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Women's Business Connection

The Women’s Business Connection connects and engages women to create innovative opportunities for professional and business growth.

The goals of the Womens Business Connection are to:

Provide support, education and resources
Foster growth through networking and relevant programming
Promote relationships and collaborative experiences that strengthen our community
Facilitate lines of communication in the community

Women's Business Connection Steering Committee

	Kathleen F. Chrisom Conventures, Inc. One Design Center Place Boston, MA 02210 617-439-7700 Committee Chair	Kathleen Chrisom is Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Conventures, Inc. Located in Boston, MA, Conventures is New England’s largest Corporate Event Company. With over 35 years of experience, Conventures has produced some of the largest events in New England. Kathleen has been with Conventures for 22 years and overall has more than 25 years of experience planning and implementing corporate events of all sizes specializing in sponsorship sales and negotiation and, new business development.
	Sandra L. Elmasian BZ Matters, Inc. 222 Forbes Road Suite 402 Braintree, MA 02184 781-380-3555 Committee Co-Chair	Sandra Elmasian,M.S. is a psychotherapist and a consultant. She works with adults and couples in private practice. As a consultant to companies she combines the study of human behavior with her business background and knowledge. In both cases the need to understand the problems and issues that we face on a personal and/or professional basis are examined. A plan to improve the quality of an individual’s life or the profitability of a business is strategically implemented. In either case the goal is to survive and thrive in these dramatically changing times.
	Angela Rutzick A-Type Marketing & Design 233 Needham Street Newton, MA 02464 781-686-1124 Immediate Past Chair	Since 1992, Angela has been making it her business to understand her clients’ business. With a unique blend of business acumen and creative talent, Angela provides clients with strategic marketing solutions. She takes a personalized approach to address a client’s root business, brand, internet and marketing issues that help differentiate them in the marketplace and find opportunities to increase revenues. Her clients are diverse and include startups, non-profits and Fortune 500 companies. She frequently speaks on branding, web strategies and social media and has been featured in the BBJ, Mass High Tech, Women’s Biz and the Boston Globe.
	Patty Bean Eastern Benefits Group 77 Accord Park Drive Unit B-1 P.O. Box 9145 Norwell, MA 02061 781-261-2048	Patty is an Assistant Vice President at Eastern Benefits Group in Norwell and has over 20 years experience in the employee benefits marketplace. Patty’s speaking engagements on saving money on health insurance and Massachusetts and National Health Reform have been attended by hundreds of MA businesses and members of US House and Senate. Patty works closely with profit and non-profit clients, provides compliance and HR-type communication to her clients, and strategic guidance on employee benefit plans.
	Cheryl Botieri South Shore YMCA 79 Coddington St. Quincy, MA 02169 617-479-8500	Cheryl Botieri is the Vice President of Mission Advancement of the South Shore YMCA and is responsible for Community and Financial Development. Through its mission, the Y works to strengthen the community through programs and services that help to build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. As a charity, it raises several million dollars annually to provide scholarships and financial assistance to those in our communities who need help and support regardless of age, ability, income or background to learn, grow and thrive.
	Maureen Burns-Fradera Downey & Company, LLP 222 Forbes Road Braintree, MA 02184 781-849-3100	Downey & Company is an independent regional Certified Public Accounting firm servicing small and medium sized businesses for the past 25 years. Our services have been refined in those years to maximize our ability to help our clients create and manage wealth.
	Clare Cox Tidemark Corporation 25 Braintree Hill Office Park Suite 200 Braintree, MA 02184 508-420-1220	Clare Cox is President of Tidemark Corporation, providing customized strategies and solutions to engage, develop, retain top talent and increase organizational effectiveness. Consulting solutions include training, coaching, mentoring, professional development and industry-leading performance assessments for leadership, management and teams. Previously, Clare held senior positions in several New England area corporations. She serves on the WBC Steering Committee and ATHENAPowerLink® Governing Body of the SSCC, and Women’s Leadership Committee of the Ad Club in Boston..
	Susan Daileader Rockland Trust Company 288 Union Street Rockland, MA 02370 781-878-6100	Susan Daileader, CFPR, CLTC, Vice President and Financial Consultant with Rockland Trust's Investment Management Group, has over 25 years experience in the investment and financial services industry. Susan has helped clients devise investment and financial strategies so they can achieve their long-term goals. Susan works with business owners, high net worth individuals and not for profits on retirement plan, wealth management and endowment solutions.
	Ann Fottler-Pierce Xtreme Brand Makeover 4 Stacey Road Middleboro, MA 02346 508-801-2353	Xtreme Brand Makeover is a marketing and design firm that combines the best online and offline marketing techniques to deliver maximum ROI for clients. Ann Fottler-Pierce has 20 years of design and marketing experience. Her award-winning design work has been published in Graphic Design USA and Print Magazine. Ann received a B.A. in Design & Typography from UMASS Dartmouth and is certified in Inbound Marketing. She is a member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, the South Shore Women’s Business Network, and serves on the WBC Steering Committee and the Athena Powerlink Governing Body.
	Monica Horan, President Express Employment Professionals 100 Grandview Road, Suite 216 Braintree, MA 02184	Monica Horan is the owner of Express Employment Professionals in Braintree, MA. Express Employment Professionals is a full service staffing agency focused primarily in temporary administrative and industrial placements. Her office is the fourth in Massachusetts for the franchisee, Express Services, Inc., which is a 27 year old international company based out of Oklahoma City, OK. They have over 500 independently owned and operated offices throughout the US. Previously, Monica was the founder and CEO of Aspen Grove, a web-based software development company. Monica has over 25 years of business management experience in the areas of marketing, sales and operations.
	Mary MJ Jacoby Milestones Realty 99 Derby Street Suite 200 Hingham, MA 02043 877-652-8726	Mary “MJ” Jacoby is a REALTOR for Milestones Reallty in Hingham, specializing in Real Estate Services for the Young Senior and First Time Home Buyer marketplace. MJ has earned the SRES Certification (Senior Real Estate Specialist) held by only 1% of REALTORS and is a CBR (Certified Buyer Representative). MJ’s unique client satisfaction strategy “guide clients to their goal on their schedule and on their terms” has been her key to success both at Century 21, and as Founder and CEO of PHASE III Corp. MJ’s firm set an unrivaled service standard for over 25 years, starting as the First Independent Service Firm when Personal Computers were first introduced.
	Barbara Z. Mitchell Product & Implementation Manager Benefits, Product Operations & Medicare Harvard Pilgrim Health Care 617-509-2794	Barbara (Zanca) Mitchell is Product Operations & Implementation Manager at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the #1 Commercial Health Plan in America for the 7th consecutive year. During her 5 year tenure with HPHC, Barbara has used her extensive background in law, human resources, operations, business process redesign and project management to become a respected business management partner within the Benefits, Product and Medicare department and beyond. Barbara is a results oriented, high energy, and dedicated builder of quality processes and procedures, with years of progressive leadership experience - with a history of achieving on time, within budget results through strategic planning, facilitation, execution, collaboration and consensus building.
	Jenifer M. Pinkham, Esq. Schlossberg & Associates, LLC 35 Braintree Hill, Ste. 204 Braintree, MA 02184 781-848-5028	Jenifer Pinkham is an attorney at Schlossberg, LLC, a full service business law firm. The firm has six areas of practice: business law, estate planning and business succession planning, commercial real estate, employment law, intellectual property and taxation. Ms. Pinkham currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Ambassador Committee at the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, she was named the Chair of the Braintree Business Council. She is also active in many political campaigns, including being Treasurer for a State Representative’s Campaign Committee.
	Jeannette Travaline Senior Vice President Retail Sales and Marketing South Coastal Bank 279 Union Street Rockland, MA 02370-1898	Jeannette is Senior Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing for South Coastal Bank. She joined the Bank in 2009, bringing over 20 years of experience in the banking industry. Her relationship building skills have helped the Bank enjoy new growth while working with management to rebrand SCB. Jeannette is very active in a number of community and civic organizations on the South Shore and has been on many nonprofit boards. She enjoys speaking to organizations about relationship building with an emphasis on attitude and motivation.
	June Cunniff A.W. Perry, Inc. 4 Pond Park Road Hingham, MA 02043 781-749-4405	June joined A. W. Perry in 1990 and oversees daily operations and leasing of Perry’s South Shore portfolio. June holds an RPA designation and is the Chairman of Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Boston’s Education Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for BOMA. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Manufactured Housing Association.
Women's Business Connection Advisory Committee
	Tricia Dandrow South Coastal Bank 279 Union Street Rockland, MA 02370 781-681-7215	Tricia Dandrow, Vice President in Commercial Lending, began her career as the Executive Director of the South Shore Economic Development Corporation (formerly affiliated with the SSCC) in 1986. In 1993 she joined Quincy Savings Bank; acquired by Citizens Bank. With over 20 years of experience in commercial lending, Tricia has expertise in SBA lending, C&I, and commercial real estate. In addition to managing a portfolio of existing customers, Tricia is also responsible for developing new business for South Coastal Bank. Tricia is a former chair of the WBC and the ATHENA PowerLink® Governing Body.
	Dolly Di Pesa Di Pesa & Company, CPAs 1250 Hancock Street., #203 Quincy, MA 02169 617-786-7775
	Lisa DiTullio Your Project Office 15 Lily Pond Lane Cohasset, MA 02025 617-842-8037	Lisa DiTullio is the principal of Your Project Office, a PMI® Registered Education Provider and service organization dedicated to introducing project management as a business competency and enabling organizations to improve decision-making, instill accountability, and enhance communications. Her group offers training programs and expertise supporting project management and team- building activities, as well as virtual project management office (PMO) services to organizations that do not need a full-time PMO.
	Joyce Duhaine South Shore Savings Bank 1530 Main Street South Weymouth, MA 02190 781-682-3118	Vice President and Manager of Information Services at South Shore Savings Bank (SSSB), Joyce Duhaine is a long-term employee with the Bank. Her experience includes working as a teller, customer service representative, operations supervisor, Marketing Director, and currently with Information Technology as Certified Project Manager. Joyce’s expertise in the financial industry augments her effectiveness in building relationships and managing complex projects. SSSB embraces innovative technology to offer a topnotch workplace environment, and the latest in customer products and services.
	Phyllis Godwin Granite City Electric 19 Quincy Avenue Quincy, MA 02169 617-472-6500
	Marynel Wahl Halatsis InfraNet Solutions, Inc. 105 Roc Sam Park Road Braintree, MA 02184 781-356-5858	Marynel Wahl-Halatsis is co-founder and CFO of InfraNet Solutions. InfraNet provides technical resources to other small and mid-size business for their networks, security, internet, internet protections, phones, maintenance, upgrades, emergency services, spam/virus/spyware protection, Storage area networking (SAN), secure remote access, project planning, helpdesk, outsourcing, wireless, WAN, monitoring, moves, and virtualization needs. Marynel is a graduate of Bentley College, has a CNE, VMware, Microsoft, Citrix, Symantec, AVG, Cisco and HP certifications.
	Elena Kirkiles, CIC, AAI Kirkiles & Associates Commercial Insurance Brokerage, LLC 273 River Street Norwell, MA 02061 781-659-3300
	Noreen Carey-Neville Partners Benefit Group 296 Billington Street Plymouth, MA 02360 508-830-1819	Noreen has been an active member of the South Shore Business Community since 1988. She is a partner in with Partners Benefit Group, a cutting edge Benefits Management Company. In addition to her commitment to her profession and clients, Noreen has served the South Shore through Rotary Club of Weymouth, South Coastal Bank’s Board of Directors, a variety of nonprofit and business committees. While sitting on the Board of Directors of the SSCC, she was co-founder of the Women’s Business Connection (WBC) and was instrumental in bringing the Athena Powerlink™ Program to the Chamber of Commerce.<./font>
	Paula Rowe Granite Print Quincy, MA 617-479-5777	Paula Rowe, Principal and Managing Partner of Granite Print LLC has 25 years in the Graphic Industry. Paula has developed two businesses, employed 25 at one point and has enjoyed the accolades of her peers by winning several Regional and National awards for her work. Paula is a creative, detail-oriented Manager that closely works with her clients to produce a product that will reinforce their goals, create excitement for their product or service and always providing a great ROI!