The Commuter Challenge is a month-long competition in May between Ann Arbor Area organizations that encourages individuals to use sustainable transportation to get to work. Organizations compete against one another and log sustainable commutes online.

Sign your organization up here.

See a list of participating organizations.

Where: 102.9 FM

Description: Whole Brain President Marisa Smith and Inner Circle Media Partner Catherine Hayes will be interviewed about their experience with the Washtenaw County Red Cross Pledge Red Program.

Description: Marisa Smith will be interviewed by Lucy Ann Lance about The Whole Brain Group’s recent success, national growth, and current projects.

Where: Soaring Eagle Inn – Mt. Pleasant, MI

Event Information: http://www.michiganrecycles.org/

Topic: CEO’s across the midwest, and the United States, are looking to trim expenses without trimming productivity. Stay ahead of your competitors and trim expenses through the adoption of green office practices.  Marisa Smith, President, of The Whole Brain Group, LLC., an expert in workflow automation and the development of web-application databases, will give you the edge on finding your triple bottom line (people, planet, profits) savings through the use of technology solutions and more.  Her findings are based upon practices applied at leading organizations (University of Michigan, University of Chicago, U.S. Veteran Affairs, Columbia, and Spectrum Health).

Where: Zingerman’s Roadhouse

Topic: CEO’s across the midwest, and the United States, are looking to trim expenses without trimming productivity – take the first step before your competitors – by adopting green office practices. Trim expenses and beat out competitors by reducing overhead during this tough economy by adopting the green principles shared at this educational session. Marisa Smith, President, of The Whole Brain Group, LLC., an expert in workflow automation and the development of web-application databases, will give you the edge on finding your triple bottom line (people, planet, profits) savings through the use of technology solutions and more. Her findings are based upon practices applied at leading organization’s (University of Michigan, University of Chicago, U.S. Veteran Affairs, Columbia, and Spectrum Health).

“I’m honored to have been selected for the ATHENA PowerLink,” said Marisa. “I’m looking forward to working with my Advisory Panel to grow my business.” She is the second participant for the program in the Ann Arbor area. Sharon McRill of The Betty Brigade was the 2007 recipient.

Charlie Penner, Regional Director of MI-SBTDC and PowerLink Governing Body Co-Chair, said, “The local ATHENA PowerLink Governing Body is pleased to work with Marisa to help her grow her business. We are certain that Marisa will benefit from this experience.”

The Whole Brain Group is a software development company with offices in Ann Arbor and Madison, Wisconsin. Among their products is AccreditStation, software that helps educational institutions, community hospitals, and VA facilities compile and manage successful AAHRPP® accreditation projects.

ATHENA PowerLink began in 1992 in Pittsburgh, PA when two businesswomen recognized that female entrepreneurs often lack access to valuable advisors and mentors. The premise was simple – panels of volunteers willing to advise women business owners on important issues can help them achieve great success.

According to ATHENA International, on average, women business owners participating in the ATHENA PowerLink program see the following outcomes

88.5% increase in sales
37.6% increase in business net income
56.6% increase in personal income
36.3% increase in full-time employees
75.0% increase in part-time employees

To learn more about ATHENA PowerLink, click here.

Press release reproduced with the permission of the ATHENA Ann Arbor chapter