Chix Chair: Melanie Stoer
After 16 years in working sales & marketing roles, I left the corporate world in 2010 to set up my own glass studio – quickly learning that I could turn this hobby into a business. A year later, I am now the owner of Melsie Glass, a small business dedicated to promoting & selling my artworks. Like many of us, I work hard to find a balance between two jobs – my artwork & my part-time consulting. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and am excited to collaborate with so many other like-minded women through Chix in Business. Looking forward to meeting everyone soon!

Chix Vice-Chair: JoAnn Chamberlin
Hi All, my name is JoAnn Chamberlin and I am the President of funny girl press, inc. My business assists other small businesses with print projects. I also publish a coupon booklet called Fabulous Savings here in the Triangle. I have been a member of Chix in Business since 2003 and am passionate about local businesses, particularly women-owned businesses. I have been a part of the flagship board, which banded together to create a more organized mission statement and membership standards for Chix. In the past, I have done many jobs for Chix, such as hosting Chix luncheons, approving Chix memberships, assisting with Chix events and more. I look forward to being the Vice Chairperson for Chix in Business, I love this group dearly and am excited to be a part of its future.

Chix Secretary: Andrea Grater
As a long time board member, I have agreed to serve as Secretary for a second time to help with the continuity of the Board, as a historian of sorts. I look forward to the fresh ideas of first time board members that will mix with the ideas that Joanne and I bring as long term members of Chix. I am currently working as a corporate recruiter in the telecommunications industry, and continue to have a side business as a guest Inn Keeper for a small, eco friendly Bed and Breakfast in Virginia.

Chix Treasurer: Kati Mullan
I am the Volunteer/Program Coordinator for Read and Feed, a non-profit in Wake County that works with elementary age students on improving their reading and reading comprehension skills. Previously, I was the Finance Director for the NC Center for Women in Public Service. I am excited to be a member of the Chix community and to serving on the Board. I look forward to meeting other Chix members; learning about their passions, sharing their ideas and strengthening our support circles. I am married and have 3 teenage children, 2 in high school and 1 in college. When I am not working or wearing my mom hat, I like to garden, run and hang out at the beach.

Advisor to the Board: Elizabeth Galecke
I am a photographer in Raleigh specializing in candid portraits of children, family, bridal, headshots and maternity- as well as my special service- “A day in the life” where I spend a day or ½ day documenting your family from the time the kids wake up in the morning until the time they go to bed at night! It is hard to believe that I have had my business in Raleigh for almost 17 years! When I moved to Raleigh from Austin, TX, the first people I met were women business owners where I shopped- in about 1998, I put together a dinner at Humble Pie restaurant in downtown Raleigh so that I could connect these women and we could support each other’s businesses and share ideas and issues. This is where Chix in Business began and it grew and changed from there! I am so committed to this organization, I have gained so much from being a member as well as a volunteer Board Member and I am really looking forward to helping implement the new board’s ideas!!

Why host an event?

• It can bring you and your business great visibility
• You get to choose a topic or format that most appeals to you
• You can share and learn what you are most interested in and passionate about
• You’ll make some great connections with other Chix members

Hosting an event is easy, just three steps!

1. Choose a topic and format (see Guidelines for choices)
2. Pick a date and location
3. Complete an Event Form and send it to Melanie Stoer at melanie@melsieglass.com

So don’t wait, claim your month now!

We are excited to announce some big changes that are taking place in 2011 – we are going back to our roots! Chix was founded by Elizabeth Galecke in 1998 as a way to share business resources and ideas with other local women independent business owners.  They met informally at her home and around her table supported and educated each other as their businesses grew.

The mission of Chix will remain the same - a Triangle-area community of passionate women business owners who support and educate each other through building personal and business relationships, information sharing, mentoring and community outreach.

Here is what you can expect in 2011:

Leadership:

We have reduced the number of board members to three (Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer) to oversee the legal aspects of the corporation.  In 2011 Stefanie Zizzo will remain Chair of the organization with Barbara Sarvis as Treasurer and Andrea Grater as Vice Chair. The three will oversee the new direction of the organization with help from other leaders to coordinate activities according to a set structure and guidelines.

Membership

Membership is free!

Events and Activities

Instead of monthly formal luncheons with a guest speaker, we are now featuring smaller informal gatherings focused on sharing resources, information and ideas with each other in ways such as:

- Roundtable “mastermind” meetings – small groups of women business owners sharing thoughts, resources and ideas around a chosen topic.

-Social gatherings – purely social, no topic, no agenda, just a way to stay connected.

-Networking gatherings – informal  with exercises to help us get to know each other.

-Community outreach activities – getting together to focus on a particular cause

-These gatherings may take place at someone’s home, at a restaurant, library or any other space we dream up

-These gatherings may take place during the morning, afternoon and/or evening

-Chix members could choose to host or facilitate any of the above

Where you will find us/how to connect

You can find us here as well as on our Facebook Page, LinkedIn Group and through the Yahoo Group (chixemail@yahoogroups.com).

We are looking forward to these changes and hope you are too!

Stefanie Zizzo

Chair, Chix in Business