A Joyful Evening at the WE-CI Annual Holiday Party

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On December 10, Women Entrepreneurs of Central Illinois gathered for our annual holiday party—a cozy, merry celebration shared by a spirited group of 13 members. Though small in number, the room was full of laughter, connection, and the warmth that comes from ending the year together.

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We enjoyed a wonderful meal catered by Fulgenzi’s, followed by a lively round of “rob your neighbor” during our gift exchange—a tradition that always brings out the playful side of our membership.

A highlight of the evening was the induction of next year’s officers:

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President: Lisa GoldbergBelle
Past President: Monica Zanetti
Vice President: Rebecca Fulk
Secretary: Mary Jo Davies
Treasurer: Debbie Ringer

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We look forward to their leadership in the year ahead.

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To all who joined us—thank you for making the evening so special. And to those we missed, you were in our hearts. We hope to celebrate with you soon!

Celebrating Our 2025 WE-CI Paulette Bird and Allison Novak Grant Recipients

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Thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters, WE-CI raised more than $1,000 through a silent auction at our November event—funds that will help sustain next year’s scholarship awards and continue our mission of uplifting women-owned businesses in Central Illinois. We gratefully thank all who donated goods and services! Today, we’re proud to introduce the three recipients of this year’s WE-CI Grant Program.

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📸 Tabitha Bock-Matlock — Tabitha Bock Photography

A longtime photographer and valued WE-CI volunteer, Tabitha will use her scholarship to attend WPPI, a premier wedding photography conference. This opportunity will help her expand her artistic and technical skills while continuing to uplift our community through her visual storytelling.

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🌿 Rebecca Fulk — Mood Gardener, LLC

Rebecca leads a growing line of mental-health support products and has served extensively within WE-CI through program planning, communications, and showcase leadership. Her scholarship will help fund the printing of a new affirmation deck as part of her inclusive rebrand, supporting both her business growth and her ongoing service to fellow entrepreneurs.

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🤝 Becky Gabany — ChangeBridge Consulting

A champion of equity and restorative practices, Becky has contributed to WE-CI as a speaker, connector, and active member. She will use her scholarship to attend the NACRJ conference, deepening her expertise and bringing valuable insights back to the women she serves locally.

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Honoring Women Who Lift Our Community

We celebrate Tabitha, Rebecca, and Becky for their dedication to learning, leadership, and community impact. Their growth strengthens not only their own businesses, but the entire WE-CI network.

Google Business & Video Marketing: Simple Strategies to Raise Your Online Profile, by Christine & Mark Bailey

At our October meeting, members gathered to explore practical ways to strengthen their online presence and make genuine connections with their audiences. Christine & Mark Bailey of Bailey Family Insurance focused on the power of consistency, authenticity, and community support in marketing.

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Members were encouraged to keep their Google Business profiles updated—whether weekly or monthly—just regularly! Staying current helps customers find you and trust that your business is active and engaged. Another powerful takeaway was the reminder to support one another: review your fellow members’ businesses and share feedback that helps everyone grow. One clever tip was to use your Google Business review link as a QR code on your business cards—making it easy for happy customers to leave feedback on the spot.

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When it comes to video marketing, the message was clear: don’t overthink it—just be you. People connect with people, not perfect productions. Authenticity builds trust and lasting relationships with viewers. Mark & Christine also discussed ways to repurpose Google reviews on social media, and the importance of replying to every review as part of nurturing customer relationships.

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Finally, everyone was reminded to get comfortable being uncomfortable—because that’s where growth happens. The session left us inspired to show up more consistently and confidently, knowing that authenticity is one of the most powerful tools in business today!

Finances & Funding with PNC: April Miles & Lindsay Hillen

We had an absolutely amazing meeting Wednesday evening, September 10 at A Taste of Seoul. PNC-certified Women's Business Advocates April and Lindsay gave us all an incredible overview of the funding resources available for for small businesses and how to best utilize each of them. Kim, owner of A Taste of Seoul Korean fusion restaurant, provided a wonderful buffet and taught us how to construct our Bibimbap bowls. If you weren't there, you missed one of the most dynamic meetings all year!

Own Your Worth:

Self-Promotion for Your Business

Sherri Leopold of Option Creators, publisher of WOW Warrior Magazine, and producer of WOW Warrior Network TV Show, spoke to us on August 13 about having the courage to show up as our authentic selves to promote our businesses. We learned to keep a "brag file" to remind ourselves of our accomplishments, and that we owe it to our potential customers to speak up about the results we can produce for them and the changes we can bring to their lives. If you missed it, check Sherri out at sherrileopold.com!