Public Relations Efforts of KC-CWBO Directly Benefit Members and the Organization

As a member benefit, and to better achieve the goals of the organization, KC-CWBO enlists the services of a public relations agency to constantly watch for and create opportunities for media expose. WDS Marketing and Public Relations is dedicated to building relationships with the media on behalf of the organization, seeking media opportunities, and sending timely press releases.

The benefit is that our organization has been able to receive significant news coverage, as the editors and reporters are made aware of the agenda and accomplishments of KC-CWBO and our membership. When stories about women in business arise, KC-CWBO and WDS are now contacted for quotes and opinions. WDS follows the media calendars of area publications for story opportunities and monitors WIPP to follow news to which they are associated.

In addition, WDS promotes KC-CWBO members individually by following appropriate awards programs, top business listings, and other public relations opportunities, many of which our members may be too busy to find and pursue on their own. WDS or the KC-CWBO director assists in nominating our members for WIPP honors, SBA honors, and outstanding leadership awards. We educate our membership on the details and importance of the honors, and may assist to some degree in helping our members apply for the awards. We also update our members and the media when council members receive honors, awards and recognition. The KC-CWBO has held receptions and placed congratulatory advertisements in honor of our members. Again, there has been significant media coverage for the honorees.

Media Coverage:
KC-CWBO routinely promotes our members to the media and publications as they contact us for specific media opportunities. Some have been for national publications, while most are local.

Joy Wheeler, Becky Wilson, Rosanna Biondo, Jeannette Prenger, Jeanne Johnson, Gail Worth, Maria Kunstadter, Nancy Zurbuchen, Denise Farris, and Kathryn McDaniel are just a few of our members who have been quoted in stories about women business owner issues in the Kansas City Star, Business Journal, Small Business Monthly and other publications.

KC-CWBO members have been profiled in the Women Accumulating Wealth feature in the KC Small Business Monthly. In addition, Gail Worth and Kathy Bennett are just two members who have been featured on the cover of the publication.

Members and our guest speakers have been interviewed on radio, being featured on member Kelly Scanlon's “Eye on Small Business” radio program. 

KC-CWBO sends out press releases regularly, suggesting that the media interview and quote our membership. Women Impacting Public Policy has published profiles and press releases about our members.

Promotions:
Protégé for a Day
Ten members of KC-CWBO were profiled during the award winning Protégé for a Day entrepreneur auctions. The extensive publicity included photographic profiles in the Kansas City Business Journal event section. Video profiles at the event where some of our most successful entrepreneurs in our area were in attendance. Opportunity to build relationships with top entrepreneurs was offered. Colorful photographic invitations were mailed and emailed to hundreds of business people in our area.

Kudos to our Heroes
KC-CWBO created an event to honor members for their dedication to bettering the climate for women in business and supporting KC-CWBO. The event and the members were covered in the media.

Awards Programs:
KC-CWBO has hosted a number of receptions for each honoree inviting women business owners and the general business community. KC-CWBO handles many of the details in nominating, completing applications and promoting the honorees.

Women Impacting Public Policy National Awards, in Washington, D.C.: Fast 5 Award went to Nancy Zurbuchen and Jeanne Johnson, while the WIPP Member to Watch award was given to  Kathy Bennett.

KC Business Magazine’s Influential Women recognition has been given to eight of our members, Jeanette Prenger, Denise Farris, Nancy Zurbuchen, Rosana Biondo, Joy Wheeler, Maria Kunstadter, Becky Wilson, and Teri Rogers.

KC-CWBO consistently nominates members for numerous award programs locally. We have nominated members for the KC Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business honor, making our members aware of the award. Nearly every member of our organization has received this honor.  KC-CWBO sends press releases to the Business Journal when a member who is a Woman Who Mean Business honoree makes the news. Through relationships made at KC-CWBO, several members have received the high honor and the extensive media relations and branding that comes from this event. Several KC-CWBO members have gone on to become judges for the program.

KC-CWBO has nominated our members for the KC Chamber “Top 10 Small Businesses of the Year” award and the KC Small Business Monthly “25 under 25” small business award.” Through relationships made at KC-CWBO, several members have received the high honor and the extensive media relations and branding that comes from this event.

SBA Women Business Champions include Joy Wheeler, Rosie Biondo, Nancy Zurbuchen, and Denise Farris. Each has received the coveted “Women Business Champion” honor from the KC District Office of the SBA. Joy Wheeler also received the SBA's top national honor. In addition, Lynette Burkhart was honored as the SBA Veteran Small Business Champion of the year. These ladies were profiled in all area business media, receiving a great deal of media exposure. They received the honor at the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards at which hundreds of area business people were in attendance.

KC-CWBO also monitors other local and national awards and opportunities for recognition and notifies our membership. (Examples: INC 5000 list of growing businesses; Pink Magazine’s listing of high growth women business owners; and the Stevie Awards for small business and non-profits.)

In support of our members and other area organizations, KC-CWBO often reserves a table at awards events and programs, filling the table with our members, prospective members and special guests. 

Public Policy Events:
KC-CWBO has hosted and produced public policy events every year, as well as organizing and participating in trips to Jefferson City, Topeka, and Washington DC. During the events our members have the opportunity for visibility, including speaking, sponsorship, hosting the national speaker or elected officials, or presiding over a session or segment. We proudly collaborate with numerous other non-profit organizations in the Kansas City area as well as across the state of Missouri and St. Louis.