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 for ten years was recognized by the Small Business Administration in 2005 when she received the Region II "Women Owned Business Champion Award." The Women Business Champion award is given to someone for their significant contributions as an outstanding small business person and for dedicated support of small business.

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; 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.

Throughout her life, Julie has maintained passions for health, nutrition and chocolate, understanding long before recent research that the three rightfully belong together. Finally capitalizing on her psychology degree, she set out to prove that when you combine the mind, the body and chocolate, something extraordinary happens. Her book, The Chocolate Therapist: A User's Guide to the Extraordinary Health Benefits of Chocolate is the result of her "painstaking" research.

Julie's company, The Chocolate Therapist, Inc., handcrafts all-natural chocolates onsite in Historic Downtown Littleton, Colorado. Chocolate creations include natural chocolate, nuts, berries, spices and organic flavoring oils, all custom-designed to promote optimal health and support the concepts in her book, The Chocolate Therapist.

Julie has appeared on local television and national radio numerous times to educate people about chocolate. She's currently in the process of developing partnerships to produce a television show about chocolate, health and nutrition.

Julie also believes in being a philanthropic entrepreneur and gives a percentage of profits from all book and chocolate sales to international children's programs focused on poverty, hunger, shelter, medical needs and education.

Gwen Webber-McLeod, M.S., is President and CEO of gweninc. She has 30 years experience in leadership development, professional facilitation, and motivational speaking. Her clients are CEOs, executive and mid- level managers, and leadership teams in public, private, and education businesses and organizations throughout the state of New York.

A cum laude graduate of Potsdam University, Gwen is a serial entrepreneur who has created two businesses, Treble Associates, and Gwen Webber-McLeod, Inspiring People to New Levels of LeadershipTM. In 2008 she incorporated gweninc. to house her consulting business and two new products. gweninc.'s hallmark product The Leadership Connection: A Resource Centered on Great LeadershipTM which opened as a regional resource center for leaders in January2009. The resource center provides an array of services for emerging and established individual leaders through education, facilitated work sessions, technical assistance and motivational events. In addition, her product line, gwenspirationsTM will feature products to celebrate the profession of leadership.

Gwen writes a monthly column, The Leadership Journey, for Auburn's hometown newspaper, The Citizen. She has been Director of Communications for Wells College; Communications/Development Director of the Seven Lakes Girl Scout Council; Executive Director of the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls; Executive Director of the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Auburn, and Coordinator of Human Services for the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency. In May of 2006 she received a Masters of Science in Management from Keuka College. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from this program. Gwen is a recognized professional leader who has a very active civic life. She takes great pride in serving on boards of directors that enhance and improve the lives of people at the local, state, and national level.

Jo Beth Dellinger is the owner of Artist Pianos which has been in existence since 1987. Jo Beth is one of the few women sole proprietors of piano stores in the country. She started the company with just one store and a dedicated love of pianos and making music and grew it to three full-line locations making Artist Pianos the largest piano dealer in their service area. Currently Artist Pianos has two locations in Syracuse and Albany and supplies pianos to the Skaneateles Festival, the Syracuse Opera, and Saratoga Performing Arts Center along with countless other regional artistic endeavors from the student to professional level.

Jo Beth has grown Artist Pianos into a million dollar enterprise by not only selling pianos but also by providing piano rentals, piano tuning, and private and group instruction for students of all ages and ability levels. Her business philosophy is simple: treat every customer like a treasured guest in your home and make certain they leave happy.

Jo Beth has received the Touchstone Award from the Yamaha Corporation of America for 10 consecutive years. This award is given for individual achievement in product knowledge, and excellence in customer relations and service. For the past three years, Jo Beth has received the VIP Dealer award, given for recognition of overall excellence and community service.

Janelle Fields is a classic accidental entrepreneur, starting her business mid-life after filling many different roles, careers and job titles. In 2007, she opened JFields Marketing with a newfound passion for creating and executing marketing plans for small businesses.

Originally trained as a speech/language pathologist, Janelle has a unique ability to listen, interpret and create messages for her clients, helping them communicate and get their business message out. In three short years, Janelle has created marketing strategies and branded marketing materials for over 25 business owners, including numerous Women TIES members, and companies over a million dollars in sales. She is a people-person first, excellent at collaborating, writing and guiding projects from start to finish.

Janelle is married and has three children. A native of Minneapolis, she lives and works in a 100-year-old Arts and Crafts kit-home in Fayetteville, where the kitchen table is her favorite place to work.

Before striking out on her own, Merci Miglino promoted ideas and people within the New York political scene for nearly 20 years. A former teacher, reporter, communications director, campaign manager, Merci now manages a successful practice as a career and business strategist and Certified Professional Coach for individuals and organizations.

She has achieved a masterful level of coaching with over 2000 hours of experience and currently teaches coach training certification for the International Coach Academy. Merci also facilitates trainings for corporations such as Time Warner Cable and Flight Centre.

An inspired humorist, Merci speaks internationally and conducts a variety of workshops on stress and change management as well as her signature motivational presentation based on her book, From Doormat to Diva© Taking Center Stage in your own life!

Merci appears regularly on the local TV in Albany, NY, and has received both local and national electronic and print press including the Wall Street Journal. She currently hosts her own blog for the Times Union called Merci Me! Making the most of midlife.

Lynn Hidy, founder of UpYourTeleSales.com, is the specialist at creating profitable telesales sales people and organizations. UpYourTeleSales.com increases sales and advances careers of telesales people and managers by building new skill sets in training and through behavior reinforcement coaching. When working with salespeople, their efforts typically produce a 19% increase in sales in six months.

Lynn's 15 year TeleSales career started with her earning a Golden Circle awards her first year. Then she moved into Presidents Club status for multiple years. When looking for new challenges she migrated into inside sales leadership roles. The part of leadership that ignited her passion is working with salespeople who are good at what they do and want to be fantastic. Now she is privileged to only do that part—along with the selling, of course.

Prior to starting her company she held numerous sales and sales manager positions. Lynn's sales and business background allow her to easily work with individuals and organizations in finding ways to help them move from good to fantastic. Most of her clients would tell you that the work we do together is not rocket science, but all of it takes effort.

Sandy Jurkiewicz is a membership consultant at the Center State CEO (formerly called the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce). The CenterState Corporation for Economic Growth is a non-profit regional growth organization serving individuals, businesses and communities across twelve counties in the heart of New York State. CenterState CEO works to achieve economic growth and prosperity through partnerships, planning, and problem-solving. It identifies key issues of importance to its members, focuses on their collective vision; sets the regional economic development agenda; communicates business priorities to community leaders; pursues strategic investments; and responds to meaningful opportunities for the benefit of the region.

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

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

Cynthia A. Scott, ChFC is the founder and president of OMC Financial Services, Ltd.. In 1982, Cynthia Scott moved to Syracuse to open her own financial services company. Her goal was to provide her clients with a level of advice and service that went beyond the traditional brokerage business model. She also desired to marry institutional-type money management with a personal, one-on-one working relationship.

As an investment manager, Cynthia personally manages her clients' investments and is involved in every facet of the investment process including idea generation, screening, research, asset select ion, and asset allocation. She re-assesses each individual investment as well as the overall investment mix on a regular basis and takes appropriate action when an investment no longer meets OMC's criteria. As president, Cynthia is actively involved in every aspect of the daily operations of the firm. She is also the Chief Compliance Officer of OMC.

Cynthia is currently a weekly financial guest on WSTM-TV3's noon news. In addition, she was a columnist for the Eagle Newspapers and a weekly columnist for the Post Standard's "Personal Business Asks..." segment of the "Moneywise" section for seven years. She previously co-hosted "The Cynthia Scott and Susan Suben Financial Hour" on WSYR Radio. As a frequent guest on WCNY's "Financial Fitness" program, she covers topics such as international investing and retirement planning.

Cynthia is a member of the Government Relations Committee of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. She is a board member of the Museum of Technology and Science (MOST); Syracuse Tomorrow; 20/20 Modernization Committee. She is also an advisory board member of Women TIES.

In 2007, Cynthia was recognized at the annual Women in Business Awards Luncheon. She was nominated for her exemplary achievements in business, civic leadership, and personal development, and was one of the only 20 highly successful women in Syracuse to be honored. In November 2003, she received the "25 in Women in Leadership" award for professional success and active participation within the community. Cynthia is a graduate of Penn State University.

Karen McMahon is a life coach 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, Target 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, board member of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center, and active in several state museum associations.

Theresa Slater is a professional Sign Language Interpreter and the owner of Empire Interpreting Service. Theresa is a native of Cortland, NY, who attended college at RIT and Gallaudet University. Her company began as a business that provided on site Professional Sign Language Interpreters and has expanded to providing Spoken Language Interpreters (on site and telephonic) in over 100 languages. In addition her company provides translation services from single documents to entire websites in virtually every language.

Theresa started Empire Interpreting Service as a home-based office in 2003 in Cortland, NY. Today its financial offices are still based out of their building in Homer, NY, but its headquarters now reside in downtown Syracuse with two satellite offices located in Charlotte, NC and Manhattan, NYC. In 2008, Empire Interpreting Service reached a million dollar in sales as its expansion in location and services created more growth opportunities. That same year Theresa was recipient of the Ann Michel Distinguished Entrepreneur Award for Small Businesses by the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University.

Theresa's influence into the business world extends beyond the scope of Empire Interpreting Service. She is a co-author of a bi-weekly column in the Syracuse Post Standard called "Ask the Entrepreneurs." She serves as an Advisory Board Member to the entrepreneurial organization Woman TIES and is a Member of the Women Presidents' Organization.