Category: News

To celebrate our 40th year in the community, we are spotlighting impact stories shared from past and present members. The fabulously energetic, Jamie Meyers, PWN Membership Committee Co-Chair shares her PWN story below.

“PWN was the first opportunity I had to truly engage with just women, in various roles, in the Cedar Rapids community.

Something about being around all these fascinating, inspiring, and motivating women, helped me to feel ok stepping “up to the plate” so to say and know I can hit the ball out of the park.

PWN carries an unspoken bond of leadership, community, giving, and purpose. I have come to know a few of the ladies and have been able to find them in a room full of strangers and know I can have a great conversation!

I did not know groups like this existed until my friend and mentor, Becky Helle, asked if I wanted to come with to a meeting. And before I knew it, I was the Co-Chair of Membership! The topics covered always have takeaways for every woman in attendance and always great food to boot!

I am thankful for the opportunity to sit down with these ladies each month and focus on bettering myself, or finding a place where I can be of assistance to someone else at our meetings.”

We are grateful to have a dynamic force like Jamie in our community. If you would like to share the love, email your story to Ann Roushar.

To celebrate our 40th year in the community, we are spotlighting impact stories shared from past and present members. Former President of PWN and current PWN Foundation Scholarship President, Laura Kamienski shares her story below.

“PWN is the only networking group that I ever actually got business from. I’ve tried all kinds of groups – the weekly mandatory referrals, the one-per-industry, the good old boys’ clubs – but I got actual referrals that became real business clients from my PWN friends.

I might not have left my first meeting with a list of names, but over time I built real relationships that made people think of me when the time came. And I really do mean it when I call them my PWN “friends.”

When I was new in town, this was a place where I met women I had something in common with. And they’ve supported and celebrated with me through job transitions. It’s great to have someone you can count on to meet you for a glass of wine or order of cheese wontons to work through that issue with your new boss. I just cannot say enough great things about the PWN women!”

Thanks for sharing, Laura. We appreciate you!

If you would like to share the love, email your story to Ann Roushar.

Professional Women’s Network (PWN) is proud to partner with the PWN Scholarship Foundation to promote the awarding of monetary scholarships to local women returning to college, but we need YOUR help!

Please spread the word to women in your local network who are returning to school, or have already returned to school and need a little extra help to make their graduation dreams a reality. Applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be accepted until May 31, 2019.

To celebrate our 40th year in the community, each Monday we will spotlight an impact story shared from past and present members.

This week we hear from one of the first-year members, Cathy Johnson.

40 years is an awesome milestone! 

My first PWN meeting was in the fall of 1979.  It was a networking event at a bar that occupied the back of what is now Noodles & Company on Collins Road. 

I was quite nervous to attend by myself, but I had recently changed jobs and knew it was important to meet other business women.  I was 22 at the time. 

That evening after work, I met a handful of ambitious “older” business women.  I was impressed and felt welcomed.  I was hooked! 

Over the years, I met so many leaders and we grew professionally together.  My time on the PWN board helped to shape my leadership skills as well. 

The business world was different back in 1979.  I was the first professional woman hired at the firm where I worked.  Rotary would not permit women to join for many more years. As a result, the PWN meetings would routinely draw 100 women thirsting for female professional companionship and the skills that were taught at those meetings.  It is where I learned what networking was all about. 

I would like to think that PWN helped to change the course of leadership in the Corridor!  Congratulations on 40 years of “women helping women”!

This story warms my heart; thanks for sharing Cathy.

If you would like to share the love, email your story to Ann Roushar.

Cyanna Boggess has been a member of PWN for the last 5 years and has recently joined the Board of Directors. She is currently an Event Sales Manager at the Cedar Rapids Marriott serving primarily corporate clients traveling to the Cedar Rapids area. She has lived her entire professional life in the hospitality industry and has spent the last 15 years planning events for corporate and social events from Las Vegas to Iowa.

When not working you can find her enjoying whatever sport is currently in season, sipping on a nice cocktail with friends or chasing/chauffeuring her children around. She currently lives in Vinton, IA with her husband Matt and two daughters Rylee (8) and Parker (3).

 

Courtney Misener currently serves as the Director of Programs and Community Engagement at House of Hope, teaching a quarterly curriculum she developed that focuses on three major areas: addressing negative childhood patterns and belief systems, taking on hard conversations, and emotional health. She frequently teaches classes and workshops that provide opportunities for women to be themselves while learning how to reclaim their emotional lives.

She is also a professional speaker and writer. An advocate and student of emotional wellness, Courtney frequently leaves her audience with tools to help identify and tackle common pitfalls that lead to emotional unrest.

Courtney is an Iowan by marriage, transplanted from Tennessee. She serves as the family CFO, and head negotiator of three very spunky boys. In her spare time, she enjoys rapping, car karaoke, dancing in grocery store aisles and generally doing everything she can to embarrass her kids.

Sarah Murphy, CPA is the new Treasurer for the PWN Board of Directors, Executive Committee. She is a Manager at Terry Lockridge & Dunn in Cedar Rapids. She lives in Hiawatha with her husband, Kody, and their cat, Seamus. When she isn’t working those long hours during tax season she loves to travel, attend concerts, visit craft breweries, and tailgate in Iowa City. She graduated from the University of Iowa in December 2013 and is a lifelong Hawkeye fan.

 

 

 

During the September luncheon, PWN Member, Kate Varcoe announced a new initiative that she has created titled, “You Are Not Alone”; in conjunction with Raygun, Kate created a new t-shirt to be sold on the Raygun website.

In Kate’s words, “The t-shirt is to be worn to promote safer environments for women. So many of the activities we do, we do by ourselves i.e. running, walking, biking, etc. When we wear this shirt we are saying that we see each other and that “You Are Not Alone’.”.

We can wear these tees in solidarity as share with our “sisters” that we have each others’ backs.

The shirt can be ordered from the Raygun website here; some proceeds go to support domestic violence awareness programs across the state of Iowa and locally, Waypoint. Buy yours today!

 

PWN Announces Six Annual Scholarship Award Recipients
Scholarship Foundation Allows Local Women to Continue Their Education

The Professional Women’s Network is pleased to announce six local recipients of PWN Foundation scholarships. These women were chosen based on written personal essays outlining their character, educational and personal career goals and volunteerism. Recipients will be honored at the annual scholarship luncheon to be held September 27, 2018, at the Shores Events Center in Cedar Rapids. To attend the luncheon, register online at www.pwnia.org

Erin Young (Cedar Rapids) attends the University of Dubuque/CR Campus and is studying Human Resources Management. Ms. Young is currently employed by St. Luke’s/Unity Point.

Jessica Aulwes (Edgewood) attends Mount Mercy University and is studying Human Resource Management. Ms. Aulwes is employed by Community Savings Bank.

Obenewaa Ahen (Cedar Rapids) attends Kirkwood Community College and is enrolled in the nursing program. Ms. Ahen is employed by Cottage Grove Place.

Kristin Heck (Cedar Rapids) attends Purdue Global University and is enrolled in the nursing program. Ms. Heck is employed by Mercy Hospital.

Garmai Kpartipa (Cedar Rapids) attends Mount Mercy University and is studying nursing. Ms. Kpartipa is employed by Methwick Manor.

Madeline Thompson (Cedar Rapids) attends Mt. Mercy University and earning her BBA in Business and Human Resources Management. Ms. Thompson is employed by PMX Industries.

We look forward to celebrating their hard work and accomplishments on September 27th.

 

PWN Board Member, Ashley Leverty is sharing an event in hopes to corral some supportive friends and PWN members to volunteer at the National Disabled Veterans TEE (Training, Exposure, Experience) Tournament, which is a HUGE event taking place in Riverside and Iowa City in September.

The week-long tournament is a golf rehabilitation program, as well as other recreational activities, for veterans who are legally blind, amputees, those who use wheelchairs and veterans with other disabilities. The NDVTEE Tournament uses a therapeutic format to promote health, wellness, rehabilitation, fellowship and camaraderie among its participants.

The week of September 10-14, 2018 the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be hosting golf events taking place at various courses located in the Iowa City area with the main host being Riverside Events Center and Casino. 

This event provides legally blind veterans and those with other disabilities an opportunity to participate in a therapeutic golfing event as well as other sports activities. By participating, veterans develop new skills and strengthen their self-esteem!

The PWN Outreach Committee is committing to volunteer at this event and we would LOVE it if you would too. Please join us in being one of the 500+ volunteers required to make this event a success. Sign up here!

Professional Women’s Network (PWN) is proud to continue its tradition of awarding four (4) annual monetary scholarships to local women from Eastern Iowa. Since 1992, PWN has awarded approximately $61,000 in scholarship awards to currently enrolled undergraduate students.

Applicants must be a female student who will be attending classes, either full or part-time, during the upcoming academic year. Special consideration will be given to non-traditional students, defined as individuals at least twenty-one (21) years of age upon application for the scholarship and who have or will return to school after an absence of at least three years. The individual must be working toward an associate or undergraduate degree or vocational certification and attend one of the following educational institutions:

· Coe College

· Cornell College

· Purdue University Global

· Hawkeye Community College

· Kirkwood Community College

· Mercy/St. Luke’s School of Radiologic Tech

· St. Luke’s Medical Technology Program

· Mount Mercy University

· University of Iowa

· University of Northern Iowa

· University of Dubuque (Cedar Rapids location)

·*Or a collegiate institution that may not be listed above but that is within a 60-mile radius of Linn County, Iowa.

Full scholarship requirements and an official application are available online and must be emailed or postmarked by May 31, 2018, and returned to P.O. Box 1613, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406.

About Professional Women’s Network:
PWN was formed in 1979 by three local business women and continues to be a growing and vibrant nonprofit organization today. Professional Women’s Network, Inc. is a professional organization of 150+ dynamic business and professional women in the Corridor area. The purpose of PWN is “To promote and enhance the status and influence of women through Strengthening Professions, Developing Networks and Exchanging Knowledge” and PWN’s motto is “Women Helping Women”. The organization provides Corridor women with opportunities for personal and professional development. PWN provides numerous opportunities for networking, education and leadership training throughout the year. The organization is proud to support the PWN Scholarship Foundation which awards annual scholarships for local non-traditional women students pursuing their college education goals. For more information, visit www.pwnia.org, LinkedIn, Facebook or call (319) 560-2250.

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