Inaugural Moms in Business Unite Conference Declared Success

SAN DIEGO-(Business Wire)-September 17, 2009 - Today, following a successful inaugural conference, Moms in Business Unite (MIBU) officially announced the winners of its three awards: Karen Kart with Prodigi Kids won the Inventor Showcase Award, Judith Habert with San Diego Woman Magazine won the Mompreneur Grant and Lt. Earl Collum won the My Man of the Year Award. The MIBU Conference, brought to you by SPE Solutions, was held at The University of San Diego, Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice on Sept. 16, 2009.

Over 100 current and hopeful mom and women business owners gathered for the day-long educational event, including Emcee and TV Host Maria Bailey, keynote speakers The Boogie Moms®, educational breakout sessions, new inventor showcase, award ceremony and resource marketplace. Award entries were submitted in the months prior to the event to offer participants a comprehensive conference that provides education, recognition and networking opportunities.

“We received quite a few quality entries for each of the Moms in Business Unite Conference’s awards. On behalf of the MIBU committee, I would like to congratulate the award winners,” said Randa Cote, Moms in Business Unite chairwoman, mother and founder of SPE Solutions. “Although the awards brought out the competitive spirit in many of the participating moms and women, it was also wonderful to see everyone interacting together, sharing advice and personal experiences at the conference.”

Karen Kart was among the 9 San Diego women inventors selected to showcase their “new” product or service at the conference. Her product has yet to be named so she gave attendees the opportunity to help with this effort. Her invention was selected as the “best” new product of the year by attendees. She has invented the first-ever “toddler tray” that sticks to the table and will not budge! It is a plate that is affixed onto the table by the easy push of a button. You can take the most active child and they absolutely cannot get it off the table. With one finger, it can come off the table in such a manner that an adult can release it but a child cannot. After the child is done eating, you can place a cover over the plate which can then be used as a surface to draw on with safe markers.

The Mompreneur Grant was created by MIBU to award a cash prize to a mom business owner with an innovative business idea who is in need of capital to take her business to the “next level.” Judith Habert with San Diego Woman Magazine was selected as the most deserving entrant by a panel of judges. Judith is the Editor-in Chief of the only women’s magazine in San Diego. This magazine provides a place for San Diego Woman to share their hopes, dreams and issues. A special thanks to Mom Business Associates and NAWBO San Diego for additional funds available for the Mompreneur Grant.

The MIBU Conference also recognized that many mom and women business owners would not exist without the support of their partners. To honor these extraordinary individuals, MIBU created the My Man of the Year Award, where women were asked to nominate the one man in their life who truly makes a difference in their life through inspiration, support and a proactive willingness to be her equal partner. Lt. Earl Collum is the recipient of this award for his unwavering support of Michelle Collum, Certified Life Coach, while she started her new business.

One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote address from Mindee Doney and Julie Pickens, co-founders of Little Busy Bodies Inc.® and inventors of Boogie Wipes.® And some of the most popular educational breakout sessions from this year’s conference included “Logo, Website, Strategic Marketing Plan - Your Corporate Identity: Where To Start and How Your Brand Can Grow Your Business” by Kyoko Tanaka and Marcia Gravette; “Momventor Momentum” by Doney and Pickens; and “Fatal Distractions – Three Common Practices for Extinguishing Your Motivation and Annihilating Your Possibilities” by Susan Fowler.

“I want to say a tremendous ‘thank you’ to every person and business who helped us take the idea of the Moms in Business Unite Conference from ‘concept to cart,’” Cote added. “The conference’s success is a testament to the determination and strength of mom and women entrepreneurs throughout San Diego. Here’s to next year!”

ABOUT MOMS IN BUSINESS UNITE

The Moms in Business Unite Conference (MIBU) is the vision of five women entrepreneurs who united together to empower and educate the growing number of women in business. Through their combined 30 years of entrepreneurial experience, MIBU recognized a need for a forum that provides both business education, as well as solutions for establishing a balanced work and family life. Upon recognizing this need, MIBU created the Moms in Business Unite Conference to bring together accomplished instructors, relevant life and business topics and a truly unique learning environment. The Conference will help women and mom business owners pursue their entrepreneurial endeavors by providing tools, resources and guidance through the various stages of business ownership. Conference committee members include: Randa Cote, Kyoto Tanaka, Cristen Lebsack, Sherry Nouraini, and Elizabeth Dang-Samuel.

For more conference information, visit http://www.momsinbusinessunite.com.

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