This month, INCREASE CDC welcomes Carmen D. Dandridge to our organization as our Community Outreach Coordinator (COC).  As the COC, her tasks will include but not be limited to creating and fostering partnerships with community shareholders and increasing awareness and enrollment into INCREASE CDC programs.  Carmen holds a double B.S. degree from Franklin University in Applied Communications and Organizational Leadership.  Her professional background includes a 24-year career with AT&T/Lucent Technologies where she held a variety of positions from clerical to supervisory. She has completed her first year in the Ministry Training Center at Columbus Christian Center and wants to eventually become an evangelist.  On a personal note, Carmen and her husband Byron have four daughters, one granddaughter, one grandson, and one doggie.  Carmen believes she is perfectly fitted to our organization.  We agree, and we are glad to welcome her to our team.

Sheila M. Winston is the owner of SheilaMarie, LLC, a company specializing in outfitting the unique full-figured woman in unique denim fashions. Ms. Winston graduated from our Developing the Business Plan class in April 2011 and achieved one of her greatest successes with her dress shop's grand opening October 1, 2011. Ms. Winston's entrepreneurial vision has its roots in her childhood.  As a middle-school student, she began designing her own clothes and her mother done the stitching.  Before long, other students began to want the same look.  She believes patience pays off which explains why her favorite quote is, "Anything made well is made slow." Ms. Winston currently uses social media, such as emails and Facebook to advertise and is looking to eventually create and maintain a website to promote her business. She runs her operation with the help of three volunteers, and she invites all to visit her shop at 2250 Mock Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43219 or contact her at (614) 290-3805.  In addition to custom denim fashions, her shop offers accessories, jewelry, and difficult to find sizes in women's shoes. It's our honor to spotlight Sheila Winston this month, and we speak INCREASE over her and her entrepreneurial endeavor.

It's official. The first Entrepreneurs Conference & Expo held October 6, 2011 at the Concourse Hotel was a smashing success. The mood was festive and anticipatory as the conference welcomed over 130 attendees, 25 business exhibits and a motivational keynote address delivered by Jordan Miller, CEO of Fifth Third Bank.  During the lunch hour, Stacey Haney encouraged entrepreneurs not to give up during bad times by sharing her entrepreneurial experience.  Mr. Miller followed with the recommendation to revisit the business plan when moving forward with new ventures, products and services.

“The event was absolutely a blast,” stated Deon Cromwell of Ohio MBE.  “It exceeded my expectations 100%.  It was also good to meet other people in the business community and to network with entrepreneurial-minded individuals who are striving for success.

“I enjoyed it!” said Bob Allen of Dale Carnegie who was the presenter of the Master the Selling Process session. “I had a lot of fun and I hope the people that were in my group did as well.

Owner of Cookie Town World shared the same sentiments and was glad to find the information about the conference in the Ohio MBE.  “I didn’t plan on coming, but I’m glad I did.”

INCREASE CDC appreciates the support of Fifth Third Bank for helping make this year’s event such a success.  Stay tuned to www.increasecdc.org for updates on next year’s conference.

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