In the past, we have received feedback from members that there's not enough time during our luncheons to get to know people outside of the lunch tables. GAWN offers a closed Facebook group for our members to easily communicate with one another, share ideas and goals, and ask for advice. It's also an informal way for GAWN leadership to share updates about the organization a solicit feedback from our members.

The goals of the group are to provide a forum for us to introduce ourselves, connect better, and lean on each other for networking, advice, and empowerment. Here are a few examples of what might posts might look like in the group:

• My business needs to hire an accountant.  Do we have anyone in the group who does this, or can you provide some recommendations for someone outside of our group for this type of work?

• I just read this article about leadership styles and thought it would be helpful for others in our group.

• Our last luncheon speaker made me really think about the way I work with my employees. Would any of you like to meet for drinks one afternoon to discuss further and bounce ideas off each other?

• I have a great idea for a future workshop that GAWN could host. Who can I contact about this?

To join the group, make sure you're logged into your Facebook account and then click here to request to join the group.  You will be prompted with a few questions to make sure you're a current member, you understand the group isn't primarily to market your business to others, and that you agree to the group rules. Once you're approved by an administrator, you'll be a member and can post in the group. Make sure to accept the group rules, or you will not be added. We look forward to connecting with you!

We continue to work on the lineup for speakers in 2021, and would love your help! We are focused on finding engaging professionals to speak about business and personal growth topics for our membership. We currently are in need of two types of speakers:

• Experienced speakers with a proven portfolio of past engagements interested in speaking at one of our in-person luncheons or leading an in-person or virtual evening workshop. If this fits you or someone you'd recommend, please let us know!  The prospective speaker can complete our speaker application in order to be considered.

• GAWN members who are interested in providing professional tips and tricks during an in-person luncheon or in-person or virtual evening workshop.  Do you have an app that your business can't function without?  Have you changed your business practice recently and want to share your success with others?  We'd love to have you present to us.  If interested, please email Kristy Moffat, Interim Programs Chair.

After such a successful monthly meeting in July, we are sad to say that we will not be hosting a meeting in August. As you know, our meetings are generally on the third Wednesday of each month, but we waited to open up registration for the August meeting until we saw how local Covid-19 numbers looked.

Based on increased positive cases and hospitalizations along with the contagious nature of the Delta variant, we do not feel it's prudent to hold the meeting. 

We will watch the numbers and determine in late August whether to hold our September meeting, and will open up registration if it makes sense to do so.  As always, our contacts will receive an email invitation once registration is available.

Thank you for your understanding.

Our membership numbers decreased over the past year, due to fewer numbers of people meeting in groups to network.  As more people get comfortable networking in groups again, we are seeing our meeting attendance increase, which is great news.  Now we're ready to work on our membership numbers!

We are having a membership drive this summer, starting with our July luncheon.  Attendance is free to everyone, and we’re asking our members to invite guests so they can see all that GAWN has to offer.  We will be limiting the number of free spots to 60, so if you are interested in attending, make sure to register early.

To encourage people to become members, if a guest joins during the meeting, the guest AND the person who invited them will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad and potentially other prizes at our September meeting.

So start inviting!  We can't wait to see you there, and to meet your guests!

This month's spotlight is Leslie Merryman and she is a self professed travel addict. Whenever she can, Leslie is traveling somewhere.  She enjoys spending her time seeing and experiencing the world and all it has to offer, visiting with friends and planning trips. Leslie can be found on a cruise about 6 times a year and spends 3 months wandering around Europe every summer.   She works part time as a web designer at the University of Florida (Go Gators!) and this allows her to work wherever there is an internet connection. As an independent  travel consultant for Cruise Brothers she is the one to call if  you need help planning your own travel adventures (by land or by sea)  it’s not just her my job and it’s her passion!

Leslie has been a member of GWAN for 7 years and has been on the board for 3 years as the Website and Social Media Administrator.

Cruise brothers is a full service travel company so don’t let the name fool you. They are one of the largest family owned cruise agencies in the country and have been in business since 1972 making them YOUR cruise experts. They expanded the business to include land based world-wide travel and work with some of the best tour groups in the industry to get you the best deal on your ideal vacation.

So Don’t get soaked on your next cruise or vacation trip!

Contact Leslie to help make your dream trip a reality. (352) 870-9870 or by email at ldmerry@gmail.com

GAWN's Holiday Showcase is the perfect place to highlight your products and services to GAWN's members and guests.  It's always a fun-filled event with great food, door prizes, and a relaxed environment to learn about local businesses and do a little holiday shopping at the same time.

The event will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Sweetwater Branch Inn.

If you're interested in becoming a vendor or sponsor of the event, please complete the application and email it to Kristy Moffat at kristy.moffat@brightway.com.  Registration as a sponsor or vendor can be done (and paid) online on our event page.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Kristi grew up in Lincoln Nebraska and transferred to Gainesville in 1982 to manage North American Biological in the current Santa Fe building on University and 6^th.  Seven months ago, she joined Columbia Care, one of the largest producers and distributors of Medical Marijuana in the United States and Europe. Their Gainesville dispensary was the first of 20 opening in Florida.

Columbia Care in honored to be the presenting sponsor for Gainesville’s annual Tom Petty Bash.  They are looking forward to becoming trusted members of the Gainesville community, beginning with this weekend of great music and entertainment and are committed to improving the lives of families across Florida.

Kristi has always been in medical management.  30 years in the blood plasma industry as Regional Director across the United States, and 9 years working in Elder Care as Director of Business Development in North Central Florida.

Columbia Care is a patient-center health and wellness company setting the standard for compassion, professionalism, quality, caring and innovation, working in collaboration with some of the most renowned and innovative teaching hospitals in the world.   Columbia Cares stands apart from other companies in this sector, as they are data driven,  and have several studies in progress focused on opioid reduction, seizure control, pain management, neuropathy and effects of cannabis on motor skills.

Columbia Care Gainesville prides itself in providing extensive education to patients and families interested in becoming patients and using our medicines.

The Gainesville dispensary is the flagship for Columbia Care in Florida, with plans to open 20 dispensaries in Florida by the end of the year.  They opened 3 months ago and continue to grow and expand their supply of medical cannabis medications.  They will add flower to their list of pharmaceutical quality products by the end of October.

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to share our company’s mission and goals to the female leaders of our community.  As an advocate of medical cannabis, I’m excited to educate and explain how cannabis products are improving and changing lives in a holistic manner, particularly regarding reducing the opioid epidemic."

Lauren Lettelier grew up on a 160 acre cattle ranch in Citra, Florida (northern Marion County), but frequently visits Gainesville/Alachua County. 

She recently accepted the position of Director of PR and Communications for North Florida Regional Medical Center and started in April 2019. Before coming to NFRMC, Lauren worked at WCJB TV20 News as the Ocala Bureau Reporter and Weekend Anchor until September 2014 when she accepted the Public Information Officer position at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. She served the citizens of Marion County in that position until March 2019.

North Florida Regional Medical Center is truly North Central Florida’s community hospital. The hospital’s culture is so unique and incredible. As soon as you walk on our campus, you will notice people smiling and welcoming you. It’s truly an incredible place of healing for our community.   NFRMC is a 432-bed, full-service medical and surgical acute care center serving North Central Florida and offering comprehensive cardiovascular care, oncology, orthopedics, neurosciences, minimally-invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, weight loss surgery and treatment, senior care, women's health and wound therapy, among other services. A proven leader, NFRMC is fully accredited, is certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and a Quality Top Performer by The Joint Commission, is an accredited Chest Pain Center, is designated as a Blue Distinction (tm) Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, Spine Surgery and Bariatric Surgery, and earned a position in Truven Health's Top 100 Hospitals in 2017. North Florida Regional Medical Center is a member of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). Based in Nashville, Tennessee, HCA is the nation's leading provider of healthcare services, a company comprised of locally managed facilities that includes about 177 hospitals and 119 freestanding surgery centers in 20 states and Great Britain.

“Don’t give up! Think out of the box and work harder than everyone else. That is truly the key to success!”

In addition to her duties at NFRMC, Lauren helps her family run their 160 acre cattle ranch called Lettelier Brangus, which is located in Citra, Florida. Together, they have raised some of the finest Brangus cattle the state of Florida has to offer. Lauren and her family are very passionate about guiding and empowering our youth in agriculture, spending their”free time” hosting fun and educational workshops in an effort to inspire those children interested in the cattle industry.

Kimberly Heninger has lived in the Gainesville area for eight years and is a graduate of the University of Florida. She manages The Manor on Main Street, a new wedding and event venue. Located on Historic Main Street in Alachua, this 1902 Victorian home provides the perfect backdrop for weddings, gatherings, reunions, meetings, and more. In addition to offering unique quaint flex spaces, the Manor can accommodate overnight guests in suite rentals.  As an IFAS Master Gardener for eight years, Kimberly was initially drawn to the Manor through her interest in the gardens. Presented with the opportunity to restore both the gardens and home to its original beauty, Kimberly accepted the challenge. After five months of restoration, the Manor has booked events such as baby showers, birthday parties, office meetings, and graduation parties. Hoping to become the hub for the Alachua community, the Manor has a spacious outdoor venue for music, art shows, farmers markets, weddings, and parties.

Kimberly comes from a background in health and wellness. She is a licensed physical therapist assistant, licensed massage therapist, and certified yoga instructor. She plans to incorporate these skills at the Manor for guests, events, and weekend workshops.

Kimberly recently joined GAWN because she felt immediately comfortable at the first luncheon. She appreciated the diverse group of women who supported each other and rallied behind a good cause. Although she is new to the business world, she hopes to encourage others to pursue their dream and work towards their goals.

For more information, visit:

https://themanoronmainstreet.com

Facebook: themanoronmainstreetalachua

The Manor on Main Street

14603 Main Street

Alachua, FL 32615

386-462-7595

Robyn Brewington was born and raised in Alachua County and currently resides in nearby High Springs.  She works for American Integrity Insurance Group as a Territory Sales Manager.  American Integrity is a Florida based homeowner’s insurance company. She attended the University of Florida (Go Gators) and later went back to school and received a Master’s Degree from Webster University. She has been working in insurance since 2005 and says it has been a whirlwind since day one. 

She enjoys being part of GAWN because she loves being inspired by the many success stories she sees among the women who attend. 

In her role as a Territory Sales Manager she has a chance to work with a group of about 180 independent agents across 8 counties in Florida.  She spends a lot of time traveling, but absolutely loves what she does.  Her company continues to launch great products to serve Floridians with all of their homeowner needs. 

She considers herself to be a life learner and is currently obtaining a certification in Digital Marketing because she is very interested in how this can help her in her current role. 

During her career she has had a chance to be part of leadership groups and earned a Master’s in Leadership and Management, but she says she always has more to learn from other successful women and that is why she loves GAWN.

Come hear Robyn's spotlight at the April luncheon!