Business Women Unite

In the friendly, laid-back atmosphere of Giorgio's Family Restaurant, a group of 10 to 20 women gather for lunch every third Friday of the month to exchange business cards, share information, and encourage each other in their businesses.

Business Women of Prince William County is a networking group started in 2007. It has no dues, no paperwork, no long-term commitment, and no restrictions on those who can attend (other than gender). They meet for an hour and a half over lunch and simply introduce themselves, share business cards, and then listen to a short presentation by one of the group. There is also a 50/50 raffle to cover the minor administrative costs. After that, it’s simply girl talk about the various businesses of the ladies around the table.

“A lot of other network groups are so expensive and out of reach for women,” said June Leatherman, one of the founders of the group who sells Shaklee Natural Health and Wellness products from her home. “I wanted to expand my business but in the process wanted to help other women out there be able to grow in their own businesses and grow personally.”

Leatherman decided she wanted to form an inexpensive networking group for women who had businesses, especially home-based businesses. She and a friend visited several networking groups and got ideas for how they wanted theirs to run, then they invited ladies they knew in business. After that they advertized in a few places, but it was mostly word of mouth that caused the group to grow. It now has nearly 80 women on its monthly invite list, about 15 to 20 coming to any given meeting.

“It’s a great way for women to meet other women who are in businesses and form new friendships and be able to expand their business,” Leatherman said. “It’s really a great outlet for women—and not only for businesses but also on a personal basis.”

When Leatherman stepped down from leading the group due to work and family needs, other regular attendees stepped up to keep it running. “No one wanted to end it. A lot of friendships were formed here,” she said.

Melissa St. Clair of Paper Chaser, a business that provides online support to small businesses, took over the group after Leatherman. She said she has done business with multiple members of the group and gotten business as well. “It’s nice to do business with people you know and to be able to make referrals to people you know.”

When an unexpected move meant St. Clair also had to turn it over, others stepped up again. Teresa Giltner who co-runs the group now and runs MT Enterprises, a custom embroidery and needlework business, has been coming to the luncheons since they started.

She called it a very self-sufficient networking group with very little administrative responsibilities. “You just put it out there and invite any woman in business to come,” she said. The $2 50/50 raffle held each meeting covers the minor administrative costs—which is mainly just printing the menus provided to simplify ordering—with any extra at the end of the year going to a charity the group chooses.

Early in the meeting, the ladies go around the table and each woman introduces herself and briefly tells about her business, passing out business cards and specifying what kind of referrals would be useful to her. Then, while waiting for the lunch orders to arrive, one of the ladies gives a slightly longer presentation on her business. Giltner said that they have ladies lined up to present all the way through next February.

Giltner said there is an “open door policy” for the group (unlike many networking groups that only allow a single representative from any given company), they simply ask for an RSVP so they can make sure space is reserved and menus printed. “There’s no pressure. You never feel intimidated because we are just women talking to women,” she said.

“I think the group is successful because it works for one purpose: to connect women together and help further their business,” said Connie Moser, who co-runs the group with Giltner.

She said other organizations she belongs to have many goals and are constantly “in need.” The Dale City Civic Association, for example, has boards, elections, standing committees, special committees, projects, fundraisers, etc. Whereas, the Business Women group “asks nothing from you except to buy your own lunch,” she said. “One goal with no strings attached. Let other women know what you have to offer.”

“You get a chance to build relationships with people so you are not afraid to refer them,” said Debby Culp, an Elite Cruise Counselor and Destination Specialist who has been coming to the meetings for several years. She said the camaraderie of the group keeps her coming back every month. “There’re a couple core people who come every time, but then there’s always new faces too,” she said. “There’s no agenda except to just network and learn.”

“I say I don’t do this for my business as much as just for me personally,” she said. “But I have gotten more business out of this group than any of the other paid groups I go to.” Culp also enjoys that they hold the meetings in a locally-owned family restaurant, which she said fits perfectly with the mission of the group to support local business.

June Leatherman also said how she has enjoyed seeing the group develop and grow over the years, going from mostly home-businesses to now including women from all lines of business: realty, banking, assisted living facilities, accounting, etc. “We are seeing it blossom, and that’s really cool and fun,” she said.

The next meeting of the Business Women of Prince William County will be this Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Giorgio's Family Restaurant on Kevin Walker Dr. in Montclair. Visit the group’s Facebook page to learn more or stay up to date on the group’s schedule.