Women build network to tackle business, social issues

"Tekelia,  We had a ball and already we have written 6 policies as a result of the contacts we made!" 

Stephanie Sinkfield, Owner/Agent

State Farm Insurance

Born out of need and desire to help empower, promote, and prosper women in business,   Sisters-In-Business.Com was established  as a web-based business networking service on February 14, 2006 by founder and owner Tekelia C. Kelly. Now along with its new and official website www.sistersinbusness.net, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce proclaimed February 15 as Sisters In Business Day during its 1st Year Anniversary celebrated on February 15, 2007 at the Development Resource Center (DRC) in headquartered location Chattanooga, Tennessee in the United Sates of America.

"It was absolutely wonderful!  I will download the [web cast] to hear the entire program.  YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.  I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF SIB."

Rosalyn Hickman, Executive Director

Covenant Keypers

Sponsors of event were Woman's Way Journal (Gold Level) , Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough, Aquarium Foods, and Aladdin Printing & Copying (Silver Level).

Says Sisters In Business Owner Tekelia Kelly, "The date of February 14 when business marks its beginning is significant for several reasons: one being it is on the day of Valentine, symbolic of the company's labor of love, second owner's  mother in laws birthday who like owners birth mother, and grandmother were all  pioneer sisters in business; and thirdly because February being Black history month as the company cited upon its first day in operation it sought to honor  African American woman business owner continuing the great legacy of Black women entrepreneurs such as Madame C J Walker and so many others.

SISTERS OPEN FOR BUSINESS! (as first published on website February 14, 2006) The month of February 2006, we celebrated Black History and the Grand Opening of the "sistersinbusiness.net NETWORK, we would like to pay tribute the "legacy and livelihood" of African-American Women Business Owners; and the contributions they have made to sisterhood and society as a whole. "Celebrating the Legacy & Livelihood of African-American Women Business Owners, and Sisters everywhere!  (...and Brothers everywhere, too!)

Also, see the following event items:

• Fire Eye Production's web cast of SIB Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting" event: http://www.localwebcastnetwork.com/industry/sisters-in-business-ribbon-cutting.html

• Program and Commemorative Booklet. (Coming soon!)

• Chattanooga Chamber link of Ribbon Cutting (Coming soon!)

• 1st Anniversary Photo Gallery, Compliments of Catherine Price Photography (Coming soon!)

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Ruth Brinkley, president and CEO of Memorial Healthcare Systems, is shown with the girl who honored her, Jameisha Borders. Click to enlarge.

Girls Inc. girls, staff, and board members named 14 women who have changed Chattanooga.  Sisters In Business Founder and Owner Tekelia Cassaundra (Crutcher) Kelly will be one given the distinctive honor of the 2007 "Unbought and  Unbossed" Award presented by Girls Inc of Chattanooga.  Sisters In Business Network client Sharon Kelly, owner and operator of Rose of Sharon Senior Villa will also be honored.

Girls Incorporated of Chattanooga honors women in Chattanooga who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women in the community at their annual UnBought and UnBossed awards program. The event is held during March in celebration of Women’s History Month.

UnBought and UnBossed is a tribute to the spirit and determination of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to run for president of the United States. Ms. Chisholm declared herself to be a representative of all people and made a commitment to serve as a leader who would remain “unbought and unbossed.

“Chattanooga is rich in history, but women’s history usually takes a back seat,” says Maxine Bailey, president & CEO of Girls Incorporated of Chattanooga.  “Honoring Chattanooga’s influential women at UnBought and UnBossed is our way of celebrating the powerful impact they have had in our community.”

The UnBought and UnBossed honorees are selected by teen girls who participate in Girls Incorporated’s women’s history project.  The girls identify women in our community whom they consider role models. This year’s honorees include: Vicky Gregg, president & CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee; Anna Van Cura, founding director of Ballet Tennessee; Selma Cash Paty, attorney at Paty, Rymer & Ulin; Sharon Kelly, owner and operator of Rose of Sharon Senior Villa (and client of Sisters In Business); Rebecca Smith, director of scholarships for the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga; Sonia Sasse, community activist; Dr. Minnie Vance, physician; Heidi Hefferlin, founding principal and president of Hefferlin Kronenberg Architects; Sheila Jennings, community activist; Judge Rebecca Stern, Hamilton County Criminal Court; Tekelia Kelly, founder and owner of Sisters In Business; Sherrie Gilchrist, president and CEO of Chattanooga African American Chamber of Commerce; the Chattanooga firefighting team of Captain Benita Owens and firefighters Melissa Miller and Kelly Liles; and the Chattanooga Locomotion, Chattanooga’s professional women’s football team.

“It’s not only a celebration of history but a celebration of achievement,” says Ruth Brinkley, president and CEO of Memorial Health Care System, a recipient of last year's UnBought and UnBossed award and honorary chair for 2007. “These women not only attained personal goals and aspirations, but paved the way for young girls to understand the many rewarding opportunities open to women in the world today.”

At the UnBought and UnBossed Award breakfast ceremony, the girls will illustrate the link between past, present and future generations of female leadership by honoring their role models with awards and recognition. This year’s event will be held Tuesday, March 20 at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Imperial Ballroom from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.  Tickets are $250 for a table of eight, $32 for a mother/daughter package, $24 for adults and $14 for students. For more information please contact Girls Incorporated at (423) 624-4757 or visit www.girlsincofchatt.org.

Sisters in Business Table Invitation

Sit At Our Table!  Sisters In Business invites all network clients, partners, and vendors to join us during the UnBought and UnBossed Award breakfast ceremony by sitting at the Sisters in Business table.  Call 423.421.5646 or email sistersinbusiness@comcast.net to maker your reservation for a seat at the table(s).  Represent your business and network, all while supporting the great programs that help girls at Girls Inc.

 

More about Girls Incorporated of Chattanooga:

Girls Incorporated of Chattanooga inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold by providing a healthy and positive environment where girls can enjoy being girls; by providing enriching programs that nurture their capacity for personal achievement, confident adulthood and economic independence; and by advocating for an equitable society.

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