FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women in Consulting Names 2009 Board of Directors

With some key reappointments, WIC's senior leadership will continue to deliver unparalled services and benefits to its members

San Mateo, CA – March 16, 2009—Women in Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and small business owners in the San Francisco Bay Area, today announced its 2009 Board of Directors. The all-volunteer Board comprises some of the best minds in Bay Area consulting and includes some key reappointments of WIC’s senior leadership:

President—Linda J. Popky continues for a second year as president. Under her leadership, the organization made great strides during its 10^th anniversary year and continues to deliver unparalleled services and benefits to its membership base. Recently recognized as one of Silicon Valley’s top “Women of Influence” by the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal, Linda is founder and president of L2M Associates, Inc., a strategic marketing firm that helps organizations improve their bottom line through smarter and more effective marketing investments. She’s also a speaker and consultant, as well as a program advisor for the Integrated Marketing Program at San Francisco State University's College of Extended Learning and the author of Marketing Your Career: Positioning, Packaging and Promoting Yourself for Success.

Vice President—Jennifer Berkley builds on her past experience and contributions as WIC treasurer and WIC vice president. Founder and owner of The Insight Advantage, she helps businesses integrate customer insightto make key business decisions in the face of emerging customer needs. Jennifer also teaches the Power of Marketing Research at University of California at Santa Cruz Extension in Silicon Valley.

Treasure and Finance Director—Melissa Stacey returns for a second year as WIC treasurer, adding finance director to her responsibilities. Owner and founder of Feeling Organized, Melissa specializes in helping homes, offices, and small businesses create customized organization systems to fit their unique needs and styles. In her spare time, she volunteers at Ronald McDonald House and San Jose Museum of Art.

Secretary & Communications Director—Deb McClanahan joins the Board as secretary and communications director. Principal of BroadBand HR Consulting, Deb helps companies with executive search and HR consulting. She’s also developed a practice in expert testimony, helping attorney clients with challenging immigration and employment matters.

Director of PR & Marketing—Avery Horzewski continues in her third year as director of PR & marketing, helping promote WIC’s value and thought leadership to its members and the community at large. Previously, she served as WIC secretary. Founder and owner of AVE Consulting, she works with companies of all sizes to develop compelling, persuasive, and effective customer communication strategies that encompass everything from websites to social media to print collateral.

Strategic Initiatives Director—Jan Richards builds on her past experience as WIC secretary in her new role as strategic initiatives director. A national Baldrige Award examiner for five years, she heads up J.G. Richards Consulting, helping companies to streamline and simplify their operations; clarify their vision, goals, and priorities; and implement effective process management. This enables clients to increase profits by reducing costs, growing revenues, and increasing business flexibility.

Membership Director—Deborah Plumley continues her role for a third year as well. Principal of The Plumley Group, Deborah helps technology enterprises and sole practitioners accelerate their growth and improve their business practices through maximizing investment in training, transfer of knowledge and best practices, and prototyping business processes.

Director of Partnerships—Sherry Prescott–Willis returns for a second year in her role as WIC director of partnerships. A former principal of Prescott Marketing and founder of Market This Strategy, she has over 18 years of strategic marketing expertise in both consumer and high technology products. Sherry is the author of Market This!: An Effective 90-Day Marketing Tool, scheduled for release in March by Morgan James Publishing.

Programs Director—Deborah Hoard joins the board as programs director, putting to good use her 20 years of marketing know-how. As founder of Net Results, Deborah has been consulting on marketing campaigns for a range of Silicon Valley businesses, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, helping them further their business objectives and maximize their budget and resources.

“The services WIC provides to seasoned business consultants are even more critical in this uncertain economic climate,” commented Linda. “Our experience has been that consultants who can provide clear, compelling value to their clients will continue to thrive in these types of situations. WIC is poised to continue and expand its leadership role with our continued programs in Silicon Valley, our growing Leaders Network, and our satellite groups around the Bay Area. In 2009, we expect to launch a new satellite group in the North Bay (Marin County), and to offer newly redesigned workshops and webinars."