Richmond Area News Archives

River City Express Network receives 8th consecutive ABWA regional newsletter award

National President Vicki Marlett (at left in photo) presented the award to Editor Marianne Lawrence at the Lancaster, PA ABWA Spring Conference on April 18. 

Newsletters are judged by non-ABWA members and must adhere to specific guidelines. Judged on appearance (30%) and content (70%), five newsletters are chosen at each spring conference. The River City Record received an average score of 95 on a 100 point scale. Judges comments included: “Surprisingly few errors for the amount of copy. ”“Very useful content.” “Nice color.” “Good inclusion of news items.” “Excellent page layout.”

Regional award recipients will compete for national honors at the National Women’s Leadership Conference September 24-27 in Kansas City, MO. The River City Record has received a regional award in each of the eight years of its publication and national awards in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

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Tracey G. Jackson Elected 2009 Cavalier Chapter Woman of the Year

Cavalier Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) is proud to announce that Tracey G. Jackson has been elected as its 2009 Chapter Woman of the Year. Ms. Jackson has been a member of Cavalier Chapter and the association since 2007 currently serving as Chapter Vice President. As Chapter Woman of the Year, she will represent Cavalier Chapter at all ABWA and community events. Ms. Jackson is employed as an Adoption Specialist for the Virginia Department of Social Services. She received her Bachelors and Masters of Art degrees from Fayetteville State University and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Public Policy and Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University. Ms. Jackson is involved in several civic and fraternal organizations including Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World, the Chesterfield County Democratic Committee, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, and the Order of the Eastern Star, PHA. A celebration in her honor was held on Tuesday, March 17th, at the Holiday Inn Richmond Central Hotel.

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Marcia Robertson Selected 2009 River City Express Network Woman of the Year

The 2009 River City Express Network Woman of the Year is Marcia Robertson. Marcia is Vice President of Printing Department, Inc., a full-service printing and mailing services company based in Richmond.

Marcia has been a member of RCEN since March 2003 and has served as Membership Committee Chair and Co-Chair of the Souvenir Program Committee for the 2004 ABWA National Convention held in Richmond.  She has worked on the Nominating Committee and the Network Navigator program. She is currently in her second term as Vice President of Membership.

Marcia gives back to her community, working on such River City projects as the Central Virginia Food Bank and the Community Kitchen. She works with the Mothers of Young Children bi-annual sale to support local women and children’s charities and regularly donates blood to Virginia Blood Services.

RCEN’s Woman of the Year Selection Committee says, “Marcia is one of our most enthusiastic and committed members. We are proud to honor her as 2009 Network Woman of the Year.”

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Sandra Sylvester is River City Express Network nominee to ABWA National Top Ten

River City Express Network has nominated Sandra B. Sylvester to the 2010 Top Ten Business Women of ABWA. Sandra is President and CEO of Superior Expressions, a provider of educational products and supplies to clients throughout Virginia.

Sandra has been a member of RCEN since July 2004 and has served on the Membership Committee, the Biz Fair Committee and as Vice President of Finance and President-Elect. She is currently serving as President of the network. Sandra has been a board member of the Coordinators 2 Adoption Agency and Business Network International. She has worked with River City on several Habitat for Humanity projects and her company is one of our Corporate Partners.

Sandra says her ABWA experience has given her “invaluable insight as to how to become a leader in my business, home and community.”

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At it's 4th quarter meeting, the Richmond Area Council of ABWA elected the following officers and committee chairs to serve a one-year term beginning January 1.

Chair
Alisa H. Dick
River City Express Network
ahdick@aaamidatlantic.com

Vice Chair
Marianne L. Lawrence
River City Express Network
marianne@trgmail.net

Communications Officer
Alisa L. Griffin
Cavalier Chapter
alisa.l.griffin@verizon.net

Financial Officer
Arlene Randolph-Williams
Cavalier Chapter
arlene.randolph@richmondgov.com

American Business Women's Day Committee Chair
Alisa L. Griffin
Cavalier Chapter
alisa.l.griffin@verizon.net

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Tena Krouse named to national Top Ten Business Women of ABWA

RCEN member Tena Krouse,  President of Y Not Now and a member of River City Express Network, has been named one of the 2009 Top Ten Business Women of ABWA.

Each year, ten American Business Women’s Association members are recognized nationally for exceptional career achievements when they're chosen as the Top Ten Business Women of the American Business Women's Association. They are women who've excelled in meeting career goals and enhancing their education. They give back to their communities and take time for their families and themselves. The Top Ten represent success and serve as important role models for ABWA members and all working women.

Each chapter and network in the Association has the opportunity to nominate a member to the national Top Ten. Tena was nominated this year by River City Express Network. Candidates are judged on criteria established by ABWA national headquarters and are asked to answer a number of questions about their personal goals, ABWA historical profile, formal education, career accomplishments and community involvement. 

Tena is President of Y Not Now, a marketing, team-building and sales training company based in Richmond. She has been a member of ABWA and River City Express Network (RCEN) since August 2003.

She co-chaired the Souvenir Program Committee for the 2004 national ABWA conference in Richmond and has worked on various RCEN committees. She joined the RCEN executive board in 2007 as Vice President of Programming and currently serves as President-Elect. She has helped grow RCEN and the association by sponsoring, at last count, eleven new members.

Tena received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Strayer University and holds a master’s degree in Business Technologies from Marymount University.
She not only has worked with RCEN at the Central Virginia Food Bank and on several Habitat for Humanity projects, she has volunteered at the William Byrd Community House and Embrace Richmond.

Tena says that everyday she is reminded of the power of ABWA when she sees her husband's grandmother's ABWA badge with all the pins and ribbons signifying her accomplishments as a 25-year-plus member. "I am a walking, talking billboard for ABWA," she says. "Any time someone asks where should they network, I pull out my ABWA commercial!"

The Top Ten receive special recognition at the national conference in Covington, KY, October 2-4, including a formal introduction and commemorative award at the General Session.
Each Top Ten also competes for the highest honor of American Business Woman of ABWA at the national convention. A panel of three ABWA member judges interview each Top Ten to choose who is to represent the Association as American Business Woman of ABWA. 

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Richmond groups win regional awards

The monthly newsletters of the Cavalier Chapter and River City Express Network received regional newsletter awards this spring. Newsletter submissions are judged by non-ABWA members and must adhere to specific guidelines. Judged on appearance (30%) and content (70%), five newsletters are chosen at each spring conference.

Regional award recipients will compete for national honors at the National Women’s Leadership Conference October 2-4 in Covington, KY.

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River City Express Network Nominates Krouse to ABWA Top Ten

Each year, 10 ABWA members are recognized nationally for exceptional career achievements when they're chosen as the Top Ten Business Women of the American Business Women’s Association. They are women who’ve excelled in meeting career goals and enhancing their education. They give back to their communities and take time for their families and themselves. The Top Ten represent success and serve as important role models for ABWA members.

Each local group of the Association has the opportunity to nominate one of their members to the Top Ten. The River City Express Network in Richmond has nominated Tena Krouse for that honor. Krouse is President of Y Not Now, a marketing, team-building and sales training company.

She has been a member of ABWA and RCEN since August 2003. She served as Advertising Chair for the Souvenir Program Committee for the 2004 national conference in Richmond and has worked on various RCEN committees. She joined the board this year as Vice President of Programming. She has helped grow RCEN and the association by sponsoring, at last count, ten new members.

Tena received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Strayer University and holds a Masters degree in Business Technologies from Marymount University.

She has worked with RCEN at the Central Virginia Food Bank and on several Habitat for Humanity projects. She has volunteered at the William Byrd Community House and with Embrace Richmond.

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Annually, ABWA groups recognize a member who has made notable contributions and outstanding achievements. Nominees are judged on participation in local, regional and national and ABWA activities, educational and career accomplishments and community involvement. All Richmond area Women of the Year and Top Ten nominees will be honored at the 2008 celebration of American Business Women's Day, Friday, September 19, at the Richmond Sheraton West.

Cavalier Chapter

Cavalier Chapter is proud to announce that Gwendolyn D. Douglas has been elected as its 2008 Chapter Woman of the Year. Douglas has been a member of Cavalier Chapter and the association for ten years, serving in many capacities. As Chapter Woman of the Year, she will represent Cavalier Chapter at all ABWA and community events. Douglas is employed as an Executive Assistant in the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney and a Chaplain with the Richmond City Police Department. A celebration in her honor will be held on Tuesday, March 18 at the Holiday Inn Richmond Central, 3207 N. Boulevard.

Virginia Randolph Chapter

Carolyn Bynum is the 2008 Virginia Randolph Chapter Woman of the Year.

River City Express Network

Sandra B. Sylvester, President and CEO of Superior Expressions, LLC, has been named the 2008 Network Woman of the Year by Richmond’s River City Express Network (RCEN) of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA). Sylvester is President and CEO of Superior Expressions, a provider of educational products and supplies to clients throughout Virginia.

She has been a member of RCEN since July 2004 and has served on the Membership Committee, the Biz Fair Committee and as Vice President of Finance. She is currently serving as President-Elect of the network.

Sylvester has been a board member of the Coordinators 2 Adoption Agency and Business Network International. Earlier this month she volunteered with other RCEN members at the Habitat for Humanity Women Build.

She says her ABWA experience has given her “invaluable insight as to how to become a leader in my business, home and community.”

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Members of Commonwealth Blue Chapter and Cavalier Chapter have voted to merge their groups. Current members of Commonwealth Blue Chapter will become members of Cavalier Chapter at the end of 2007.

Both chapters are excited about the combination and look forward to the benefits of the move.

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At it's 4th quarter meeting on October 18, the Richmond Area Council of ABWA elected the following officers and committer chairs to serve a one-year term beginning January 1.

Chair
Alisa H. Dick
River City Express Network
ahdick@aaamidatlantic.com

Vice Chair
Alisa L. Griffin
Cavalier Chapter
alisa.l.griffin@verizon.net

Communications Officer
Marianne L. Lawrence
River City Express Network
marianne@trgmail.net

Financial Officer
Arlene Randolph-Williams
Cavalier Chapter
arlene.randolph@richmondgov.com

Newsletter Editor
Brenda Spell
Cavalier Chapter
brenda.spell@richmondgov.com

American Business Women's Day Committee Chair
Alisa L. Griffin
Cavalier Chapter
alisa.l.griffin@verizon.net

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Beatrice E. Burton has been elected to the ABWA National Board of Directors as 2007-2008 District IV Vice President. The board is made up of nine members who govern the affairs, policies and business of ABWA on behalf of its members. The board also serves as the trustee and selection committee of the Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund, ABWA’s national scholarship fund.

The District IV Vice President represents Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Bea was elected by the members attending the ABWA National Women's Leadership Conference in Greensboro, NC in September. She can be reached by e-mail at beburton@tredegar.com. For more about Bea, see earlier story.

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The 2007 ABWA National Women's Leadership Conference in Greensboro, NC was a major success for two Richmond area ABWA groups.

Cavalier Chapter's Beatrice E. Burton was elected to the ABWA National Board of Directors as District IV Vice President. (See additional stories: #1, #2) The chapter also received it's 16th Star Award. The Star Award is the highest award that can be earned by an ABWA chapter and represents the fulfillment of best practices by an ABWA chapter.

River City Express Network (RCEN) received the highest award that can be earned by an ABWA express network, the Diamond Award. The Diamond Award represents the network's implementation of ABWA network best practices. This is the second time RCEN has earned the award.

RCEN also received a national newsletter award for its monthly publication, the River City Record. The Record was one of five award winners chosen from the 30 chapter and network newsletters that received regional awards earlier this year and were eligible for the national honor.

Karen Higgins, RCEN member and Richmond Council Chair, attended the conference as a member of the 2007 National Nominating Committee. The national conference is the culmination of a year of work with the committee. (For more information, go to News Archives.)

Also from River City Express Network, Mary Foley was one of the conference speakers. She presented two sessions of her popular workshop "6 Secrets to Building Your Bodacious Career". (For more information, go to News Archives.)

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Each year local ABWA groups emphasize the outstanding achievements and contributions members make by electing a Chapter or Network Woman of the Year. Criteria for the award, established by each local group, can include education, career accomplishments and community involvement. Honorees have usually made s major contribution in time and/or effort to the group's success.

Richmond area groups that have announced their Women of the Year are:

Cavalier Chapter
Sondra R. Draper

James River Chapter
Geneva Allen

Maggie L. Walker Chapter
Harriet V. Hoover

Mary McLeod Bethune
Frances M. Scott

River City Express Network
Tena Krouse

Richmond area Women of the Year will be honored at the 2007 celebration of American Business Women's Day, Friday, September 14, at the Richmond Marriott West.

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At their May meetings, local chapters and networks across the country elected the leadership teams for the 2007-2008 year. Locally, the following executive boards were elected:

Cavalier Chapter
President: Helen Fleming
Vice President: Sondra Draper
Secretary: Tracey Jackson
Treasurer: Cornelia Carter
Financial Secretary: Carolyn Crocker

Commonwealth Blue Chapter
President: Wanda K. Shea
Vice President: Norma Miller
Secretary/Treasurer: Rozeda Phillips

Maggie L. Walker Chapter
President: Julia Ann Johnson
Vice President: Anna S. Arrington
Secretary: Patsy Dickens
Treasurer: Rose Washington

River City Express Network
President: Cherie Biddle
President-Elect: Sandra B. Sylvester
Vice President of Communications: Debbie Stocks
Vice President of Finance: Lee Ann Jewell
Vice President of Marketing & PR: Smokie Sizemore
Vice President of Membership: Marcia Robertson
Vice President of Programming: Tena Krouse

Virginia Randolph Chapter
President: Barbara Gordon
Vice President: Carolyn Bynum
Secretary: Tamekiah Aguirre
Treasurer: Charolette Wilson

Their terms of office begin August 1, 2007.

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Cavalier Chapter and the River City Express Network, both based in Richmond, received regional honors at the 2007 ABWA Spring Conference in Norfolk, VA in April. Both groups were presented the newsletter award for excellence in design and content.

Newsletters chosen for spring conference awards are eligible to compete at the National Women's Leadership Conference in Greensboro in September.

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Ms. Mims currently holds the position of Community Development Manager/Vice President at SunTrust.  With more than 20 years experience in the field of community development, Mims has earned distinction in a several arenas.  She has served on multiple non-profit boards; received her Leadership Certification from the American Business Women’s Association; and is a graduate of the United Way Board Management Series.

RRHA is the largest housing authority in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  RRHA serves nearly 10,000 residents and manages nearly 4,100 units through its Public Housing Program and through its various Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Programs, provides subsidized housing in approximately 2,900 units.  RRHA also manages neighborhood redevelopment and conservation programs throughout the city of Richmond. RRHA has approximately 300 employees.  

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River City Express Network member Mary Foley has been selected to speak at two ABWA conferences this year. Mary will give the keynote speech, "Thriving on Shift and Change," at the Louisville, KY spring conference April 13-14. In September, Mary will present her "bodacious woman" seminar at the ABWA national conference in Greensboro, NC.

Mary started her company, Bodacious! Ventures, to inspire women to be all they can be. As an author, speaker and seminar leader, Mary empowers women to "look within, think strategically, act bodaciously, and love every minute of it!"

Rather than CEO or President of her company Bodacious! Ventures, Mary proudly refers to herself as “Woman in Charge.”

For more information about Mary visit www.gobodacious.com.

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The American Business Women’s Association is governed by a national board of directors, composed of nine elected officers: a national president, national vice president, national secretary-treasurer, and six district vice presidents - one from each district in the Association. They are elected to one-year terms by national convention delegates and, as a board, they meet three times annually. These nine members are elected representatives of the Association and, as such, govern the affairs, policies and business of ABWA on behalf of its members. The board also serves as the trustee and selection committee of the Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund, ABWA’s national scholarship fund.

Richmond member, Beatrice E. Burton has been approved as candidates for the office of 2007-2008 District IV Vice President. The District IV Vice President represents Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Beatrice is a 17-year member of Cavalier Chapter in Richmond, VA. She is a Senior Accounting Analyst at Tredegar Film Products Corporation.

Bea has been active locally and nationally, fully embracing the mission and values of the association. Her goal is to utilize technology to expand communication among chapters throughout District IV. Beatrice would like to hear from you and your members. She wants to hear the “applauses” and “concerns” regarding the association. She will encourage the members to take advantage of the personal and professional development seminars at the spring conferences and the National Women's Leadership Conference. Her enthusiasm for ABWA is reflected in her motto, “Bizzy as a Bea, Buzzin’ for ABWA.”

ABWA Profile

National Offices/Honors
· National Nominating Committee Chair
· Credentials Committee
· Publishing Committee
· 2007 Norfolk Spring Conference  Business Expo Director
· 2004 Richmond National Conference Treasurer
· 2000 Richmond National Conference Bid Committee
· 1994 Williamsburg Spring Conference Exhibits Chair
· 1992 Washington DC Capital Strut Observer
· Delegate

Council Offices/Honors
· Chair
· Treasurer
· ABW Day Chair

Chapter/Network Offices/Honors
· President
· Vice President
· Treasurer
· Woman of the Year

Chapter/Network/Council/Chairs
· Chapter Audit Committee
· Chapter Fundraising Committee
· Chapter Business Associate Event Committee
· Chapter Becoming a Woman Program Committee
· Chapter Budget Committee

Other Activities
· Attended 12 National Conferences
· Attended 10 Spring Conferences
· National Association for Female Executives
· Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Virginia 

Contributions to Bea’s campaign may be made payable to Beatrice E. Burton Campaign and mailed to: 5707 Lorieville Lane, Richmond, VA 23225. Bea would like to hear  can be reached by e-mail at beburton@tredegar.com.

If you would like Beatrice to attend your network’s meeting or special event, please contact campaign manager Alisa L. Griffin at 804.354.7115 or alisa.L.griffin@verizon.net for scheduling. "We hope that you will support Beatrice in her bid to be your 2007 District IV Vice President by attending the 2007 National Leadership Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina, September 20-22," says Griffin. "Be a part of the 'buzz' and cast your vote for Beatrice E. Burton."

At its September 27 meeting, the ABWA 2005-2006 National Board of Directors appointed Karen Higgins to the 2007 National Nominating Committee. A member of River City Express Network in Richmond, Karen is one of three members appointed to the committee. The other members are Carol Sinks-Farmer, Indinois Chapter, Hammond, Indiana and Lynn White-Shelby (Chair), Verdugo Glen Chapter. Glendale, California.

Karen is serving as the Richmond Area ABWA Council Chair, is Vice President - Investment Officer at Wachovia Securities and the co-founder of Just Like Sisters LLC.

The Nominating Committee reviews all national officers nominations to qualify those eligible to seek office. The Committee Chair presents the committee's report at the National Women's Leadership Conference.

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As their contribution to the Altavista Centennial celebration, members of Alta-Gret Charter Chapter of ABWA will hold a "Hats on to Women" Gala Luncheon at noon on on March 17. The event, located at Altavista Elementary School, will also celebrate Women's History Month and will feature a narrated Civil War Fashion Show by Shirley Keen from Stuart, Virginia. ABWA District IV Vice President, Donna Tipton, will be a special guest.

Attendees are encouraged to come dressed to represent any period of history of the past 100 years - and especially to wear hats!

Tickets, which include the luncheon, fashion show and special history book, are being sold for $12 per person. The deadline for reservations is March 10. For more information, contact Connie Wilson at shoppercw@aol.com.

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They are:

Chair: Karen Higgins, River City Express Network
Vice Chair: Alisa Griffin, Cavalier Chapter
Communications Officer: Cindy Mims, River City Express Network
Financial Officer: Harriet Hoover, Maggie L. Walker Chapter

The election is effective January 1, 2007. Officers serve a one-year term.

At the same meeting, council members adopted the Standard Council Bylaws of the American Business Women's Association. Download a copy here.

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ABWA chapters and Express Networks can enter their newsletters in competition at any of the association's regional spring conferences. Newsletter submissions are judged by non-ABWA members, with five award winners selected per conference.

Those who earn newsletter awards at spring conferences are eligible to enter their newsletters at ABWA's national conference, where non-member judges select five national award winners.

Newsletters are judged on appearance and content. River City Express Network's newsletter, River City Record, also won national awards in 2002, 2004 and 2005. 

The other national award recipients were: Greenspoint Chapter, Houston, Texas; Jazz City Chapter, Grandview, Missouri; Leading Women Express Network, College Station, Texas; and Twilight Chapter, Lawrence, Kansas. 

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Members of River City Express Network recently celebrated the network's 5th anniversary. In addition to the cake and balloons one would expect for a birthday celebration, the 60+ members and guests were treated to a Silent Auction and raffle. Over $3,000 in prizes were available and the competition was fierce, but (mostly) friendly!

The 2006-2007 RCEN Executive Board was installed by outgoing president Alisa Dick. A special presentation was made to Sandy Peele of First Book. The check represented proceeds from speaker book sales at the "Executive Success Stories: Women at the Top" program in March.

2006 Protégé Awards were presented and the outgoing board was recognized for their hard work and contributions to the success of the 2005-2006 network year.

A portion of the proceeds of the meeting will be presented to the Central Virginia Food Bank. Additionally, members and guests brought peanut butter and tuna to the meeting to help restock the Food Bank's shelves.  View photos here...

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Among the special guests were a number of former chapter members. National Secretary-Treasurer Robin Necci traveled from Asheboro, NC to participate in the celebration and install the 2006-2007 Executive Board. View photos here...

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