MONTHLY CHANCE MEETINGS
SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2019 - 5-7 pm @ The Rose (50 West Broadway)
Sometimes all you need is the right connection and a little inspiration. Well, what are you waiting for? Come find both at our free monthly networking event. You never know...
Theme: Women in Business: Challenges, Changes and Opportunities
The notable successes and multiple challenges facing women entrepreneurs were recently noted in two reports—The 2018 State of Women-Owned Business Report by American Expresss and SCORE’s Megaphone of Main Street: Women’s Entrepreneurship, Spring 2018 report. According to the reports, the number of women-owned businesses has increased by 58 percent since 2007, and women own four out of every ten businesses in the U.S. In 2017, 11.6 million U.S. businesses were women owned. These businesses employed nearly 9 million people and generated more than $1.7 trillion in revenue.
It’s irrefutable that women entrepreneurs are on the rise. However, despite these incredible achievements, women entrepreneurs face many challenges. Lack of funding is among the most commonly cited. Indeed, studies have shown that men are almost twice as likely as women to raise $100,000 or more in funding. Other obstacles include a lack of mentors, advisors, and general support systems.
Yet, despite the difficulties women business owners report high satisfaction with work, general well-being, and an appropriate work-life balance.
Join us as we explore these topics with four successful and inspiring local women entrepreneurs and business leaders: Clarene Law, Mary Kate Buckley, Ruth Ann Petroff, and Lindsay Linton Buk.
Clarene Law served 14 years in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1991 - 2005. While serving she was Chairman of Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources for 8 years, Chairman of Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee for 4 years. Also while in office Clarene was a charter member of The Wyoming Business Council.
A sixty-year resident of Jackson, Wyoming, Clarene began her career as a bookkeeper for the Wort Hotel in 1960. She purchased the Antler Motel with her family in 1962, a 17-unit property. Today, the Laws own and manage 450 rooms across four primary properties. She attributes her success to her husband, children and dedicated loyal staff.
Awards:
SBA Small Business Person of the Year 1978
Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year 2 times
Real Estate Businessperson of the Year in Jackson
State of Wyoming Real Estate Person of the Year 2009
Soroptimist Woman of the Year
The Lifetime Achievement Award, Woman of Influence
Mary Kate Buckley was appointed President of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) by the Kemmerer Family, independent owners of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) effecive June 1st, 2018. Buckley had served on JHMR’s Board of Directors since 2014.
Buckley started her career at Grey Advertising in New York and then worked for The Walt Disney Company in New York, Hong Kong and Paris in a variety of roles developing new businesses throughout Asia and later Europe. She joined Nike to head Global New Business Ventures where she e-commerce enabled nike.com and created NIKE ID. She was named a Nike Corporate Officer and led Nike’s brand and business in Latin America and Canada and the Bauer Hockey Company before moving to Amsterdam to lead Nike’s Apparel business in Europe, Middle East and Africa. She is a Partner in Azienda Agricola Urlari, a premium boutique winery that she co-founded in Tuscany, Italy in 2004.
Buckley holds a bachelor of arts from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from Stern / NYU School of Business. She has been a full-time resident of Teton Village, Wyoming since 2009 and notably, is a multi-year member of Jackson Hole’s 100 Day Club, achieved by skiing 100+ days at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in a ski season.
Ruth Ann Petroff grew up in Greeley, Colorado. She worked for the Domino’s Pizza corporation before opening a franchise in Jackson in 1988, which she owned and operated for 18 years. She now owns and manages Snake River Roasting Company in Jackson with her husband, Mark.
Ruth Ann was elected to the Wyoming legislature for three terms and served as Chairman of Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee and the Legislative Technology and Process Committee, and she co-chaired of the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus.
Known for her community involvement, Ruth Ann has served on many local non-profit boards throughout the years, including Teton Youth and Family Services, JH Community Counseling Center, and OffSquare Theatre.
A list of awards can be found here.
Lindsay Linton Buk is a Wyoming artist, photographer and director of the Women in Wyoming series, an art and media series highlighting inspiring and influential Wyoming women who make their mark in the Cowboy state. Collectively, the series adds a strong, female voice to Wyoming’s cultural history, as well as the current media from the rural West today. A fifth-generation Wyomingite, Lindsay worked in New York City as a professional photographer and taught for Canon before returning to her roots to establish Linton Productions, a commercial photography studio, in 2014. Lindsay shoots for a range of clients locally and around the country. Her portraits have appeared in national editorials such as Outside and Southwest: The Magazine, among others, and she was recently featured on the Travel Channel (see Lindsay’s episode here).
Lindsay is currently in the midst of launching Chapter IV: Rising of Women in Wyoming and a preview of the fifth and final chapter, Chapter V: The Cowgirl State, as well as finalizing the Women in Wyoming exhibit— a multimedia experience making its worldwide debut at The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Wyoming’s only Smithsonian-accredited museum, in Cody, Wyoming. The Women in Wyoming exhibit, featuring large-scale portraits, an audio soundscape and interactive components, will be on view from October 25, 2019 to August 2, 2020.
NEWS AND NOTES
Congratulations to Powwater and Mountainist, 2019 Pitch Day Award Winners
Last Thursday night, nearly 300 people gathered for Pitch Day at the Center for the Arts to cheer on six passionate entrepreneurs as they pitched their businesses for cash prizes. Every presenter was articulate, concise, and well-prepared. Panelist Deborah Benton remarked that she has judged many big-city competitions and Silicon Couloir's Pitch Day was of the same caliber as competitions in major tech hubs.
Both the Panelists Choice Award and the Bob Arndt Community Caretaker Award went to Powwater, a social impact company that sells high-end water bottles and cups with 50% of profits directed to clean water projects around the globe. The prizes brought a total of $8,500 in cash and an opportunity to participate in TEAMS, Silicon Couloir's mentoring program.
“We are deeply appreciative of the Silicon Couloir team, the panelists, and our fellow contestants for a terrific night. Working with Silicon Couloir was a fantastic experience. The coaching was top notch, " says Powwater Co-Founder and presenter Jack Hartpence. "Winning pitch day was a monumental stride for our team. We believe firmly in the power of business to spark positive change, and it was validating to know that the panelists agreed."
True to our core values, we have pledged our Community Award prize money to invest in a water project in Bangladesh through our partner, Shishir. We are very proud to play a part in this community. And we are thrilled to continue our relationship with Silicon Couloir indefinitely through the TEAMS program!”
The audience choice award went to Mountainist, an online company that rents curated outdoor action sports apparel and protective gear to women. The Audience Choice Award carries a $2,500 cash prize as well as six months of access to The Cowork Space. Says Founder and presenter Tana Hoffman, "We were honored to be named the Audience Choice Award winner! After rehearsing for three weeks straight, the real win was being able to present Mountainist just as we had envisioned it. We told our story in 8 minutes, and from the comments we received, we know it resonated with people. The award was the icing on the cake. Thank you to everyone who came to support us! "
Thank you to everyone who helped make Pitch Day possible: our volunteer coaches and panelists, sponsors, audience, and of course, our wonderful presenters.
Please Help Support Our Entrepreneurial Community Through Old Bill's Fun Run
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Silicon Couloir works towards a vibrant and diverse Teton region economy.
Silicon Couloir helps Teton regional entrepreneurs create sustainable, year-round, and high paying jobs, which enables ambitious and creative individuals to remain in the area.
Silicon Couloir enriches the community by facilitating relationships and connections—be it mentoring, educating, or investing.
Silicon Couloir invests in the entrepreneur, which strengthens the individuals’ business acumen, leadership skills, and commitment to our community.
Silicon Couloir encourages companies in our ecosystem to give back to the community and help protect our natural resources.
All of the programs Silicon Couloir offers are FREE to participants, and we’d like to keep it that way. We can only do so with donations from community members like you.
Have a dream? Prana can help you achieve it.
Prana is looking for one courageous person willing to quit their current job to pursue their lifelong passion. We’ll support your decision with a $100k prize to help get your dream off the ground. Click here to learn more.
HAVE NEWS
TO SHARE?
As always, please feel free to send news of your company's press, events, successes, and milestones to Gary@siliconcouloir.comand we'll do our best to feature them in our newsletters!
ARE YOU A COMMUNITY CARETAKER?
Silicon Couloir strengthens our Teton regional community by empowering the entrepreneurial ecosystem. More than just business development, we believe in enriching our community character and enhancing our mountain town culture. Help us support business pioneers in the Tetons by becoming a community caretaker!
To offer your time or talent, please email us at Gary@siliconcouloir.com.