Local Chapter of National Program Recognizes Whole Brain Group Partner
Marisa Smith, Managing Partner of The Whole Brain Group, LLC, was recently selected as the 2008 ATHENA PowerLink recipient. The ATHENA PowerLink, a program of ATHENA International, is a business mentoring program designed to increase the growth and profitability of women-owned businesses. Since 1999, ATHENA PowerLink has been helping women business owners through the use of a proven group mentoring process that links a business with a volunteer panel of advisors recruited from the local community.
“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