Laura Armbruster
NAWBO D/FW Northern Dallas Area Council Chair
Valuable Connections
214.731.1278
laura@valuableconnections.com
www.valuableconnections.com

Laura Armbruster is the owner of Valuable Connections, a professional service firm providing copywriting for web sites, including optimization for search engines. Prior to starting her own firm seven years ago, Laura held various management positions, spending a large portion of her corporate career managing customer support centers. Her positions included vice president of customer service for an internet only bank and senior manager for a technical support outsourcing firm responsible a major multi-million dollar contract.

Laura has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from LeTourneau University and is presently working on a Masters in Professional Writing.She is a native Texan and has spent her entire adult life in the Dallas area. She is also a member eWomenNetwork and enjoys networking with bright, talented women business owners. Laura has spent the last three years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer and is very passionate about helping children.

Crystal Arredondo
NAWBO D/FW Director of Membership and Membership Services Council Representative to National NAWBO
AXA Advisors-Independent Financial Consultant
972.455.9011
Crystal.arredondo@axa-advisors.com
www.axa-advisors.com

Crystal Arredondo, a Financial Consultant, with AXA Advisors, offers comprehensive financial planning services to women business owners, family owned businesses and senior level executives which include Executive Bonus planning, Deferred Compensation plans, Succession planning, Buy-Sell funding and Employee benefits.  She also helps individuals/families with planning for retirement, education funding, risk management and estate planning.

Crystal Arredondo was born and raised in Germany.  She moved to Texas in 1994 and obtained her Bachelor of Biology degree in 1998 and a MBA in Finance from UNT in 2003.  Crystal’s business experience includes operating a family owned business, teaching at the University of Texas at Arlington, and working as a Paralegal.  Crystal then moved on to provide comprehensive financial advice and is currently with AXA Advisors in Dallas, TX.  Community activities and professional affiliations include NAWBO, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Home Builder’s Association and President of Referral X-Sellerators Chapter of BNI.

Jeanne Braniff Baker, CFCI
NAWBO D/FW Director of Public Policy
BenefiTree Enterprises, LLC
817.492.7119
jeannebaker@benefitree.com
www.benefitree.com

Jeanne Baker, co-owner of BenefiTree, a certified woman owned business, has twenty-five years successful experience working with major companies on benefit design, pricing and communication to employees. Author of the 401K Operations Manuals and recipient of the Working Woman Entrepreneurial Excellence 2000 award, she is a frequent speaker to industry related organizations on employer issues. Her company received the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award 2000-Technology Oriented Business.

Jeanne, an active member of Women in Transportation, is a Texas Founding Partner of Women Impacting Public Policy. She was named NAWBO D/FW 2005 Public Policy Advocate of the Year and currently serves as NAWBO D/FW's National Representative in Washington, D.C. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Multiple Schlerosis Association, is a Charter Board Member of Clear Creek University in Pineville, Kentucky, Charter Member of the National Women's Chamber of Commerce, an active volunteer for Life Gift Organ Donation Foundation of America, and of Women in Transportation.

Robin Birdsong
NAWBO D/FW Champion Member Chair
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
817.347.3548
Robin.birdsong@ubs.com
www.ubs.com

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Dawn Brinson
NAWBO D/FW Treasurer and Immediate Past President
Brinson Benefits, Inc.
972.788.9118
nawbo@brinsonbenefits.com
www.brinsonbenefits.com

Dawn Brinson is the owner of two related companies—Brinson Benefits, Inc. and COBRA Charmers, Inc. These two companies have brought "the personal touch" back into the health care delivery system working as advocates directly with employers and their employees to be sure the insurance companies and healthcare providers uphold their contractual and professional obligations to the patients they serve.

The firm has been working with mid-sized employers in Dallas, Tarrant and surrounding counties for employee benefit consulting and administration services since 1996. Dawn Brinson has spent over 19 years in the insurance industry specializing in group health benefits. With revenue growth averaging 20-30% per year, the company now services over 100 employers. In the Dallas Business Journal, Brinson Benefits has recently been listed as the 24th largest women owned businesses in the Metroplex. There are a total of 13 employees responsible for serving all aspects of employer needs.

Gina Buser
NAWBO D/FW President
Traveling Coaches
214.742.6224 ext 211
gbuser@travelingcoaches.com
www.travelingcoaches.com

Gina Buser is President and co-owner of Traveling Coaches, Inc., a nationally recognized software training and consulting company located in Dallas, Texas. Primarily serving the legal community, Traveling Coaches also works with corporations, non-profit groups, and government agencies worldwide. Since 1997, Gina has served as the company’s managing partner overseeing its administrative, accounting, sales, and marketing teams. A nationally certified 100% women-owned business enterprise (WBE), Traveling Coaches has been included among the Top Women-Owned Businesses in the D/FW Metroplex by the Dallas Business Journal for the past five years.

Gina is a member of the Womens’ Business Council Southwest and National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). Gina is very involved with her church and throughout her community. She serves on the Board of Directors, Leadership Team and various other committees of Springcreek Community Church. She has served on the SAMS (Small and Medium Size Business) Advisory Council and the Board of Directors for the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce. Gina also participates with and supports charities such as Habitat for Humanity, Family Gateway, Taylor’s Angels and Susan G. Komen Foundation. Gina has also served on committees for events benefiting Collin County Volunteer Center.

Marilyn Bushey
Ex-Officio, Vice President Member Services National NAWBO
Power Performance & Communication
214.428.6766
www.powerpacinc.com

Marilyn Bushey is recognized as an award winning communications coach and accomplished trainer/facilitator in the areas of communication, team building, and management skills. Marilyn collaborates with senior management in the design, development, and facilitation of strategic planning sessions and learning events such as management and leadership retreats and boot camps. She was recognized with the Promotional Products Association International's Silver Pyramid Award for Creative Use of a Promotional Product in a Classroom Setting.

Marilyn has been honored by local and international organizations and has served on numerous industries and nonprofit boards. She was named a High Spirited Citizen by the City of Irving and honored by the American Cancer Society for "Outstanding Performance by a CEO or President" for her volunteer work.

Billie Day
NAWBO D/FW President-Elect
On Site Solutions, Inc.
972.991.8333
billied@onsite-solutions.com
www.onsite-solutions.com

Billie Day has been helping organizations more effectively accomplish their goals for the past 20 years. She has experience in improving performance in both large and small organizations located in the United States and in multiple international locations. She specializes in improving the performance of companies through application of “whole systems design” principles and methodologies.

Prior to forming OnSite Solutions in 1988, she was the Director of Compensation and Organization for Sun Exploration and Production Company. Her responsibilities included organization design/ development, the design and administration of reward systems, performance management systems, strategic human resource policy, executive succession planning and executive compensation.

She is a regular speaker on management topics. Conferences include the North Texas Compensation Conference, International Conference(s) on Self-Managing Teams, AMA, the Conference on Self-Managed Teams in Healthcare, and the International Quality and Productivity Center, China Productivity Center.

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Karen Gordon
NAWBO D/FW Director of Corporate Partners
Growing by Design
972.616.1250
Karen@growingbydesign.com
www.growingbydesign.com

According to her 5 Dynamics ™ Assessment Report, “Karen is a high-energy risk taker who is driven by her creativity which is constantly churning and generating new ideas. She likes to make something from nothing, build it up and make it flourish. She finds an idea that no one else has had and proceeds, full-steam ahead to actualize it.”

Karen’s ability to see opportunities and act upon them has brought her success and recognition. Her first company, GTCI, was on the INC 500 list of fastest growing privately owned companies for two years in a row, growing from #380 to #76. GTCI was also on the Dallas 100 list of fastest growing companies, listed at #25. Her latest venture, Growing by Design, is focused on building high performing teams by capitalizing on each team member’s individual strengths. Through her work, Karen is looking forward to developing deeper relationships with existing clients and establishing a lasting partnership with her new clients. She is enthusiastic about working with her Growing by Design partner, Marilyn Bushey, to help other organizations find ways to grow and improve their business.

When Karen isn’t working on some new business idea, you can often find her on the sidelines of her son’s football game or watching her daughter compete in a volleyball match. She also enjoys watching her oldest daughter gain confidence daily in the woman that she has become and discovering the woman that she can be.

Sherry Green
NAWBO D/FW Director of Member Services (Wise Council/P4)
Technology Team, LLC
817.233.8784
sherry@technologyteam.us
www.technologyteam.us

Sherry Green, president of Technology Team, LLC, personifies small business success. However, her business is anything but small. Technology Team is an industry expert in relocating mission critical equipment. In just six years, Technology Team has successfully relocated over $100 million dollars of technology equipment for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies.

Sherry is a member of the Fort Worth Economic Development Business Advisory Council and a board member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Sherry has been recognized with numerous awards based on her business acumen and service to her community. These include: 2005 Fort Worth Star Telegram Entrepreneur of the Year, 2006 Fort Worth Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Award, and 2007 Downtown Rotary Employer of the Year..

In addition to her professional leadership, Sherry has also helped make her community a better place through her involvement with Boy Scouts of America and the Camp Fire Program where she was awarded for her leadership exemplified in training all North Texas Camp Fire Leaders and in helping to create their fundraising program, An Artists’ Christmas. Sherry’s firm belief is to support future leaders through organizations dedicated to encouraging youth to become confident people and community leaders. It is this mindset that earned her the title of State of Texas Volunteer of the Year.

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Leslie S. Gunawan, IFA, CFM
NAWBO D/FW Secretary
Merrill Lynch-Independent International Financial Advisor
214.969.2656
Leslie_Gunawan@ml.com

Leslie S. Gunawan is an International Financial Advisor with the Merrill Lynch Global Private Client Group in Dallas.  Her financial practice specializes in assisting women business owners and high net worth individuals in the development, formation, and achievement of their financial goals and objectives. With a background in strategic planning for a Fortune500 company and her personal enthusiasm for financial planning, Leslie’s wealth management team develops highly customized investment strategies to respond to the dynamic needs and challenges of the business owners that she serves. Leslie’s financial practice services clients who have the desire to establish long-term financial and investment relationships based on planning, communication, and trust. 

Leslie earned a degree in Finance from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas as well as a degree in French Language from the University of Texas.  In addition to NAWBO, Leslie serves on the board of the Fashion Group International as well as the Presbyterian Phorum Society.  Leslie is also active in many non-profit organizations including The American Heart Association and the SPCA of Dallas.

Kelley Kimmel
NAWBO D/FW Fort Worth Area Council Chair
Principal Financial Group-Independent Financial Services Representative
817.731.5500 x230
kimmel.kelley@principal.com

Mica May
NAWBO D/FW Director of Marketing and PR
Mica May Design
972.983.6263
micamay@gmail.com

Paula McIntyre
NAWBO D/FW Director of Programs
My Personal Valet
214.363.2200
paulam@mpvalet.com
www.mpvalet.com

Paula McIntyre is the owner of My Personal Valet, a HUB certified company, providing personal assistant and concierge services to corporate and residential clients. With assistance from My Personal Valet, clients better manage their responsibilities and spend their free time doing what they enjoy. My Personal Valet takes pride in giving their clients what they need be it spending more time with their family, focusing on growing their business or playing more golf. They help their clients achieve and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Paula received the 2008 Emerging Business of the Year award by NAWBO DFW. She is a member of the National Concierge Association (NCA) and the International Concierge and Errand Association (ICEA). She is also co-owner of Having An Affaire, an event staffing company. 

My Personal Valet helps their clients their time and tasks in travel arrangements, personal shopping/corporate gifts, household management, personal services and hospitality & entertainment.

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Donna Miller
NAWBO D/FW Southern Dallas Area Council Chair
Miller Consulting
214.941.4747
dmiller@millerpr.com
www.millerpr.com

Donna, Miller Consulting’s Principal, is an experienced public relations, business development, marketing and nonprofit fundraising professional. She has worked in a wide-variety of environments ranging from small organizations to large educational institutions. During her career she has dramatically increased media coverage of the National Association of Women Business Owners – Dallas/Fort Worth, developed and implemented “branding” strategy for the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration and developed Web initiatives for the University of Dallas and the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration. 

Donna is a hands-on consultant, working on everything from managing large teams seeking multi-million dollar donations all the way to personally hanging party lights prior to a fundraising event for a small nonprofit. She has worked with organizations as diverse as the American Red Cross – Dallas Chapter, Norwood Flynn Gallery and U.S.

Tom Niesen
NAWBO D/FW Director of Education
Acuity Training Systems, Inc.
972.960.8695
tom@salesmadeeasy.com
www.salesmadeeasy.com

Christie Simons
NAWBO D/FW Administrator
efficient
817.439.4977
Christie@christiesimons.com
www.christiesimons.com

Gayle Watson
Vice President, Corporate and Economic Development, National NAWBO Performance Solutions, Inc.
214.874.0505
gaylew@performancesolutions.com
www.performancesolutions.com

Gayle Watson is president of Performance Solutions, Inc., a full-service consulting firm specializing in designing enterprise-wide learning and performance management environments. She provides service to international financial services, customer call/contact center, start-up technology firms, sales and service companies, and nonprofit organizations. A published author in management practices, the focus of her consulting practice is to help organizations build high performance teams and achieve greater results through people. PSI is recognized for its expertise in the areas of human resource development; business process improvement; performance management and organizational development; acquisition, merger and change management strategies; management development; instructional design and training delivery; on-line learning and on-line performance support; sales and customer service.

Watson serves on the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) board of directors as President-elect in 2004-05 will serve as President for the association in 2005-06. She is the recipient of several distinguished business awards including the City of Dallas Women's Business Initiative Award and the NAWBO National Achievement Award as Member of the Year.

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