Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber

Women in Business

On Friday, May 21st, the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw (WXW) is hosting its third annual day-long forum. This year’s event provides twice as many workshops, an excellent panel of high-powered business women, breakout sessions, and plenty of chances to talk amongst yourselves and form business connections (including a lengthy happy hour).



For those of you who’ve never been to a WXW event, attendees find that our format is different from most other business organizations. Our tagline is “Now We’re Talking” because we create every opportunity for our attendees to have meaningful conversations about their business successes and challenges. This means that our attendees talk openly and much of our meeting content is based on their questions, needs, and input. Often women who attend the events say, “Wow, I’ve never talked with anyone about these pressing work issues. It’s great to say these things out loud, get input, and figure out solutions!”



When we started WXW back in early 2008, Debra Power and I had no idea that the organization would catch on quite like it has. Clearly, women like to talk about business and they love the format. Since 2008,  we’ve hosted two annual forums that each drew over 225 attendees. We’ve also hosted numerous monthly events, built a mailing list of over 800 people, and helped women form all kinds of meaningful connections around the region. Wow, that’s so rewarding!



Speaking of rewarding, Debra & I and the awesome women of WXW went to Lansing on April 29th to join in the festivities at the 2010 Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards Ceremony. Thanks to a nomination by our local SBTDC office (hurray for Charlie Penner and Shannon Beeman!), we won the SBA’s “Women in Business Champion of the Year” award for the State of Michigan. Check our Facebook page for photos.



If you’re looking to improve your business, career, and/or life in the coming months, we’d love to see you at the WXW Forum10 on May 21st. You’ll benefit from two intensive, 2-hour workshops, as well as meet and talk with women business leaders from the region. We’re expecting a huge turn out this year, and workshops are filling up quickly, so register soon. We can’t wait to see you there!