit).

At the luncheon, a panel of influential leaders - whose motivation, talent, and hard work have helped them rise to the top of their organization – will address “From the Bottom to the Top: How to climb the executive ladder from within your company,” including topics such as sustained employment longevity, character traits, mentorship, and overcoming hurdles in their climb up the executive ladder.  Questions from the audience will also be fielded by the panelist – come with questions in mind!

The panelists include Rona Rahlf, President and Publisher of The Daily Herald; Angie Morris, Partner at Hawkins, Cloward and Simister; and, Lynell Smith, Deputy Director of Operations at the Housing Authority of Utah County. 

Invite your colleagues, register, and pay for the luncheon by Monday, August 8^th to receive the $15 discounted rate. Those who register after this date will pay the regular $18 rate. To register, click the registration link on the left column of the blog or contact the Chamber directly at 801.851.2555. 

Thank you to Mountain America Credit Union  for sponsoring our luncheon and also to our 2011 Angel Sponsor, the Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation!

          

Would you like some recognition for your business?

If you or your organization would like to sponsor WBN events, contact Alison Dyer at ali@uvmag.com.  Or, you can simply bring a door prize of at least $5 value (in addition to any service discounts, if applicable) to the luncheon and we’ll mention your donation at the giveaway!

Note:  If you click to “Attend” through Facebook, this does not ensure you are registered.  All attendees must register through the Chamber.

July WBN Luncheon Follow-up: Enhancing Your Network through Community Engagement

For July’s WBN luncheon, we were treated to a taste of paradise in the Tahitian Noni Garden.  Surrounded by beautiful flowers and a waterfall, it was a welcome break from the office.

Our speaker was Bill Bridges, Director of Development at Utah Valley University (UVU).  His topic was “Enhancing Your Network through Community Engagement.”   Bridges explained how success in business (and in life) is related to community engagement. You should look for opportunities to be involved in good causes and give back to the community. This will build your network and the positive feelings about you and your business.  It should be of mutual benefit, providing a good return on investment for both sides, and you should do it because it’s the right thing to do.

Bridges gave participants a handout on some of the factors that influence volunteer rates in Utah.  Greater attachment to the community encourages volunteering.  Long commutes can curtail opportunities to volunteer. Volunteering rises with education – Bridges mentioned how UVU’s service learning classes have encouraged students to be involved with the local community. Volunteering is less common in high poverty areas. Higher stage unemployment is related to lower volunteer rates and volunteer rates are lower in cities with high foreclosure rates.

The capacity of a community’s associations impacts volunteer rates.  Communities with higher nonprofits per capita are likely to have higher volunteer rates.  Utah ranks first among the states for volunteerism rates.

When deciding how to be involved, identify what you enjoy doing, what you’re passionate about. There’s also nothing wrong with doing something that brings a benefit back to your business.  Bridges closed by saying, “Community engagement can help your business.  I know it, I’ve seen it, I’ve participated it in. I would submit that the greater value for all of us will likely come from the emotional and uplifting benefit your service brings to others. “

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Thanks again to our sponsors Keller Williams Realty Lehi and the Third Annual Ladies Curiosity Golf Challenge at Thanksgiving Point , and thanks to our 2011 Angel Sponsor, the Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation!

Would you like some recognition for your business?

If you or your organization would like to sponsor WBN events, contact Alison Dyer at ali@uvmag.com.  Or, you can simply bring a door prize of at least $5 value (in addition to any service discounts, if applicable) to the next luncheon and we’ll mention your donation at the giveaway!

July 2011 Featured Businesswoman: Jessica Devenish

During each month of 2011, the Women’s Business Network will feature a Utah Valley businesswoman who has demonstrated business excellence in areas such as leadership, community contribution, and innovation.  By identifying contributors from our community, we hope to learn from and network with other successful women as well as acknowledge success!  WBN’s past chair, Cynthia Gambill of Remedez, will be interviewing and introducing us to these outstanding women.

Jessica Devenish

While recognized as an industry leader in debt collections, credit card services, and electronic payment processing, Devenish actually worked her way up the corporate ladder by starting as a collector.  In 1997, she, with her family, created her own agency (Checknet) where she is the President and Chief Executive Officer.  Devenish is also an active representative of the Utah Association of Collectors and was the acting President of the Association in 2005-2006.  She has received many certifications from the American Collectors Association in both First- and Third-Party Collections.  Additionally, Devenish is a member of the Utah Valley Magazine Executive Editorial Board.

Devenish’s professional experience and drive is directly connected to her wonderful, supportive family. Having been in the collection industry for over 23 years, she indicates her motivation and knowledge came from her great mentor and father – “the original” in this industry.

Devenish currently lives in Springville, Utah with her husband, Kelly, of 17 years and their five children: Jamie (13), Courtney (10), Tristen (8), and are the lucky guardians of their niece, Libby (16), and nephew, Kaden (13). The kids call their little family the “Devenish Sevenish.”   The family keeps very busy with schedules and enjoys living closely to other family members.  Devenish reports working with her family is one of the great pleasures in her life.  She also enjoys meeting new people and seeing the success of her children, family, friends, staff, clients, and fellow business leaders.

Devenish takes great pride in her organization and notes that Checknet does three things better than anyone else:  collections, merchant services, and electronic checks – all under one roof!  Through Checknet, which is locally owned and operated, and Devenish’s community engagement, Utah Valley is indeed well-served.

For more information on Checknet, visit their website at http://www.checknetinc.com/ and join the WBN at the Thursday, July 14^th luncheon to meet Jessica Devenish!

July WBN Luncheon: Speaker Update!

The WBN welcomes new speaker Bill Bridges, Director of Development at Utah Valley University, to the 11:30 AM July 14^th luncheon at the Tahitian Noni Garden.  Bridges will still be speaking on the topic of “Enhancing Your Network through Community Engagement.” 

Bridges joined UVU in January 2003 as Assistant Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and moved to Institutional Advancement in 2008. An accomplished percussionist, he spent his early years playing in jazz clubs and other performance venues in the San Francisco area prior to moving to studio work for selected network programming on NBC and CBS, commercials, and Capital Records in Los Angeles. Bridges swapped the music scene for a career in financial services, where he spent 24 years as a successful bank executive.  Subsequently, he was appointed President and Executive Director of the North American Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point, where he directed the creation of one of the world’s largest dinosaur museum. Bridges completed his BS and MPA at Brigham Young University. He and his wife, Elaine, have 11 children and 44 grandchildren.

Because of the speaker change, we have opened registration through Tuesday, July 12^th.  To register, click the registration link on the left column of the blog or contact the Chamber directly at 801.851.2555.  Pre-registration is $15; registration at the door is $18.

Thanks again to our sponsors Keller Williams Realty Lehi and the Third Annual Ladies Curiosity Golf Challenge at Thanksgiving Point , and thanks to our 2011 Angel Sponsor, the Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation!

Would you like some recognition for your business?

If you or your organization would like to sponsor WBN events, contact Alison Dyer at ali@uvmag.com.  Or, you can simply bring a door prize of at least $5 value (in addition to any service discounts, if applicable) to the luncheon and we’ll mention your donation at the giveaway!

Note:  If you click to “Attend” through Facebook, this does not ensure you are registered.  All attendees must register through the Chamber.