Business Moms Focused on Giving
Women Who Barter’s Mompreneur Chapter has a “pay it forward” attitude instead of one that says “what’s in it for me?”
April 18, 2011 by Nicole Wolfson
The Mompreneur Chapter of Women Who Barter is a dynamic group of women who are mothers or grandmothers and entrepreneurs. Women Who Barter is an online women’s business directory and networking association created to support women business owners or women who want to launch a new business.
Our intent is to support every type of business owner, whether you are a mompreneur, seniorpreneur or well-established company of any size. Our members are available to help and support each other. That’s one of the main reasons they have joined our community network.
Our organization is about “paying it forward” to help each other grow their perspective businesses. We are about building relationships and sharing knowledge with others.
Our meetings take place on the fourth Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. and are open to any woman business owner in Powder Springs, Lithia Springs, Dallas, Hiram, East or West Cobb, Marietta, Acworth or Kennesaw. For our meeting schedule, click here.
Our Mompreneur Chapter provides support for stay-at-home moms who are starting their own businesses. We help women who are already established in their own business and juggle children and work.
Our group’s motto: “Women helping women through the exchange of ideas, knowledge, products and services.” We believe in doing first for others instead of first expecting something in return.
This “pay it forward” versus “what’s in it for me” attitude is what sets our group apart from other networking organizations. This is a not necessarily a new concept, but if you are a woman who has helped others, you know that paying it forward really works.
If you are interested in meeting other moms who face the same challenges as you, and if you are interested in getting more exposure for your business, please feel free to visit our chapter meetings.
Nicole Wolfson is a momprenuer and the mother of two active boys both under the age of 6. She can be reached at 770-855-2824 or nicoletelep@hotmail.com.
A Female Take on Bartering
You might call the Women Who Barter organization the new girls’ club.
By Dianna Kelly Monk | | March 12, 2011
Members of the new West Cobb-Paulding chapter of Women Who Barter gather at the Silver Springs Clubhouse for their monthly meeting.
An intimate group of women gathered Tuesday night at the Silver Springs Clubhouse in Powder Springs discovered they were more powerful than they thought.
They united for networking and confidence boosting at the monthly meeting of Women Who Barter.
Susan Smelser, owner of the Book Worm Bookstore and leader of the West Cobb-Paulding chapter, said the organization really isn’t about bartering, except when it comes to influence.
“I am the barter queen,” Smelser said, “which is why I originally joined when it started nine months ago. But it’s more about exposure than it is about trading goods or services.”
She continued: “We have an online directory, to which each member is added once she joins. It’s the ‘pay it forward’ philosophy; if you need something, you go to the directory and see who has it. If you know someone who needs something and someone in the directory has it, you recommend her.”
Candice Prichard of Miche Bag said the process has worked for her.
“I’ve had lots of referrals from the group for my custom handbags,” she said.
Yolanda Newell of Newell Administrative Support Services said: “The website is key to this organization, because it’s national marketing.”
The women concur that the name of the group tends to attract attention in search engines.
Smelser said one member who recently joined got a call from Lifetime TV just three hours after she was posted on the website. A crew went to her home and did a segment on her for one of the channel’s programs.
Smelser vouched for the group’s effectiveness, adding, “I have done so much business with people in the group.”
Newell said networking, the directory listings and educational seminars are among the benefits of membership.
“These are amazing women trying to build their businesses and support each other in the process,” she said.
Gloriann Stock of Primerica said she believes “women are more willing to help other women.”
Stock usually attends the larger meetings in Marietta at Marlo House, but she liked the personable atmosphere at the smaller Powder Springs meeting.
“We have a membership of 89 women, but you can go to any meeting in the area—North Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton or here,” Smelser adds.
Kim Kornblatt from the PearTree Interiors & Gifts said: “It’s a great way to connect with other people you wouldn’t otherwise have met.”
Lynda Gavelis of Wine Shop at Home agreed, adding, “It’s a really nice way to make a connection.”
Donna Robinson popped in to see how the group might benefit from her business card company. “I just liked the idea of getting to know people and funnel them business. Women are good networkers.”
The organization’s founder, Jan Murphy, thinks men may have networking potential, too,” Smelser said.
“Jan’s starting a Men Who Barter chapter in May,” she said.
The next Powder Springs meeting of Women Who Barter will be on April 12 at 6 p.m. at the Powder Springs Coffee and Bake Shoppe on Marietta Street.
BJ Corpening, The Bread of Life, was featured in the East Cobber Magazine
Recipe of the Day – Japanese Salmon over Linguine
This light Spring dish from Personal Chef B.J. Corpening. Fish dishes are ideal for those who observe meatless Fridays during Lent.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes, Cooking time: 15 minutes
½ cup olive oil
4 salmon filets, skin on
2 – 3 cloves garlic, grated
2 inch piece of ginger, grated
1 bunch of scallions
¼ cup soy sauce, more or less if needed (just have handy)
¼ cup sake
1/8 cup mirin
Pepper
1 pound linguine, cooked
Dashi (fish broth) or chicken broth (option)
Put oil in pan. Put the salmon filets in and flip to coat. Rub with garlic and ginger. Mix together remaining ingredients, except broth, in a separate bowl. Pour half of the mixture over the salmon. Cook over medium heat covered for 5 minutes. Turn salmon and add the rest of the mixture. If it needs more liquid, add broth ¼ cup at a time. When salmon is opaque all the way through, remove from heat. Remove salmon from skin. Pour liquid over linguini than place chunks of salmon on top. Garnish with slivered pickled ginger. (if desired)
Note from Chef B.J.: This dish is very forgiving. I usually grate the ginger and garlic and toss it in with the mirin, saki and soy. I don’t use the dashi; there is enough flavor in the salmon. I pour half of the mixture over the salmon, cook on skin side down for 5 minutes; flip the fish and pour in the rest of the mixture and cook until done. Pull the skin off the salmon before removing from the pan and flake it over the linguine or eat it without the pasta. Double YUM!
East Cobb resident Chef B.J. Corpening of Bread of Life LLC is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of CTC 
(Chattahoochee Technical College). As a personal chef she provides meals to clients when they are unable to or lack interest in cooking. Her ideal clients are busy professionals who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition. Most often however, people who just need a healthy alternative to eating out. In addition to standard personal cheffing services, Chef B.J. also offers her chef services for plated small dinner parties and intimate dinners for two; family style or buffet style for catered parties and cooking lessons. She is a member of Women Who Barter and the Marietta Business Associations. She is also a volunteer speaker/representative for the American Heart Association.
despy@mdjonline.com The Marietta Daily Journal
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Staff/Mike Jacoby
That’s the philosophy behind the Cobb-based Women Who Barter business, founded last year by businesswoman Jan Murphy of Powder Springs.
Women Who Barter is an online business directory representing female-owned businesses and professionals. The directory provides a place where consumers and business owners can shop for products and services offered by metro Atlanta women. From gourmet chocolates to home accessories to a plumber, these services are offered by women for women, Murphy said.
“Many of these have been men-dominated industries in the past,” said Murphy, 55, who has 30 years of direct sales experience to offer her members. “We teach women how to sell and promote their products, because many of them are uncomfortable tooting their own horn.”
Murphy said the traditional networking opportunities don’t always work for female business owners – especially those with home-based businesses. “They pass out business cards, get cards and leave and don’t connect with the group,” said Murphy, adding that her members are expected to help others in the organization by either giving referrals or purchasing goods or services. “We ask them to pay it forward – Zig Ziglar says if you help enough people get what they want, it will eventually come back to you.”
Sherry Richardson, owner and president of Alan Cox Automotive on Cobb Parkway in Kennesaw, says she likes the business opportunities that come from the group.
“It … gives me a different presence on the Internet because of advertising with them.” Richardson, a business owner for 28 years who oversees seven employees, also attends Cobb Chamber of Commerce meetings
Women Who Barter has 86 members and six chapters – Cobb, DeKalb-Fulton, West Cobb/Paulding, Gwinnett, Roswell/North Fulton and the “Mompreneur” chapter in Kennesaw for mothers with young children and home-based businesses. Dues are $99 for six months or $60 per quarter and includes the monthly meetings, a business profile and photo in the directory, a monthly newsletter and various events throughout the year.
Nicole Wolfson, who leads the Kennesaw chapter of “Mompreneur,” said she joined because she, like many mothers, can’t get out for evening meetings because of family responsibilities. Because she has two children in preschool, early morning meetings are best for her, she said.
“I also found that other networking groups don’t have the demographics I need,” said Wolfson, who is a clothing representative for Kokoon and in-home party host for Willow House products. “I find I get excellent referrals through Women Who Barter.”
The Cobb chapter of Women Who Barter meets monthly at The Marlow House, an 1887 Victorian home owned by Rebecca Rowden on Church Street near the Marietta Square. Rowden said it has benefited her business to be a member of Women Who Barter.
“It has given us wonderful exposure for personal and business events that otherwise wouldn’t have known about us,” Rowden said. “And I have really enjoyed meeting other women and making connections within the organization.”
Murphy said her next step is to grow the Women Who Barter organization nationally and to start another one – Gentlemen Who Barter – which rolls out in May.
For more information, visit www.womenwhobarter.com.
