Woman Business Leader Inspired Professionals

Yesterday, the Young Professionals Network in St. Joseph County presented Karen Barnett, President and CEO of the local area business Valley Screen Process as part of the Executive Conversation series of roundtable discussions.

A successful mix of information combined with inspiration was shared with 15 professionals during a Q & A session. Karen shared an overview of her 30-year career path starting from her job at McDonalds to working for her father at the family owned printing business. Her  steps continued in her father's company as she proceeded to the lead role as a stakeholder and CEO, responsible to growing the family's company to over a business that attracts over $2 million annually.

The candid conversation continued as she shared her biggest challenge that she was faced with during 2009 when her company went from a thriving staff of 50 to a slender seven. She is happy to announce she has rehired most of her workforce back and now has factors in place that will help her to see the risks so she is better prepared for any future decline in the revenue.

How did this business owner turn the company from failing- into thriving mode in the midst of a declining economy where the RV industry is hit the hardest? By tightening up her shoestrings (by the way, this woman is a remarkable dresser too!), Karen led her company through the recent time of a dying economy by diversifying into new markets. As a second generation owner of a company that had provided decorative graphics for recreational vehicles for decades, Karen worked with her team to brainstorm on new ways to use the existing equipment and bravely launched two new divisions within her organization including vehicle wraps and residential decor graphics.

Fascinating questions were posed to Karen by the audience members during the afternoon's session such as:

Q: Do you have tips in how to succeed in a male-dominated industry?
Karen recommends that you assert yourself by serving on boards. There are so many opportunities for networking and growing your confidence by serving on boards. She recommended women to get involved on the Women Business Owners of Michiana. WBOM is a monthly networking group that meets over lunch while leaders share and present on topics of interest to women business owners.


Q: How is online social media changing face to face sales? 
Karen relies on each of the brands to provide the proper marketing and sales for the diverse product line. She shared an example on how she marketed her children's decor through the use of mommy bloggers. Most likely, she wouldn't reach out to mommy bloggers to sell vehicle graphics however.


Q: How do you manage your time?
She admits that she's still working on the juggle act of the volunteer work with her personal and professional time and tells the group that she's tried using the iPhone, iCal, iGoogle, etc. to manage her schedule and to-do lists but still relies on the good ol piece of paper.


Q: Of all the roles in your career, which one helped prepare you for a CEO role?
Karen has worn multiple hats from working in the plant, to managing traffic in the plant, to processing and admin, she claims the most helpful position was the training and experience in sales. Sales taught her that "no never means no. No means, not now." For sales, she recommends to maintain contact, top of mind and make the calls by playing the number game.

There were more suggestions shared that enlightened the up and coming leaders in the audience. The most remarkable were words that Karen no doubt lives by, "Take the initiative and network. Be genuine." 

Thank you for walking the talk and exemplifying success along the way Karen! Keep up the hard work and pure heart.

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Birthing Story of Go Green Media and iHEARTplymouth

When The Midas Center relocated and opened its doors last fall in Plymouth, we hoped to reach out to help local businesses and organizations succeed. Previously, we specialized in legal marketing and clearly knew how to help law firms and attorneys build a brand and get the message out using the business media outlets and channels online and in print.

We quickly learned that to help get the word out in a small town, however, was not as simple as sending out a press release to a news wire or calling reporters who covered a specific beat. Being creative solution seekers and doers, we launched a new media business called Go Green Media. Go Green Media helps businesses and organizations get the word out organically, at a grass roots level. It spreads the message that builds the brand without using harmful toxic inks and wasteful paper. It is also powered 100% by wind energy. One of the products that Go Green Media has proudly launched this summer is called iheartplymouth.com.

iheartplymouth.com is a social media resource created specifically for the Plymouth, Indiana community. Much like an online magazine, it includes photos, articles and events that relate to "everything you love about Plymouth." It is community-based, like a local Facebook with full interaction. It also links with Facebook and Twitter automatically, enlarging the readership. Any one can access the content at any time and there is no cost to read, write or share the copy. The tag is Extra Extra! Read it. Write it. Share it. Live it. Love it.

iheartplymouth.com was launched summer 2010 and in the past 10 weeks has received over 30,000 pageviews. It is financially supported by private investors, advertisers and business membership sponsors. It has been designed to promote businesses and organizations and all the great activities that the community has to offer leading to an improved quality of life for its residents, businesses and visitors. As social media becomes more mainstream, iheartplymouth.com provides the necessary components for strong economic development.

Founder, social activist and editor Andrea Cook shares, "Preserving the unique characteristics of a small town is as important to me as building community. It is a pleasure giving individuals, businesses and places a voice and online brand."

Cook hopes to continue to grow iheartplymouth.com for the local town of Plymouth, Indiana as well as offer the social media service to other communities, upon request. If your community would be interested in the benefits that an online community product offers its residents, businesses and visitors, feel free to contact The Midas Center to learn more.

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