Hollister
– A group of local businesswomen are using the power of teamwork
to gain an advantage over their competition through Team Women – a
club that gives female professionals a chance to promote themselves
and support one another in their endeavors.
Hollister – A group of local businesswomen are using the power of teamwork to gain an advantage over their competition through Team Women – a club that gives female professionals a chance to promote themselves and support one another in their endeavors.
“When I heard about Team Women at a convention I was attending I thought it was a great idea,” said Darcy Stevenson, who founded the local chapter. “I think its important for women to have an opportunity to support each other.”
Team Women, a national club that was started more than a year ago by a working mom in Murrietta, operates much like most person-to-person networking efforts, with one exception – ladies only.
“I think women connect on a more compassionate level,” said Stevenson. “So we want to help each other, not just as professionals, but because we like each other personally.”
The Hollister chapter’s 11 members range in age from their mid-20s to early 70s, and represent a broad spectrum of industries, from real estate to jewelry sales. To prevent competition or conflicts among members, only one member from each industry is allowed to join the club. The same rule benefits the club by ensuring diversity, which is one of its greatest strengths, Stevenson said.
“We’re really a pretty dynamic group,” she said.
The idea of any networking club is to ensure that its members are advertised through word-of-mouth referrals. Members look for opportunities to recommend other Team Women professionals to their existing business contacts, and in turn benefit when their name is mentioned in similar circumstances.
“I really believe in networking,” said Team Women member Jacqueline Fancher, owner of Abacus Data Systems. “When you have your own business you’re working all the time, so a group like this forces you to get your name out there in the community.”
It’s also a helpful tool for small business owners who don’t necessarily have the funds for constant advertising.
“I work at home on a small budget, so I can’t really afford full-blown ads on a monthly basis,” said Stevenson, who owns a private wine consultation business. “So this is a good way to let people know what I have to offer.”
Though the club has only been operating since February, its members hope to become involved in community service projects that might benefit causes such as the Kinship Center or Community Pantry. They also hope to increase membership to between 25 and 30 women.
“We’re a great group of women and we’d love to have some more guests visit us,” said Stevenson.
Team Women meets every other Tuesday at 1582 San Benito St. For more information call Stevenson at 261-4130.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
