Interview with longstanding member Joellen Sutterfield.
Conducted by Pat Smith, July 2006.

Key:
JS: Joellen Sutterfield, Best Selling Author & National Speaker
PS: Pat Smith, Yellowbelly Web Design (EBWN Webmaster)

PS: When and how did the East Bay Women's Network get started?  Who's idea was it?
JS: Most great things start with just one small spark or idea. EBWN was the brain child of Pat Smurthway in early 1993. Pat, along with a handful of business women (myself included), wanted to create a unique environment where business women could be inspired, educated and could easily cultivate and grow their small businesses. Strategy sessions began, leadership positions were assigned and since there were only six of us, we all wore at least three hats. Building a network is just like starting up a company. It was exhilarating and exhausting to cover all the bases in the beginning but the founding board kept visualizing a room full of dynamic, successful women interested in growth, both personally and professionally, through membership with EBWN. That small spark of an idea, "Hey, let's start a new exciting women's network," quickly ignited into a bigger vision of what we have today. 

PS: At what point did EBWN begin to have formal meetings, (i.e.) meetings at venues versus homes?
JS: We began by meeting at Strizzi's in San Leandro with about six to eight women in attendance, and we took turns holding the board meetings in our homes. From the very beginning, our meetings had an organized and professional agenda, but the only speakers we could convince to do a presentation for our small group were, for the most part, activists. The difference between the dynamic speakers we have today and the speakers we had then is like night and day, but we were all growing together so the networking kept it fun.

PS: EBWN just passed her 10th anniversary. What do you consider to be milestones?
JS: In 1995 EBWN had a membership drive and we doubled in size. We each called three to five friends and invited them to a meeting. The Leadership Team began to work with the media and the local Chamber of Commerce to promote our group. Shortly after that we began to attract a diverse group of business professionals and women with professional skills that brought the networking up several notches. I became President the following year and shared my vision at every meeting about increasing the membership, and at the end of my term we had grown to around 40, a magical number because at that point the meeting started to take on a life of it's own.

Three dynamic leaders created the systems and backbone of the current EBWN. Meg Connell, a professional organizer, was followed by Vesta Stump, appropriately named "The Marketing Goddess." Vesta began to market our group to other business women around the Bay Area. However, it was Susan Askin, a Professional Cruise Counselor, and an exceptional business woman, who created what you see today. There was no plan or systems or tracking in place until these dynamic women took on the leadership of EBWN. These three Presidents created milestones for EBWN by their personal contributions during their term of office. 

PS: EBWN has come a long way since 1993 - where do you see us now compared to when EBWN first started?
JS: From it's inception EBWN has always had dynamic women as members and guests....still that old commercial, "You've come along way baby" rings in my head when asked to compare our meager beginnings with the ease that we experience today. Attendance in any network constantly has to be promoted, and in the beginning with just six of us...and none of us had e-mail then...(hey was it created yet??) ...well, it was easy to just call each other on the telephone.

Now, most of us use the Internet; the Evites are simple; the speakers are coming out in droves to have an opportunity to be in front of our diverse network of business women, and the meetings are structured in a way that everyone who desires to network and to create power partners has the opportunity to do so.

So much has changed, but one thing remains the same, everyone who attends our meetings always walks away enriched by something that happened during the meeting. It could be a connection they made, a referral that was passed along, the offer of support or even the chance to practice their 30-second infomercial during introductions. Clearly, that is why the energy is always so high at our meetings.

PS: As a non-profit organization, how does EBWN contribute to the Bay Area's community?
JS: EBWN has proudly supported the local community and women's shelters, from participating or contributing to breast cancer walks (one was in support of our membership board member Donna Carnahan) to bagging groceries for needy families. In fact, we bought lotions, soaps and handtowels and wrapped them colorfully for a local women's shelter. EBWN is also a member of the local San Leandro and Hayward Chambers of Commerce and much of our community events are hosted through them. "Women Helping Women" has always been our motto.

PS: What do you envision for EBWN's future?
JS: Our current President, Beth Fredricksen, and her amazing board are currently creating EBWN's future. They've taken the former Leadership Team's brilliant ideas and expanded on them making the chapter run even more smoothly.  From Registration to Introductions there's synergy and excitement! What do I predict for the future of EBWN......only GREATNESS!