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WINNER - 2009 Rising Star of the Year
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Barbara Jones - Allegra Print & Imaging
Barbara Jones is President and co-owner of Allegra Print & Imaging. In October 2004 Barbara and her partner purchased an existing print shop in Charlotte and became part of The Allegra Network of independent printers.
This is Barbara’s first venture into business ownership. Prior to moving to Charlotte, Barbara worked for an accounting firm in Chattanooga, TN that specialized in serving small business owners. Her 17 years of tax and accounting experience with business owners was invaluable in managing her own business. When Barbara purchased the business it had declining sales and profits. Within 4 years Barbara has managed to increase both sales and profits. The Allegra Network has recognized Barbara as being in the top 10% of centers in profitability and business excellence for the last 3 years.
As a newcomer to Charlotte, Barbara joined NAWBO to meet other women similar to herself. She wasted no time becoming actively involved with the Communications Committee. She served as Secretary/Treasurer for one year on the Board of Directors, and is currently completing her second year as Treasurer. Barbara is also an active member of the Matthews and Charlotte Chambers of Commerce.
Barbara holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the State University of New York. She currently resides in Matthews with her husband, Tim, and is the mother of 2 grown children.
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Rising Star Finalists
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Colleen Brannan - BRANSTORM, Inc.
Colleen Brannan is the president and owner of BRANSTORM INC., a public relations and marketing agency she founded three years ago.
A well-rounded PR and marketing professional with 18 years of experience, her background includes brand-building efforts for household names such as Hanes, Chick-fil-A, Bissell, MCI, Wachovia and Newell Rubbermaid.
Brannan's exciting career has taken her on top of the Olympic stadium, back stage at the CMA Awards, disco bowling with Mia Hamm and the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, in stores as a secret shopper and across the country with corporate spokespeople. Highlights to date include managing Centennial Olympic PR for Hanes, leading the Field PR team at MCI, launching the first-ever women's pro soccer league (WUSA), heading up external communications for Cox Enterprises and starting her own agency.
An active member of the community, Colleen serves on the board of directors for the charlotte chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). She also is a member of Leadership Charlotte Class 30 and President Elect of NAWBO Charlotte.
A native of Springfield, Virginia, Colleen is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Journalism. She currently lives in Myers Park with her husband, Scott and two favorite emerging brands, Nicholas (7) and Phoebe (5).
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Elaine Greenberg - Ageless Remedies SouthPark
Elaine graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 1968 as a physical therapist and practiced in that profession for 7 years, in New York City, Richmond, Virginia, and Bologna, Italy.
After that, she had two baby girls while attending graduate school, completing a Master of Arts in English many, many years later. The following period was spent as a free-lance writer, an office manager for a flourishing surgical practice in Tucson, Arizona, and as a highly over-qualified chauffeur for her daughters.
Then, for 10 years, she taught English at community colleges in Tucson and North Carolina, as well as teaching pre-GED and ESL classes as a volunteer. This was a profoundly gratifying career, but involved a tremendous amount of work for relatively little financial compensation.
Obviously, the next step was to open a business!?!?!?!
In 2006, she and her husband started Ageless Remedies SouthPark. She is overwhelmed by the marvelous support she has received from Charlotte’s outstanding businesswomen as well as the gratifying response of the public to the medical spa.
The medical spa is clearly filling a desired niche between physicians’ offices and day spas.
Elaine has happily devoted herself to learning about skin care, running a business, and marketing that business. Her team is an immense source of pride, knowledge, and fun!
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