Women Entrepreneurs Institute

WEI Board Members
	Gabrielle Parkinson, MA, CCF CEO, Career Life Transitions Institute, Founder & President of WEI Gabrielle is CEO of Career Life Transitions Institute and specializes in Career Management, Leadership Development and Career/Life Transitions. She combines a strong management background with being a licensed Executive Coach, an experienced career management consultant and trainer, and a master Career/Life Planner. She is the co-author of You Can Choose Again and author of her new book, The Transition Dance. Gabrielle loves supporting people who are ready to step into a new dream – who are ready to begin visioning about what they want and eager to fully step into their power and potential. She is the Founder (1992) and current President of WEI, and strongly believes in the power and effectiveness of women entrepreneurs coming together to help each other grow and prosper. When moving through a major transition time, reassessing yourself and your life and creating a new vision is essential for moving forward. Gabrielle has developed powerful, “now” tools to assist people in gaining new clarity and focus, and she helps her clients strategically combine vision and action for successfully stepping into new opportunities and possibilities they are attracting. Gabrielle enjoys speaking, facilitating and traveling. Contacts: www.women-entrepreneurs.org, www.diane-foster.com and www.CareerLifeTransitionsInstitute.com
	Judy Harrison WEI Vice President / Business Developer, Retreats & Events Coordinator Judy Harrison is a life-long resident of Humboldt County. Judy has over 20 years background in economic and business development. Her desire to help create a strong and diversified economy in Humboldt County, drives her. An entrepreneur for over twelve years, Judy owned and operated businesses in the recreation field focusing on children and families. While her children were young, she found herself balancing family, ten employees and two growing businesses. For twelve years Judy enjoyed working in economic development. First with Humboldt Bay Alliance, marketing the County to the outside; next working for the City of Eureka, in the Redevelopment Department; also as Economic Development Coordinator for the County of Humboldt. Always focusing on generating programs and locating funding to assist Humboldt County’s less serviced areas and helping local businesses to grow and add jobs. Currently, Judy works with company’s, helping them grow. She believes our local businesses are the economic core, which keeps the North Coast strong!
	Linda Disiere WEI Finance Director / Real Estate Investor, North Coasts Investor Group (NCIG) Linda Disiere -- Linda Disiere is Equity Manager for NCIG. Linda Disiere has been a licensed real estate broker since 1983. She has been involved extensively in commercial leasing and sales having founded and operated Willis & Disiere Realtors, a highly successful real estate brokerage. She has earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation which is awarded in recognition of being an expert in the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate. She was the first to earn this designation in Humboldt County. She has served as the President of the Humboldt Association of Realtors, 1998, and Vice Chair of California State Association of Realtors Commercial Real Estate Committee, 1999 and as President of the Eureka Chamber of Commerce 2005 and Ingomar Club 2007-2008. She is a founding member of the Women Entrepreneur Institute and currently serves on the Board.
	Jessica Bigger Marketing Director / Realtor, Ming Tree Jessica Bigger is one of Ming Tree GMAC Real Estate's Realtor Associates. She specializes in Charming Older Homes, International Buyers, and Luxury Homes throughout Humboldt County. She has had a great opportunity to be a part of the WEI Executive Board as the Marketing Director for the past 2 years and has met incredible women entrepreneurs who have been very supportive in her business growth. Originally from Detroit Michigan, Jessica came to Humboldt County for a summer wildlife job while she applied to Veterinary School, and loved the area so much she decided to stay. It didn't take long for Jessica to realize that music and business were her passion. Not too long after, Jessica had the opportunity to be the Promotions Director for radio stations KHUM, KSLG and The Point (KWPT) before deciding to break away and start her own business in real estate.
	Suzanne Dockal CPA & Project Manager, Dockal & Associates
	Four Waters Graphic Artist, Four Waters Media
	Connie Lorenzo Program Director, North Coast Small Business Resource Center
Advisory Group Members
	Renee Chappelle Renee Chappelle & Associates
	Alex Stillman Arcata City Council & Real Estate Investment Alex Stillman moved to Arcata in 1971 with her 2-children to finish her education and receive a BA in Home Economics. In 1972, she was elected to the Arcata City Council and served 2 four year terms. She has restored 12 buildings and built 2 new buildings at the corner of 9th and H Streets. She works with other historic preservationist on projects through Alex Stillman & Associates and she was instrumental in bringing the Main Street Program to California. Alex was (re) elected to the Arcata City Council in November 2006.
	Zera Starchild Internet Business Owner, Doorway Publications & Gifts
	Christie Cogen Natural Order
	Evelyn Giddings Umpqua Bank
	Jean Hayes QuickHelp Office Services Jean Hayes owner of Quick Help Office Service, provides desktop publishing, bookkeeping maintenance, banking, web site design and maintenance services, invoicing, word processing, event coordinating and other projects for home and office professionals. She has over 30 years of office experience, specializing in small business/home office services. She and her husband David are also pastors of Celebration Fellowship, a non-denominational Christian church that meets in Eureka; she is a founder/leader of Celebration Band, a local Gospel music ministry, Worship leader for Celebration Fellowship, Office Manager, and Vice President of Celebration Ministry of the Redwoods, a California Non-Profit Corporation. She and her husband are also owners and operators of Helping Hands, a janitorial & lawn care service with Jean operating the office part of the business. Jean is the fifth generation of the Paul family that pioneered to Humboldt County in the late 1800s from England and Scotland, and she has a great love of Humboldt County.
	Dawn Henderson Edward Jones Investments Dawn Henderson is an Investment Advisor at Edward Jones in the Victoria Place Center on Broadway, Eureka (707-444-2260, Mobile: (707) 834-8981. She enjoys giving to the community in any capacity in which she has time and resources. Her hobbies include outdoor activities, learning piano and helping the community. Her job allows her to help people reach their financial goals by helping to accumulate wealth they can't outlive, preserve it, and transfer it to heirs.
	Lisa Fryrear Tailor-Made Organizing Lisa Fryrear of Taylor Made Organizing is a professional organizer and productivity trainer. “Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than making a difference in my clients' lives!” says Lisa, whoworks with people who want to be more organized in their offices. With a simple system, Lisa will assist you in putting your things in an order that will fit you and your lifestyle, and then will teach you to maintain your new space! In addition Lisa also offers Productivity training to large or small groups on a number of topics including Paper, Time Management, Email Processing, and Defeating Self-Defeating Behaviors. It is a pleasure to serve on the Women’s Entrepreneur advisory board, and have the opportunity to inspire and encourage other women in business.
	Susan Seaman AEDC & Fieldbrook Market Susan Seaman and her husband, Richard, own Fieldbrook Family Market, a general store with groceries and deli. A community center in Fieldbrook, the store also prepares the school lunches for Fieldbrook Elementary School, hosts Friday Night Concerts, and acts as the local lost and found for wandering animals. She also serves as the program outreach coordinator for Arcata Economic Development Corporation, handling marketing, special event planning, web page maintenance and membership development for the organization. AEDC is a non-profit organization that provides loans and support to entrepreneurial and community projects.
	Sharon Taylor Reflections Jewelry Sharon Taylor is the owner of Reflections Jewelry Inc., a sterling silver jewelry company that has international wholesale and local retail operations. Before Reflections, her career has included managerial and executive positions in several local retail and wholesale organizations. Sharon also consults with wholesale and retail businesses on attending tradeshows, planning budgets, and using Quickbooks. An important priority for Sharon and her company is to support national and local organizations that work to meet the needs of women and children.