BIG--Believe, Inspire, Grow 5th Annual Expo of Women Entrepreneurs

FIFTH Annual BIG Expo of Women Entrepreneurs June 8:  Open to Guests
Area business women will display products and services from 10am – 1pm at Twin Maples
The Fifth Annual B.I.G. Expo of Women Entrepreneurs will be held on June 8 from 10am until 1pm at Twin Maples, 214 Springfield Avenue in Summit.  Entrepreneurial women have registered to showcase their products and services in the areas of legal services; jewelry; fitness facilities; moving services; catering; book sales; parenting classes; plastic surgery; photography; tutoring; nutrition and wellness; weight loss coaching; college planning;  promotional services; career and educational services and more.
Past vendors also included day spas; ADHD coaching; kitchen design; web and graphic design; software; skin care; and hair care. 
Exhibit space is available.  Exhibitors must be members of the Summit/New Providence Berkeley Heights BIG pod.  Annual membership is $259, which allows unlimited monthly meetings in Summit, Chatham, Millburn and many other surrounding communities, as well as members-only Facebook pages, webinars, special events, and promotional opportunities.  The cost to exhibit is $50.   Sponsorships for the group are available as well—the monthly meetings attract 25-40 local women.
Come meet a great group of seriously talented, inspiring, smart and creative women entrepreneurs who have taken the plunge to launch their own businesses, franchises and dream jobs in the Greater Summit area.  Admission is FREE.  Free refreshments provided by Paolo’s Kitchen, and Zing Meals.
Participants as of June 2 include:
Jewelry, Skin Care, Clothing, Make Up, Pottery, Gifts, Accessories:
Scooch A Mi Boutique—Ellen Eppie
ART with HEART Designs—Tracy Tango
Beautycounter—Betty Galvan
Abbinola--Abigail Di Tosto
eMMe b design--Sue Bourdin
Fitness
Orangetheory Fitness--Lynda Mchugh, Dana Blankenbaker
Pure Barre—LaRonda Gumm
Health & Wellness, Nutrition, Spa, and Beauty
JuicePlus/Tower Gardens—Tracy Tango
Lee Asthetic Center—Kay Lee
Janice Zunde Health—Janice Zunde
Isagenix--Jamie Bowers
IdealNOW weight loss coaching—Leslie Siegel
Table Minded nutrition—Amy Rind
The Wellness Agenda LLC—Miriam Belov
Luminous MedSpa--Heather DeVita
Education Services, Summer Camps, and Art
Parenting Matters—Lisa DiSciullo
Character U—social and emotional learning programs—Gretchen Burman
Color Me Mine--Tara Nagabhyru
Academic Journeys, Career Journeys—Maureen McGovern
Sanchari School of Dance--Sanjeeta Mukherjee
Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre—Diane Gallo
Catering
Zing Meals Gourmet Dinners and Catering-- Elizabeth Girouard
Paolo's Kitchen Caterers in New Providence—Paula Vieira
Services
Ruvolo Law—Cindy Wilson
Maryanne Teng Hogarth Photography—Maryanne Hogarth
B.I.G. (Believe, Inspire, Grow) Education, networking and support to empower women entrepreneurs
Graphic Design--Elise Massenet
MobileArq--Mobile App for Parents to get your school at your fingertips-- Niru Mallavarapu
The Mavins Group: Moving Mavins, LLC—Patricia Ott
Nancy Conner Design--Nancy Conner
Interior Design—MaryAnn Alvine
These talented women will share their business ideas and products in a fun, informative trade show format.   Enter for chances to win valuable prizes.    
Led by Melanie Wilson of Summit, and assisted by Suzanne Botvinis of New Providence and Lisa DiSciullo  of Summit, the Summit/New Providence/Berkeley Heights chapter of B.I.G. (Believe, Inspire, Grow), a, support, education  and networking group for women entrepreneurs, with nearly 90 members, has grown to the largest in the multi-state network.  
Wilson said that she was thrilled with the results of the last four years.  Attending, she said, will be particularly helpful for any woman considering launching her own business, since they can chat with those brave ones who have taken the plunge, and are now able to showcase their brand. 
“At B.I.G.,” Wilson said, “We strive to empower women at all stages of their professional pursuits, from stay at home mothers looking to re-engage in the workforce, to seasoned entrepreneurs looking to grow their business and career executives looking to make a change.”
At last year’s Expo, some came for the jewelry and skin care products for sale.  Others showed up to be inspired by dozens of local entrepreneurial women who shared advice and ideas on how to launch a business.  All left impressed with the bountiful talent of the women who displayed their wares. 
 “The Expo gave the exhibitors an opportunity to reach a hungry marketplace,” Wilson said.  “The women who attended were smart and curious.  As B.I.G. members, the exhibitors have learned to grow their businesses with regular monthly workshops on topics such as search engine optimization, brand building, social media, and legal concerns.” 
Rupa Kale, a longtime B.I.G. member who owns Bottle and Bottega, a BYOB paint and sip studio in Berkeley Heights, says, “My favorite part of the expo is learning about the other businesses.  I also love the positive almost electric vibe of the whole space. I love hobnobbing with other smart, creative and forward-thinking women.”
Betsy Stoeber, owner of Brain Balance Achievement Center in Summit, said, “The Expo gave me a true sense of belonging to a community of women entrepreneurs in Summit-- I can't wait to build on the connections made!”
Wilson said that each monthly meeting provides a safe environment and offers face-to-face support from a like-minded tribe of peers.  Since every woman has special gifts and talents, the power of a community of women working together can help every woman discover theirs. 
Come find out about the products and services of all these talented women, or just come get inspired by the women who have taken that next step and launched their own businesses.
Check out the full calendar at  www.believeinspiregrow.com   To find out about joining the Summit/New Providence/Berkeley Heights B.I.G. group and/or exhibiting at the Expo, contact Wilson at melaniewilsonsummit@gmail.com