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Networking Around the Sound

The Puget Sound area abounds with organizations that offer business and social support through networking. Listed below are several that offer regularly scheduled events where you can meet, mentor, share ideas and build relationships with other women as you grow your business. Check their Web sites for details.

Business and Professional Women
Washington State Federation
www.bpwwa.com
A national organization with local affiliates throughout the Puget Sound region, BPW offers numerous opportunities for networking and professional development by sponsoring conferences, workshops and career development programs. Local chapters hold regularly scheduled meetings with a business networking component and focus on community service.

eWomen Network
Seattle/Bellevue Chapter
425-968-8375
www.eWomenNetwork.com
A national online women’s business networking community, the eWomen Network sponsors in-person events through its local chapters. The Seattle/Bellevue chapter holds monthly Accelerated Networking luncheons at Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant in Bellevue. Smaller, more highly-focused events entitled “Strategic Business Introductions” are held twice-monthly in Bellevue and Seattle, and are generally limited to 12 registered participants. For more information, contact Zita Gustin, Executive Managing Director, at zitagustin@eWomenNetwork.com.

Executive Women International
Seattle Chapter
www.executivewomen.org
EWI is a membership organization that offers networking and leadership development opportunities in each of its local chapters. For membership information and schedule of Seattle chapter events, contact Sandra Wright, Membership Director at 206-352-1450, ext. 15.

Greater Seattle Business Association
2150 N. 107th St., Suite 205
Seattle, WA 98133-9009
206-363-9188
www.thegsba.org
Oriented toward gay- and lesbian-owned businesses, The Greater Seattle Business Association holds monthly business luncheons, after-hours evenings, and special annual events. Monthly luncheons featuring guest speakers on topics ranging from business development to civic issues are held on the second Wednesday of most months.
Connecting Women, an after-hours networking and social opportunity for GSBA business and professional women, meets the second Thursday of each month at the Broadway Bar and Grill. Admission is free.

Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce
1301 Fifth Ave., Suite 2500
Seattle, WA 98101-2611
206-389-7200
www.seattlechamber.com
The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce holds several business seminars and monthly networking events including membership breakfasts, an annual trade show, and business- and after-hours events. Smaller chambers are located in Seattle neighborhoods and suburban cities.

North Seattle Community College Continuing Education
Networking Breakfast
206-527-3705
www.learnatnorth.org/breakfast
A monthly networking breakfast featuring guest speakers on a variety of business-related topics is held on the first Friday of the month in the North Star Dining Room, located on the first floor of College Center Building.

Professional Women of Color Network
P.O. Box 22367
Seattle, WA 98122
206-568-3044, Ext. 1
www.pwocn.org
PWOCN is a multicultural organization that facilitates and encourages strategic business relationships among all women of color. PWOCN regularly hosts speakers who share their expertise in personal and professional development, wealth building and coping in the workforce. PWOCN also manages an e-mail listserv that acts as an information clearinghouse and provides marketing opportunities.

Washington Women in Trades
www.wawomenintrades.com
Washington Women in Trades sponsors an annual trades fair where employers can recruit women for trades work and that also serves as an outreach to girls and women, including students from schools around the state, to become familiar with the rewarding jobs available in trades careers. The association holds monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Seattle City Light Auditorium, 3613 4th Ave. South. Dinner is provided, guests welcome. For more information regarding meetings, call 206-903-9508, or e-mail js03003@aol.com.

Women’s Business Exchange
1900 W. Nickerson, Suite 116
Seattle, WA 98119
206-382-1234
www.wbex.org
The Women’s Business Exchange is an all-volunteer organization of business owners and professionals. A monthly breakfast program featuring speakers who are business and community leaders is held the second Thursday of each month at the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Avenue in downtown Seattle.

Women Business Owners
9594 First Ave. N.E., #274
Seattle, WA 98115
206-575-3232
www.womenbusinessowners.org
Women Business Owners, an organization of women entrepreneurs from the Puget Sound region, helps support and connect women business owners as they build their businesses. It provides a business referral network and opportunities for personal interactions through monthly networking luncheons, after-hours events and training seminars. Monthly luncheons are held the fourth Thursday of the month at the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 6th Avenue in Seattle. Monthly after-hours events are held in Seattle and on the Eastside.

Women of Color Empowered
P.O. Box 3468
Seattle, WA 98114
206-223-0623
www.nwasianweekly.com
Women of Color Empowered is a volunteer group of diverse civic, business and community leaders, sponsored by the Northwest Asian Foundation. Luncheon meetings are held three times a year for networking and support. Luncheons in 2007 are scheduled for January 26, May 28 and September 21.

Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training
2401 Fourth Avenue, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98121
206-553-7316
www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wnet
A division of the Small Business Association, the Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET) sponsors training workshops during monthly breakfast roundtables that provide a forum for networking and business skill development. Local venues include Seattle, the Eastside, North End and South Sound. For more information on schedule of events, contact Carol Andersen or Sherry Mina.

Women’s University Club
1105 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101-3011
206-623-0402
www.womensuniversityclub.com
The Women’s University Club is a private, member-owned 501(c)(7) club. The club offers classes, luncheons, book discussions, lectures, music, dinners, holiday celebrations, tours and other entertaining events. The mission of the Women’s University Club is to serve members in a professional, caring manner as they pursue educational and social activities in a clubhouse where friendship and hospitality flourish. Membership open to college-educated women who seek a comfortable environment where camaraderie, support, shared learning experiences and networking take place.

60-Second Networking
Box 23311
Seattle, WA 98121
206-350-6970
www.60secondnetworking.com
60-Second Networking is an online organization that provides its subscribers a venue for “extreme” or high-speed networking. In-person high-speed networking events are also held through the various chapters. Interested persons must subscribe to gain information about in-person high-speed networking events.

©2007 Caliope Publishing Company