Women TIES President, Tracy Higginbotham, became an entrepreneur in 1995 when she created Five Star Events, a special event management company with expertise in organization, planning, logistics and public relations. Five Star Events now offers assistance in event management and promotion for women-owned businesses.

For nine years, Higginbotham was president of a Syracuse-based networking and support organization for women business owners where the organization grew substantially under her leadership until she stepped down from the position in 2005. In this role, her dedication to promoting women entrepreneurship grew and sparked an interest in creating Women TIES, where she has successfully created a larger regional buying network for women entrepreneurs.

Her dedication to supporting women entrepreneurship has been recognized by the Small Business Administration twice as the Region II "Women Owned Business Champion Award" for significant contributions as an outstanding small business person and for dedicated support of small business. Tracy received the first award in 2005 and again in May 2011 for her dedication to supporting women entrepreneurship around New York State.

Higginbotham is a graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and post graduate studies in Business Management.

Higginbotham is a columnist for the Syracuse Post Standard; columnist for "Today's CNY Woman" magazine; Advisory Board Member of the State University of New York at Oswego School of Business; Board Member of the Upstate Women's Business Center in Utica; Board President of Khoros Performing Arts for Children; Advisory Board Member of Maureen's Hope Foundation; Past Chairwoman of the 40 Below Emerging Entrepreneurs Program; Past Public Relations Co-Chair of the Women's Fund of New York; and Past Emcee for three years at Syracuse University's WISE Conference.

Amy Dickinson writes the nationally syndicated advice column "Ask Amy" which is read by an estimated 22 million readers daily and appears in more than 150 newspapers nationwide including the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post. Amy hosts a biweekly feature on NPR's Talk of the Nation and serves as a featured panelist on NPR's popular game show Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! Amy is a former columnist for Time magazine.

Amy is also author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Story of Surprising Second Chances, a chronicle of her experiences and misadventures as a single mother. It details the wisdom and strength she gained from the women in her world which led to a second chance in life.

Dickinson is known not only for her wisdom but her wit. She is also a sought-after speaker, delivering her inspiring and comic stories of her adventures and misadventures to groups around the country. She has appeared on Good Morning America and The View. Amy is a distant relative of poet Emily Dickinson and a graduate of Georgetown University.

Lynn Steenberg, PT, ATC, is founder of Sports Physical Therapy of New York, PC which offers an evidence-based, individualized, manual approach to physical therapy to get their patients back on the playing field or recovering from injury or surgery. The company also offers cost-effective treatment programs to help work related injuries.

Lynn has over 32 years experience in the healthcare field and 30 years of sports medicine management experience. Her organization is comprised of approximately 200 employees and 23 locations across New York State.

Lynn is an active member of the Board of Directors for numerous organizations including the Hospice Foundation of Central New York, and the Onondaga-Oswego Chapter of the American Red Cross. She received the "Clara Barton Award for Exceptional Volunteer Leadership" by the Central New York Chapter of the American Red Cross in June 2010, the "Women Who Mean Business" Award in 2010, and the Woman in Business award in 2008.

Georgina Sweeney inspires heart-centered women entrepreneurs to make more money (and a bigger difference), doing what they love. Adept at blending traditional business coaching with alternative money, marketing and mindset techniques for the fastest results, Georgina helps her clients effortlessly jump to their next income level by creating an authentic client-attracting brand, packaging their gifts and talents into leveraged, lucrative income streams and, most importantly, transforming their limiting beliefs and fears around sales and money.

In addition to her first-hand knowledge and extensive training on what it takes to be a successful solo entrepreneur, Georgina draws on over 15 years' experience as an international marketing executive at a Fortune 100 company to help her clients succeed. Born in Ireland and raised in England, Georgina now lives in Ithaca, New York with her fiancé, Kevin.

Combining over 20 years experience as an insightful educator and a compassionate counselor, Teresa Huggins has become a sought after teacher. With a Master's degree in Education and a Master's degree in Counseling, Teresa has integrated a wealth of knowledge to create excellent programs through her company, Leaders for Life International.

Teresa facilitates women's renewal weekends and teen leadership training camps. Her dynamic personality, wealth of experiences, and commitment to empowering others to discover their resilient spirit leaves the audience with a new focus. Her enthusiasm always inspires people to transform dreams into reality. Teresa is known for interactive presentations that leave her audience feeling that they can achieve anything.

Teresa has also been an assistant to Jack Canfield, international bestselling author of The Success Principles and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She works annually with his Breakthrough to Success International Conferences.

Christiana Semabia, a native of Syracuse, NY has been visiting Ghana regularly since 1994. Growing up in an artistic household with a mother who is a sculptor helped her to appreciate the wealth of artistic talent Ghana has to offer. In 2003 she established Bluetree Studios to provide Ghanaian artists an opportunity to reach a wider market and to provide Central New Yorkers access to fairly traded, authentic Bolga Baskets and other art-work. In 2007, Christiana expanded her product line to include Better Brittle, a West African style peanut brittle that is inspired by a Ghanaian traditional recipe. The popularity of Better Brittle has soared since it was first offered for sale to retailers in 2009. It can now be found on the shelves in more than 70 stores in the Northeast. This spring Christiana opened bluetree, a retail outlet for fair trade and locally made artisan goods at 558 Westcott Street in Syracuse.

Christiana studied African History at the University of Ghana at Legon and International Relations with an emphasis on African Political Economy at Syracuse University. In 2003 she interned with The Centre for Sustainable Development Initiatives (CENSUDI), a grassroots non-governmental organization located in Bolgatanga, northern Ghana that supports the participation of women and girls in decision-making and leadership positions.

Christiana has volunteered for a number of local organizations that nurture cross-cultural understanding and cooperation including Africa Bound, Beyond Boundaries and People in Action for Community Enrichment (PACE-Ghana). She serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Ghana Society of Central New York.

Amy Palmer is known as The Fear-Bustin' Sales Coach^TM, a sales and leadership artist. Amy has never considered herself a "salesperson". She is a connector and a relationship builder. The sales style that she has developed for herself revolves around three key concepts: building trust, creating a true connection, being passionate about what you do.

Amy is a Syracuse native and Syracuse University graduate. As an award-winning former actress, a nationally recognized salesperson, and a top-producing sales manager, Amy brings all of these skills together to help others find a selling style that fits their personality and values. Before launching her own sales consulting business in early 2005, Amy served as VP of Sales responsible for a $50 million dollar revenue budget and over 55 locations.

Last year, Amy hosted two highly acclaimed online virtual events, the International Telesummit for Overcoming Sales Sabotage and the From Fearful Fabulous Sales Summit, resulting in over 2000 participants. In two years, Amy has successfully converted an offline sales consulting business into a worldwide online virtual coaching and consulting business.

Amy has served as the Facilitator for the DC Chapter of the Women Presidents' Organization, a national non-profit peer advisory group. She has been featured in the Woman's Advantage Calendar for 2008–2012, and has been quoted in the Washington Business Journal, and Washington Woman magazine. She has also been the subject of feature articles in Success for Women magazine, and Success magazine.

Sandy Jurkiewicz is a membership consultant at the Center State CEO (formerly the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce). The CenterState CEO is a non-profit regional business and economic development organization serving individuals, businesses and communities across twelve counties in the heart of New York State.

As a membership consultant Sandy works with new and existing members to help them utilize CEO's valuable services, programs, information, and benefits. Since different businesses have different goals and objectives, she works to ensure their involvement in CEO when it addresses those specific needs.

Prior to working with CEO, Sandy gained 30 years of experience in advertising and marketing. She has facilitated four speed networking events for CEO and helped attendees make the most of these valuable networking opportunities.

Maria DeSantis does not fit the mold of the classic "successful businesswoman." Although she does hold meetings, consults with clients, and writes contracts, she spends a good portion of her time with a microphone in her hand performing at diverse venues, from churches to outdoor amphitheaters to ballrooms. As owner of the DeSantis Orchestra, Maria has spent most of her life on stage and in control of her destiny.

One would think that Maria has more than enough to handle with balancing the duties of a performer and an administrator of an orchestra, but she wears yet another hat in the music industry. She is also a well-respected music contractor, providing professional event consulting and creating musical ensembles for special events of all types. She assists clients with repertoire and customizes music for everything from corporate parties to cocktail receptions. Countless people come to Maria to create a concept event, and Maria's experience and artistic talent help to create a one-of-a-kind celebration. Her professional event consulting focuses on the personal taste of the client; and whether one needs a soloist or an ensemble, Maria will personally see to it that the appropriate combination is created and the client is treated to wonderful performances from polished, seasoned musicians.

Gail Rupert Lyons has spent her career as a harpist and teacher in Syracuse, NY. Mrs. Lyons is Professor Emeritus at Onondaga Community College and Professor of harp at Syracuse University for more than 40 years. She was Principal Harp with the Syracuse Symphony from 1967–1971.

Sara Greene is a private flute instructor in the Syracuse area and a graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. She presently has 21 students in her studio. Sara also works part-time as an Administrative Assistant at the First Baptist Church of Syracuse. When she is not teaching or typing, she is performing. She has played with Theater 90 in Showboat and Phantom of the Opera. She also played with the Auburn Chamber Orchestra, the Syracuse University Summer Orchestra, and the Central New York Music Educators Wind Ensemble. Sara has also performed in Syracuse University Drama Department's version of The Secret Garden in the Storch Theater at Syracuse Stage. Currently, Sara is enjoying playing with The Aphrodite Ensemble. The trio plays weddings and special events all over Central New York.

Karen McMahon is a life coach, an online marketing consultant, and President and CEO of ShopforMuseums.com, an online shopping site where businesses and individuals can do their everyday shopping with hundreds of national retailers and at no extra cost, have a percentage of the purchase amount donated to a museum, park, zoo, nature center or other related organization of their choice.

Known for her creative insight, purpose-driven leadership, marketing skill and her ability to handle logistics, Karen now manages what is recognized nationally as the fastest growing museum fundraising program on the web. While building strong partnerships with museums, shoppers and leading e-commerce retailers including Ebay, Macy's, Best Buy, Amazon, Sears and many more, Karen encourages "shopping online with purpose." In the simplest of ways, we can each give back much-needed funds to our communities. Karen is a Women TIES Advisory Board member, is active in several state museum associations, volunteers at The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation and helps out at Save the Animals, an organization that helps rescue abandoned animals in Central New York.