Topic: "Smart Employment Decisions in a Challenging Economy"

When: Friday, February 20. 11:15-11:30 am, Registration and Networking. 11:30am-1:00 pm, Program.

Where: Petroleum Club (8620 N. New Braunfels, 7th floor)

Cost: $25 for members/corporate partners, $35 for guests and $40 for walk-ins.

The San Antonio Business Journal is more than a business publication - it's a vital business tool. It's filled with information and resources local companies can't find any place else in the city from the weekly Friday edition of breaking news stories, Top 25 Lists, public record information and industry special reports, to various special publications including our popular Annual Book of Lists.

For more information on subscribing or advertising, call Mary Jonas at 341-3202 or email mjonas@bizjournals.com.

EARLY REGISTRATION FOR THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARDS UNDERWAY:

You only have until February 15 to take advantage of early bird prices for the Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards (ESA)! The San Antonio Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®) will host the 9th Annual Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards (ESA) on Thursday, March 19, 2009, 6:30-9:00 pm, at the Omni Hotel in conjunction with Women's History Month. NAWBO's prestigious Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards celebrate the contributions of area women business owners to the economy and our community.

Over 40 women were nominated for the awards, and six were chosen from this group of phenomenal women entrepreneurs to receive the 2009 awards. Below are the winners in each of the following categories:

• Innovator - Lara August, Robot Creative Management, LLC
• Benefactor - Janie Barrera, ACCION Texas
• Mentor - Della Guidry, PRA Destination Management
• Visionary - D'Ann Harper, Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper Realtors
• Rising Star - Julie E. Striekert, DVM, TLC Pet Hospital
• Inspirational - Tricia Veley, Flight Safety Equipment, LP

Make your reservation now to attend this exciting premiere awards event culminating in the presentation of the 2009 Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards.

PRICES:

• Table Sponsor (seats 8): $750 ($700 prior to 2/15/2009)
• Table Hosts (seats 4): $375 ($350 prior to 2/15/2009)
• Individual Tickets: $75 ($65 prior to 2/15/2009)

Sponsorships also available. For more information or to register for the event, click here.

We are excited to announce that the keynote speaker for the ESA event will be Dawn Stokes, Founder and CEO of Texas Driving Experience and SKILLS, LLC in Fort Worth, Texas, and winner of the American Express "Make Mine a Million" Business Program.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY WITH SA BUSINESS JOURNAL:

The San Antonio Business Journal is offering a special advertising opportunity to the San Antonio NAWBO organization and its members. Published monthly in the classified section of the Business Journal and in the annual Book of Lists, your ad of 3.1875" wide by 2" tall can be included with up to 15 spaces for member and NAWBO ads for a cost per issue of $150.

Advertisers commit to a 13x agreement and will be included in the NAWBO page once a month for one year. The design services of the Business Journal are available at no additional charge for your ad.

Contact Leianni De Leon at 210-477-0860 or ldeleon@bizjournals.com .

ARE YOU GOING GREEN?

Are you going green? Would you share the steps your business has taken to dramatically make a difference in our planet? Send an email to President@nawbosa.org by February 8th to be eligible for recognition for your efforts.

AN INCOME OF HER OWN NEEDS FACILITATORS:
An Income of Her Own needs facilitators for the AIOHO® Conference scheduled for February 10, 2009. Being a facilitator is an opportunity to see the excitement of young teen women who want a chance to determine their own direction in life through interaction with you as a business owner. You will be making a difference in the teens' lives, but as past facilitators have said, "You receive more than you give."

We already have 20 NAWBO members who have signed up to be a facilitator for this year's conference, but we still need more, so please let us know as soon as possible if you are willing to serve as a facilitator. You would need to be available from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm at Our Lady of the Lake University. RSVP to aioho@nawbosa.org or call 835-8392. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Mary Alice Bethancourt at 274-4560 or Cheryl Cook at 210-289-8942.

COCKTAIL CONNECTION:
The next Cocktail Connection is Tuesday, March 3, at Coco (18402 US Hwy. 281 N in the Legacy Shopping Center; 210-491-4480; www.sa-coco.com) from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Join us for a networking opportunity, NAWBO-SA's Cocktail Connection. Price is $15 plus tax and gratuity and is payable at the door (cash and credit cards only). This includes one drink ticket and hors d'oeuvres. To RSVP, visit www.nawbosa.org.

SAN ANTONIO WOMAN MAGAZINE ONLINE DIRECTORY:

San Antonio Woman Magazine recently launched its Women In Business Online Directory. The Directory is a comprehensive resource, listing women in business and resources for women providing year- round exposure online at www.SAWomanConnect.com.

The cost is $295 for the year, or $30 per month, which includes your business listing online at www.SAWomanConnect.com for one year with a link to your website and a 1 year mail subscription to San Antonio Woman magazine.

Contact Edwina at 210-826-5375 or edwina@sawoman.com

ULTIMATE NETWORKING CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY NAWBO-AUSTIN, TX:

You are invited to Your Local City's Third Annual Ultimate Networking Conference on Sat, Feb. 21st in Austin TX at the Sheraton Hotel, located at the intersection of IH-35 and 11th street. NAWBO-SA is a partner in this event where our members have the opportunity to network and connect with other chambers, networking organizations and associations around Austin and Texas!

The all day event includes the Expo with three sections: Begin Your Own Business, Expand Your Business and General Topics, with break out presentations, panel discussions, and table top discussions on a variety of topics that will help your business and your personal life.

General Admission is only $10 and includes admission to the expo, all presentations and panel discussions, table top discussions and daytime networking activities. A VIP ticket for only $75 includes the full day's general admission activities, VIP lunch, VIP dinner, VIP networking activity, and Keynote Speaker from 6pm to 9pm.

Partners include Your Local City, Inc., EWTG (Executive Women In Texas Government), Small Business Administration, NAWBO (National Assoc. of Women Business Owners), eWomen Network, WBEA (Women Business Enterprise Alliance), Remarkable Women's Community, Business Building Academy and others!

Register online at www.UltimateNetworkingConference.com or contact Tonya Hofmann at 512-436-5645 or tonya@yourlocalcity.com.

SMALL BUSINESS DAY AT THE CAPITOL 2009!:
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Texas is sponsoring a "Small Business Day at the Capitol 2009!" on February 16 and 17. The 81st Texas Legislature will be addressing issues as vast and important as lawsuit reform, business tax reform and skyrocketing property appraisals and rates. Help the NFIB to say no to overtaxation on small business and join their fight to reform the new business tax! For more information, visit http://www.nfib.com/tx and click on the Small Business Day 2009 link.

WBEA LUNCHEON AND MINI-TRADE FAIR::
Topic: "Get Into Politics or Get Out of Business" Join WBEA on February 24, 2009 from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm for a luncheon and mini-trade show. Guest speaker Nancy Sims, Senior Vice President from Pierpont Communications discusses pressing legislative issues for business owners, why people should care as well as the role of women in the political process. For more information, click here.

2009 ABWA CONNECTIONS CHAPTER SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP:
The American Business Women's Association Connections Chapter is accepting applications for their 2009 Special Scholarship - the Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund. The amount of the scholarship is $2,000 and is open to non members of ABWA. The deadline for applying is March 31, 2009. Since only the first ten qualified applications will be accepted, it is very important to send in the application as soon as possible. For more information and to obtain an application, contact Kathryn Whipple at kathryn@donevirtually.com.

SAN ANTONIO SCORE:
The San Antonio SCORE Chapter 164 "Counselors to America's Small Business" is part of a national nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth, and success of the nation's small business. SCORE provides workshops for a nominal charge for "start ups", business plans and financial statments. Upcoming workshops are "Are You Ready to Go Into Business" (February 12) and "Using Financial Statements to Manage Your Business" (February 26). For more information, visit http://sanantonioscore.org/home.html.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) TRAINING:
The local office of the Small Business Administration offers a variety of classes every month. Upcoming classes in February are "Access to Capital" (February 10), "Franchising & CDC/504 Loan Program" (February 24) and "SCORE - Analyzing Your Financial Statements" (February 26). For more information, call their office at 210-403-5900, or visit their web site at: http://www.sba.gov/tx/sanantonio/

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC) TRAINING:
The UTSA Small Business Development Center offers integrated, low-cost training and free counseling services to meet the needs of small business owners in San Antonio and surrounding counties. For more details, call 210-458-2047, or visit their website at http://sasbdc.iedtexas.org/

SOUTH TEXAS WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER (STWBC) TRAINING:
The STWBC offers education, counseling and training services to aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners. Upcoming classes in February include "The Power of Networking" (February 10), "IRS & Taxes - How to Prepare" (February 17) and "Business Basics: Understanding Cash Flow" (February 24). For more information, visit www.stwbc.com or call 210-207-3939.

ALTAIR TECHNOLOGY'S LUNCH 'N LEARN SERIES:
Altair Technology invites you to its upcoming Lunch 'n' Learn series, "Business Planning for 2009." Sign up for discussion, learning and strategy tools to build your business. Stay tuned for upcoming classes at http://altairtech.com/webpages.asp?wpid=140

• Blanca Uribe, South Texas Business Fund
• Theresa Willis, Bauer, Willis & Associates, Inc.
• Linda Muth, Perpetual Wealth