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November 19, 2009
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WOMEN UNITED
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| We salute Fairfax County. That's right, the whole thing, and encourage you or your clients to locate companies there. You may think it's home to only one business type, large contractors, but it has more than 350 foreign-owned companies and six of Black Enterprise magazine's largest African-American-owned businesses. Please see more below. |
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| 450 high powered business women (and some solidarity-minded male colleagues) turned out yesterday morning for what we originally billed as an “ordinary” Bisnow Breakfast & Schmooze on “Where Women Stand” in the executive marketplace—but quickly made it into what CB’s Roberta Liss called a landmark event. |
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There was clearly something in the air (plus great speakers) that attracted such numbers and passions. Even the cavernous Sequoia Restaurant was challenged to find enough tables and chairs, and needed to use the mezzanine above. (We apologize for what we heard were long lines afterwards at nearby parking garages; we’ll see if something can be done about that in the future.)
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Rand Construction founder Linda Rabbitt said her dad taught her to compete in a man's world. She asked if anyone had had the experience of making a point at a meeting, without reaction, only to hear the same point made subsequently by a gentleman, who would then be commended. She said her trick in such cases is to say, “Joe, thanks so much for saying that more articulately than I did 15 minutes ago.”
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Cardinal Bank DC president Kate Carr (who obviously violated child labor laws by starting work in banking in 1973) said more women are needed in banking if you want to attract more women as customers.
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Marriott International EVP Kathleen Matthews said her boss, Bill Marriott, is a “77-year-old white man who gets it.” She said success can be defined as when people stop noticing disparities; that the “pipeline” of aspiring women is key; but that many obstacles are self-imposed, and occasionally require the helpful prompting of men. The former TV anchor said it took her own husband, Chris Matthews, to push her into on air broadcasting when he said, “I don’t understand why you would want to be ‘in’ television but not on it.”
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Ernst & Young global vice chair Beth Brooke, named by Forbes as the #41 most powerful woman in the world, learned a lot about competitiveness and work ethic as a college basketball player at Purdue. She is now heavily involved in efforts to encourage more female business leadership—in between running public policy for the 170,000 employee firm in 140 countries.
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Katten’s Rori Malech, who moderated, cited stats that while 47% of law students are women, they make up only 34% of practicing lawyers and less than 16% of capital partners and 6% of managing partners. She runs her firm's Women’s Leadership Forum to try to increase retention and advancement of women attorneys.
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Among many real estaters on hand: Davis Construction’s Debbi Carter and Brandy Masse with KlingStubbin’s Nancy Darr.
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| MEET OUR SPONSOR: FAIRFAX COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY |
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We don’t advocate giving in to peer pressure, but c’mon, everyone is moving to Fairfax. And not just the traditional cool kids (though tech leaders SAIC and CSC are moving HQs there from Cali): Volkswagen, Hilton, and even Exxon Mobil have a presence. However, small businesses (10-100 people) account for most of the growth and low 4.7% unemployment. And Fairfax has done it without having to offer tax incentives. (We weren’t going to include that last bit in a promotional item, but FCEDA President/CEO Jerry Gordon, above, rightly points out they must be something special if Fairfax doesn't have to buy people’s attention.) Its latest pick-up: Ignite Institute, a non-profit specializing in DNA research taking 300k SF.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
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November 19 - DCBIA - DC Government Initiatives, with Tanja Castro, Councilmember Mary Cheh, Harriet Tregoning, and Karina Ricks. 6-8pm - National Press Club. Info
November 19 - Professional Women in Construction DC - Member's Meeting and Happy Hour - 5:30-8:00pm at Public Bar. Free food and drink. Info
November 19 - NAIOP Northern Virginia Annual Best of NAIOP Awards, Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner. More info.
December 07 - Bisnow Breakfast & Schmooze - "2010" - With Carlyle Group founder David Rubenstein, forecaster Steve Fuller, and others. Reagan Building. Info
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This newsletter is a journalistic news source which accepts no payment for featured interviews. It is supported by conventional advertisers clearly identified in the right hand column. You have been selected to receive it either through prior contact or professional association. If you have received it in error, please accept our apologies and unsubscribe at bottom of the newsletter. Copyright 2009, Bisnow on Business, Inc., 1323 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. All rights reserved.
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