At the luncheon, Jan shared her story of how she overcame a childhood of poverty and abuse to eventually become a broadcast reporter who has interviewed presidents and celebrities from former President George Bush to Dolly Parton. Now a highly regarded speaking coach, Jan also shared quick tips that she calls “micro-tweaks” aimed at improving your public speaking skills.

Below are snippets of her speech about life lessons she learned from President Bush and Dolly, and this week on our Facebook page, we’ll be sharing some of Jan’s “micro-tweaks” every day. Click here to visit our Facebook page now and Like us if you haven’t already!

For more videos of Jan’s speech, including her opening and closing, visit Reston Limousine’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/restonlimousine.

The next Sterling Women luncheon takes place Thursday, March 8, and the featured speaker is Jenet Ahn, owner of Annalee’s Prom, Bridal, Special Occasions, & Tuxedo in the Brambleton Town Center. For more information and to register online, visit www.sterlingwomen.org.

The featured speakers at Sterling Women, a monthly networking luncheon founded by Reston Limousine President and CEO Kristina Bouweiri, always offer inspirational and educational presentations — and December’s event was no different.

After Cookology founder Maria Kopsidas shared her company’s pitch video that won a spot on the Top 10 entries for Richard Branson’s 2009 The Perfect Pitch Conference, she provided key social media tips aimed at helping entrepreneurs dominate their market.

Did you know your Twitter profile and tweets can show up in a Google search page, which moves your personal or business profile up the Google search engine food chain? For example: if people are trying to search for cooking classes and we talk about cooking classes in our tweets, we are more likely to be one of the first results you see in Google if you search Northern Virginia cooking classes.

For more excerpts from her speech, click here to read visit her blog on Cookology.

And here’s a special tip from Maria on entrepreneurs facing in tough economic times:

Attendees get the opportunity to network with executives and professionals from a variety of industries, such as Hershey Park Corporate Sales Manager Jimetta Easter who attended last month’s luncheon.

In September, the featured speaker will be Kate Zurschmeide. She and her husband, Mark, own Great Country Farms, a 200-acre working farm that offers produce through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and pick-your-own fields, as well as a “fun on the farm experience” for the whole family with its fourteen annual festivals, educational and special events.

Register now for the event, which starts with networking at 11 a.m. followed by lunch and a speaker at noon, and ending with networking from 1-1:30 p.m. You only pay the cost of the lunch, which is provided by our host, The National Conference Center.

Click here to register now!

Missed Thursday’s August Sterling Women Luncheon, featuring Richa Badami, the founder and CEO of Anahatha? Not to worry, you can view our recorded broadcast of her speech on Reston Limousine’s Livestream channel:

Don’t forget to sign up for next month’s luncheon on Sept. 8; Kate Zurschmeide, who owns Great Country Farms in Bluemont with her husband Mark, will be the featured speaker. To register, visit www.sterlingwomen.org.

Sterling Women’s engaging speakers are one of the main draws to the monthly networking luncheon, and this month’s featured speaker was no different.

Caren DeWitt Merrick, who with her husband co-founded WebMethods – the most successful software IPO in history – shared business advice  with the more than 100 participants at yesterday’s event.

1. First things first: “I like to think of something St. Francis of Assisi once said: ‘Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you’re doing the impossible.’”

2. Listen to your inner voice:  ”Listen to those inner dreams, those things that impassion you.”

3.  Navigate your challenges and overcome setbacks:  ”Problems are meant to be solved. So often, though, when we encounter these challenges, we lose our balance.  We feel ashamed, we think, ‘why are we having these problems, it must be my fault,’ when actually … our problems are often the opportunities we need to take us to the next level.”

After 15 years of working in the private sector and with non-profits dedicated to the community, Caren is now focusing her efforts on the political arena and is running for a seat in the Virginia Senate. She ended her speech with a quote from the late cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

If you’d like to view Caren’s speech, visit Reston Limousine’s YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/restonlimousine

For more information about Sterling Women and next month’s featured speaker, Dr. Thara Kodandaramachandra of Parma Spa and Center for Health and Medicine, visit http://www.sterlingwomen.org/.

Francisca Alonso, founder and President of AV Architects+AV Builders, shares how she came to meet Kristina and started attending Sterling Women’s monthly luncheons”

At next month’s luncheon on May 12, Red Thinking founder and President Jen Sterling will share her experiences from almost 20 years of helping companies build awareness and brand preference in the marketplace.

Jen was previously the president and co-founder of Hinge where she led the charge for eight years in professional services strategic branding and marketing. A self-proclaimed “volunteer-oholic”, Jen is a graduate of Leadership Fairfax and enthusiastically serves on several boards in the Northern Virginia area such as the Fairfax County Parks Foundation and numerous small business advisory boards. Her community leadership positions include: Chairman of the Board of Success in the City, past Chair of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, past Chair of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, and past Chair of the INC.spire incubator program.

The luncheon at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne begins with an hour of networking at 11 a.m., followed by lunch and Jen’s presentation, then another half hour of networking.

To register for the May 12 luncheon, please visit Sterling Women’s registration page at http://www.sterlingwomen.org/register/.

Attendees at Sterling Women’s monthly networking luncheon on Wednesday were among the first to hear winemaker Lori Corcoran’s news about her new nanobrewery, scheduled to open in June.

The  founder of Corcoran Vineyards in Waterford, Lori is expanding her business to become the commonwealth’s first winery/brewery. At the luncheon, she said that she’ll be offering six different varieties of beers including a Corky’s Pale Ale. Diners can get a preview of her brews at a special
beer dinner on May 19 at Magnolias at the Mill in Purcellville.

Beer tastings will take place at Corcoran Vineyards’ back barn, where fans can sample and purchase her brews by  glass, growler and kegs. Lori also previewed some of her new infused wines at the luncheon, where her  Raspberry Merlot and orange-infused Traminette were a big hit.

At next month’s Sterling Women luncheon, Laura Lee Williams will discuss how a graduate of Harvard’s business school started a business designing handbags that have been featured on “Desperate Housewives” and “Gossip Girl!

For more information or to reserve your seat at the April 14 Sterling Women luncheon, visit http://www.sterlingwomen.org/

Wine expert and sommelier Mary Watson DeLauder discusses how herbs used in cooking affect the flavor of wine with Corcoran Vineyards winemaker Lori Corcoran and Washington Post wine columnist Dave McIntyre in this October 2009 video on YouTube.

Award-winning winemaker Lori Corcoran  has got great news about exciting developments in her business — get the details during her presentation at the March 30 meeting of Sterling Women, a networking group founded by Reston Limousine CEO & President Kristina Bouweiri.

Lori started her winery business about 10 years ago, and today produces about 3,000 cases of premium wines. In addition to her winemaking business, Lori has served on numerous boards here in Loudoun County, including the Visit Loudoun Board, as well as acting as president of the Loudoun Winery Association.

The monthly meetings take place at the National Conference Center. They begin at 11 a.m. with an hour of networking, followed by lunch and the speaker, then more networking at 1 p.m.

To reserve your seat for the lunch meeting or for more info, visit Sterling Women at www.sterlingwomen.org.

Need another reason to attend? Find out from Carolyn Howell, vice president of Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park, a longtime supporter:

Jennifer Seven, president of 7Company, also thanked “Omar” for having her as guest speaker at the Jan. 13th luncheon at The National Conference Center in Lansdowne.

In her speech, Seven shared how her family’s health history set the stage for a second and very successful career as a health event provider in the DC area. “My passion is to help others through promoting good health,” she said in her speech.

She also explained how her company expanded from serving corporate and government clients such as FEMA and the Executive Office to individuals through her new Weight Loss and Wellness Center in Leesburg.

Here are highlights of her speech:

For more information about next month’s Sterling Women luncheon, please visit www.sterlingwomen.org.

Sterling Women December Meeting

Sterling Women, a networking group founded by Reston Limousine CEO and President Kristina Bouweiri, continues to grow and attract businesswomen from Loudoun and beyond — thanks in part to the quality of the speakers who share their experience and advice in growing their businesses.

This month’s speaker is Jennifer Seven, who combined her background in sales and event planning to establish 7Company, one of the largest health event providers in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

7Company organizes and manages on-site health fairs, wellness seminars, flu shot clinics, health screenings, and other health care related events for a growing clientele that includes the Executive Office of the President and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

7Company also maintains a Weight Loss and Wellness Center at its Leesburg headquarters and is a leading provider of affordable speakers and workshops on nutrition, stress, and other health related topics. The company’s mission is to “help our clients achieve a healthier lifestyle and improved well-being at an affordable price.

The January meeting begins at 11 a.m. on Thursday Jan. 13 with an hour of networking, followed by lunch and Ms. Seven’ presentation, then concluding with more networking from 1-1:30 p.m.

To register for the event online, visit http://www.sterlingwomen.org/.