Joni Fedders, President - Aileron

Aileron President Joni Fedders of Dayton and GE Capital Retail Finance President and CEO Margaret Keane of Ridgefield, Conn., will give the keynote addresses at “Growing as a Leader,” the fourth annual professional development conference by Women in Business Networking, Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Schuster Performing Arts Center at Second and Main streets in Dayton. Premier Health Partners is the title sponsor of the conference.

Fedders oversees the strategic direction and operational activities of Aileron, which helps private business owners understand where they want to go and apply sound business practices to help them get there. A former executive at The Iams Company and a two-time entrepreneur herself, Fedders was handpicked in 2003 by Aileron’s founder, successful businessman Clay Mathile, to build The Center for Entrepreneurial Education, which became Aileron.

Fedders will give the morning keynote entitled “Diapers, Deadlines and Dreams – Finding Alignment and Learning to Lead” and share her story on striving to achieve both professional and personal growth.

Margaret Keane, CEO and President - GE Money Retail Finance

Keane – who joined GE in 1996 and became a GE officer in 2005 – has held numerous positions within the organization at Vendor Financial Services, GE Capital, GE Commercial Finance, GE Consumer Finance-Americas and GE Capital Retail Consumer Finance. She began her career at Citicorp, where she worked in sales, marketing and operations for 16 years.

Keane will give the luncheon keynote entitled “Leading through Change.” Keane – who has led the financial services company through challenges and change – says her experiences contributed to her growth as a leader. She will share lessons learned.

Besides Fedders and Keane, WDTN TV2 news anchor Michelle Kingsfield will present the plenary session on “Taking Control of your Professional and Personal Healthcare and Life.”

Eight additional business experts will present six breakout sessions on diverse leadership issues. Presenters include:

• Pamela Reichel, executive director, Premier Community Health
• Kendra Ramirez, social media strategist, manager, Open Commerce, Ascendum Solutions
• Diane Helbig, president, Seize This Day Coaching
• Denise Dixon-Davis and Diane Dixon, professional coaches, 3F Coaching
• Kelly McCracken, director of client relations, and Jean Webster, communications manager, Aileron
• Dr. Patricia Larkins Hicks, founder and president, The Outcomes Management Group

Seven panelists will discuss “Knowing, Growing and Glowing: That’s Synchronicity!” moderated by Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders, executive director, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Panelists include:

• Martine Meredith Collier, president and CEO, Culture Works
• Pat Kanuckel, associate vice president, Victoria’s Secret Direct
• Scott Koorndyk, vice president, Technology Commercialization, Dayton Development Coalition
• Deborah Lieberman, Montgomery County Commissioner
• Erin Paulson, director, Strategic Marketing, TriComB2B
• Jenell Ross, president, Bob Ross Buick-GMC, Mercedes-Benz and Fiat
• Stacy Thompson, vice president, regional compliance and community reinvestment manager, KeyBank Corp.

The conference will feature exhibits from 32 local corporations and small businesses. The Market Place Boutique, a one-stop-shopping mini mall, will feature 16 women-owned retailers.

The conference, which begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast, concludes at 5:15 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception and an event benefiting The Noble Circle Project, which helps women thrive beyond cancer. A portion of the proceeds from conference ticket sales will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region and to Artemis Center, Dayton’s domestic violence resource agency.

Attendees are asked to register in advance at http://womeninbusinessnetworking.com/2011ProfessionalDevelopmentConference.aspx.

About Women in Business Networking (www.womeninbusinessnetworking.com)

Women in Business Networking (WiBN) – the leading organization for women in business – provides forums for building relationships so women will achieve career and personal success through education, resources and recognition. WiBN’s circle of influence and frequent programs have reached more than 1,500 women living and working in the Greater Dayton, Ohio, region. Women from all walks of life participate in WiBN: leaders and employees of corporate, nonprofit and community organizations; entrepreneurs and small-business owners; and women in career transition.

Media contact: Tina Marker, President

Windward Design Group

937.456.2301 / 937.545.9654

info@windward-design.com

Downtown Dayton

Things in Dayton are looking up. Hiring, although slowly, is on the rise (New jobs, tax revenues show region stabilizing, Dayton Daily News, March 25, 2011). Home ownership is up. Nightlife downtown, particularly in areas like the Oregon District, is lively and vibrant. These small yet noticeable changes are the direct result of the individual and collective efforts of many people who, despite the sluggish economy, believe in the potential of Dayton; those people are working to launch business and social initiatives that revitalize neighborhoods, spur economic growth and keep people in Dayton.  Updayton is one of those groups.

On Friday, April 15th at the Dayton Convention Center, updayton will host its 2011 Young Creative’s Summit sponsored by SOCHE.  From 3 pm to 6 pm, hundreds of young professionals will convene to discuss and problem-solve critical issues like diversity and employment. Immediately following is an attendees-only after party and networking event at the nearby Excelsior Lofts with food and beverage provided Brixx and Bonbright Distributors.

One of the of largest civic engagement events in the area, updayton began hosting this event in 2009, to engage young professionals in generating ideas and implementing solutions for Dayton. In the last two years, these Summits have produced a number of projects led by young professionals that have attributed to some of the changes happening in Dayton.

If you have never been, you still have time to be a part of this year’s summit. Registration is $15 ($5 for students). More details and registration can be found at www.updayton.com. Change happens here!

Additional sponsors of the Summit include: CareSource, Channel 945 FM, City of Dayton, CreativeFuse, Dayton City Paper, Dayton CW, Dayton Business Journal, Dayton Development Coalition, The Dayton Foundation, DaytonMostMetro.com, Dayton Weekly News, KeyBank, Standard Register, Teradata, University of Dayton’s Fitz Center for Leadership and Community and Vectren.

It’s the largest single site employer in the whole state.  Its history has been witness to early Wright Brothers test flights and a military installation that dates to World War I.  It’s an obvious asset to the region for the Air Force Museum (fingers crossed for the shuttle) as well as cutting-edge technical, aerospace, and research advances.

I have sung the praises of the Base and understood its major importance in both the economic viability of our region and for aerospace technology worldwide (you can thank my engineering husband who just broke a world record for his work on a scram jet engine for that one), but I never really got the differences of the alphabet soup that is WPAFB (be it AFIT, AFRL, NASIC, WISK or LMNOP).

Here I am – trying to be an info liaison for YP groups in the region.  Hopefully this blog is a resource for people who want to get involved, YP orgs who are looking for potential collaborations, or anyone who’s just curious.  And I’ve advertised Base events like monthly socials for the Young AFCEAns, volunteer opportunities through the Junior Force Council and discussions by the WP Networking Association.  But you know what – I still didn’t really get it.  Oh – you mysterious base with your numerous gates, haunted hotels, and alien ships in hiding – I am here to learn about the resources for the YPs behind the gates.  So – this is for anyone who has asked a new friend, “So – where do you work?” and your eyes glaze over a little bit when they answer “the Base.”

The Young AFCEAns

Why am I talking to them first?  Well – I thought they might be a pretty good “gateway” to the Base since members of the Young AFCEAns can work on or off Base in any contracting organization that has a relationship with the Base.  Also –  they are the YP arm of AFCEA (The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) – so you can guess that they have a pretty informative Web page.  I was able to gather information on the people served and the benefits for the Young AFCEAns.  At least I thought I had them figured out, until I talked to Casey Weinstein, the local chapter president and figured out that they are so much more.

YACs get together for social opportunities

The Young AFCEAns (also known as YACs) are AFCEA members under the age of 40.  But they are also a distinct unit within AFCEA.  Sure, they network with fellow professionals and are active in the chapter, but they also work together as YACs to mentor at schools, host tech events and judge local science fairs.  They take advantage of specific mentoring activities available only to YACs – career development, leadership development, and access to senior leaders in the field (the kind of access that otherwise wouldn’t be available).

Anyone CAN be a YAC, and Weinstein encourages all YPs to check them out.  So many businesses in the region, even if they don’t deal directly with the government, partner with other organizations that do contract with the government.  And maybe you’re not in IT, but Weinstein tells the story of a marketing associate who started coming to YAC events because her company was considering expanding into the IT market.  The networking and social opportunities through YAC proved helpful, informative, and even fun.

YACs at a Dragons game

When I asked what exactly they do and who they serve, Weinstein explained that they’re an advocacy and networking association focused on information technology and the government – most members are government employees, contractors, or people who want to break into the industry.  And for anyone who thinks “IT” is a little broad, I asked Weinstein for some specifics:  they have members who produce modeling and simulation software, build web applications, create hardware and software sharepoints, and they feature many service providers (like database administrators).

The most popular events for local YACs are the monthly networking events.  They feature free food and drinks (always a plus), and they provide a great atmosphere for YPs in the industry to network with one another, local businesses, and senior leadership in the industry.  Weinstein also highlights their outreach work with local universities.  With the support of Senator Brown’s offices, the YACs have been featured (along with other YP groups) on campus panel discussions.  Many college kids may not know about the numerous opportunities in the region for IT and aerospace contracting work, so YAC makes a major effort to get the word out.

Weinstein is especially proud of the relationship YAC has with the AFCEA chapter.  Although YAC exists as its own unit to attract new members and offer professional development opportunities, their members are fully integrated into the local chapter.  The past YAC chair is now the membership chair for AFCEA and Weinstein chaired the AFCEA Valentine’s Ball  – the major fundraiser for AFCEA that provides scholarships for local high school and college students.  The chapter taps the YACs to be involved on a larger level, and they show respect for a job well done.  They just sent Weinstein to San Diego to accept the Distinguished Young AFCEAns Award (one of only 15 globally!); the chapter flew him out, picked up the tab, and provided him with a great opportunity to meet a lot of new people.

The YACs are there to hook young professionals into the thriving aerospace industry in our region, and Weinstein has a very strong perspective of life in Dayton.  He explains, ”More money comes through WPAFB than any other military installation in the world (other then the Pentagon).  There is a lot of growth and opportunity in the region because of the growth of the industry. Dayton is the place to be for someone in this profession.”

While the Young AFCEAns are reaching out to everyone to highlight the opportunities of the aerospace industry.  There’s another group on Base that’s reaching out to serve a pretty specific need.

Wright-Patterson AFB Junior Force Council

The Wright-Patt JFC works to offer programming relevant to all YPs on Base, but it’s only part of a larger YP involvement structure in place.  Individual Junior Force Councils exist for many programs or directorates, and those smaller JFCs often host their own events.  For example, the Air Force Research Lab’s (AFRL) Propulsion Directorate launched an outreach program to address the lack of new engineers through volunteers who visit local schools to increase student interest in STEM careers.  Or there is the Air Force Material Command (AFMC) Junior Force Council that hosted a tour for its members.  Many of the directorates across Base offer professional development and networking opportunities through individual Junior Force Councils (JFCs), and each JFC sends a member to sit on the collective Wright-Patt JFC.  It’s a nice structure – people at the local level determine what meets the needs of their members, but their voice rises up to the overall JFC to make sure there’s open communication and the WPJFC can meet larger needs.

The Young Guns / Old Pistols Cycling Race

I spoke to Kristy Roberts – president of the WFJFC.  Locally born and raised, Roberts completed her undergrad and MBA at Wright State before joining the Base in a contracting career.  In leading the WPJFC, she works to provide networking experiences for civilian and military (enlisted and officer) YPs across the Base who have 10 years of service or less.  These events provide participants the opportunity to interact with one another and senior leaders whom they may otherwise not meet.

Since the smaller JFCs focus on the happy hours, industry-specific events, and directorate-specific programming, the WPJFC only hosts approximately two or three large, Base-wide events per year.  Launching soon is the popular “Young Guns vs. Old Pistols.”  This is a wellness/sporting competition between the JFC members and senior leaders on Base.  Over the course of three months, they compete in 6 events.  Other major events include a golf tournament fundraiser and open tour of the Base for regional YPs.

Also in the works is a potential speaker series.  Although most WPJFC events are limited to Base personnel (mostly due to the fact that the rest of us can’t get through the gates – except a great story I’ll tell you sometime when I accidentally just zoomed right by the guards, but I digress…  ), Roberts is hoping to open some of these speaker events to the wider YP community.  Roberts also shows her “Dayton Girl” colors as she advocates on Base for YP events regionally.  She has started a regular communication with JFC members to inform them of opportunities in Dayton for both social and professional networking.

At a very basic level, the WPJFC provides an opportunity for YPs to figure out how the base works.  Roberts tells the story of when she sent an email out to a large group of people.  First on the list is the person that the email was most relevant to.  Sounds logical, right?  Not with Base logic – the strict chain of command is so important to military protocol that it must be followed even in sending an email – you address it to the highest officer first and then go down the list in level of seniority.  Things like that aren’t obvious to employees (especially civilian) new to the Base, so the JFC provides a friendly atmosphere to learn the ropes.  And it’s not just about the “rules.”  The AF culture is a different beast – if civilians better understand it, they can better communicate within it and learn how to succeed.

The Base respects the work of the WPJFC and their goal of “preparing the leaders of tomorrow.”  Participants in the JFCs are able to claim “alternate duty location” while at JFC events (meaning they don’t have to take leave or time off from work).  Senior leadership at the Base appreciates the work of the WPJFC as they bridge the gap between new recruits and more seasoned AF employees.

The Bowling Award Ceremony for the YG/OP

Roberts shares what she believes is the most important aspect that the WPJFC offers its members – opportunities to develop their own relationships with senior leaders.  Mentoring is such an asset, and Roberts praises the mentor she has met through JFC events.  Mentors provide insight into other areas on Base and can even help put the daily battles into perspective as YPs are advancing in their careers.

I asked Roberts what she hopes for as she plans the next year of WPJFC programming.  Her goal is to involve more enlisted and military YPs.  She explains that the career paths of civilians are defined differently than the career paths of their military colleagues, so the military YPs haven’t always seen the need to take advantage of the professional development and mentoring opportunities that are offered.  Roberts hopes to change that and create a WPJFC where everyone is represented and active.

Thanks!

It was a great opportunity to learn a little more about who’s who and the different organizations that serve the many YPs on Base.  I was unable to speak to anyone from the WP Networking Association or the Company Grade Officer Program – two groups that serve a fairly specific constituency on Base.  Still, I’m appreciative of the time and information Weinstein and Roberts shared with me.  The Base may be a different world, but we all have the same needs, and it’s great to hear that these leaders are making it happen for YPs on Base.

“The 2011 Speaker Series will provide a unique opportunity for young professionals to meet, network with, and learn from top-level businesses and community leaders who have a desire and passion to share their expertise with tomorrow’s leaders,” says Generation Dayton Chair, Jennifer Rettig.

The list of speakers includes Phil Parker, President and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County Commissioner, Neil Arthur, Publisher of the Dayton Business Journal, Peggy Lehner, Ohio Senator for the 6^th District, and many more.  Sample topics include the Economic State of the Dayton Region and Climbing the News Ladder in the Digital Age.

The first lunch will be held on January 28^th at the Crowne Plaza.  Former Governor Taft will be speaking on the topic of Education and Innovation.

Visit www.generationdayton.org for details about the event and organization, or visit Generation Dayton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GenDayton.  For a list of upcoming speakers and topics lined up, please see below:

RSVP’s are required for attendance. Please RSVP to lwulfeck@dacc.org

Generation Dayton, established in 2006, is the place for the diverse pool of talented young professionals who live and work in the Dayton region to meet, network, learn, grow and establish themselves as integral components in the future success of the Dayton region.

But don’t take our word for why you should be going to this thing – our friend Natasha Baker is just one of hundreds who will be there, and here is what she has to say:

For the majority of my career, I have worked for a company, but as an independent.  We may call it the communications or PR department, but the ‘department’ usually consists of me and the occasional intern.

With the arrival of social media, I realized I had access to the best PR minds in the world for moral support, brainstorming, even the occasional proofreading in AP style.

My connections on Twitter and LinkedIn along with the multitude of bloggers I follow have become part of my virtual office. They have expanded my knowledge base and saved me from a few embarrassing typos!

That ‘s the beauty of social media, and it’s what SummitUp 2010 is all about. Networking, connecting, learning how to better use the tools at your disposal – you will find it all. With keynotes from some of today’s hottest names and breakouts that will give you the hands on instruction you need all at an incredible rate, SummitUp is the conference you don’t want to miss.
Get the details for SummitUp 2010 at www.summitup.org or follow the conversation on Twitter and Facebook. You will find me and my office mates in the front row!

Make sure you Register for SummitUp today!  And here are just a couple of the keynote speakers for this year’s SummitUp:

John Moore is a marketing strategist. From 1994 through 2004, John designed and implemented marketing programs for both Starbucks Coffee and Whole Foods Market. He now operates the Brand Autopsy Marketing Practice, a consultancy helping businesses profit by marketing with passion and purpose. A long-time believer in word-of-mouth marketing, John puts his experience to good use as the Word of Mouth Marketing Association’s “Chief Evangelist.” In this role, John educates and motivates businesses to use word-of-mouth and social media marketing effectively and ethically. He is also the author of TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE, a business management book, and is active in social media circles.

Pete Blackshaw is a recognized expert in interactive marketing, word of mouth, and consumer understanding. He brings a broad range of experience to his role as Executive Vice President of Strategic Services for NM Incite, including public policy, interactive marketing, and brand management. In his previous role as Executive Vice President of Digital Strategic Services for Nielsen, Pete and his team worked with many of the world’s top brands and corporations to develop cohesive, consumer-centered digital programs and strategies.

Generation Dayton presents Next-Generation Consulting Webcast.  Tuesday May, 25 from 11:30-1PM.  You’re moving up in the world and got that promotion – this Webcast will give you the tips and hints you need to be an awesome manager.  Brown bag lunch – drinks and desserts provided.   RSVP by Monday!

JumpstART presents Jump into the DPO .  Not ready to spend a Saturday on the arts?  Join other YPs after work on Wednesday, May 26 for $10 tickets to see 24-year old wonder Jessica Hung perform in a 45-minute concert she designed.  After the show, meet Jessica at a private JumpstART reception with pizza and a beer tasting sponsored by Boston’s Bistro and Pub.  Call 228-3630 and mention the jumpstART deal.

Generation Dayton: Even More on the calendar for the group affectionately known as ”GenD.”  Coming up, you can check out the regular Fourth Friday lunch on Friday, May 28.  Get together with other young professionals at El Meson at Noon to meet new people, check out a great restaurant, and have some fun that fits into your work schedule.

Post below if I missed anything or if you have plans to attend one of these great events!

If you have not yet registered for the Annie T. Thornton Women’s Leadership Conference, to be held at the University of Dayton on Saturday, March 27th, it is not too late to do so.  This annual one-day event is named in honor of Annie T. Thornton to recognize her 44 years of leadership and dedication at the University of Dayton. During her time at UD, she  mentored hundreds of students, changing lives and empowering women.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Women, Community, Action and Leadership.”  The conference officially begins at 9:15 am in Kennedy Union; registration begins at 8:30 am. Dr. Donna Cox promises to be inspirational with her keynote address, and the schedule includes workshop sessions covering topics such as career development, race and gender issues, health and wellness, financial strategies, work/life balance, and much more.

To learn more about the conference, or to register, please visit  http://campus.udayton.edu/~udwlc. Conference registration is $20 ($10 for students) and includes a continental breakfast and buffet-style lunch. See you there!

They are holding a contest to redesign Linked Dayton’s logo, any and all are eligible. The only rules are:

1. The logo must include the words Linked Dayton

2. The logo must be in JPG or GIF formatting

3. The logo when saved in JPG or GIF formatting can’t exceed 4 MB

The new Linked Dayton logo’s designer will not only be highlighted by the group, but will also receive a $100 gift card to the Greene in Beavercreek!

Entries must be emailed to lanceb@bradstreetcpas.com by midnight January 10, 2009. Please introduce yourself by including your name & contact information in the email.

Linked Dayton will unveil and announce the winning design at the next Linked Dayton event on January 19th at the Wine Loft at the Greene (5:30pm).

The Dayton Urban League auxillary group, founded in 2001, will host a networking event for young professionals on December 16 at Therapy Cafe at 5:30 p.m. Wrap up the year and prepare for 2010 by coming out to “meet and greet” with community leaders and other professionals in the Dayton area. The DULYP will unveil its “I am empowered to…” campaign as well as outline plans for the upcoming year.

The Dayton Urban League Young Professionals employs a five-point agenda:

• Education and Youth Empowerment: Ensuring that all of our children are well educated and prepared for economic self-reliance in the 21st century. DULYP works with DUL’s youth programs and Parity to provide role models and mentors for youth in the community.
• Economic Empowerment: Empowering all people in attaining economic self-sufficiency through job training, good jobs, homeownership, entrepreneurship and wealth accumulation.
• Health and Quality of Life Empowerment: Working to build healthy and safe communities to eliminate health disparities through prevention, healthy eating, fitness, as well as ensuring complete access to affordable healthcare for all people.
• Civic Engagement and Leadership Empowerment: Empowering all people to take an active role in determining the direction, quality of life, public policy and leadership in their communities by full participation as citizens and voters, as well as through active community service and leadership development.
• Civil Rights and Racial Justice Empowerment: Promoting and ensuring our civil rights by actively working to eradicate all barriers to equal participation in all aspects of American society, whether political, economic, social, educational or cultural.

For more information, or to RSVP to the event, please contact:

Dayton Urban League Young Professionals. 907 West Fifth Street,Dayton, Ohio 45402. 937-220-6665