First Lady Gayle Manchin has been added to the line-up of inspiring speakers at “Women, Finance & Philanthropy,” the inaugural Elevations Enrichment and Leadership Academy to be presented by the Charleston Area Alliance and DOW on Sept. 14 at the Embassy Suites. 

Mrs. Manchin joins opening speaker Phyllis Arnold of BB&T, luncheon speaker Betty Schoenbaum and a host of the region’s most knowledgeable women in the fields of finance and philanthropy who will share insights and practical information to help young professional and executive women alike take their career to the next level. Just a few individual tickets for the half-day workshop remain available.

Individual registration is $70 for Alliance members and $85 for future members.  Click here to register.

The program has been submitted for CLE and CPE credit, making it an incredible value for accountants and attorneys who need continuing education credits.

This promises to be the region’s premier networking and educational event for young professional and executive women.

The expo has sold out. Please contact Lesley Hager at LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org to put your business or organization on the waiting list. 

To view the program and a list of sponsorship opportunities, click here.

Sponsor tables are $750 each. For sponsorship information, contact JoEllen Zacks at JZacks@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.

The Alliance will only be able to invoice for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours of the event. Thank you.

First Friday returns Sept. 3! The Generation Charleston favorite runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bar 101 & Ichiban, 101 Capital St.

This is a great networking opportunity that gives you the chance to meet new people, and socialize all while enjoying great drinks, delicious appetizers and sushi from Ichiban! This event is free and open to the public.

Happy Hour Drink Specials Include:
-$1.00 off draft beer
- 50 cents off all Domestic and Import Bottles and cocktails

Appetizers Include:
-Variety of sushi from Ichiban
-Cheese and veggie trays
-Other light appetizers

Another unique, eclectic business has opened on Charleston’s East End.

East End Main Street and the Charleston Area Alliance are joining Salon Indigo – which offers massages, pedicures, manicures and haircuts – to host a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. Aug. 31.

Mayor Danny Jones is scheduled to attend the event, which will showcase the remodeled and renovated facility at 1587 Washington St. East.

“I have always envisioned having my own business and wanted a location that was both diverse and artsy,” said Salon Indigo owner Stephanie Reese. “I would drive up and down Washington Street looking for potential locations, and I chose this one because I love that it’s an old, historic home. It has charm.

“I designed the salon with a modern edge, but this house is more than 100 years old,” Reese continued. “I wanted to add spice with modern fixtures within a historic space.”

Salon Indigo is a “neighborhood business that offers the amenities of an urban city,” Reese said. It offers quality products and focuses on plant-based ingredients for hair and skin care.

Reese said the salon is perfect for lunch-hour visits.

“We live in a busy world, and it’s important for my customers to save time,” she said. “I want to offer specialized services for Capitol workers. That’s the convenience of running a business on the East End. We are fortunate to have so much in one neighborhood.”

Salon Indigo will provide wine and hors d’oeuvres for the ribbon cutting.

Generation Charleston, the Charleston Area Alliance’s emerging leaders group, is partnering with the Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association for an event benefiting our furry friends.

Paws for a Cause is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Humane Association, 1248 Greenbrier St. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.

The event is designed to help draw attention to the importance of spaying and neutering animals, responsible pet adoption and educating the community on the importance of Humane Association efforts in the community. The Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association was forced to euthanize 80 percent of the 10,000 dogs and cats that entered their doors in 2009 – largely because many pet owners do not spay or neuter their pets.
 
Volunteers from Generation Charleston will be installing a much-needed French drain system to improve the shelter’s dog runs, bathing dogs to make them adopt-ready and cleaning and rebuilding the walking trails. Volunteers also will have the opportunity to attend the shelter’s brief volunteer orientation so they can return to the shelter to help out in the future.
 
For more information about the Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association, visit wvanimalshelter.com. To volunteer for Generation Charleston’s Paws for a Cause event, e-mail Laura Barry at lbarry@theclaycenter.org.

Pre-volunteer registration is mandatory.

If you join the Charleston Area Alliance, what’s in it for you?

Join us from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11 at the Alliance, 1116 Smith St., for “Insider’s Guide to the Alliance: Maximizing Your Membership Dollar.” 

Starting at less than a dollar per day, you can be part of a network of 600 businesses and their 40,000 employees who are making smart investment in their bottom line future – and the future of our community – through their membership in the Charleston Area Alliance.

To help you get the biggest bang for your membership buck, the Alliance is presenting a FREE “Insider’s Guide to the Alliance” luncheon on Monday, October 11. Reservations are limited and an RSVP will be required for admittance.

Don’t miss out on the many benefits of Alliance membership … contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org or (304) 340.4253 today to register.

Not a new Alliance member? You don’t have to be to attend this orientation!  Maybe you’re just curious about Alliance membership or maybe you’re already a proud Alliance member—either way, we’re happy to host you as we help you maximize your membership. 

You’ll meet face-to-face with Board members, Alliance staff and fellow members and learn about the many Alliance programs and services that can help your business today, such as: 

• Business referrals:  As a member, your name is added to our industry-specific roster of businesses and service providers and posted on our Web site.  The hundreds of inquiries we receive each year for recommendations are directed to the businesses that have demonstrated their professionalism and commitment to our community through their Alliance membership.
• Free technical assistance and business solutions:  Our economic development and technical professionals can provide guidance on a wide range of issues, from land development, to selling your products internationally to recruiting specialized personnel.  If we don’t have the answer, we know who will.  Help is just a phone call away.
• Networking and business contacts:  Our popular Business After Hours, Charleston Business Showcase, Generation Charleston and Elevations Professional Women’s Network are just a few of the low-cost forums available for connecting with others and raising the visibility of your business.
• Expertise:  Our Food for Thought series, Digi-Tools and other educational programs provide very affordable ways for you and your employees to hear from the experts and stay abreast of industry trends.
• Marketing:  Through our “Member Market” program, you can promote your business to the 3,000+ business people, young professionals and community leaders on the Alliance’s exclusive email list for only $150 ($100 non-profits).   Members may also submit information for inclusion on our blog and calendar of events at no charge.
• Special events:  Our popular special events, such as the Annual Celebration, Issues & Eggs breakfast, Speed Networkingand Golf Outing, provide members with cost-effective and highly visible opportunities for showcasing their businesses to decision-makers and business and community leaders in a professional setting (more…)

Join us for our next Food for Thought Luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 at the Charleston Area Alliance. This session, led by Jon Duffy, will focus on:

• What colleges are looking for in students
• College planning timelines
• College success factors including individual emotional intelligence
• And more…

Cost to attend this Food for Thought Luncheon is $20 for current Alliance members/$30 for future members.  Seating is limited and an RSVP is required to attend.   Lunch will be provided. 

Click here to register.

For more information, contact Lesley Hager at LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org or (304) 340.4253.

About the speaker:
Jon earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from West Virginia University in 1991 and a master’s degree in school counseling from Marshall University Graduate College in 1998. His professional experience includes coordination of a school-to-work program in Kanawha County, nominated as Youth Service Provider of the Year by the Bureau of Employment Programs.

Jon has also coordinated professional health science student rotations in Kanawha County, served as a school counselor and has spent the past seven years serving as an educational consultant to colleges and universities throughout the U.S.

Notably in 2005, Jon co-authored research published in The Journal of the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition—investigating factors contributing to college freshmen achievement. Jon most recently served as co-chairman for the 2008 Higher Education Symposium on Emotional Intelligence at Georgetown University.

The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours before the event. Thank you.

Join us for our monthly Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at Ramada Inn and Wingate Inn in South Charleston.

It’s a tailgate-themed Business After Hours so be sure to wear your favorite team’s colors!

Register here.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to network and meet new people in the community. Enjoy music, food and beverages.

The cost is $15 for Alliance members and $25 for future members.

Online registration for this event ends at noon on Aug. 26. Prices increase to $25 and $35 at the door.

The Alliance will be able to invoice only for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours before the event. Thank you.

Join us from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday as nine businesses open their doors to showcase the best of Charleston!

Participating businesses include:

Art Emporium
Stray Dog Antiques
Gallery Eleven
Annex Gallery Taylor Books      
Good News Mountaineer Garage
Chet Lowther Studio
The Purple Moon
Romano & Associates Law Gallery
Visions Day Spa

Take a stroll downtown and enjoy the best of what Charleston has to offer.

For more details, visit www.charlestonartwalk.com.

Stray Dog Antiques will present several new framed lithographs from the Erie Lithograph Company (1890’s-1960’s) in it’s new second floor gallery space. New prints originally commissioned for Hershey’s and Amoco companies from the 40’s and 50’s are featured. In addition to the prints, new furniture, jewelry and other unique collectibles are on the floor.

Stray Dog Antiques also will create an environment on the second floor gallery filled with signs. Signs tell a story. They are a reflection of our culture, whether created by hand on rustic and primitive materials or manufactured digitally. Much can be revealed in the simplicity of a sign about history, culture, and art. They are used to direct attention, boost commerce or simply for their visual impact. Striking in text and color, signs offer a heartwarming appeal to any setting and are ideal decorations.

And at Gallery Eleven, Sonja Adkins is the featured artist for August. The gallery is hosting a reception for Adkins during ArtWalk. The title of her exhibit is “Clendenin, WV in Watercolors.”

Schoenbaum

Early bird registration has ended, but a few individual seats and sponsor tables remain open for the first annual Enrichment and Leadership Academy, scheduled for Sept. 14 at Embassy Suites.

In addition, the expo has sold out. Please contact Lesley Hager at LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org to put your business or organization on the waiting list.
 
The Academy is a half-day program featuring inspiring speakers and informative sessions to help professional women realize their potential and take their career to the next level.  Presented by Elevations, the Charleston Area Alliance Professional Women’s Network, the Academy will showcase best practices and concrete guidance from some of region’s most knowledgeable women in the fields of finance and philanthropy.  This promises to be the region’s premier networking and educational event for young professional and executive women.

Individual registration is $70 for Alliance members and $85 for future members.  Click here to register.

The event features a keynote address by Betty Schoenbaum, philanthropist and women’s empowerment advocate, as well as a luncheon, an expo and workshop options.  

To view the program and a list of sponsorship opportunities, click here.

Sponsor tables are $750 earch. For sponsorship information, contact JoEllen Zacks at JZacks@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org.

For expo information, contact Lesley Hager at LHager@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org. 

The Alliance will only be able to invoice for groups of 10 or more. Contact Deb Coffman at DCoffman@CharlestonAreaAlliance.org for more information.

The Alliance cannot issue cancellation refunds within 48 hours before the event. Thank you.

The GC Homecoming is this Saturday! Don’t miss your chance to re-live the ’80s and ’90s … and help College Summit while you’re at it.

Click here to register.

Generation Charleston, the Charleston Area Alliance’s emerging leaders group, is hosting the homecoming-themed benefit, scheduled for 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7 at the University of Charleston Ballroom.

Proceeds from the event support College Summit, which is Generation Charleston’s year-long cause, and will go toward a scholarship.

Guests are encouraged to wear their “most awesome” ’80s and ’90s fashions. The best-dressed male and female will be crowned Homecoming King & Queen. While costumes are encouraged, they are not required. 

Food and beverages, including beer and wine, are provided as guests dance the night away to favorite ’80s and ’90s music and videos. Generation Charleston membership is not required to attend, but guests must be at least 21.

College Summit began in 1993 in Washington, D.C. to provide writing skills and the “know-how” for urban youth to enroll in college. Since then, the program has expanded to 13 states and helped thousands of high school seniors pursue a college degree.

Tickets to the event are $30 per person in advance and $40 at the door.